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Arsenal look at Adrian Lopez instead of David Villa, Man City target Neymar and Theo Walcott and Chelsea eye...

Last Updated: 23/12/12 at 12:17 Post Comment

WENGER LOOKS AT LOPEZ
We've seen Arsenal linked with a move for David Villa this week but the Sunday Mirror says that concerns over Villa's age (31) and injury history (not good) will lead to the Gunners making a move for 'the new Villa' instead. That's Atletico's Adrian Lopez in case you were wondering.

Lopez is only 24 and his wage demands would be considerably less than the £100,000 a week expected by Villa. He scored 19 goals for Atletico last season in all competitions but has to play second fiddle to Radamel Falcao and is thought to be open to a £15m exit.

So where will Villa go? Well, Juventus, Tottenham and Liverpool are all said to be interested in the £12m-rated Barcelona striker.


COMINGS AND GOINGS AT CITY
Let's start with the 'goings' and the Sunday Times claim that City's quest to bring down their wage bill will see an exodus with Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli all likely to leave.

Where that fits with reports in the Sunday Telegraph that sporting director Txiki Begiristain has been in South America talking to Neymar, we're not entirely sure. Or indeed where that fits with reports in the Daily Star Sunday that Begiristain has been urging the club to raid Arsenal once again for Theo Walcott, as we're pretty sure neither of those players will come cheap.


WHICH STRIKER FOR CHELSEA?
Radomel Falcao appears to be the number one target but his inevitable £48m switch to either Chelsea or Real Madrid is unlikely to happen until the summer, so the Blues need to find a striker available in January.

A few names are mentioned by the Sunday Telegraph - that of Demba Ba (said by the Mail on Sunday to have turned down an £80,000-a-week offer from QPR), Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain and of course Arsenal's Theo Walcott.

Elsewhere, the Sunday Mirror comes up with a new rumour: They claim Chelsea will bid £5m for Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto.


AND THE REST
Tottenham are ready to make an £8million bid for Crystal Palace ace Wilfried Zaha with Manchester United and Arsenal also keen on the England international...Manchester United are targeting moves for Denmark international defender Jores Okore and Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster...Fulham have emerged as favourites to sign unsettled Aston Villa striker Darren Bent in January...Everton are exploring the idea of taking Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair on loan in January...Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp is ready to trigger Momo Diame's buy-out clause at West Ham to take him to Loftus Road...West Ham are eyeing a move for Millwall midfielder Liam Trotter as a possible replacement for Diame...

...Crystal Palace are keen on Derby midfielder Craig Bryson...Swansea are lining up a move for Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas...Reading are leading the race to sign Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin with the Russian set to leave the Emirates in the New Year...Queens Park Rangers are ready to make a £7.5million bid for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila...Newcastle have St Etienne striker Pierre-Emeryck Aubameyang on their list of targets should they Demba Ba in January...Stoke midfielder Rory Delap could leave the club next month after finding first-team chances limited this season...Aston Villa are battling AC Milan to sign Heerenveen striker Alfred Finnbogasan...Lille and France defender Mathieu Debuchy is hoping Newcastle rekindle their interest in him in January.

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