Wednesday 26 June 2013

Arsenal hope to push through Gonzalo Higuain signing after Carlo Ancelotti ... - Telegraph.co.uk

"Real are one of the best clubs in the world, but there is no deal yet. When you're a kid, you dream about playing at a team like Madrid. If I leave one day, I'll be ready to move to a bigger club."

Radio Marte, a Napoli radio station, yesterday reported that Chelsea had already made an acceptable offer.

"We have received news in the office from a very reliable source that Napoli have sealed a deal with Chelsea for Cavani's sale," it said. "Rafa Benitez also gave the all-clear but before making the move official Napoli want to secure the striker who will replace Il Matador."

Chelsea have not commented on this report but there is a sense that Napoli are now attempting to create an auction and pressurise Real into coming forward with an offer.

Chelsea did yesterday formally announce the £18 million signing of Bayer Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle.

The arrival of Ancelotti at Real will contribute to a general escalation in transfer activity across Europe over the next fortnight, with many of the main deals interlinked and dependent on the key managerial appointments. There will also be a push to get transfers completed before players return from their holidays during the next month. It was also significant yesterday that Laurent Blanc replaced Ancelotti at Paris St-Germain on a one-year deal, with the further option of a second season.

This again points very clearly towards PSG's desire to recruit Wenger once his Arsenal contract expires at the end of next season. Arsenal remain confident that Wenger will agree to extend his contract and oversee a significant escalation in the club's spending power.

As well as Higuain, Wenger is evaluating his options in central midfield, central defence and among his goalkeepers. Arsenal failed with a January deadline-day bid for Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue but have been monitoring other alternatives, including Celtic's Victor Wanywama.

Southampton had a £12 million bid accepted for Wanywama but that deal has collapsed due to the personal terms and agent fees that were being demanded. Liverpool are also interested.

"Their offer was way below Victor's expectations," said Ivan Modia, Wanyama's representative. "There is no chance of him signing the deal on offer and, in fact, both Celtic and Southampton were informed of this some time ago.

"We know there is interest from elsewhere and Victor is obviously open to those prospects. Nobody at Celtic can question his attitude and he is hopeful he can leave on good terms with the club."

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