Edin Dzeko emerges as potential makeweight in Theo Walcott City deal
Edin Dzeko looks to have become a shock target for Arsenal as they consider their options over the potential sale of Theo Walcott to Manchester City.
Talks between the Gunners and Walcott over a new contract have stalled and, with three days of the transfer window to go, Liverpool and City are considering a move for the 23-year-old.
According to reports, Arsene Wenger could be keen on taking Dzeko if Walcott makes the opposite journey.
Wenger is a fan of the Bosnian striker and first identified him as a prospect several years ago.
Dzeko’s future at the Etihad Stadium has been uncertain after he revealed his frustration at being a bit-part player last season.
He found himself behind Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez in the pecking order, and Bayern Munich, Juventus and AC Milan have all been linked to him this summer.
The Premier League champions could turn to Walcott after struggling to complete a move for Swansea's Scott Sinclair.
Metro
OR
Man City and Liverpool target set to stay at Arsenal
Theo Walcott was set to stay at Arsenal tonight after holding showdown talks with Arsene Wenger at the club’s training ground.
It is understood that Walcott did not back down over his contract demands but gave assurances he definitely wanted to stay with the Gunners in the long-term.
Arsenal had been braced for the prospect of selling Walcott before the transfer window closes on Friday but they are now happy to continue negotiations beyond then and effectively risk losing him for nothing next summer.
That is a scenario the club have not been prepared to tolerate in the past, having decided to sell a host of big name players in recent years as they have entered the final year of their contract.
The difference with Walcott is that there is genuine hope an agreement can be reached, although how Arsenal and manager Wenger would react to a big-money bid in the next 48 hours remains to be seen.
Walcott, who has been valued between £12 million and £1 5million, has already been linked with Liverpool this summer.
Reports suggest Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City are also interested in adding the England star to their ever-increasing arsenal of former Gunners after seeing a bid for Swansea’s Scott Sinclair rejected.
It is understood Arsenal offered Walcott a contract worth around £75,000-a-week, reportedly for the next five years.
But the player himself is after a better deal - nearer £100,000-a-week according to reports, while he is also seeking assurances about his position in the team.
SNUB COUNT BOLLOX
If Walcott has indeed decided to Snub City then it will be the 500th snub since May 13th ...
City step up efforts to sign Brazilian full-back
Manchester City have stepped up their efforts to sign Inter right-back Maicon, The Guardian state.
Roberto Mancini has admitted that his side must strengthen their squad before the end of the transfer window if they are to challenge on all fronts this term, but as yet Jack Rodwell has been the only addition this summer.
The Premier League champions have been frustrated in their attempts to sign the likes of Daniele De Rossi and Javi Martinez, whilst a deal to bring Scott Sinclair to the Etihad Stadium still hangs in the balance.
Maicon has less than a year left on his contract in Italy, and the player’s agent has confirmed that there is interest from Mancini’s men.
“There is interest from Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea in the player,” Roberto Calenda confirmed.
“There is no possibility that he goes to Milan or Juventus. He has worn the Nerazzurri shirt for six seasons and has too much respect for the fans to betray them in that manner. He could also yet remain at Inter.”
Inter are rumoured to be willing to sell the veteran South American defender for around €6 million (£4.7m).
Chumps League top 4?
There is a possibility the title winners from England, Spain, Italy and Germany could all be drawn together in the same group.
The worst-case scenario for Manchester City would see the Premier League champions having to face Real Madrid of the Primera Liga, Italian champions Juventus and German Bundesliga winners Borussia Dortmund
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43841
OTHER BOLLOX
Charlie Adam: Stoke make £5m bid for Liverpool midfielder
Stoke City have made a £5m bid for Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam.
Manager Tony Pulis is hopeful a deal can be completed in the next 48 hours after the Scot was made available for transfer.
Adam, 26, had been keen to stay at Anfield to fight for his place but the Reds want to raise funds to bid for Fulham forward Clint Dempsey.
Jay Spearing is also expected to leave, albeit on loan, with Wolves and Bolton interested in the midfielder.
Adam has only made 37 appearances for the Reds, scoring two goals, since making a £9m move from Blackpool in July 2011.
And it appears he does not feature in the future plans of ex-Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, who replaced Kenny Dalglish at the end of last season.
Rodgers admitted he made a summer enquiry for United States international Dempsey, who has not featured in Fulham's opening two Premier League games.
Dempsey, who scored 23 goals for the Cottagers last season, told Fulham boss Martin Jol that he no longer wanted to play for the west London club.
Speaking at a media conference on Wednesday before Liverpool's Europa League tie against Hearts, Rodgers was unwilling to comment on the futures of Adam and youth team graduate Spearing.
"We have had a number of enquiries about some of our players," said the Northern Irishman.
"I have been open and up front with all the players. You can see from Sunday's game [against Manchester City] our spirit is very strong in the group, but the reality is players want to play.
"Everyone knows where they stand at this moment. One or two of them may have decisions to make as to whether they want to be a squad player or play regularly somewhere else."
Pulis admitted, after his team's 0-0 draw against Arsenal, he wanted to freshen up his squad before the end of the transfer window.
Porto have turned down a £39.5m bid from Zenit St Petersburg for Hulk. The 26-year-old striker and winger is also a target for Chelsea. talkShit
[strike]West Ham will launch a final attempt to sign Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, 23, before the window closes. This would allow the Reds to move for Walcott. Daily Cent[/strike]
Carroll is set to be left out of Liverpool's Europa League match with Hearts, further fuelling speculation he will leave the club. Daily Mirror
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants Carroll to admit his Anfield career his over as he looks to bring in cash to buy Clint Dempsey, 29, and Walcott. The Times
Liverpool want to sign Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente, 27, if they can sell Carroll before Friday's transfer deadline. the Sun
Hamburg say they will do "all they can" to complete the signing of Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, 29, before the window closes. Metro
Tottenham and Chelsea are locked in a £15m battle for France and Marseille striker Loic Remy, 25. Daily Express
Fulham have failed in a bid to sign 25-year-old midfielder Mark Noble from West Ham, as they look for a replacement for Mousa Dembele who has joined Tottenham.
Meanwhile, Swansea have agreed a record £5.5m deal for Valencia winger Pablo Hernandez, 27, as a possible replacement for Sinclair. Daily Mirror
Swansea have had a new £5.1million bid for Valencia winger Pablo Hernandez, 27, rejected according to other reports. Sun
Malaga are set to beat Real Betis to the signature of 31-year-old Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz, according to reports in Spain. talkShit
[strike]Midfielder Stephen Ireland, 26, is targeting a new Aston Villa deal after being given a fresh start at the club by manager Paul Lambert. Daily Cent[/strike]
Chelsea defender John Terry says he is fit for England's World Cup qualifier double-header with Moldova and Ukraine, after missing Chelsea's win over Newcastle with a neck injury. Daily Mirror
Jack Butland and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be in Roy Hodgson's squad when he announces it on Thursday. Independent
Steven Gerrard is stunned by how impressive Joe Allen has been since arriving at Anfield from Swansea. Daily Star
[strike]QPR's new goalkeeper Julio Cesar, 32, says he wants to win the Premier League with the west London club.
Daily Cent[/strike]
more bollox later ...
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