Wednesday's B*L**X

THE BOLLOX

Man City and Chelsea transfer target Edinson Cavani's £53m release clause 'runs out on August 10th'Napoli president not worried striker will wait and move on the cheap because he's "a real man. He won't make a joke of me"
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentis has apparently dropped a clanger by telling clubs interested in buying his star man Edinson Cavani that the striker's £53million buyout clause EXPIRES before the summer transfer window closes.
Cavani, currently on international duty with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup in Brazil, has been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as Real Madrid.
Just two days ago, De Laurentiis claimed deposed Premier League champions City are out of the race because of that release clause.
"Manchester City do not have money to pay for Cavani, because they say, 'We won't pay that [£53m],'" he said in a press conference.
Now though, he has reportedly told Radio Rai that the clause is not open-ended.
"I don't think Cavani will leave on August 10th, when his buyout clause expires. I'm confident in him, because I consider him a real man. He won't make a joke of me," said De Laurentiis.
'Should Cavani want to leave, he will decide it after a long period of reflection. But by July 20th we will probably know everything about his future."
Meanwhile, Cavani has told Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport he is "flattered" by the calibre of the clubs tracking him.
"I'm flattered by the interest of certain teams. Who would ever say no to Real Madrid or Chelsea?
"We'll see what happens. There are many rumors but nothing concrete."
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Tevez joins Juventus as City seek Cavani
Manchester City have sold Carlos Tevez to Juventus, paving the way for the Sky Blues to swipe Napoli striker Edinson Cavani from under Chelsea's nose.
According to reports in England and Italy, Juventus are set to pay Manchester City up to 12 million euros for Tevez with the Argentine striker expected to undergo a medical in Turin on Wednesday (European time).
Tevez, who has played the past four seasons with Manchester City, after two campaigns with Manchester United, has scored almost a goal every other game since arriving in Europe in the 2006-07 season and Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio believes the 29-year-old would be a perfect fit in Turin.
"These champions are very welcome, as long as they are motivated to wear the (Juventus) shirt," Marchisio said on Tuesday.
With Tevez moving on, Manchester City will be expected to work harder to bring Cavani to the Premier League as the 26-year-old Uruguayan striker remains one of the hottest targets in football.
Despite Napoli's official radio station claiming earlier this week that a 58-million-euro deal for Cavani to join Chelsea had been sealed, the transfer saga surrounding the Uruguayan continued on Tuesday (European time).
New Napoli coach Rafa Benitez argued Cavani will not be sold for less than his release clause of 63 million euros, while the latter stated he wanted to speak to club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis about the target price.
"I don't think I'm worth €63m," Cavani told Spanish newspaper Marca.
"I will talk to De Laurentiis about it.
"I owe a lot to Napoli and I want to leave through the front door if I move on.
"I am feeling very good at Napoli but it all depends on the club.
"We will have to wait and see what options I have.
"What I want to do is sit down face to face with the club president and decide my future together."
Cavani has scored 104 goals in 138 appearances in his three seasons with Napoli and has been linked with Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain since the end of last season.
While Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is still waiting to secure a deal for Cavani, the Portuguese boss has finally confirmed the signing of Bayer Leverkusen winger Andre Schurrle.
Schurrle, who has represented Germany 24 times for seven goals, was thrilled to have signed on the dotted line with Chelsea.
"I am so happy now I have signed and it is an honour for me to play for this club, with this team and for these great fans," Schurrle told Chelsea's official website.
"I am really looking forward to it."
Edinson Cavani wants £300,000 a week wages
Napoli striker Edinson Cavani wants to be paid £300,000 a week by any potential new club if he leaves Italy this summer, according to a report.
Cavani has been linked with moves to Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea but no deal has yet been agreed for the Uruguayan to leave the Serie A side.
The 26-year-old is eyeing a big pay deal should one of these clubs agree a transfer with Napoli and he is hopeful that he can land wages of £300,000 a week, reports The Mirror.
Cavani is currently away on international duty with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup.
