http://www.caughtoffside.com English Premier League Football News Blog Sat, 18 May 2013 17:30:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/barcelona-turn-to-liverpool-striker-luis-suarez-after-move-to-sign-neymar-falters/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/barcelona-turn-to-liverpool-striker-luis-suarez-after-move-to-sign-neymar-falters/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 17:30:46 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145594 Barcelona target in-demand Liverpool striker after Santos reject Neymar bid.

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Barcelona will reportedly turn their attention to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after falling behind in their bid to land Brazilian star Neymar from Santos.

A deal was supposedly wrapped up for the 21-year-old to move to the Nou Camp, before Santos claimed they had fallen into disagreement with Barcelona chiefs over a fee for their star forward.

Real Madrid are now expected to up their bid for the Brazilian, and the Bernebeu may now be the destination for one of the world's most highly rated young players.

Barcelona will still be hoping to strengthen upfront though, and will make Suarez their next target, after the Uruguayan has impressed with 30 goals and some dazzling displays at Anfield this season.

The 26-year-old was the favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award, though he missed out to Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, perhaps due to his controversial bite on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in a match between the two sides.

This latest incident has made Suarez ever-more unpopular in English football as his time here has been marred by controversy, and it is thought that the former Ajax man himself may be tempted by a move abroad to escape the British media.

Barcelona would be an ideal destination for him, as their attacking and technical style of play would suit the exciting forward's strengths and skills, and they are said to be willing to offer as much as £50million to bring him to La Liga.

Tito Vilanova is keen to improve on his title-winning side, as they have struggled for consistency in the latter half of the season, often being found wanting against the bigger teams in particular. The Barca boss will be under pressure to retain the team's title and push on in the Champions League, where they were eliminated at the semi-final stage in humiliating fashion to Bayern Munich, losing 7-0 on aggregate to the Bundesliga champions.

Bayern are another club that have been linked with a move for Suarez, along with Juventus and Manchester City, though Barca will now step up their interest after their surprise failure to land their main target Neymar.

A number of players could also leave the Nou Camp in the summer transfer window, as squad members such as Alexis Sanchez, Cristian Tello and Thiago Alcantara are expected to be moved on. Interestingly, both Sanchez and Tello have been linked with Liverpool, and could be used as part of the Suarez deal if Barca's cash offer is not seen as sufficient.

Suarez has previously been compared by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to Barca star Lionel Messi, and fans may now see the two combine together and terrorize defences in Spain.

Barcelona have also recently been linked with Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

]]> Barcelona target in-demand Liverpool striker after Santos reject Neymar bid.

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Barcelona will reportedly turn their attention to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after falling behind in their bid to land Brazilian star Neymar from Santos.

A deal was supposedly wrapped up for the 21-year-old to move to the Nou Camp, before Santos claimed they had fallen into disagreement with Barcelona chiefs over a fee for their star forward.

Real Madrid are now expected to up their bid for the Brazilian, and the Bernebeu may now be the destination for one of the world's most highly rated young players.

Barcelona will still be hoping to strengthen upfront though, and will make Suarez their next target, after the Uruguayan has impressed with 30 goals and some dazzling displays at Anfield this season.

The 26-year-old was the favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award, though he missed out to Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, perhaps due to his controversial bite on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in a match between the two sides.

This latest incident has made Suarez ever-more unpopular in English football as his time here has been marred by controversy, and it is thought that the former Ajax man himself may be tempted by a move abroad to escape the British media.

Barcelona would be an ideal destination for him, as their attacking and technical style of play would suit the exciting forward's strengths and skills, and they are said to be willing to offer as much as £50million to bring him to La Liga.

Tito Vilanova is keen to improve on his title-winning side, as they have struggled for consistency in the latter half of the season, often being found wanting against the bigger teams in particular. The Barca boss will be under pressure to retain the team's title and push on in the Champions League, where they were eliminated at the semi-final stage in humiliating fashion to Bayern Munich, losing 7-0 on aggregate to the Bundesliga champions.

Bayern are another club that have been linked with a move for Suarez, along with Juventus and Manchester City, though Barca will now step up their interest after their surprise failure to land their main target Neymar.

A number of players could also leave the Nou Camp in the summer transfer window, as squad members such as Alexis Sanchez, Cristian Tello and Thiago Alcantara are expected to be moved on. Interestingly, both Sanchez and Tello have been linked with Liverpool, and could be used as part of the Suarez deal if Barca's cash offer is not seen as sufficient.

Suarez has previously been compared by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to Barca star Lionel Messi, and fans may now see the two combine together and terrorize defences in Spain.

Barcelona have also recently been linked with Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/barcelona-turn-to-liverpool-striker-luis-suarez-after-move-to-sign-neymar-falters/feed/ 0 Mark BrusSat, 18 May 13 18:30:46 +0000Barcelona target in-demand Liverpool striker after Santos reject Neymar bid. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/robert-lewandowski-wont-be-rushed-into-decision-over-future/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/robert-lewandowski-wont-be-rushed-into-decision-over-future/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 12:28:11 +0000 Steven Green http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145504 Dortmund striker focussing on a strong finish.

