Fran Merida

The young Spaniard had actually been labelled by the Spanish media a few years back as ‘the new Fabregas’, whether he can live up to this name remains to be seen.

The 20-year-old has featured for Arsenal only 8 times this season (4 in the league, 3 in the F.A cup and 1 time in the champion’s league). The midfielder did manage to score twice along the way, and they were beauties to say the very least.

The young midfielder possesses great feet, movement and awareness, everything that Fabregas has. Although Merida has had limited chances in the Arsenal squad, he looks to be a promising player for the future. Many fans will feel he is too young to take on such a huge role, but let’s not forget Fabregas came of age when he was 20 as well. Merida may not be a regular starter for the gunners next season, but he will definitely be seeing more action coming his way now more than ever.

Fab Factor: 2/5


Jack Wilshere

The 18-year-old midfielder has been likened to a young Liam Brady by many of the older generation of Arsenal fans. Wilshere featured a lot for Arsenal in their pre-season last summer, but somehow wasn’t able to get games at the Emirates this season. This forced the young midfielder to make a loan move to Bolton in January, in order to partake in games. Wilshere gained valuable premier league experience, making a total of 15 appearances and scoring 2 goals for the Wanderers. He was by far one of their best players this season.

Wilshere has two great feet, can play anywhere in the midfield (looks most comfortable in the middle), has skill and good technique for a player of his age, and also, a good reading of the game.

Wenger might have to do a u-turn with Wilshere for next season. Owen Coyle wants the young midfielder back at the Reebok for a further six months, but with Fabregas’s untimely leave, Wilshere may think this is his year to break into Wenger’s squad.

Fab Factor: 3/5


Aaron Ramsey

The Welsh international was in great form before he suffered his infamous leg break against Stoke in February. Ramsey made a total of 29 appearances in all competitions for the gunners, whilst netting 4 times a long the way. The Welshman was clearly enjoying himself and fans began to take notice of the player.

Aaron Ramsey clearly has the technical ability and passing attributes to become a great player for the gunners in the future. The midfielder is only 19 years of age, yet he possesses great awareness as if he’s been playing in the premier league for years.

Ramsey is definitely a contender for Fabregas’s place. However, his leg break this year has prevented the young midfielder from developing even further. When he fully recovers from his horrific injury, fans can expect to see the Welsh star shine even brighter next season.

Fab Factor: 4/5


Samir Nasri

Possibly the best suited Arsenal player to take Cesc’s role next season. Nasri has played in the centre midfield for Arsenal before and looked comfortable doing so. Although fans may think he is a winger, but by trade he is not. The Frenchman is more accomplished in the centre of the park, this is where he made his name whilst playing for Marseille.

The 22-year-old midfielder performed exceptional well this season, accumulating a total of 36 appearances for the North London club. However, his goal tally failed to impress, netting just the 5 times this year.

Nasri and Fabregas pose the same abilities and physique. Nasri has great passing and technical capabilities, which makes him one of Arsenal’s most creative players at the club. Samir Nasri would be the ideal candidate to play in the Cesc role, providing Wenger does not choose to purchase a player in this position this summer.

Fab Factor: 5/5

Wenger can expect to collect an enormous amount of cash for the transaction of Fabregas to Barcelona, yet it is still unknown as to how much the fee will actually be. Reports today suggest that Arsenal will receive a bid in the region of £35-40 million for the Spanish playmaker. If we are led to believe these rumours, then Wenger will have a monstrous transfer budget to utilize in the summer. Wenger a few weeks back, told fans that he already has £35 million to spend, and with the sale of Fabregas for an alleged £40 million, Arsenal will have a colossal total of£75 million this summer.

With this amount of money at hand, Wenger could acquire a world-class midfielder to replace the loss of Cesc Fabregas.

Diego (Juventus)

The 25-year-old inventive midfielder has been a consistent performer for the Serie A side this season. Diego made 33 appearances in the domestic league and managed to contribute 5 goals as well. The midfielder also appeared in the Italian cup, Champion’s and Europa league this season.

