Foxes swoop for United duo
Leicester City have moved to sign the Manchester United duo of Ritchie de Laet and Matty James. The Foxes announced the dual swoop and also added that the two players had put pen to paper three year contracts at the King Power Stadium.
Belgian defender De Laet has had loan stints with the likes of Norwich City, Sheffield United, Preston North End and Portsmouth.
Midfielder James, who has captained England at U-19 level, has been troubled by injury during his time at Old Trafford. He, like De Laet, has also spent time on loan at Preston North End.
Leicester are aiming for promotion from the Championship in the forthcoming 2012-2013 season.
Ivanovic summer transfer target for Mourinho?
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly weighing up a bid for Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in the summer. The versatile Serb, who can play both as a centre half and a right back, is seen by Mourinho as the perfect addition to the Madrid defence as the Portuguese gaffer aims to build on his this season’s La Liga triumph.
Ivanovic, a regular for the Serbian national team and one of the senior members in the squad following the retirements of Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic, joined Chelsea from Russian outfit Lokomotiv Moscow in 2008. He has made atleast 40 appearances in each of his last three seasons at Stamford Bridge, but will miss the Blues’ Champions League final against Bayern Munich through suspension.
Spurs target Foster as long term replacement for Brad Friedel
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly lined up Ben Foster as as long term replacement for Brad Friedel. American stopper Friedel, Spurs’ first choice keeper during the 2011/12 campaign, is already 40 years old and Spurs are planning for the future by trying to lure Foster to White Hart Lane from Birmingham City. Spurs’ second choice keeper is Carlo Cudicini, no spring chicken himself either.
Foster, a former Man Utd player, is currently on loan at West Bromwich Albion from the Blues. He has currently made himself unavailable for international selection but a good run at Spurs could see him jump back into the fray and challenge the likes of Joe Hart and Robert Green for the national jersey.
Van Persie set to reject Juventus
Arsenal skipper Robin Van Persie is set to snub Italian giants Juventus after the Bianconeri revealed that they were interested in securing his services this summer. Juventus, winners of Serie A in 2011/12, have made no secret of their admiration for the Dutch star but Van Persie is reportedly not too keen on a move to Italy.
The prolific Dutch centre forward doesn’t view Juventus as a major step up from Arsenal and the fact that his family are well settled in London is also a factor. Van Persie will reportedly quit Arsenal only if a major European superpower ( read Real Madrid or Barcelona) come calling.
Van Persie has a year left on his contract at Arsenal but officials are confident of getting him to pen a new deal soon.
Yann M’Vila to Arsenal- Deal almost done?
Reports in France are suggesting that Yann M’Vila’s transfer to Arsenal is all but done. Le Parisien suggests that M’Vila is set to snub Italian giants Inter Milan and sign for Arsenal on a four year deal. The report also says that the London outfit will pay Stade Rennais £17.7m for M’Vila’s services, thus eclipsing the £15m record fee the club paid for Andrei Arshavin to Zenit Petersburg a few years ago.
Arsenal have never quite been able to fill the void left by the departure of Patrick Vieira and Wenger hopes that M’Vila, a 21 year old defensive medio, will help in plugging that hole. Despite his young age, M’Vila has already been linked with several top continental clubs and is expected to play a key role for France in Euro 2012.
Remy not interested in Spurs move
Olympique de Marseille striker Loic Remy has revealed that he is not keen on an imminent move to England. Spurs target Remy, 25, revealed to La Provence that he feels he has unfinished business at the Stade Velodrome and is keen on staying in South France for another season.
However Remy revealed that his hand may be forced by financial conditions at Marseille, who have had a poor league season and failed to qualify for the Champions League. Remy is expected to represent France at Euro 2012 and should he put in a good show in Poland and Ukraine, L’OM may be keen to cash on in their star asset in the light of interest from Spurs and other English club teams.
Spurs to rival Arsenal for Vertonghen signature
Tottenham Hotspur are said to be ready to rival Arsenal for the signature of Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen. The Gunners want to reunite Vertonghen with former team mate Thomas Vermaelen but Spurs have reportedly opened talks with the defender over a potential summer switch.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is keen to rejig his backline this summer but a lot will depend on whether he can guarantee Champions League football for Vertonghen. Arsenal are in third place currently while Spurs could miss out on the UCL altogether ( even if they finish fourth) in the event of Chelsea winning the Champions League title against Bayern Munich later this month.
The Blues are also said to be keeping tabs on Vertonghen along with Newcastle.
Man Utd and Real Madrid to battle it out for Brazilian starlet
Manchester United and Real Madrid are to set to battle it out in the summer for Sao Paolo’s young Brazilian star Lucas. The 19 year old is acknowledged as one of the hottest talents back home in Brazil and was in FIFA’s list of players to watch out last year. Despite his young age, he has already been capped 11 times by Brazil and his talent has invited comparisons with Chelsea target Neymar, another precociously talented Brazilian youngster.
Lucas is rated at £12m and United are hoping that their existing Portuguese speaking contingent of Nani and the Da Silva brothers, coupled with the greater chances of getting first team football at Old Trafford in comparison to the Bernabeu, will swing the transfer their way.
Magpies interested in Sigurdsson?
Newcastle United are reportedly mulling over the signing of Swansea City’s Icelandic medio Gylfi Sigurdsson in the summer. Sigurdsson is on loan at the Liberty Stadium from German outfit TSG Hoffenheim and has been one of the Swans’ stand out players this season.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew views Sigurdsson as a perfect player to strengthen their midfield for next season, with the Magpies looking odds on to qualify for the Europa League. A spot in the Champions League may also be possible, but a Europa League slot looks more realistic.
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to make the deal permanent but Hoffenheim’s asking price ( reportedly around £8m) looks to be out of his reach, thus allowing Newcastle and other potential interested candidates to jump into the fray for the highly rated midfielder.