NASRI TO GO AND FABREGAS TO STAY?
Well this is unexpected. After weeks and weeks of expecting that Cesc Fabregas will be leaving Arsenal some time soon and Samir Nasri will be staying no matter what, it now seems very conceivable that Fabregas will have to stay at the Emirates for at least another season and it’s Nasri who will be departing.
The spark for this u-turn in possibility has been the admission of Arsene Wenger that Nasri’s future is still “not completely” sorted having previously been unequivocal in his refrain that the Frenchman would not be leaving. “Hopefully we can sort that out in the coming weeks,” Wenger told the Arsenal website on Friday night.
And now the unthinkable is being thought about.
According to The Sun, Nasri ‘has told Gunners team-mates he definitely will NOT sign a new deal at the club. He will snub the £115,000-a-week contract being offered by Arsenal in the hope of forcing a £20million move to Manchester City.’
Wenger has previously acknowledged that Arsenal could no longer be considered a “big club” if they lost both Nasri and Fabregas, so it does rather sound as if Arsenal have quite the dilemma ahead:
‘If the Frenchman sits tight and sees out his current contract, then Fabregas is likely to finally move to Barcelona. However, if Nasri’s ultimatum to Arsenal forces through the move to City, Fabregas may have to spend another year at the Emirates.’
And it’s not as if, by all accounts, Barcelona are any closer to finally finalising the recruitment of their former schoolboy.
‘On Fabregas, Arsenal are still waiting to see whether Barcelona are genuinely willing to meet their £40 million valuation,’ reports The Times. “There is no movement at all,” said Wenger.
And whilst a Barcelona delegation are believed to have re-opened talks with Arsenal this week, The Guardian notes ‘an increased bid understood to be around £33m is unlikely to get a positive response from the Emirates, with frustration growing as the season draws nearer and Barcelona still refuse to offer a figure more in line with Arsenal’s £40m valuation.
‘With their main priority Alexis Sánchez finally tied up, Barcelona have turned their attention to Fábregas. Communication between the clubs has been reasonably fluid and although significant differences remain between the bids and Arsenal’s expectations, Barcelona hoped their presence would convince Arsenal and Fábregas of their good intentions and willingness to negotiate further. Arsenal directors cannot understand why Barcelona have not made a more realistic bid, however.’
Has the summer’s most boring saga got interesting?
AND THE REST OF THE ARSENAL GOSSIP
Yes, there’s plenty more about Arsenal in the papers, which itself is a telling reminder of just how little they’ve got done yet.
Manuel Almunia, Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue have also been ruled out of the Gunners’ trip this weekend to Cologne and The Times says that the Ivorian is close to a move to Galatasaray.
Meanwhile, following Arsenal’s silly £10m bid for Phil Jagielka, The Daily Mirror reckons that ‘Everton will resist any attempt to lure Phil Jagielka away from Goodison Park’ but suggests that Jack Rodwell could be permitted to depart.
‘Moyes is still a big fan of the youngster but, with the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta among his midfield options, Rodwell is not central to his plans.’
The utterly brilliant suggestion is that, with reference to that aforementioned silly £10m bid, ‘Everton boss David Moyes would not even answer the phone at that price’.
DROGBA TO EXTEND CHELSEA STAY
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba expects to sign a new one-year contract extension that will tie him to Stamford Bridge until 2013.
The Ivory Coast international, who joined the Blues from Marseille in 2004, revealed negotiations had begun on a new deal that would see him remain at the club until he is 35.
“We’ve started talking and it’s very interesting. Everybody knows what I feel about Chelsea and what I want,” he said.
“I will definitely be here next season. I said a few years ago that I will be here until the end of my contract, and I am here.
“Now I need to keep playing well here and giving my best, like I always try to do. This will be my eighth season at this club and it means a lot for any striker to stay that long at Chelsea.”
For the first time in his Chelsea career Drogba admits he will not be assured of a first-team place this season.
The 33-year-old is set to compete with £50million striker Fernando Torres for the starter’s role with new boss Andre Villas-Boas seemingly set to employ a single striker in a 4-3-3 formation.
CHELSEA TO SIGN BARCA YOUNGSTER
Chelsea have reached agreement with Barcelona for the signing of young Spain Under-20 defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu.
Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas confirmed the news at a press conference in Bangkok, although 19-year-old Romeu is yet to have a medical or agree personal terms as he is currently with Spain preparing for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia.
Romeu made his debut for the Barcelona first team at the end of last season, but is not part of Pep Guardiola’s long-term plans at the Nou Camp.
A statement on the Chelsea website read: “Chelsea Football Club has agreed terms with Barcelona for the transfer of Oriol Romeu.”
SPURS TO SIGN ADEBAYOR ON LOAN
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has reiterated his interest in signing former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor – but only on loan.
Adebayor has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester City and spent the second half of last season on loan at Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Redknapp has previously spoken of his interest in landing the 27-year-old to bolster his firepower – but says any deal would not be a permanent transfer.
He told Sky Sports News: “Adebayor is a name that’s been thrown at me since I’ve been here but I think the club, we were looking maybe to loan him, that was as far as that one had gone.
