Transfer Talk: Arsenal's search for a new goalkeeper goes on, but Marouane Chamakh is a Gunner at last
LAST UPDATED 7:04 AM, MAY 18, 2010
Is there a goalkeeper in world football that Arsenal
haven't been linked with in recent weeks? David James, fortunately, but then who needs Calamity when you've already got Lukasz 'the Fumbler' Fabianski? As the Gunners search for a goalie two more names have been thrown up as possible contenders - Bologna's Emiliano Viviano and Liverpool's Pepe Reina.
The 24-year-old Viviano has been outstanding between the sticks this season for struggling Bologna in Serie A, who got the player from Inter Milan last year. And now according to Italian daily Tuttosport the Gunners want to bring the 6ft 4in goalkeeper to the Emirates. The papers describes Viviano as one of Italy's most promising goalkeepers and says he's something of a natural when it comes to saving penalties. But it seems that Arsenal (who today will confirm the signing of striker Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux) are only interested in Viviano because they've been knocked back by Liverpool in their bid to sign Pepe Reina. The BBC says that the Reds have rejected an offer of around £14m for the Spanish keeper, just voted Liverpool's Player of the Season by the fans, though admittedly the competition wasn't stiff. Apparently Liverpool won't entertain offers of any price for Reina because he is categorically not for sale, though with the Reds in a spot of financial strife right now Arsenal might soon discover that every man has his price.
Still on the subject of Arsenal, readers of this column might remember that a few years ago the club employed a fleet-footed Frenchman called Thierry Henry. Then he left for the bright lights of Barcelona and forged a reputation as an ageing cheat. Now it seems Henry might be on his way to the New York Red Bulls. Quizzed by French daily L'Equipe on the rumours linking him with a move to the Big Apple, the 32-year-old said: "Currently my only concern is to best prepare for the World Cup with France. I will have plenty of time to think about my future...[but] right now there is nothing at all."
Talking of stars on the wane, Brazil's Ronaldinho is weighing up a possible move to Manchester City. That's what Italian rag La Gazzetta dello Sport reckons at least, and let's face it, Ronaldinho certainly has plenty of time to mull things over right now having been left out of Brazil's World Cup squad.
The 30-year-old has one year to go on his AC Milan contract but according to La Gazzetta dello Sport he fears for the club after they parted company recently with coach Leonardo. "I don't know what will happen in future," he said. "You have to ask my brother [and agent] Roberto. What will I do? I don't know. I would like to stay, but the most important thing for me is to be happy."
Reports in Italy suggest AC Milan are thinking of slashing Ronaldinho's wages by as much as 25 per cent and he's not happy. So he's looking towards Eastlands and the club who first tried to sign him when he left Barcelona in 2008.
Finally, the Sun reports that Chelsea and Barcelona are on the brink of coming to blows over Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. The paper says that the Blues have set aside £50m for the player but now they face being gazumped by Barcelona.
Apparently the craven Catalans want to offload "their £40m misfit Zlatan Ibrahimovich" and use the money to lure Torres to the Nou Camp. The Sun says that Barcelona's dream is to pair Torres alongside David Villa – a partnership that helped Spain win Euro 2008 – and to that end the club is also offering Valencia £35m for Villa.
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