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Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has insisted that he will not be rushed into making a decision over his future, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has become one of the most sought after stars in Europe this season following three successful campaigns with the Bundesliga side and has been a long standing target for Manchester United as well as being linked with the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

However, he has remained quiet on the speculation and has insisted that at the moment he is only focussed on finishing the season well with Dortmund before taking on rivals Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 25th.

"At this time I do not think about the transfer market or my future," he told Polish TV station TVN24.

"There are still two games left this season with Borussia Dortmund and I want to win both. I will think about my future after those games and then make a decision."

The Polish international has set the Bundesliga alight since joining Dortmund from Lech Poznan in 2010 by bagging 74 goals in 135 games but now seems set to be one of the number of high profile names to leave the side this summer.

]]> Dortmund striker focussing on a strong finish.

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Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has insisted that he will not be rushed into making a decision over his future, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has become one of the most sought after stars in Europe this season following three successful campaigns with the Bundesliga side and has been a long standing target for Manchester United as well as being linked with the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

However, he has remained quiet on the speculation and has insisted that at the moment he is only focussed on finishing the season well with Dortmund before taking on rivals Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 25th.

"At this time I do not think about the transfer market or my future," he told Polish TV station TVN24.

"There are still two games left this season with Borussia Dortmund and I want to win both. I will think about my future after those games and then make a decision."

The Polish international has set the Bundesliga alight since joining Dortmund from Lech Poznan in 2010 by bagging 74 goals in 135 games but now seems set to be one of the number of high profile names to leave the side this summer.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/robert-lewandowski-wont-be-rushed-into-decision-over-future/feed/ 0 Steven GreenSat, 18 May 13 13:28:11 +0000Dortmund striker focussing on a strong finish. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/club-by-club-summer-transfer-window-guide-whos-in-whos-out/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/club-by-club-summer-transfer-window-guide-whos-in-whos-out/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 23:38:44 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145510 A club by club summer transfer window guide.

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Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger needs to get it right in the transfer window this summer, after eight years without silverware. Deadwood players such as Andrey Arshavin, Andre Santos, Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci should finally be shown the door and the likes of Gervinho and Emmanuel Frimpong may also follow, as they don't currently look like first-team quality. A new goalkeeper could arrive to replace the off-form Wojciech Szczesny, though it remains to be seen if the Pole will stick around as backup to Simon Mignolet, Asmir Begovic, Michel Vorm or whoever the Gunners decide to bring in. Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic is being strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, as Wenger looks to strengthen a strike force still missing Robin van Persie. West Ham's Mohamed Diame was a target in January and may be so again as the defensive midfield void left by Alex Song remains to be filled.

The likes of Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny are key players being linked with moves away, to PSG and Bayern Munich respectively, but Arsenal won't want to endure yet another summer of losing important members of their squad, though Swansea's Ashley Williams and Valencia's Adil Rami could come in to shore up the team's defence. Promising youngster Joel Campbell is also set to return after a loan spell at Real Betis, and could be involved in the first team more next season.



Aston Villa

After a difficult season of fighting relegation, Paul Lambert faces the very real prospect of losing a couple of star players in Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann. The in-form strike duo have helped Lambert's side survive in the Premier League and may feel they want to move on to bigger things now.

Benteke is very much in demand, being linked with Arsenal, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, while Weimann is supposedly a target for Liverpool. After a frustrating season spent on the bench, Darren Bent is likely to be moved on, with Fulham monitoring the 29-year-old's situation. Another player who could leave is goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who is being eyed up by West Ham. Villa owner Randy Lerner is reportedly set to give his manager a lot of money to spend this summer to improve the club's fortunes, and Manchester City flop Scott Sinclair is said to be one of the club's main targets. Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini could also join on a free transfer, with his contract at AC Milan set to expire at the end of the season, though they will compete with Southampton for his signature.



Cardiff City

After winning promotion to the top flight as champions of the Championship, Cardiff are expected to spend big to make sure they can survive in the Premier League. They may have a fight to start off with to keep hold of their manager Malkay Mackay, who is being linked with the Everton job, but backed by their wealthy Malaysian owners, the club have been linked with a number of big names already.

Former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, now of Ligue 1 side Lille, is said to be a target, as is Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who started his career with the Welsh club. With Aston Villa likely to sell Darren Bent, his name has also been mentioned as a realistic option. They may also pounce for Welsh winger Hal Robson-Kanu from relegated Reading.



Chelsea

There is bound to be a summer of change ahead at Stamford Bridge, with changes in both the management and the playing staff. Firstly, Chelsea legend Jose Mourinho is expected to return to the club as manager to replace Rafael Benitez, after making it clear he wants to leave current club Real Madrid. The Portuguese tactician is expected to be given a massive £100million from owner Roman Abramovich to spend on building a title-winning team. The obvious problems are upfront, as Fernando Torres has failed to live up to expectations since signing from Liverpool and may finally be sold.

Demba Ba has also been slightly unconvincing since his move from Newcastle in January, so it's no surprise to see the likes of Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani being linked with the Blues. They will face plenty of competition for these star names, and will no doubt have to fork out a lot of money for them, but they seem the ideal big-name boost that the club needs if they are to mount a serious challenge domestically and in Europe again. Robert Lewandowski is also said to be a target, and Chelsea may offer youngster Kevin De Bruyne in return for the Pole, as Dortmund are admirers of the young attacking midfielder.

