Transfer Gossip
FC Twente’s Nigerian forward Michael Olaitan has been passed fit by his coach Alfred Schreuder to face ADO Den Haag on Saturday.
Olaitan joined from Greek side Olympiakos in the summer but missed his side’s Eredivisie opener against Groningen which ended in a 1-1 draw.
And Schreuder thinks the former Flying Eagles star could get some minutes on the pitch when they host Den Haag at the De Grolsch Veste stadium.
“With Michael we have a good option in front and he is fit,” Schreuder told the club’s official website.
“Michael has trained in Greece with Olympiakos and experienced large parts of preparation. He can get some minutes against ADO.”
Arsenal target a goalkeeper but don't want Krychowiak, City bid for Pedro as Chelsea enter race, Juventus target Spurs' Christian Eriksen and Liverpool man Lucas Leiva...
Roberto Martinez says Chelsea target John Stones will lead Everton into their "golden generation", and the defender "is not for sale".
Roberto Soldado has confirmed he is leaving Premier League Spurs to join La Liga side Villarreal this summer.
Two mistakes on his debut and Arsenal already want rid of Petr Cech. Not really, but, according to reports in Spain, the Gunners are considering making a bid for another shot-stopper.
With Wojciech Szczesny and Emiliano Martinez having been loaned out this summer, it's just Cech and David Ospina in the first team at the Emirates, and Wenger is understandably a little worried about that. Spanish newspaper Marca believe they have found a solution, with the club reportedly interested in Olympiakos keeper Roberto.
The Greek club are happy for the 29-year-old to leave, but only as long as interested clubs cough up the £4.3million release clause in the Spaniard's contract.
CITY BID FOR PEDRO AS CHELSEA ENTER CHASE
Crikey. Manchester United really did look to have this one sewn up, but now Spanish football 'expert' Guillem Balague is the bearer of some double-barreled bad news.
First, Manchester City have made a £22.85million bid for Barcelona winger Pedro, which, for whatever reason, is above the widely-reported £21million release clause in his contract.
Not only that, but now Chelsea "are interested" says Balague, who admits they are "third favourite" for his signature behind both Manchester clubs. Balague adds that United haven't matched City's bid yet, but are "close" in their valuation.
KRYCHOWIAK NO-GO FOR WENGER
Reports have been coming in concerning supposed Arsenal interest in Sevilla midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, with a £22million fee mooted.
Well, Arsene Wenger himself has been asked about the deal, and he told reporters on Friday: "Are we interested in signing Krychowiak? No."
Well then.
Wenger also provided what the Daily Star are reporting as a 'stunning update on Arsenal striker move'.
Announcing interest in Karim Benzema? Saying a bid has been made for Alexandre Lacazette? Revealing talks with Edinson Cavani.
No. Wenger simply told reporters that Arsenal "haven't got anything concrete from anybody" in way of a bid for Joel Campbell, who has been linked with Palermo.
It's certainly 'stunning', but in a different way.
ERIKSEN ON JUVE SHORTLIST
Juventus are very busy, it seems. Not only are they lining up a deal for Lucas, but they have Chelsea midfielder Ramires, Schalke's Julian Draxler and Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen in their sights. One of them to replace Arturo Vidal, it seems.
The claims come from Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet in conjunction with Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport. They report that Juventus have long held an interest in Eriksen, and may open talks regarding a transfer soon. Ekstra Bladet do go on to say that Eriksen is happy at Spurs, but maybe his head would be turned if the Champions League finalists came calling?
JUVENTUS CONSIDER LUCAS APPROACH
Not good enough for Liverpool, but wanted by Champions League finalists and back-to-back-to-back-to-back Serie A champions Juventus. The story of Lucas Leiva could get a little weird from here.
If you've read the Daily Express this fine Friday morning, it already has. They are reporting that the Old Lady 'are considering Liverpool midfielder Lucas as an alternative to Schalke's Julian Draxler as the Italian champions look for reinforcements'. 'An alternative to Schalke's Julian Draxler'. That will be Julian Draxler, the left winger who played only six Bundesliga games last season due to injury but managed to double the league goal tally of Lucas Leiva during his time in Liverpool (two to one). Alternative.
Anyway, once you manage to prise your eyes away from the above sentence, the Express go on to say that Serie A rivals Inter are also interested, but Juve are keen to provide back-up for new signing Sam Khedira, who will be out until October through injury. With Lucas apparently 'frozen out' by Brendan Rodgers, could one of the club's veterans be on their way out?
