LIVERPOOL LOSE FIGHT TO SIGN CHAMAKH
Arsenal are closing in on the belated signing of Marouane Chamakh, according to The Times.
The paper reckons that Chamakh is now as good as theirs after 'the Bordeaux striker's proposed move to Liverpool collapsed amid some acrimony', leaving Rafa Benitez 'angry and disappointed'.
No, we hadn't realised that the youngster, who will be available on a free transfer in the summer, was previously heading to Anfield either. But the Times reckons that 'Liverpool believed they had moved ahead of their rivals, who also include Inter Milan and West Ham United, in the race for Chamakh by offering the Morocco player a lucrative pre-contract agreement during intensive talks with his advisers early last month.
'Sources close to the deal indicated last night that Chamakh has rejected Liverpool's approach, paving the way for him to sign for Arsenal. The North London club would have no problem matching the £60,000-a-week wages on offer at Anfield and are in the process of finalising a five-year contract.'
So why have Liverpool apparently failed in their bid to sign the forward? 'Sources close to the player suggested that Liverpool mismanaged the deal, dragging their heels and being too fussy with their contractual demands,' the paper declares.
ARSENAL REFUSING TO LET CESC GO WITHOUT A FIGHT
Arsenal are ready to 'do battle with Barcelona' in order to keep Cesc Fabregas.
Fed up with the incessant reports emanating from Spain that their captain will head back to his homeland this summer in a £40m-plus deal, The Daily Mirror says 'Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has already written to Barcelona to demand the Spanish giants stop their very public campaign to try to sign Fabregas.
'Gazidis wanted to know why stories keep appearing in the Spanish press and for the club's executives to stop making statements about the Arsenal captain.'
Ooooh. That's telling them.
Of perhaps greater significance is the next couple of lines in the Mirror's report:
'Fabregas, 22, still has four years left on his contract and Arsenal are ready to offer him a new and improved £120,000-a-week deal to fend off interest from Spain.
'Gunners boss Wenger insists Fabregas is happy at Arsenal, the club are under no financial pressure to sell their prize asset and his long-term plans are all built around the Spaniard.'
Whilst there's been plenty of recent speculation about Fabregas' intentions, it's been partially forgotten that, having signed a long-term deal with the club two years ago, Arsenal can refuse to sell him.
RIBERY EYES A BIGGER STAGE
Sounds as if Franck Ribery is ready to move away from Bayern Munich in the summer and sign for one of the four clubs he apparently believes are at a higher level than the German giants.
"Bayern is still a big club. It's one of the biggest in the world but I find that our team is not as strong as other teams, like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea," he told RTL radio. "Maybe we will have trouble competing against these teams.
"I want to win trophies and to enjoy myself. I'm not 20 any more. I am closer to the end [of my career] than the beginning."
HUGHES FOR TURKEY?
Four or five of the morning newspapers are reporting that Mark Hughes is considering returning to management as Turkey's national coach.
To quote The Daily Mail:
'Hughes, who started his managerial career with Wales, is giving it serious thought after the Turkish FA made contact with his agent.
'Russia manager Guus Hiddink is another candidate the Turks have had in mind since Fatih Terim resigned after failing to qualify for the World Cup finals.'
Your Comments
AKA01
"Despite being a liverpool fan I can see where the Chelsea preference would arise. Perhaps not a bigger club in sense of tradition or past successes, I would happily wager that Chelsea have a much better chance of lifting the champions league in the coming seasons."
dehya
"Of course Bayern are a bigger club than Chelsea! It's like comparing the Quandt family to Michael Carroll, or in footballing terms, Franz Beckenbauer to John Terry!"
pillian
"the simple fact about fabregas is that if we were to go to barcelona right now he wouldn't get his game!! xavi and iniesta are both better than him in my opinion and they get their games ahead of him in the spanish national team already so why would he get a game in barcelona???
he's an incredible player who no doubt will go back to his homeland one day (i'm actually salivating at the thought of himself and iniesta playing together in the same midfield with messi and ibra up front to aim for) but not now..."
dude_javis
"Apparently Chamamkh's agent wanted him to sign for Liverpool obvious why big pay day for him with pre contract signing on fee they were talking about, Chamakh should sign got Arsenal now, as he said he wants to play for Arsenal if he moves to Premier League, which is his preferred destination, so all this mismanagement bull is probably made up, he simply doesn't want to play for Liverpool it would appear"
wellsers
"Please but a defender and a new keeper Wenger! Preferably over 5'6" tall..."
banksy69
"Is Rick Parry back working behind the scenes at Anfield again? That said, I never expected Chamakh to choose a Scouse/Spanish team over a London/French team anyway."
kit_kitson
"You cant really refuse to sell any player these days. If they want to leave, they leave. Having said that Fabregas has said, only very recently that he and his family are very happy with life in London. It seems obvious to me that after a loss to your fellow title contenders any red top would be quick to cook up a story about discontnent amongst the Arsenal ranks. "
SiameseJesus
"tangledupinred where did Ribery say Chelsea were bigger than Bayern? All he said is that they are not as strong as teams like Chelsea which is true."
ragga
"what? Chelsea ARE a bigger than Bayern Munich. How is this even up for discussion? I'm guessing that remark was from a Liverpool supporter."
King_Kenny
"tangledupinred my sentiments exactly! Chelsea bigger than Bayern LMFAO!"
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