However, due to Juve not qualifying for the champion’s league next season, this may prompt the creative midfielder to look for a club that can offer this to him.

Diego became a recognised footballer when he was playing for Bundersliga side Werder Bremen in 2006. He impressed so much that the Italian giants swooped in for his services and acquired the Brazilian for a fee of £21.5 million. Since then he has impressed both fans and pundits alike in Italy.

Wenger could bring in the Brazilian playmaker as a possible replacement for Fabregas. Although some may view the Serie A and the Premiership are poles apart, but Diego has the ability to adapt to the English game without a doubt. The Brazilian has great awareness, and creativity which would suit Arsenal’s football. The fee wouldn’t be much, but not to cheap either. A bid of around £18-25 million could see the midfielder at the Emirates next season.

Fab Factor: 4/5


Mikel Arteta (Everton)

Mikel Arteta is an older adaptation of Cesc Fabregas. The 28-year-old Everton playmaker acquires great vision and passing ability which makes him one of the best in his position. Wenger has shown recent interest in the Spaniard, but has yet to make an official enquiry about the midfielder.

Arteta would be a great replacement for Fabregas as he already has 5 years of Premiership football in his locker. This season, the no.10 Everton man only managed to appear 16 times in all competitions for the toffees. However, he did manage to accumulate 6 goals within these games but due to a long-term injury it has held him back from achieving more.

Everton will be reluctant to let their star midfielder leave, but should a good offer come in from the gunners, Moyes would find it hard to turn down.

Fab Factor: 5/5


Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)

The French midfielder has finally found his feet at Bordeaux after enduring a number of nightmare seasons with A.C Milan in the past.

The midfield playmaker was a sensation this season in the Ligue 1 and champion’s league this season. Gourcuff appeared 39 times for the French champions, whilst netting 8 goals in the process.

The 23-year-old would be another option for the Arsenal boss to look into, especially following the news of Laurent Blanc’s exit from the club earlier in the week. Gourcuff has 17 international caps for France and is one of the country’s most promising young footballers. The Bordeaux player is young, skilful and possesses great technical ability. Under Wenger’s guidance (if he chooses to obtain him) Gourcuff would develop into one of, if not, the best playmakers in the world.

The French press have compared and claimed that Yoann Gourcuff is ‘the new Zidane’, whether this is true or just plain media hype remains to be seen.

Many fans would be delighted to see the French midfielder play his football at the Emirates next season. Wenger is known for his love of French players, and will no doubt be monitoring the young midfielder when the window opens in July. Gourcuff would make a great replacement for Fabregas, and a bid within the region of £20-28 million would more than likely be enough to prise Bordeaux’s prized asset away this summer.

Fab Factor: 5/5[/b]

With the pending exit of Cesc Fabregas this summer, the Arsenal fans will be expecting to see new arrivals for the start of next season’s campaign. The fans will want Wenger to buy a ‘top’ player in order to accommodate the loss of Cesc.

Wenger will have sufficient funds available to him this summer, but faces the tricky task of finding an appropriate replacement for his star player and captain.

The Arsenal boss may decide against buying a replacement, as he may feel he already has him in his current squad. There are 4 current Arsenal players listed in this article that could possibly fit the void without Wenger spending a single penny. However, if Wenger wishes to bring in a midfield playmaker this summer, then the 3 players listed above would do a grand job for the club. But for now, it seems the Arsenal faithful will have a long and anxious wait to see what their manager decides to do in the next few months.




I would have thought arshavin would be in this list considering he plays best in centre to..

:(

Charlie Adam

A hero for the English

Mikel Arteta at Arsenal imagine that.. lol

Graham Hunter (Scottish journalist based in Spain) who is normally very clued up, believes arsenal won't let Fab go for anything less than line 65-70 million lol




And the Mexico game has come out of nowhere. I didn't know about it till my dad told me lol

Fab should go for 50 no less no more.
And buy gourcuff for 20 + rosicky..


Carlos vela will score against england lol!




Blackpool will earn 90m from being in the premier league.
40m even if they finish bottom and are relegated.
48m in parachute money for 4 years after
and at least 7m from extra ticket and merchandise sales and sponsorship.