EVERTON TARGET MAN UNITED LEGEND
...and that legend's name is Alexander Buttner.
With Leighton Baines having been ruled out for a rather long time with an ankle injury, Everton are understandably keen to sign a left back. Baines is expected to miss three months of action, so who will Roberto Martinez target?
According to the Daily Mail, that man will be the man who shone during his 13 Premier League appearances during his two-year stay at Manchester United. Buttner is now at Dinamo Moscow and could be open to a return to the Premier League, although the Mail don't really add much in terms of potential fees, wages, other targets or, really, anything aside from Buttner's name and the fact he is a former United player.
The Italian striker has been forced to train with the kids after being told he was surplus to requirements by boss Brendan Rodgers.
And the Reds are so desperate to get him off the books they are prepared to contribute 60 per cent of his wages if Lazio or Sampdoria take him back to Serie A on loan.
The 25-year-old took a drop in wages when he joined from AC Milan last summer, but had a variety of add-ons built into his £70,000-a-week, four-year deal.
So that proposal would see Liverpool subbing Balotelli's wages by £42,000 a week.
Mario Balotelli's career in pictures:
Balotelli endured a dismal first season at Liverpool which saw him make just 10 starts and score only one goal in the Premier League.
Sources close to the controversial player insist that no matter how far into the wilderness he is thrust, he is prepared to stick it out at Anfield and pick up his pay-cheques.
They suggest, too, that the striker has little interest in returning to Italy, where he feels he is the target of some hateful abuse and where he had a tough time in his 18 months at AC Milan.
ADEBAYOR ONE IN A DOZEN
Will Emmanuel Adebayor ever leave Tottenham? Aston Villa have ruled out a move after leading this particular chase for most of the summer, and now West Ham are revisiting their interest in the Togolese striker.
According to the Evening Standard, Adebayor is one of 12 strikers, along with Manchester United's Javier Hernandez (good luck with that) who have been shortlisted as potential targets by Slaven Bilic. With Enner Valencia sidelined until December and Andy Carroll still being Andy Carroll, the Hammers are left with just Mauro Zarate, Diafra Sakho and Modibo Maiga. And they still beat Arsenal.
Spurs are holding out for around £5million for the outcast striker, but the Standard go on to say they may consider a loan deal just to shed Adebayor's £100,000-a-week wages. We wonder which one West Ham would prefer...
T
The 19-year-old flier has joined from Barcelona on a five-year deal, and Sherwood has high hopes for his new recruit.
Sherwood says he has been tracking Traore, who made four senior appearances for Barca, for two years, and is delighted he chose to continue his development at Villa Park.
"I’ve known him for a couple of years," said Sherwood. “He’s a bit of Messi and Ronaldo!
"I tried to see if it was possible to bring him to Tottenham when I was there. He is someone I have been tracking for a long time.
In pictures: Bournemouth 0-2 Villa
"Those players are very few and far between. We are delighted he has chosen Aston Villa to continue his development, that is what he is."
Traore scored eight times in 63 appearances for Barca's B team in the Segunda Division in Spain.
He has also represented Spain's U16s, U17s and U19s during his fledgling professional career, and was linked with a move to Liverpool prior to his Villa Park switch.
"He is not the finished article by any means. He is certainly a player who can help us out now, but for the long term future he is magnificent," added Sherwood.
Valerio Pennicino/Getty
"I wouldn’t like to compare him to any other player, hopefully he’ll make his own name for himself and they will want to be the new Adama Traore.
"I went to Barcelona and spoke to the representatives. We made a huge effort to bring him to the club.
"We showed him this is a great stage for him. We recognise he needs developing and that I will give him as much development time as possible. We will give him a lot of work on the training field to improve what he already has."
BEST OF THE REST
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is refusing to take no for an answer in his pursuit of Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller...Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is chasing former Swansea midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, with a £5.5million offer tabled for the Napoli man...Meanwhile the Swans have made an enquiry for Kilmarnock youngster Scott McLean...Sampdoria have contacted Liverpool to sign Italy international striker Mario Balotelli...Manchester City will have to pay £50m to sign Kevin De Bruyne...Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal is set to sign a new three-year deal at the Emirates...Tottenham are ready to offload defender Federico Fazio just one year after signing him.
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