Latest Football Transfer News 20-07-2012

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Three in for Robin van Persie
Last Updated: July 20 2012, 13:47 BST

Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus are locked in a three-way battle to sign Arsenal captain Robin van Persie.



Robin van Persie: Will not sign a new deal at Arsenal
Press Association Sport understands the clubs have all declared their interest in buying want-away striker Van Persie but have so far failed to meet the Gunners' valuation of the 28-year-old.
United, City and Juve are said to be happy to pay somewhere in the region of £15million but Arsenal are thought to be demanding in excess of £20million for their star player.


The Gunners are said to be prepared to hold out for more than £25million for Van Persie, who they appear to have all but given up trying to convince to sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium to replace the one that expires next summer.
They will announce on Friday afternoon whether last season's Barclays Premier League top scorer will join them on their pre-season Asia tour, which they leave for on Saturday.
According to widespread reports, manager Arsene Wenger will opt against including Van Persie, who this month went public with his desire to quit the club.


The Van Persie saga is shaping up to be a carbon copy of those that saw Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri both sold last summer, something which dragged on towards the tail end of the transfer window.
City and Juve have long been linked with Van Persie but the apparent interest from United is something more recent and could spark a bidding war for his services.


Arsenal have already signed two new strikers in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud but are also said to be lining up Spain star Fernando Llorente were Van Persie to leave.

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Modric to cost '40million'
Last Updated: July 20 2012, 13:17 BST

It will take £40million to prise Luka Modric away from Tottenham, Press Association Sport understands.



Luka Modric: Linked with Real Madrid
The Croatia international has long been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane, with Real Madrid thought to be the favourites for the midfielder's signature.
Tottenham are willing to sell Modric at the right price, but Press Association Sport understands they are looking for a fee nearer to £40million than the widely-reported figure of £35million.

• Player Profile

14. Luka Modric

Appearances	3 (0)
Goals	0
Assists	0
Yellows	1
Reds	0

*Current Season

Manchester United and Paris St Germain are also reported to be interested in the 26-year-old, who Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas revealed this week is the subject of interest from a trio of clubs.
"There has been continuous interest from three different clubs in Luka," the Portuguese said.
"But it is important for Tottenham to hold on to their rights. His situation will continue as it is until the price is right.


"It's important to understand his feelings. We have been speaking and I understand his point and he understands the club's point."
Modric first stated his desire to leave the north Londoners last summer after the team failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Tottenham stood firm, but speculation has been rife again recently after Chelsea's triumph in this year's Champions League final meant Spurs once again missed out on Europe's premier club competition.


"Luka is an intelligent person and understands the club has to defend his value their values, rights and interests," Villas-Boas added.
"It's a difficult situation for the club but we have been co-operative by openly saying we are willing to listen to offers.

"The offer has not been met to what the chairman [Daniel Levy] wants. If that is met there won't be any problems"
Andre Villas-Boas


"But the offer has not been met to what the chairman [Daniel Levy] wants. If that is met there won't be any problems."
Spurs head off on their pre-season tour to the United States this weekend and there have been suggestions that Modric is reluctant to head there with the rest of the squad.


It is understood Tottenham are unlikely to make any more signings before jetting off, although a deal for Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor continues to be negotiated.
Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is another reported target for Villas-Boas, who was the subject of apparent criticism from Porto's Danilo.
The Brazilian defender supposedly posted on Facebook his disappointment at the Tottenham boss for meeting his club-mate Hulk at the Olympic team's hotel.


However, Danilo has quickly moved to clear up the situation and denied making the comments on former Porto boss Villas-Boas.
"Various Portuguese media reported something I supposedly said, criticising the visit of former FC Porto technician Andre Villas-Boas of Hulk at the hotel to the Brazilian team!," he posted. "For clarification, I DO NOT USE FACEBOOK!
"I admire the work of the Villas-Boas and do not see any problem in paying a visit to a friend with whom he worked and was very successful! £clarification"

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Fergie confirms Man Utd RVP bid
Last Updated: July 20 2012, 20:03 BST

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United have made a bid for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie.