Manchester United manager David Moyes will attempt to convince striker Wayne Rooney, 27, to stay at Old Trafford.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored 25 league goals last season for Shakhtar Donetsk Daily Mirror
Chelsea have told Napoli they will not pay more than £40m for 26-year-old striker Edinson Cavani. Daily Star
Newcastle United are preparing a £12m bid for 27-year-old Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac. DSSC
Shakhtar Donetsk claim Liverpool target Henrikh Mkhitaryan has failed to report to their pre-season training camp in Austria with the 24-year-old apparently frustrated his £23m deal to the Reds has not been secured. Daily Mirror
Carlo Ancelotti's arrival at Real Madrid as manager means the club will sanction 25-year-old striker Gonzalo Higuain's move to Arsenal or Juventus soon. Independent
Everton are interested in signing CSKA Moscow's 27-year-old midfielder Keisuke Honda as interest in their midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 25, increases. DSSC
Spanish side Villarreal will compete with Sunderland for Tigre full-back Lucas Orban, 24, after the conclusion of the Argentine league. Sunderland Echo
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup is interested in Vitesse Arnhem's Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony, 24. South Wales Evening Post
Stoke have identified Blackburn's Martin Olsson, 25, and PSV Eindhoven's Erik Pieters, 24, as possible solutions to their problem left-back slot. Stoke Sentinel
Reading have signed USA international midfielder Daniel Williams, 24, from German side TSG Hoffenheim in a deal worth around £1.6m. Kicker
Monaco midfielder Alexandros Tziolis, 28, has joined Greek side PAOK FC. Sport 24
Italian side Genoa have opened negotiations with Sevilla over Spanish defender Alberto Botia, 24. Marca
Paris St-Germain could still appoint Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger next summer despite bringing in Laurent Blanc as their new manager. Daily Mirror
Outgoing England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce will leave behind a detailed analysis of his players' failures at the recent Euro Championship. Daily Telegraph
Former Netherlands great and Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff believes the Spanish club should have considered selling forward Lionel Messi, 26, now they have signed 21-year-old Brazilian attacker Neymar. Marca
MORE VERY SOON

Man City and Chelsea transfer target Edinson Cavani's £53m release clause 'runs out on August 10th'Napoli president not worried striker will wait and move on the cheap because he's "a real man. He won't make a joke of me"
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentis has apparently dropped a clanger by telling clubs interested in buying his star man Edinson Cavani that the striker's £53million buyout clause EXPIRES before the summer transfer window closes.
Cavani, currently on international duty with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup in Brazil, has been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as Real Madrid.
Just two days ago, De Laurentiis claimed deposed Premier League champions City are out of the race because of that release clause.
"Manchester City do not have money to pay for Cavani, because they say, 'We won't pay that [£53m],'" he said in a press conference.
Now though, he has reportedly told Radio Rai that the clause is not open-ended.
"I don't think Cavani will leave on August 10th, when his buyout clause expires. I'm confident in him, because I consider him a real man. He won't make a joke of me," said De Laurentiis.
'Should Cavani want to leave, he will decide it after a long period of reflection. But by July 20th we will probably know everything about his future."
Meanwhile, Cavani has told Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport he is "flattered" by the calibre of the clubs tracking him.
"I'm flattered by the interest of certain teams. Who would ever say no to Real Madrid or Chelsea?
"We'll see what happens. There are many rumors but nothing concrete."
[spoiler]

Tevez joins Juventus as City seek Cavani
Manchester City have sold Carlos Tevez to Juventus, paving the way for the Sky Blues to swipe Napoli striker Edinson Cavani from under Chelsea's nose.
According to reports in England and Italy, Juventus are set to pay Manchester City up to 12 million euros for Tevez with the Argentine striker expected to undergo a medical in Turin on Wednesday (European time).
Tevez, who has played the past four seasons with Manchester City, after two campaigns with Manchester United, has scored almost a goal every other game since arriving in Europe in the 2006-07 season and Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio believes the 29-year-old would be a perfect fit in Turin.
"These champions are very welcome, as long as they are motivated to wear the (Juventus) shirt," Marchisio said on Tuesday.