Liverpool want Sylvinho from man city.

Chelsea are about to launch a £26million bid for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric.

Connections of the 24-year-old Croatia midfielder have been in London this week for discussions with his club aimed at sounding out his future at White Hart Lane.

But he has emerged as a top target for the newly-crowned Double winners with manager Carlo Ancelotti, backed by director of football Frank Arnesen, acutely aware of the need to bring in younger blood if they are to maintain their place at the top of English football.

Another important factor is Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s determination to win the Champions League, an ambition he is prepared to support by slugging it out with Manchester City in what will be a multi-million pound transfer battle this summer.

Both clubs have made no secret of their desire to sign Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Modric suffered after being switched to a deep-lying role by managerial flop Juande Ramos after a £16.5million move to Spurs in the summer of 2008 and it was only after the Spaniard’s successor Harry Redknapp utilised his passing and vision in a more attacking role that the Croat and Spurs blossomed.

Now the Spurs boss looks likely to get the call he dreads – when Chelsea come knocking for Modric. (Mail on Sunday)

erome Boateng

Left back, left central defender, Hamburg and Germany. Price £11m.

The only deal which has been openly confirmed as a distinct possibility, by City boss Roberto Mancini, and by the player himself.

The deal has been in the pipeline for weeks, with Boateng agreeing a three-year deal worth £85,000 a week, and Hamburg accepting the City offer.

The paperwork cannot be completed until July 1, when his registration can be transferred.

The Blues had hoped to announce the deal, but that has been held up - even though Boateng has thrown a farewell party for his teammates - and no-one can be certain until the ink is dry.

Probability - 9/10

David Luiz

Right back, right central defender, Benfica and Brazil under-20. Price £24m.

Mancini was hugely impressed with the tall, athletic, versatile defender when he starred for Benfica in a Europa Cup tie at Anfield.

He is being touted as one of the best young defenders in the world, and Mancini has singled out the left back position as a real weak spot in his City side.

The problems are that Real Madrid are also interested, and Luiz has a prohibitive buy-out clause in his contract of £43million.

Luiz is also partly-owned by a group of shareholders in the Benfica Stars Fund, who will have to decide whether to cash in on the player now or wait for his stock to rise.

Probability 5/10

James Milner

Centre, right, left midfield, full back, Aston Villa and England. Price £30m.

Set to be the biggest transfer saga of the summer as Villa owner, Randy Lerner, seeks to drive up the price and manager Martin O'Neill digs his heels in to keep a player who is central to his plans.

The Blues have confirmed their interest with a bid worth £25m, with an initial outlay of £20m, a bid which was firmly rejected by the Birmingham club.

Now the Blues are mulling over a more complex player-plus-cash deal, with Nedum Onuoha and Stevie Ireland possibly coming in to the equation.

Milner has offered sufficient encouragement, stating that he does not know where his future lies, but Chelsea could yet muscle in, and offer the ambitious player Champions League football as well.

Probability 7/10

Steven Gerrard

Centre midfield, Liverpool and England. Price £35m.

The iconic signing which City hope will turn them from a good side into a great one, but the difference between finishing fourth and fifth could make all the difference.

Gerrard's Anfield career appears to have run its course, but he is likely to avoid the wrath of the Kopites who adore him, by moving abroad rather than join a Premier League rival.

City are trying to sell him a vision of a bold new future, of a side which will be capable of mounting a real challenge to the Chelsea-United axis, rather than sticking with a fading power.

But Real Madrid are set to make him their prime target, and that could be a challenge which Gerrard finds hard to resist.

Probability 5/10

Mikel Arteta

Centre midfield, Everton and Spain under-21. Price £28m.

After last summer's bitter wrangle over defender Joleon Lescott, the last thing City and Everton want is another protracted row over Arteta.

But business is business, and the Spaniard would fit the bill for the creative midfielder which City crave.

Arsenal also have a beady eye on Arteta, and picking him up would be a double-edged sword - adding a fine player to your squad, and removing a key man from that of a top six rival.

