Goalkeeper


Hugo Lloris (Lyon)—The French international has been in fine form this season, leading Lyon to the Champions League semi-final. Blessed with incredible reflexes and awareness, Lloris has been linked with a host of Europe’s top clubs, including Arsenal, and would be a major improvement on both Almunia and Fabianski.

Cost: ₤18m-₤25m

Likelihood of arrival: Could come, as Wenger has admitted his interest.



Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow) – The Russian broke the CSKA first team aged just 18, and has since gone on to become one of Europe’s most brilliant (and underrated) ‘keepers. Linked recently with Arsenal, Akinfeev could link up with compatriot Andrei Arshavin.

Cost: ₤15m-₤20m

Likelihood of arrival: Possible.

Centre-Back


With William Gallas, Sol Campbell, and Mikael Silvestre all out of contract this Summer, and with Johan Djourou easing his way back into competition after a long injury lay-off, Arsenal’s back four is in serious need of a makeover. Wenger has admitted that Arsenal’s main problem was in defence, so here are a few options to revamp the back four.



Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)—Juventus’ best player this season, the towering Italian was the only real standout in a bleak season for the Turin side. Having failed to qualify for the Champions League, Chiellini might be looking elsewhere after the World Cup, and his height, power, and goal threat from set pieces would all be welcome additions to the side. Could be available at a cut-price fee.

Cost: ₤15m-₤20m

Likelihood of arrival: Could be tempted by the lure of Champions League football. Quite possible.



Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)—The Belgian has made 29 Premier League appearances this season, filling in capably at centre-back and in midfield. Linked with Arsenal before joining City, Kompany has the quality, versatility and Premier League experience to succeed at Arsenal. Importantly, he would add depth in two of Arsenal’s weakest positions: centre-back and defensive midfield.

Cost: ₤8m-₤12m

Likelihood of arrival: Not linked with Arsenal, but could also be tempted by Champions League football.

Midfield



With the emergence of Alex Song in front of the back four, Arsenal’s full-strength midfield can match it with almost any in the Europe, but it is a weakness in depth that has cost Arsenal this season. Providing Wenger retains the promise of Denilson and Abou Diaby, one holding midfielder should be enough to compliment a midfield already boasting the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, and Aaron Ramsey.



Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)—Being compared to club legend Patrick Vieira inevitably leads to being linked with Arsenal, and at just 20, Moussa Sissoko would not look out of place filling the Frenchman’s shoes. Already a French international (having been capped twice), Sissoko has already racked up a hundred league appearances with his blend of hard tackling and precise passing.

Cost: Toulouse management has slapped a €30m price tag on the youngster, but in reality he would come somewhat cheaper than that.

Likelihood of arrival: Would fit the Wenger style, but maybe not the Wenger pocket.



Yaya Toure (Barcelona)—His agent has recently admitted a move to Arsenal is an option for Kolo Toure’s younger brother. Wenger passed up the opportunity to sign him before watching the Ivorian go on to become a Champions League, Copa Del Rey and La Liga winner. Having been ousted from Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up, Toure seems eager to move. Best known as a tough-tackling midfielder in the Patrick Vieira mould, Toure has started (and won) a Champions League final at centre-back. His versatility could prove handy.

Cost: ₤8m

Likelihood of arrival: Toure’s arrival remains a distinct possibility.



Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)—Unassuming, precise and a leader, Toulalan is exactly the kind of player Arsenal has needed for years. And he’s French too. Toulalan could form an incredible shield alongside Alex Song behind Fabregas, and his simple distribution of the ball would compliment Song’s physicality perfectly.

Cost: Lyon are notoriously hard dealers in the transfer market, so Toulalan could be as expensive as ₤20m.

Likelihood of arrival: Unlikely.

Forwards



With Robin van Persie, Andrei Arshavin, and Nicklas Bendtner all suffering from long-term injuries, and with Theo Walcott and Eduardo suffering form issues, Arsenal’s frontline has been exposed at times. Pundits everywhere have stressed the need for the arrival of a target-man capable of playing as a lone striker and finding the back of the net. Adebayor anyone?



Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux)—Chamakh has the aerial presence and touch that has been missing in the frontline, but having scored only 10 league goals this year, there are doubts surrounding his ability to lead from the front.

Cost: Free

Likelihood of arrival: Almost certain.



Thierry Henry (Barcelona)—The return of the king? Having scored 226 goals for Arsenal and led the London club to an unbeaten season, Henry is an obvious choice to lead the frontline. Despite having just lukewarm success at Barca, he remains a threat in front of goal, especially in the central role he relished at Highbury but has been denied at Barca. Surely too good for his reported move to the MLS, Henry would be a great option to bolster a frontline already boasting van Persie, Arshavin and possibly Chamakh.

Cost: Free

Likelihood of Arrival: Possible, but unlikely.

Fulham can be so proud of what they acheived this season despite the defeat by the better team:).. although Atletico have some decent players they have done average every season.

Cardiff to win the Play Offs, Cymru;).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richest_football_clubs


Arsenal 3rd on the club rich list, and have been for 4 years.


Man united and Real madrid, first and second respectivaly.

Capello had no chance of luring Scholesy back to the England fold:joker:.

Soccer.

Wahey United playing here in Dublin in August against Airtricity League Super 11......in the new Aviva stadium!

Saw that on MUTV, looking forward to pre season:). You going to try and get some tickets if they haven't already sold out?.

I have a hellava lot of 100s on chelsea/Dundee Utd to lift tropies (not 90s). Wish me luck pals!

FA Cup Final tomorrow! Hope my home town Portsmouth wins!

Chelsea will probably win but the Pompey fans will have a good day:).

yeah i try get my mate to get them for me....if not i just get them from tout....

Goodluck to portsmouth is all i can say..

We are playing Barnet.. Again for preseason..

Playing Ac Milan
Celtic
and Legia Warsaw

Great player.


Man Utd very close to closing £17.5 Million deal for La Liga star

The chances that Man Utd will sign Valencia’s David Silva are increasing by the day with both the Spanish media and the UK bookies convinced that the 24 year old will become Sir Alex Ferguson’s big summer signing. Silva has been linked with a move to Old Trafford all season and it now appears that the speculation in this particular case are in fact true.

Silva has been on the wanted list of some of Europe’s biggest clubs but they are all on the verge of being disappointed by the news that the Spanish International will be a Man Utd player next season, Silva has become odds on with the bookies to become a Red Devil and it is not often that the bookies get it wrong.

Silva himself has made no secret of his honour at being linked with Fergies outfit saying

“When you hear a club like Manchester United is interested in you it is an honour,”

“I am very aware of the Premier League, and in recent years it has been the stand-out league in the world.

“If it came calling, especially if it was a club like Manchester United, it would be very hard to resist.

“I am happy at Valencia but every player has his price and if they get an offer they think is good business anything is possible.”

It now all set up for Fergie who should be able to land Silva for approx £17.5 Million.

“If I had to choose one club, it would be Arsenal”

a young French midfielder currently being compared to Manchester City's former Arsenal star Patrick Vieria, who is aready said to be attracting the attention of Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson...

Name Moussa Sissoko
Age 20
Position Midfield
Nationality French
Club Toulouse
Games 118 Goals 15

Tottenham will reportedly look to offload trio Robbie Keane, Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton in the summer.

Striker Keane joined Celtic on loan in January and despite the player himself claiming he will return to White Hart Lane in the summer Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is keen to cash in on the Irishman.

Jenas has seen his season disrupted by injury and has been unable to secure a place in the Spurs midfield, with Redknapp ready to allow Jenas to depart.

Hutton enjoyed a productive loan spell with Sunderland this season and it is thought Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is keen to offer the defender an escape route from White Hart Lane, with the Scottish international unlikely to break into the Spurs line-up.

Manchester United miss out on David Villa as Valencia striker agrees Barcelona switch


Manchester United's hopes of pairing Wayne Rooney with David Villa appear to have been dashed after the Spain striker agreed to join Barcelona.

Arsenal and Manchester City were also linked with the Valencia star but reports in Spain claim that Villa has told his friends and family that he is heading to the Nou Camp.

Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have sent scouts to run the rule over £45million-rated Villa but, despite positive reports, the United boss is set to miss out.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz0nzcW4Fs1

Man Utd looking to beat Spurs for AC Milan striker

Manchester United are set to go head to head with Tottenham for AC Milan’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has been monitoring Huntelaar for some time and is keen to take him to White Hart Lane, now however Tottenham face stiff competition from Sir Alex Ferguson who according to some reports has even offered up Dimitar Berbatov as part of a deal.

Huntelaar has made it clear he wants to leave AC Milan and for their part Milan have indicated they will listen to offers for the Dutchman so all is now set for a mini bidding war between Spurs and Man Utd, the one worry for Tottenham is that the player himself may demand a move to Old Trafford as opposed to White Hart Lane.

AC Milan will be happy enough to recoup the money they spent on Huntelaar which both Tottenham and Man Utd can easily afford and Ferguson is hoping that the lure of Berbatov may be the deciding factor for the Italians. AC Milan would still have to put some money up for Berbatov but it would be a lot less if Huntelaar was included that’s for certain.

The one silver lining for Redknapp is that the Dutchman may have had enough of joining marque clubs and after Real Madrid and AC Milan may prefer a club that offers more opportunity for playing time.

Time will tell who comes out on top in this mini battle, Sir Alex Ferguson or Harry Redknapp.

If Valencia lose David Villa and David Silva..

They wont come third, more like 5th / 6th.

Great news!!!!!!!

Arsenal Boss Hopes to Snap Up £8m Premier League Keeper: Wenger Ready to Bid for Manchester City’s Joe Hart

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make a big money move for Manchester City keeper Joe Hart. Arsene Wenger is reportedly desperate for new keeping alternatives to serial bunglers Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski and hopes that Roberto Mancini is ready to listen to offers in the region of £8m for the England international.

Joe Hart has just completed a great season at St Andrews’ but Alex McLeish has apparently given up hope to snaring the former Shrewsbury man on a permanent basis and is already looking at bringing in Manchester United back up Ben Foster.

The Emirates side has conceded more goals this term than in any Premier League season since 2003 and Wenger is keen to bring in the 23 year old to north London but knows that they may struggle to persuade the Eastlands outfit to allow such a talented player to join a rival side.

With Shay Given in front of him at Man City Hart knows he has his work cut out to win a regular first team spot at the club and would surely jump at the chance of a move to the north London outfit.

Get Frank Lampard! Jose Mourinho tells Real Madrid to make Chelsea star his first signing this summer

Chelsea are bracing themselves for a swoop by Real Madrid for Frank Lampard.

The combination of Madrid's rich history and their all-star cast, plus the arrival of Jose Mourinho as manager, is likely to prove an alluring proposition for the England midfielder.

Luring Lampard, who is happy at Chelsea and not looking for a transfer, will be a challenge for Madrid. But as proven by their signings of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, they have persuasively deep pockets.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz0nzdwRV6T

Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell working on deal for Liverpool's Fernando Torres - report


Barcelona president-elect Sandro Rosell has reportedly contacted Fernando Torres' representatives to enquire about the possibility of taking the Liverpool striker to the Camp Nou in the future.

The Daily Mail reports that Rosell, who is one of the leading candidates to replace Joan Laporta as Barca president this summer, has enquired about the chances of Torres being keen on a move to the Catalans and supposedly received a favourable response.

Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City are also said to be in the race for Torres' signature as reports continue to link the Spain international with an Anfield exit.

Various rumours have suggested that Torres is looking for a way out of the club after a disappointing season and is seemingly unwilling to commit his future to the Reds with so much uncertainty surrounding boss Rafael Benitez and whether he will remain as manager next term.

The report goes on to suggest that the deal could hinge on Barca landing Valencia's David Villa, with Laporta supposedly hoping to seal a deal for the Los Che striker before the World Cup.

With the La Liga giants likely to be required to part with at least £35 million to acquire the services of Spain star Villa, the necessary funds to secure the signing of Torres would seemingly be unavailable if a deal was to be struck.




Messi, Torres, Villa.

Wow.