With Tevez moving on, Manchester City will be expected to work harder to bring Cavani to the Premier League as the 26-year-old Uruguayan striker remains one of the hottest targets in football.
Despite Napoli's official radio station claiming earlier this week that a 58-million-euro deal for Cavani to join Chelsea had been sealed, the transfer saga surrounding the Uruguayan continued on Tuesday (European time).
New Napoli coach Rafa Benitez argued Cavani will not be sold for less than his release clause of 63 million euros, while the latter stated he wanted to speak to club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis about the target price.
"I don't think I'm worth €63m," Cavani told Spanish newspaper Marca.
"I will talk to De Laurentiis about it.
"I owe a lot to Napoli and I want to leave through the front door if I move on.
"I am feeling very good at Napoli but it all depends on the club.
"We will have to wait and see what options I have.
"What I want to do is sit down face to face with the club president and decide my future together."
Cavani has scored 104 goals in 138 appearances in his three seasons with Napoli and has been linked with Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain since the end of last season.
While Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is still waiting to secure a deal for Cavani, the Portuguese boss has finally confirmed the signing of Bayer Leverkusen winger Andre Schurrle.
Schurrle, who has represented Germany 24 times for seven goals, was thrilled to have signed on the dotted line with Chelsea.
"I am so happy now I have signed and it is an honour for me to play for this club, with this team and for these great fans," Schurrle told Chelsea's official website.
"I am really looking forward to it."
Edinson Cavani wants £300,000 a week wages
Napoli striker Edinson Cavani wants to be paid £300,000 a week by any potential new club if he leaves Italy this summer, according to a report.
Cavani has been linked with moves to Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea but no deal has yet been agreed for the Uruguayan to leave the Serie A side.
The 26-year-old is eyeing a big pay deal should one of these clubs agree a transfer with Napoli and he is hopeful that he can land wages of £300,000 a week, reports The Mirror.
Cavani is currently away on international duty with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup.
Manchester United manager David Moyes will attempt to convince striker Wayne Rooney, 27, to stay at Old Trafford.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored 25 league goals last season for Shakhtar Donetsk Daily Mirror
Chelsea have told Napoli they will not pay more than £40m for 26-year-old striker Edinson Cavani. Daily Star
Newcastle United are preparing a £12m bid for 27-year-old Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac. DSSC
Shakhtar Donetsk claim Liverpool target Henrikh Mkhitaryan has failed to report to their pre-season training camp in Austria with the 24-year-old apparently frustrated his £23m deal to the Reds has not been secured. Daily Mirror
Carlo Ancelotti's arrival at Real Madrid as manager means the club will sanction 25-year-old striker Gonzalo Higuain's move to Arsenal or Juventus soon. Independent
Everton are interested in signing CSKA Moscow's 27-year-old midfielder Keisuke Honda as interest in their midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 25, increases. DSSC
Spanish side Villarreal will compete with Sunderland for Tigre full-back Lucas Orban, 24, after the conclusion of the Argentine league. Sunderland Echo
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup is interested in Vitesse Arnhem's Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony, 24. South Wales Evening Post
Stoke have identified Blackburn's Martin Olsson, 25, and PSV Eindhoven's Erik Pieters, 24, as possible solutions to their problem left-back slot. Stoke Sentinel
Reading have signed USA international midfielder Daniel Williams, 24, from German side TSG Hoffenheim in a deal worth around £1.6m. Kicker
Monaco midfielder Alexandros Tziolis, 28, has joined Greek side PAOK FC. Sport 24
Italian side Genoa have opened negotiations with Sevilla over Spanish defender Alberto Botia, 24. Marca
Paris St-Germain could still appoint Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger next summer despite bringing in Laurent Blanc as their new manager. Daily Mirror
Outgoing England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce will leave behind a detailed analysis of his players' failures at the recent Euro Championship. Daily Telegraph
Former Netherlands great and Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff believes the Spanish club should have considered selling forward Lionel Messi, 26, now they have signed 21-year-old Brazilian attacker Neymar. Marca
MORE VERY SOON