Arteta could be a fall-back position, one of two or three, in case the prime targets fail to come off.

Probability 4/10

Fernando Torres

Striker, Liverpool and Spain. Price £40m.

City want to add a top-class front man to play alongside Carlos Tevez, but they have to see how the ball falls when the European roulette wheel stops spinning.

Barcelona have set it in motion by paying £34m for Torres' Spain strike partner David Villa, and Real Madrid may also enter the bidding for the Liverpool spearhead.

Torres has said in the past that Champions League football is not the be-all-and- end-all, and he is not too keen on a move to Real, having been a star for rivals Atletico.

City will push hard to land Torres, but may, in the end, have to content themselves with the fall-out from whatever deals are done by the major clubs in Spain.

Probability 5/10

Andy wont be happy.


With Everton looking for funds to put in the kitty for Moyesy, the club may need to sell before they buy. Yobo could be the player to go. Joey had a poor season last season starting only 14 premier league games. The Nigerian captain was injured too many times, notably for the away trips in Europe before Christmas, but was fit enough to play in the African Nations cup.

Even though Joe is looked upon as a senior member of the squad, when Jags was back and fit, he was left out and Distin and Heitinga got the nod over him. With Newcastle, Bolton and Blackburn looking to strengthen their defence, don't be surprised to see the Nigerian captain move.

Man Utd, Spurs target Pienaar casts doubt on Everton future

Stephen Pienaar has cast fresh doubt on his future at Everton.

Tottenham, Manchester United and the Toffees' Merseyside neighbours Liverpool have been linked with the South Africa international as he has just one year remaining on his current deal.

Pienaar has not ruled out the possibility of staying at Everton, who expect to secure Jack Rodwell on a new four-year contract on Monday, but he will not be prepared to accept a cut-price offer.

"I'd say the spirit of the discussions was very good, but we have differing valuations, so my future isn't clear," said the 28-year-old in the Daily Mail.

"Everton may keep me for the last year of my deal. If they decide to sell, and the move is correct for my career, then I'll consider it.

"Hopefully this hasn't been my last season, but who knows?"



Andy really wont be happy!

He's not worth that much.. 30 to 40 million in that bracket maybe:p.

Selling a 23 year old tar for less than 40m would be ridiculous.

The Joe Cole transfer saga has dragged on and on, initially with our midfielder alleged to be waiting for a decent offer from the club. However, yesterday we were told he’s at last been offered a contract worth around £100,000 a week – and he’s set to turn it down.

What we’re now being told is that money isn’t the key issue and that all Cole’s really bothered about is getting to play football. To be fair to him, that’s certainly something he’s always made clear so it’s hardly news and you’d have to think that his lack of games, possibly along with dragged out negotiations not exactly making him feel a valued member of the squad anyway, could well have made his mind up for him.

Cole’s contract is about to expire but whilst he could more or less name his salary at Eastlands, the suggestion is he’s likely to head towards Tottenham and join up with former manager Harry Redknapp instead.

Joe Cole in a Spurs shirt next season? Doesn’t bear thinking about really!


He should stay at chelsea he will get played..

Mourinho set for Madrid talks, poor chap he'll be managing at a club where he is not the only person that has a big ego:shocked:.

He will win with real, and leave.. possibly for united.

Liverpool Consider Move for £9.5m La Liga Giant: Rafa Keen On Signing Valencia Forward Zigic




Rafa Benitez is reportedly interested in signing Valencia’s towering forward Nikola Zigic this summer. The Liverpool boss is hoping to pip fellow Premier League outfit Aston Villa to the attacker and may offer Anfield flop Albert Rieira as part of any deal.

The 6ft 7in forward spent last season warming the bench at the Mestalla after completing a successful loan spell at Racing Santander the previous term. Even though Valencia have finally given in and sold prized asset David Villa to Barcelona Zigic is still unlikely to be part of Unai Emery’s long term plans.

The 29 year old has had a mixed time in Spain since he first arrived in the country from Red Star Belgrade where he was something of a goal machine. Although over two metres tall Zigic is still very adept with the ball at his feet and Benitez apparently sees the Serbian international as a good strike partner for Fernando Torres.