Exciting young German winger Andre Schurrle is widely expected to join from Bayer Leverkusen for around £20million, while a defensive midfielder is also on the list. The injury-prone Michael Essien is likely to leave, and Mourinho is said to want either Sami Khedira or Daniele De Rossi as a replacement. Backup players like Yossi Benayoun, Victor Moses and Marko Marin may be shown the door, as may long-time captain John Terry, who has been linked with a surprise move to Galatasaray. It has been confirmed however, that another club legend, Frank Lampard, will stay with the club for one more season after signing a new deal. And finally, young striker Romelu Lukaku will likely be sent out on loan again after a successful spell with West Brom, with Swansea and West Ham interested in the Belgian.



Everton

With long-serving manager David Moyes confirmed as leaving for Manchester United, a number of key players have been rumoured as set to follow. Whether or not they follow their manager to Old Trafford remains to be seen, but Moyes is apparently keen on Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka. Belgian midfielder Fellaini has also been linked with moves to Arsenal and Chelsea after an impressive season, and it may be hard for the club to persuade their star players to stay at Goodison Park under a new manager.

Roberto Martinez, whose Wigan side just became the first team to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season, has been linked with the vacancy, as has Cardiff City's Malkay Mackay, and their choice for Moyes' replacement will no doubt have some bearing on which players are brought in. Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo nearly joined in January, and they may move for him again or for Queens Park Rangers' Loic Remy as they have lacked a regular goal scorer upfront this season. Former Toffees star Joleon Lescott has been linked with a return to the club after falling out of favour at Manchester City. Club captain Phil Neville will also be leaving the club at the end of the season and is expected to retire, which may lead to a return in a coaching capacity.



Fulham

Martin Jol's side have endured a difficult end to the season with no win in eight games, and the manager is now under pressure. If he stays he will be given money to strengthen his squad, but former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has been linked as a replacement. Star player Dimitar Berbatov is also unhappy at the club, and may leave after just one season since joining from Manchester United, with Turkish giants Galatasaray preparing a bid of around £5million for the Bulgarian. On-loan Arsenal man Emmanuel Frimpong is expected to join on a permanent deal, though Urby Emmanuelson will probably return to parent club AC Milan.

There could be change between the sticks as veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has reportedly turned down a new contract and Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has been targeted. Another of the club's 'keepers David Stockdale has spent the season on loan at Hull, and will join the newly-promoted side on a permanent basis next season. Other transfer targets include Romelu Lukaku from rivals Chelsea, who is set for another season out on loan, though he is more likely to go to Swansea or West Ham.



Hull City

Steve Bruce's side will look to strengthen after finishing second in the Championship, and will perhaps exploit the loan market for some bargain deals. The former Manchester United defender's relationship with his old club may mean he can sign one or two squad players on loan, and has been linked with a move for young midfielder Nick Powell. Reading striker Noel Hunt has also been linked after some impressive displays in spite of his club's relegation from the Premier League this season, while Leicester City's Andy King is also a target, after his club failed to get past Watford in the Championship playoff semi-finals. On-loan Egyptian striker Gedo is also keen to join Hull on a permanent basis in the summer. Another loan player, Fulham's David Stockdale, is also likely to stay at the club permanently. On the way out are Sonny Bradley and Danny East, who have joined Portsmouth after being released.



Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers is expected to be given a lot of money to spend this summer as he hopes to help the club break back into the top four and maybe even sustain a genuine title challenge. There may have to be a few sales first, though that hopefully won't include star player Luis Suarez, who is wanted by Bayern Munich and Juventus. The likes of Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Martin Skrtel have been in poor form and are likely to be shown the door, while £35million flop Andy Carroll will either return to old club Newcastle or make his current loan move to West Ham permanent after a good season at Upton Park. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina is reportedly wanted by Barcelona, and Liverpool may be tempted to sell as he is arguably past his best and the likes of Michel Vorm have been linked with a move to Anfield.

The club may make an audacious attempt to bring back Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid, as they miss the playmaking abilities of the Spaniard who they sold to the La Liga giants four years ago. The main priority, though, is a striker, with Rodgers keen to make sure his team aren't over-reliant on Suarez again as they have been many times this season. Daniel Sturridge was brought in from Chelsea in January and he has given them more options, but with Suarez also banned for the first few games of next season, they won't want to fall behind early on. Free-scoring Porto striker Jackson Martinez has been linked, as have Aston Villa duo Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann, though the club may miss out to Tottenham for Barcelona's out-of-favour forward David Villa. They could also move to bring back Tom Ince, their former youngster who is now attracting a lot of interest after impressing in the Championship with Blackpool.



Manchester City

After a poor showing in their attempt to retain the Premier League title this season, as well as a shock defeat in the FA Cup final, Roberto Mancini has been sacked and all signs point to Malaga's Manuel Pellegrini coming in to replace him. The new manager is likely to bring new players as the club's wealthy owners will want to bring in better players to try and win back the title from rivals Manchester United. A poor transfer window last summer saw the likes of Scott Sinclair and Maicon join and then barely play, and these are players who could certainly be sold this year. Other squad players such as Micah Richards, Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott, Aleksandar Kolarov and James Milner could also make way, with Lescott possibly set for a return to former club Everton, as previously mentioned, and Kolarov supposedly wanted by Juventus.

