Arsenal are favourites to land Chelsea contract rebel Joe Cole.

The Sunday Mirror says Cole will return home from the World Cup and join Arsenal on a free transfer.

The England midfielder took the heartbreaking decision to leave Chelsea after failing to agree a new contract in the final months of the season.

His primary reason for leaving Stamford Bridge after seven years at the club was growing concerns about his chances of regular first-team football under manager Carlo Ancelotti.

He is expected to sign a four-year contract at the Emirates in a deal not dissimilar to the one Sol Campbell signed when he joined from Spurs on a free in 2001.That will see Cole’s potential earnings hit £100,000 a week.

It represents a great piece of business by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has seen off competition for Cole from Champions League rivals Manchester United and Tottenham.

Manchester City and Liverpool were also in the hunt for the 28-year-old, but it favoured Arsenal that Cole is settled living in London.


and again.. he needs to hurry up.

Manchester United Ready to Cash In On £18m Flop: Sir Alex Set to Accept Offers as Berbatov Lines Up Italian Move


Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is rumoured to be ready to cut his losses and sell Dimitar Berbatov this summer and it appears that a move to Italy is the most likely to suit all parties. After two decidedly average seasons at Old Trafford the former Tottenham man will reportedly be shown to the exit as the club tries to retrieve as much of their £30.75m investment as possible.

Reports coming from Italy suggest that Juventus and AC Milan are both keen on the 29 year old Bulgarian but may only offer around £18m for the forward who has netted 26 goals in 86 appearances. Issues may become clearer with the two Serie A clubs once managerial changes are bedded in with the Turin outfit having only recently appointed Luigi Delneri and AC still without a replacement for the outgoing Leonardo.

Ferguson is apparently ready to listen to offers as he prepares to tighten his transfer belt. With the club saddled with heavy debt the Scot knows that he may need to sell some of his failing squad members to help fund new additions.

A number of Bundesliga sides are also apparently keen on bringing Berbatov back to the league he made his name in.

England centre-back Ledley King is confident his body would stand up to the rigours of playing matches in quick succession during the World Cup.
The Tottenham star, 29, can train only twice a week because of knee problems.
King could play against Platinum Stars in England's final warm-up on Monday and then in their World Cup opener against United States on 12 June.
He said: "I've shown this season I can play games in quick succession. Monday to Saturday shouldn't be a problem."
Coach Fabio Capello must decide who will partner John Terry after skipper Rio Ferdinand was forced to pull out of the tournament with knee ligament damage.
King looks to be the front runner ahead of Matthew Upson, Jamie Carragher and his Spurs team-mate Michael Dawson - but that could mean playing as many as seven games if England were to reach the final of the month-long tournament.

Would rather have Torres than the 70 million. And I wish Madrid would **** off aswell trying to sign Gerrard.

SPL - worst league in the world.

Agree?

No

That title goes to the Welsh league

the irish league is fairly ****e

Haha true comment.

SPL is League 1/2 standard mind, apart from Celtic and Rangers of course.

Arsenal line up 20m trio.

Arsenal are considered favourites in three seperate transfer deals worth a total cost to The Gunners of no more than £20 Million. Arsene Wenger is apparently ready to bring Serbian midfielder Milos Krasnic, Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer and Chelsea’s Joe Cole all to The Emirates with Krasnic costing Arsenal the most at £16 Million, Cole on a free and Schwarzer £3 Million.

Whether the Arsenal fans will be happy with these proposed signings is another matter, it will however please the Arsenal board with three quality signings brought in for less than £20 Million but questions will be asked about each of the three, especially Mark Schwarzer who at the age of 37 cannot be considered a long term replacement for Arsenal’s current keepers Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski.

25 year old Krasnic is highly rated but at £16 Million the question is does he represent value for money and while Joe Cole setting up camp at The Emirates is definitely a bargain his wages demands are sure to be an issue but with the prospect of Cesc Fabregas leaving for Barcelona still very real at least the blow be softened somewhat with the arrival of Cole and Krasnic.

Whether the reports in today’s Sunday papers are accurate is also another matter, at least on this occasion these three players have consistently been linked with Arsenal but until Wenger actually makes any concrete moves then nothing can be certain when it comes to the Frenchman’s intentions.

Manchester City are willing to make Fernando Torres the world's richest footballer as they look to tempt him to leave Liverpool.

However, ESPN are reporting that the Spanish international will reject City's advances in favour of a move to Chelsea as he wants to be playing Champions League football next season.

A source close to the Liverpool striker said: "City were ready to offer Fernando Torres a huge contract, and by that I mean the biggest for any footballer anywhere in the world.

But Torres said 'no', he was not interested."

No formal contract offer can be agreed though as City have not agreed a fee with Liverpool for the Spaniard, but any deal could see Torres earn more than £200,000 a week plus image rights and bonuses.

The source continued by saying that negotiations were underway behind the scenes at Chelsea who have also made Torres aware of their interest with Liverpool thought to be holding out for £70m in the way of compensation.

The Blues are reluctant to go that high however, and are confident they can land Torres for nearer £50m.