Valued between £8-10m Zigic would no doubt welcome a move to the Premier League and Rafa will hope that the glamour of a move to Merseyside may help them snare the forward ahead of their midlands rivals.

Manchester United Hope to Complete Tempting £28m Player Plus Cash Swap: Ferguson Ready to Offer Flop for Edin Dzeko

Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to tempt Bundesliga side Wolfsburg into selling Edin Dzeko to Manchester United by offering flop Dimitar Berbatov as part of an exchange deal. The Old Trafford boss is looking to bring in new attacking talent but knows that given the financial problems the club is going through that getting a significant cash injection could be tricky, hence the addition of the Bulgarian international as part of any deal.

Berbatov was of course a big success in his Bundesliga days where he managed 90 goals in 200 appearances whilst at Bayer Leverkusen, the form that helped the forward seal a move to Tottenham. After two decidedly average seasons at Man United it appears that Ferguson has run out of patience with the 29 year old and is looking to sign an alternative partner for England man Wayne Rooney.

Wolfsburg are resigned to losing Edin Dzeko who has completed a successful season whilst his side have struggled to live up to their title winning heroics the season before last. The 24 year old has been linked with a move to many of Europe’s elite, including most prominently AC Milan, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Ferguson hopes that a deal that would include Berbatov and cash on top would entice Dzeko’s employers into accepting an offer for their prized asset.




You must be happy with that?!

Dzeko is awesome!

He's made no secret that he wants the United job once Fergie leaves;).

I think that next year La Liga will be more close and Barcelona will win again but you can never rule out Mourinho's men:nono:.

Chelsea Prepare Move for £18m Rated Barcelona Starlet: Ancelotti Hopes to Complete Summer Move for Bojan

Chelsea will reportedly attempt to sign Barcelona youngster Bojan this summer. Carlo Ancelotti is looking to spend big in order to bring some more young talent to Stamford Bridge and has earmarked a move for the Spanish international.

Pepe Guardiola has attempted to inject more youth into his Nou Camp side but whereas the likes of Pedro and Sergio Busquets have been handed more first team football this season 19 year old Bojan has found his time in the starting eleven limited.

With the arrival of David Villa and emergence of Pedro, the teenager may well feel the time is right to leave the Catalan giants even though he is much loved by the clubs fans he could well see a move to the Premier League as the best way to ensure his career progression is not stuttered warming the bench. Giovani dos Santos felt the need to make a similar move two years ago, and whilst his time in the Premier League was problematic, Bojan is a cut above the Mexican and could be ready to jump straight into the Chelsea first team if he did indeed make such a move.

Given that Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are both over 30 years of age and with Daniel Sturridge still very rough around the edges a move for the young striker may well make a great deal of sense.

Mourinho is a scary good manager.

OFFICIAL: Atletico Madrid Sign Fran Merida From Arsenal
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the club he supports, rejecting the Gunners offer...


Atletico Madrid have confirmed the signing of Arsenal starlet Fran Merida on a free transfer, after the player could not agree terms with the English side.

The Gunners were keen to hold onto the 20-year old, who had been on the periphery of the first team at the Emirates, but refused their offer of a new contract, allowing los Colchoneros to pounce.

Merida has penned a five-year deal with Atletico, the club that he supported as a boy, and pending a medical he will be available for the European Supercup clash with Inter that will kick off the 2010/11 season.

The Barcelona-born midfielder moved to London in the summer of 2007, and although his appearances in the first team were limited, he was highly regarded by manager Arsene Wenger and considered an important player for the future.

However, Merida has chosen to swap Premier League for La Liga and will form part of Atletico Madrid's bid for success both domestically and in their defence of their Europa League crown.


:( i liked merida.. he was no fabregas tho..

Dzeko is a skillful player and impressed for Wolfsburg against United but problem is that Fergie has said that Berba is staying.. maybe thats because no-one has offered anything for him or believes that he should have some more time to prove himself.

Would be great if it happened though hes a very quality player, big strong good head good feet would compliment rooney very well..