Robin van Persie: Manchester United target
It had been reported earlier in the day that United, Manchester City and Juventus had all made offers for the Dutch forward.
And Ferguson, speaking to MUTV on the eve of a pre-season encounter with Ajax Cape Town in South Africa on Saturday, confirmed there had been contact with the London giants.


"Obviously Arsenal have given out the fact that we've made a bid for him," said Ferguson.
"We try to keep business as close as possible to us until the moment we conclude a deal. There's no point talking about something that might not happen.
"There are other clubs interested in the player. We've shown an interest and that's where we're at at the moment."
Ferguson refused to expand on those comments in a press conference.
"We try and do business before we announce anything," he said.


"That is what we are going to do. There is nothing more to add."
The qualities of Van Persie, who was named player of the year both by the media and his fellow professionals in recognition of his phenomenal 36-goal contribution for Arsenal last season, are obvious, but United's most pressing needs do not appear to be in attack.
With England duo Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck at his disposal already, in addition to Javier Hernandez, Ashley Young, new-boy Shinji Kagawa, plus, for now, Dimitar Berbatov, Ferguson seems to have plenty of firepower.
However, midfield is the area where United looked short last season.


Despite Ferguson's assertion, Arsenal have not in fact made a public statement regarding any bids they may have received for Van Persie, but would certainly stand to benefit from starting a bidding war for the player.
United, City and Juve are said to be happy to pay somewhere in the region of £15million but Arsenal are thought to be demanding in excess of £20million.
The Gunners are said to be prepared to hold out for more than £25million for the Dutchman, who has confirmed he will not sign an extension to his contract, which expires in the summer.


It is believed that Van Persie will not travel to Asia this weekend on Arsenal's pre-season tour, though the Gunners were keen to stress his non-involvement was due to the striker having only trained for four days since returning from holiday.
A formal announcement regarding Van Persie's inclusion is not expected until Saturday, before they fly out.
The Van Persie saga is shaping up to be a carbon copy of those that saw Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri both sold last summer, something which dragged on towards the tail end of the transfer window.


United lost out to their neighbours' superior spending power in the battle to sign Nasri and it will presumably require something other than pure finance for the Old Trafford outfit to snare their man this year.
Arsenal have already signed two new strikers in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud but are also said to be lining up Spain star Fernando Llorente were Van Persie to leave.

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Willian still keen on Blues

Shakhtar midfielder waiting on possible switch
Last Updated: July 20, 2012 11:15pm


Willian: Eager to leave Shakhtar Donetsk and interested in Chelsea


Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Willian has admitted he was annoyed that his club did not accept an offer from Chelsea, but he is not giving up hope of a move just yet.
The Blues have been busy strengthening their squad with some young talent this summer and 23-year-old Brazilian Willian is another player to have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.


There has been some confusion about how much Chelsea would have to pay to prise Willian away from Donetsk, with Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu claiming a €33million bid (£26m) had been turned down.
Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov has also been quoted as saying that Willian can leave for €30m, and Willian insists that Lucescu must have got his figures wrong.


"I don't know what the coach said, but the correct value was €25million," he told Globo Esporte.
"But regardless of the value, of course I really wanted to play for a club like Chelsea, a club that won the Champions League.
Big league

"I'm really annoyed that the board didn't let me go. It would have been good for me and for the club too.
"I'd play in a big league and would be able to grow as a player. This is not a message to anyone, everyone knows I want to leave."
Willian does not believe Chelsea have necessarily dropped their interest in him despite closing in on other targets such as Oscar.


He explained: "Chelsea had already reached an agreement regarding Oscar when they made that last offer to sign me.
"I'm sure it won't be a problem as we are different kinds of players. He is more like a playmaker and I am more like an attacking midfielder.
"But it's a matter of waiting. A lot can still happen."