Carlos Tevez has had an improved year with the club, but is still understood to favour a move away from England and is a target for big-spending Monaco. Edin Dzeko is another striker who could go, after failing to impress consistently since joining the club two years ago. The Bosnian is being targeted by a number of Serie A clubs such as Juventus and AC Milan, and could also move to Napoli as part of a deal to bring Edinson Cavani to the Etihad Stadium, though City will face competition from Chelsea for the 26-year-old. Pellegrini is said to be plotting a raid on Malaga, bringing star player Isco with him when he departs. He may also move for other La Liga stars, such as Sevilla's Jesus Navas and Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria, as well as a big-money move for Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.

A new playmaker to take the weight off the jaded David Silva's shoulders is a must, and AZ Alkmaar youngster Adam Maher is also reportedly a target for this role.



Manchester United

United will have to be busy this summer, as their big-spending rivals City will surely be doing everything in their financial power to build a team to win back the Premier League title. United were arguably unconvincing in some areas of their pitch despite their title win this season, with the team often looking over-reliant on Dutch striker Robin van Persie to score all the goals. The former Arsenal man has had a great first season with the club, but could do with extra support as the likes of Nani, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia have not offered much in the way of assists from the wings.

Nani has been linked with a move to Juventus and it may be time for the Portuguese winger to leave after failing to live up to his potential at Old Trafford, and a number of attacking midfielders and wingers have been linked to the club as replacements. United could make an ambitious bid to compete with Real Madrid for the signing of Gareth Bale, though they may not feel they can compete financially with the Spanish giants. Nicolas Gaitan of Benfica has also been linked, though Bayer Leverkusen are also interested as they will probably lose Andre Schurrle to Chelsea. Elsewhere, with Paul Scholes retiring, midfielders such as Juventus duo Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal, and Benfica's Nemanja Matic. With David Moyes taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson, there have also been inevitable links to Everton players, with Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka all reported to be targets. Rio Ferdinand is coming to the end of his contract and could be on the way out, and Valencia centre-back Adil Rami has been linked as a replacement, though Arsenal are also said to be interested.

The biggest story, however, is that Wayne Rooney is sure to leave the club after submitting a transfer request. The 27-year-old is unhappy with his role at Old Trafford and is wanted by a host of Europe's top clubs, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG, as well as United's Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, and Moyes will face a big decision straight away when he takes this high-pressure job over what to do with the unsettled star.



Newcastle United

Alan Pardew may be sacked after a disappointing season with the club. Despite pushing for the top four in 2011/12, Newcastle flirted with relegation this term and that could mean a host of changes are made at St James' Park. Demba Ba left for Chelsea in January, and no doubt the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse will be considering their futures as they may feel the club is not progressing as they would like, and they would not be short of suitors elsewhere. Ben Arfa has been linked with Spurs and Arsenal in the past, while Cabaye is also seen as a potential Paul Scholes replacement in United's midfield. Borussia Dortmund are on the lookout for a striker due to the likely departure of Robert Lewandowski, and Cisse is supposedly one of their targets along with Aston Villa's Christian Benteke.

The club spent big in January but it did not help them a great deal in their relegation fight, so they may have to rethink their transfer policy this summer, going for more established Premier League players rather than youngsters from Ligue 1. Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy could be available after Harry Redknapp's side went down, and Newcastle did try to sign him from Marseille in January before he eventually went to Loftus Road. A sensational return for Andy Carroll has also been mentioned, as Liverpool are unlikely to keep the tall target man who spent the season on loan at West Ham.

The Hammers also want to keep him permanently, but Carroll would probably favour a return to his old team where he first made a name for himself in the Premier League. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Tim Krul is wanted by Serie A duo AC Milan and Roma, and Fabricio Coloccini is reportedly hoping to leave the club to return to his native Argentina due to homesickness. Long-serving goalkeeper Steve Harper has also announced he will be retiring from the game at the end of the season.<

Norwich City

The Canaries have already completed a decent signing with the announcement that on-loan left-back Javier Garrido will make a permanent transfer to the club from Lazio next season. A player who has been loaned out from the club will do the opposite, and make a permanent move away from Norwich, with Derby keen on signing striker Chris Martin. James Vaughan, on the other hand, is expected to return to Carrow Road from his loan spell at Huddersfield Town. Burnley midfielder Chris McCann is available on a free tranfer this summer and is being watched by Norwich as well as other Premier League clubs. Manager Chris Hughton is also reportedly keen on bringing former Blackburn Rovers defender Zurab Khizanishvili back to England.



Southampton

There have been recent rumours that Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino could already leave the club despite only joining in the middle of this season, and the search for a new manager would certainly affect the club's transfer plans. The Argentinian manager is widely tipped to make a raid on La Liga if he does stay, as he knows a number of talented players playing in Spain from his days in charge of Espanyol. Malaga defender Jesus Gamez is one from Spain that has been linked and could move to St Mary's for £5million. Other targets include free agent Mathieu Flamini from AC Milan, who is also wanted by Aston Villa, and highly-rated Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama, who has also been watched by big clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Squad players such as Billy Sharp, Emmanuel Mayuka, Tadanari Lee, Guly Do Prado, Steve De Ridder, Richard Chaplow and Danny Butterfield have reportedly all been told that their future’s lie away from the South coast club. However, they will hope to keep hold of Inter Milan target Morgan Schneiderlin and teenage sensation Luke Shaw, the young left-back who has impressed the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham with his displays this season, drawing comparisons to a young Gareth Bale.