Arsenal set to beat Manchester City in race to sign Chelsea's Joe Cole
Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole has been strongly linked with a summer move to Arsenal.


Reports suggest the 28 year-old is prepared to leave Chelsea after the World Cup, and will turn down Manchester City in order to secure a switch to the Emirates.

With Cesc Fabregas' future at Arsenal in serious doubt following interest from Barcelona, the Daily Mail reports that Arsene Wenger views Cole as an ideal replacement for the Spaniard, especially as he will be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of June.

Chelsea, though, will fight to keep Cole at Stamford Bridge.

The playmaker has also been a target for Manchester United, Tottenham and West Ham. But Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins insists he and manager Carlo Ancelotti will be trying to persuade Cole to stay.

Wilkins said: "We've obviously been in dialogue with Joe for months now and it's pretty evident that Carlo and myself would love Joe to stay but it's down now to the club to see what we can do.

"We sincerely hope Joe stays with us - he's a smashing guy and he's a wonderful footballer so we'll keep our fingers crossed."

Fans' favourite Guus Hiddink is unlikely to leave his role as Turkey boss to join Liverpool.


I said the other day, wonder if they will try for guss hiddink.. and what do you know.

Yaya Toure looks to be heading to England, with a deal to join a Premier League club next season already agreed. His agent Dimitri Seluk stated: “We can't talk about definite clubs. We already have a closed deal, and all will be resolved before the World Cup.” Wenger is a known admirer of the midfield enforcer, but his capture is unlikely to form part of any deal for Cesc Fabregas after the Gunners announced that they “will not make any kind of counterproposal or enter into any discussion” over the Spaniard’s future.

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano uncertain over Anfield future and admires Inter Milan's targeting of ex-Reds boss Rafael Benitez as their new coach.



Sven-Goran Eriksson: it would be a dream to manage Liverpool



Deposed Real Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly interested in taking the manager's job at Anfield

Dont understand why we are buying schwarzer.. he is only just better than almunia and gives 5 years on him..

Van Persie targets 30-goal season

Robin van Persie hopes to remain injury free for Arsenal and hit thirty goals next season.

The Dutchman has struggled with injuries throughout his whole career, but believes he can reach the heights of other world greats if he can stay fit.

His manager Arsène Wenger compared him to Lionel Messi earlier in the season, and van Persie is flattered, and hopes he can achieve what the Barcelona striker has.

He said: "Arsène Wenger said at the end of this season, once I'd come back into the team, that people would have been talking about me like Lionel Messi if I had not been injured.

"I can see what the manager meant when he said those things. But I still think I am not in the same class until I have gone a long period without an injury.

"And I want to go through next season where I score 30 goals and have 20 assists.

"Only then I will turn around to the manager and say, 'Yes boss, you are right'.

"But I admit that I have a massive desire to get to the level of Messi, Rooney and Ronaldo. And I'd rather do it today than tomorrow."

van Persie will be hoping to showcase his skills at this summer's World Cup for Holland, after showing impressive pre-tournament form for his country.

Hmmm I do wonder whether these Berbatov rumours are true?, Fergie in public defends him but behind close doors must be wondering whether to get rid so he can have more money available for some transfer business:).

Can see Cole joining Arsenal tbh and good luck to him, his wife had a baby this year and moving to Manchester would be unsettling.

Arsenal demand Barcelona double their offer to £60m for Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal will demand £60million for Cesc Fabregas to join Barcelona after the Barclays Premier League side turned down a £29m bid from the Spanish champions.

The Gunners declared they have ‘no intention’ of selling their club captain, but it is believed they would cash in on the 23-year-old if Barcelona double their initial offer.

Meanwhile, international team-mate Xavi has continued to talk up the chances of the move by urging Fabregas to join him at Barcelona.

The midfielder said: 'I would love him to come. I have already told him so. He's a footballer made up of Barca DNA. I don't have any doubt that Cesc would triumph at Barca.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz0q7FWXnB6


Shut up Xavi you have said that EVERY month for the past 2 years shut up already!

Yeah i still think berbatov will stay though.

And yes would be great signing for us..

Chamakh Joe cole and Schwarzer.. all for less than 5m.. lol.


Just think Joe hart would be the best.. or frey.

No chance with Joe Hart. Manchester City have made it clear he's their future in terms of GK talent. As for Frey if he were to come to the PL then I think he would go to Chelsea or Man United.

I think Berbatov will stay tbh but I hope Carrick isn't sold:(.

Joe hart would get champions league with us tho and be england number 1 within 6 months!!

i wish they would let him go, maybe on free in the future..



Frey is great and i dont get why he isnt in french team?

Aston Villa are interested in frey.

Paddy Kenny has gone from Sheffield United :(

He would but with the money City have they probably will get CL season next or a couple more after that:(. They say money doesn't buy you success but in this instance that theory could be proved to be untrue:shocked:.

Frey is awesome but at the moment Lyon have Hugo Lloris who is a promising French goalkeeper, who they want to develop.. i've seen a bit of footage of him and can see why France rate him highly:D.