Latest Football Transfer News 24-07-2012

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Werner: Rodgers decides Carroll future
Last Updated: July 24 2012, 15:51 BST

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has insisted manager Brendan Rodgers will have the final say on the future of £35million striker Andy Carroll.



Andy Carroll: Situation unclear at Anfield
The 23-year-old England international has been the subject of intense speculation ever since the new Reds boss hinted earlier this summer that he might not have a future at Anfield.
Carroll's situation remained unclear as he headed for North America to join up with his team-mates in Boston after an extended break following the European Championship, but Werner is adamant that any decision will be down to Rodgers.


He told Sky Sports News: "The only thing I can say is we will do what's best for the club.
"At the moment, Andy is on the squad. He was an important member of the English team, he has got a lot of talent and we will see what happens there.
"Brendan is clearly the leader here, and hopefully the question will be answered shortly.
"But at the moment, Andy is on the team and we are looking forward to his contributions."


Carroll's former club Newcastle have tested the water with a speculative bid to take the player back on loan with a view to completing a permanent transfer next year, prompting Rodgers to rule out a temporary switch to any club with West Ham and Fulham also monitoring the situation.
However, while the Magpies' interest is ongoing, it remains to be seen whether or not they are prepared to meet Liverpool's asking price, understood to amount to £20million.
Carroll was signed by former Reds boss Kenny Dalglish, whose departure at the end of last season opened the door for Rodgers to secure one of the biggest jobs in English football.


Werner is delighted with the appointment, and is backing the former Swansea manager to make a significant impact.
He said: "I don't think anyone could have been happy with our performance on the pitch last year, no disrespect to Kenny.
"I think he is an iconic figure for Liverpool and he will always be appreciated for the stability that he brought to the club.
"Brendan brings a very thoughtful, modern, attacking philosophy - I think our fans will be very delighted with the attacking philosophy that he brings to Liverpool - and hopefully we will see improvement."


However, Werner revealed that the spectacular spending which characterised Dalglish's reign is a thing of the past.
He said: "This is a very financially strong organisation, LFC. We, in the past, I believe - not just in the previous season, but in the past - we have overspent for players and the results were not what we have expected.
"We do have the resources to be competitive, but at the same time, we are going to operate in a way that will be a self-sustaining model.
"I think you will see that you don't necessarily have to go out and spend £50million on one player to see success."

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Walcott contract talks continue
Last Updated: July 24 2012, 17:05 BST

Theo Walcott insists that reports linking him with an Arsenal exit are wide of the mark with contract negotiations ongoing.



Theo Walcott: Yet to agree a new contract
Walcott has just one year remaining on his current contract with the Gunners and, like Robin van Persie, could leave on a free transfer next season.
That has led to speculation that the former Southampton winger could be sold this summer, with Liverpool among a host of clubs reportedly interested in signing the 23-year-old.


But Arsenal are in talks to extend his deal and the England international insists there is nothing to be alarmed about.
"It was always going to be (a case of) hold back until the end of the Euros," Walcott told Sky Sports News.
"We continue to talk and we'll just see where it goes."
Asked if he had been unsettled by the rumours of a move, Walcott added: "Not at all because I didn't have a clue about any other clubs, anything.


"I'm an honest guy. I like to get on with my job. I've got to work on pre-season, I don't want any distractions.
"Like I say, my agent and the club will continue to talk and when there's something to know I'll get involved."
Walcott is about to embark on his eighth season as an Arsenal player and he is determined to repay the faith Arsene Wenger has shown in him.
"The manager has got so much faith in the young players," he added.
"He's developed them. Every single one of them that comes in seems to suit the way that Arsenal play football.

• Player Profile

14. Theo Walcott

Appearances	0 (4)
Goals	1
Assists	1
Yellows	0
Reds	0

*Current Season

"It's the next step that we need to go on to now. Everybody says that we're a young team but we've got a lot of experience now - Champions League quarter-finals (in 2010) and so on.
"So we just need to try and prove people wrong and show what we can actually do and find out what we're made of."

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New Gunners deal for Koscielny
Last Updated: July 24 2012, 9:40 BST

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has agreed a new long-term contract with the Gunners.



Laurent Koscielny: New contract
The 26-year-old France international joined Arsenal from Lorient in 2010 and has since established himself as a key member of Arsene Wenger's side.
A statement on Arsenal's website read: "Arsenal football club is delighted to announce that Laurent Koscielny has agreed to sign a new long-term contract."
No details about the length of Koscielny's new contract were given. Koscielny has started 85 games for Arsenal over the last two years - no other player has started more at the club - and last year he earned his first call-up to the France squad.


Since then, the former Guingamp and Tours centre-back has taken his tally of Les Bleus caps to four, the most recent of which came in the Euro 2012 quarter-final defeat to Spain, where he played the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss.
Wenger said: "Laurent has been outstanding for us over the last two seasons. When you consider that until 2009 he was playing in Ligue 2 in France and that he is now performing at the very top level in the Premier League and for his country, the development that he has shown has been absolutely exceptional.


"Laurent is a top-class player and I am very pleased he has decided to commit his future to the club."
Koscielny added:
"I'm delighted to have reached agreement with the club. I have had a fantastic time here and look forward to an exciting future with Arsenal."