Stoke City

A big high profile departure from Stoke this summer will be former Liverpool, Manchester United and England star Michael Owen, though the 33-year-old's retirement from the game will arguably not have a great deal of impact on Tony Pulis' side, as he has barely featured since joining on a free transfer at the start of the season. Elsewhere, striker Kenwyne Jones could leave for newly-promoted Cardiff City and ageing goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen may not have much of a future at the club with the arrival of promising young shot-stopper Jack Butland from Birmingham City. Butland will probably become the Potters' number one straight away, with current first-choice Asmir Begovic a target for big clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. The Bosnian could leave in a £15million deal and give Pulis money to strengthen a team that battled relegation this year with a poor run of form in the second half of the season. Peter Crouch could also leave the club after a drop in form, and is wanted by Sam Allardyce as a replacement for Andy Carroll at West Ham.

Charlie Adam, something of a disappointment since signing from Liverpool, could also be set for an exit to Crystal Palace if the Eagles win promotion under Adam's old boss at Blackpool, Ian Holloway. There have not been many names linked as coming in to the club so far, apart from Granada left-back Guilherme Siqueira and Arsenal misfit Nicklas Bendtner, who is unlikely to be kept by the Gunners and who could replace Crouch if he leaves for West Ham.



Swansea City

Swansea had a great transfer window last summer, bringing in one of the signings of the season in Michu, who signed for just £2million. Michael Laudrup will be hoping for similar success this year - that is, if he doesn't take the Everton job after emerging as another possible candidate. First, they might have to deal with the departures of key duo Michel Vorm and Ashley Williams, who are both targets for Arsenal and Liverpool. It has been rumoured that Vorm could be replaced by Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. They have already tried to sign young Sporting Lisbon defender Eric Dier, though he has rejected a move. They will be hoping to keep loan star Jonathen De Guzman on a permanent deal from Villareal, and will also likely look to La Liga again for some bargain transfers, having already agreed a deal to sign Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas. Scott Sinclair could also return to the club just one year after leaving, due to his inability to get into the Manchester City team, and other wingers are said to be on Laudrup's shortlist, such as Queens Park Rangers' Junior Hoilett and Chelsea's Victor Moses. Romelu Lukaku could also join on loan from the Stamford Bridge club.



Sunderland

After recently inheriting a struggling side from previous manager Martin O'Neill, Paolo Di Canio will be keen to put his own stamp on this Sunderland team, and is reportedly targeting some players from the Italian league that he knows well. Lazio centre-back Modibo Diakité has already been identified as a target, as Di Canio looks to improve on current defensive pairing John O'Shea and Carlos Cuellar. Danny Rose has impressed on loan from Tottenham and Di Canio has expressed his hope of keeping the England Under-21 international on a permanent deal, but he may lose in-form goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, whose displays this season have attracted interest from Arsenal and Napoli. Former striker Darren Bent could be an option for the club, as he is likely to leave after being frozen out at Aston Villa by Paul Lambert this season. The club apparently made an audacious attempt to sign Napoli's Edinson Cavani, though it is likely to be little more than a joke offer.



Tottenham Hotspur

It could be a big summer at White Hart Lane, with Spurs' future in the balance as they go into the final day of the Premier League this season. The club could be set for Champions League football if results go there way, and that will play a big part in determining whether or not star player Gareth Bale stays at the club. The Welsh winger has been in phenomenal form for the club this season and Real Madrid have made no secret of their interest, offering as much as £65million and possibly players like Gonzalo Higuain in return for the PFA Player of the Year. Andre Villas-Boas has said he hopes to keep Bale and may even tie him down to a new bumper deal of around £170,000 a week even if they don't finish in the top four, though the money brought in from his transfer could strengthen many areas of the squad.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto could leave the club and Danny Rose may make his loan to Sunderland permanent, meaning Spurs will step up their interest in Inter Milan left-back Alvaro Pereira, whom Villas-Boas knows from his Porto days and is keen to work with again. Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to leave after a poor season and is wanted by Monaco, so a striker could be on the agenda for Spurs, as the likes of David Villa and Christian Benteke have been linked to the club. Scott Parker hasn't had the best season either and could be shifted to Queens Park Rangers, meaning a midfielder could also join. Manchester United's Anderson has been linked, and they could try again for Mohamed Diame, who they were close to signing in January, though they may face competition from rivals Arsenal for the Senegalese international.

There have even been suggestions that long-serving striker Jermain Defoe could make way after a poor run of form, with a possible return to old club West Ham being mooted, as they will need a replacement for Andy Carroll when his loan deal ends. Andros Townsend could give AVB more options and compete for a place in the team following his return from a promising loan spell with QPR, perhaps replacing Aaron Lennon who has emerged as a surprise target for Serie A side Inter Milan. It perhaps looks like more outs than ins at the moment for Spurs, but a top four spot will ensure that it's mainly their unwanted squad players that depart, rather than their star names.



West Bromwich Albion

West Brom had a great start to the season under Steve Clarke, but have faltered slightly in the latter half of the campaign, showing perhaps that there is room for improvement at the club. One blow for the Baggies boss is that they will lose loan-star Romelu Lukaku as he either returns to Chelsea or goes on loan again elsewhere, being strongly linked with West Ham and Swansea City.

That will leave gaps upfront as Peter Odemwingie is also likely to leave after falling out with the club following his failed attempt to force through a move to Queens Park Rangers in January. Franco Di Santo is reportedly a target following his relegation with Wigan Athletic, as is Anderlecht striker Dieumerci Mbokani. They are also one of many clubs who are looking at Scott Sinclair's situation, after the 24-year-old is likely to be sold by Manchester City this summer. Also on the way out of the Hawthorns could be Graeme Dorrans, with the club saying they will listen to offers for the attacking midfielder. They will be determined, however, to hold on to Shane Long, who has been linked with Bundesliga duo Schalke and Hoffenheim.



West Ham United

A priority for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce this summer will be to keep hold of on-loan striker Andy Carroll, who will surely be sold by Liverpool. Newcastle are also interested in the 24-year-old target man, but Allardyce is a big fan of his and he has integrated well at Upton Park this season. Stoke City striker Peter Crouch is a backup option if Carroll leaves, and Romelu Lukaku could arrive on loan from Chelsea. Highly-rated Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes is also a target, though they would face much competition for the Championship goal-getter.

In other areas of the pitch, they might make a move for Chelsea's Michael Essien, who is unlikely to stay at Stamford Bridge after an injury-hit few years and an unsuccessful loan spell with Real Madrid. Essien would be the ideal replacement for Mohamed Diame if he leaves, and the Senegalese midfielder has been attracting strong interest from both Arsenal and Tottenham, who may activate his £3.5million release fee clause. Marouane Chamakh will presumably not be kept on after his failed loan spell from Arsenal, and another loan player Emmanuel Pogatetz could also leave, with AC Milan veteran Massimo Abrossini coming in as a replacement. They may also make a change to their goalkeeper, after being linked with Aston Villa shot-stopper Brad Guzan and Manchester United backup 'keeper Anders Lindegaard.



Watford/Crystal Palace

It is not yet clear which of these sides will be joining the other teams in the Premier League next season, as the two London sides have the small matter of the Championship Playoff final still to play. Watford may have a lot of work to do in the summer transfer window, as a lot of their current team is made up of loan players such as Chelsea's Nathaniel Chalobah and Udinese's Matej Vydra, both of whom have emerged as targets for bigger clubs such as Arsenal and Tottenham following their fine form in Gianfranco Zola's side's promotion push.

Birmingham City's Nathan Redmond is a target for them, but is also being watched by other Premier League clubs, but Zola has previously hinted that he himself is not in control of transfers at the club. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will have to prepare for life without star striker Wilfried Zaha, who has agreed a deal to join Manchester United. They could also use another highly rated young player, midfielder Jonathan Williams, and much will depend on whether they achieve promotion. If they do, another target for manager Ian Holloway is Stoke City's Charlie Adam, whom he worked with to good effect at Blackpool a couple of years ago. They are also said to be one of several clubs chasing Leicester City's Andy King. Veteran striker Kevin Phillips is also expected to play on for the club next season, whether it is in the top flight or not.

]]> A club by club summer transfer window guide.

Check in to Newcastle United vs Arsenal



Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger needs to get it right in the transfer window this summer, after eight years without silverware. Deadwood players such as Andrey Arshavin, Andre Santos, Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci should finally be shown the door and the likes of Gervinho and Emmanuel Frimpong may also follow, as they don't currently look like first-team quality. A new goalkeeper could arrive to replace the off-form Wojciech Szczesny, though it remains to be seen if the Pole will stick around as backup to Simon Mignolet, Asmir Begovic, Michel Vorm or whoever the Gunners decide to bring in. Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic is being strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, as Wenger looks to strengthen a strike force still missing Robin van Persie. West Ham's Mohamed Diame was a target in January and may be so again as the defensive midfield void left by Alex Song remains to be filled.

The likes of Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny are key players being linked with moves away, to PSG and Bayern Munich respectively, but Arsenal won't want to endure yet another summer of losing important members of their squad, though Swansea's Ashley Williams and Valencia's Adil Rami could come in to shore up the team's defence. Promising youngster Joel Campbell is also set to return after a loan spell at Real Betis, and could be involved in the first team more next season.



Aston Villa

After a difficult season of fighting relegation, Paul Lambert faces the very real prospect of losing a couple of star players in Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann. The in-form strike duo have helped Lambert's side survive in the Premier League and may feel they want to move on to bigger things now.

Benteke is very much in demand, being linked with Arsenal, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, while Weimann is supposedly a target for Liverpool. After a frustrating season spent on the bench, Darren Bent is likely to be moved on, with Fulham monitoring the 29-year-old's situation. Another player who could leave is goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who is being eyed up by West Ham. Villa owner Randy Lerner is reportedly set to give his manager a lot of money to spend this summer to improve the club's fortunes, and Manchester City flop Scott Sinclair is said to be one of the club's main targets. Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini could also join on a free transfer, with his contract at AC Milan set to expire at the end of the season, though they will compete with Southampton for his signature.



Cardiff City

After winning promotion to the top flight as champions of the Championship, Cardiff are expected to spend big to make sure they can survive in the Premier League. They may have a fight to start off with to keep hold of their manager Malkay Mackay, who is being linked with the Everton job, but backed by their wealthy Malaysian owners, the club have been linked with a number of big names already.

Former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, now of Ligue 1 side Lille, is said to be a target, as is Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who started his career with the Welsh club. With Aston Villa likely to sell Darren Bent, his name has also been mentioned as a realistic option. They may also pounce for Welsh winger Hal Robson-Kanu from relegated Reading.



Chelsea

There is bound to be a summer of change ahead at Stamford Bridge, with changes in both the management and the playing staff. Firstly, Chelsea legend Jose Mourinho is expected to return to the club as manager to replace Rafael Benitez, after making it clear he wants to leave current club Real Madrid. The Portuguese tactician is expected to be given a massive £100million from owner Roman Abramovich to spend on building a title-winning team. The obvious problems are upfront, as Fernando Torres has failed to live up to expectations since signing from Liverpool and may finally be sold.

Demba Ba has also been slightly unconvincing since his move from Newcastle in January, so it's no surprise to see the likes of Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani being linked with the Blues. They will face plenty of competition for these star names, and will no doubt have to fork out a lot of money for them, but they seem the ideal big-name boost that the club needs if they are to mount a serious challenge domestically and in Europe again. Robert Lewandowski is also said to be a target, and Chelsea may offer youngster Kevin De Bruyne in return for the Pole, as Dortmund are admirers of the young attacking midfielder.

Exciting young German winger Andre Schurrle is widely expected to join from Bayer Leverkusen for around £20million, while a defensive midfielder is also on the list. The injury-prone Michael Essien is likely to leave, and Mourinho is said to want either Sami Khedira or Daniele De Rossi as a replacement. Backup players like Yossi Benayoun, Victor Moses and Marko Marin may be shown the door, as may long-time captain John Terry, who has been linked with a surprise move to Galatasaray. It has been confirmed however, that another club legend, Frank Lampard, will stay with the club for one more season after signing a new deal. And finally, young striker Romelu Lukaku will likely be sent out on loan again after a successful spell with West Brom, with Swansea and West Ham interested in the Belgian.



Everton

With long-serving manager David Moyes confirmed as leaving for Manchester United, a number of key players have been rumoured as set to follow. Whether or not they follow their manager to Old Trafford remains to be seen, but Moyes is apparently keen on Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka. Belgian midfielder Fellaini has also been linked with moves to Arsenal and Chelsea after an impressive season, and it may be hard for the club to persuade their star players to stay at Goodison Park under a new manager.

Roberto Martinez, whose Wigan side just became the first team to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season, has been linked with the vacancy, as has Cardiff City's Malkay Mackay, and their choice for Moyes' replacement will no doubt have some bearing on which players are brought in. Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo nearly joined in January, and they may move for him again or for Queens Park Rangers' Loic Remy as they have lacked a regular goal scorer upfront this season. Former Toffees star Joleon Lescott has been linked with a return to the club after falling out of favour at Manchester City. Club captain Phil Neville will also be leaving the club at the end of the season and is expected to retire, which may lead to a return in a coaching capacity.



Fulham

Martin Jol's side have endured a difficult end to the season with no win in eight games, and the manager is now under pressure. If he stays he will be given money to strengthen his squad, but former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has been linked as a replacement. Star player Dimitar Berbatov is also unhappy at the club, and may leave after just one season since joining from Manchester United, with Turkish giants Galatasaray preparing a bid of around £5million for the Bulgarian. On-loan Arsenal man Emmanuel Frimpong is expected to join on a permanent deal, though Urby Emmanuelson will probably return to parent club AC Milan.

There could be change between the sticks as veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has reportedly turned down a new contract and Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has been targeted. Another of the club's 'keepers David Stockdale has spent the season on loan at Hull, and will join the newly-promoted side on a permanent basis next season. Other transfer targets include Romelu Lukaku from rivals Chelsea, who is set for another season out on loan, though he is more likely to go to Swansea or West Ham.



Hull City

Steve Bruce's side will look to strengthen after finishing second in the Championship, and will perhaps exploit the loan market for some bargain deals. The former Manchester United defender's relationship with his old club may mean he can sign one or two squad players on loan, and has been linked with a move for young midfielder Nick Powell. Reading striker Noel Hunt has also been linked after some impressive displays in spite of his club's relegation from the Premier League this season, while Leicester City's Andy King is also a target, after his club failed to get past Watford in the Championship playoff semi-finals. On-loan Egyptian striker Gedo is also keen to join Hull on a permanent basis in the summer. Another loan player, Fulham's David Stockdale, is also likely to stay at the club permanently. On the way out are Sonny Bradley and Danny East, who have joined Portsmouth after being released.



Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers is expected to be given a lot of money to spend this summer as he hopes to help the club break back into the top four and maybe even sustain a genuine title challenge. There may have to be a few sales first, though that hopefully won't include star player Luis Suarez, who is wanted by Bayern Munich and Juventus. The likes of Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Martin Skrtel have been in poor form and are likely to be shown the door, while £35million flop Andy Carroll will either return to old club Newcastle or make his current loan move to West Ham permanent after a good season at Upton Park. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina is reportedly wanted by Barcelona, and Liverpool may be tempted to sell as he is arguably past his best and the likes of Michel Vorm have been linked with a move to Anfield.

The club may make an audacious attempt to bring back Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid, as they miss the playmaking abilities of the Spaniard who they sold to the La Liga giants four years ago. The main priority, though, is a striker, with Rodgers keen to make sure his team aren't over-reliant on Suarez again as they have been many times this season. Daniel Sturridge was brought in from Chelsea in January and he has given them more options, but with Suarez also banned for the first few games of next season, they won't want to fall behind early on. Free-scoring Porto striker Jackson Martinez has been linked, as have Aston Villa duo Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann, though the club may miss out to Tottenham for Barcelona's out-of-favour forward David Villa. They could also move to bring back Tom Ince, their former youngster who is now attracting a lot of interest after impressing in the Championship with Blackpool.



Manchester City

After a poor showing in their attempt to retain the Premier League title this season, as well as a shock defeat in the FA Cup final, Roberto Mancini has been sacked and all signs point to Malaga's Manuel Pellegrini coming in to replace him. The new manager is likely to bring new players as the club's wealthy owners will want to bring in better players to try and win back the title from rivals Manchester United. A poor transfer window last summer saw the likes of Scott Sinclair and Maicon join and then barely play, and these are players who could certainly be sold this year. Other squad players such as Micah Richards, Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott, Aleksandar Kolarov and James Milner could also make way, with Lescott possibly set for a return to former club Everton, as previously mentioned, and Kolarov supposedly wanted by Juventus.

Carlos Tevez has had an improved year with the club, but is still understood to favour a move away from England and is a target for big-spending Monaco. Edin Dzeko is another striker who could go, after failing to impress consistently since joining the club two years ago. The Bosnian is being targeted by a number of Serie A clubs such as Juventus and AC Milan, and could also move to Napoli as part of a deal to bring Edinson Cavani to the Etihad Stadium, though City will face competition from Chelsea for the 26-year-old. Pellegrini is said to be plotting a raid on Malaga, bringing star player Isco with him when he departs. He may also move for other La Liga stars, such as Sevilla's Jesus Navas and Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria, as well as a big-money move for Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.

A new playmaker to take the weight off the jaded David Silva's shoulders is a must, and AZ Alkmaar youngster Adam Maher is also reportedly a target for this role.



Manchester United

United will have to be busy this summer, as their big-spending rivals City will surely be doing everything in their financial power to build a team to win back the Premier League title. United were arguably unconvincing in some areas of their pitch despite their title win this season, with the team often looking over-reliant on Dutch striker Robin van Persie to score all the goals. The former Arsenal man has had a great first season with the club, but could do with extra support as the likes of Nani, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia have not offered much in the way of assists from the wings.

Nani has been linked with a move to Juventus and it may be time for the Portuguese winger to leave after failing to live up to his potential at Old Trafford, and a number of attacking midfielders and wingers have been linked to the club as replacements. United could make an ambitious bid to compete with Real Madrid for the signing of Gareth Bale, though they may not feel they can compete financially with the Spanish giants. Nicolas Gaitan of Benfica has also been linked, though Bayer Leverkusen are also interested as they will probably lose Andre Schurrle to Chelsea. Elsewhere, with Paul Scholes retiring, midfielders such as Juventus duo Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal, and Benfica's Nemanja Matic. With David Moyes taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson, there have also been inevitable links to Everton players, with Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka all reported to be targets. Rio Ferdinand is coming to the end of his contract and could be on the way out, and Valencia centre-back Adil Rami has been linked as a replacement, though Arsenal are also said to be interested.

The biggest story, however, is that Wayne Rooney is sure to leave the club after submitting a transfer request. The 27-year-old is unhappy with his role at Old Trafford and is wanted by a host of Europe's top clubs, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG, as well as United's Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, and Moyes will face a big decision straight away when he takes this high-pressure job over what to do with the unsettled star.



Newcastle United

Alan Pardew may be sacked after a disappointing season with the club. Despite pushing for the top four in 2011/12, Newcastle flirted with relegation this term and that could mean a host of changes are made at St James' Park. Demba Ba left for Chelsea in January, and no doubt the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse will be considering their futures as they may feel the club is not progressing as they would like, and they would not be short of suitors elsewhere. Ben Arfa has been linked with Spurs and Arsenal in the past, while Cabaye is also seen as a potential Paul Scholes replacement in United's midfield. Borussia Dortmund are on the lookout for a striker due to the likely departure of Robert Lewandowski, and Cisse is supposedly one of their targets along with Aston Villa's Christian Benteke.

The club spent big in January but it did not help them a great deal in their relegation fight, so they may have to rethink their transfer policy this summer, going for more established Premier League players rather than youngsters from Ligue 1. Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy could be available after Harry Redknapp's side went down, and Newcastle did try to sign him from Marseille in January before he eventually went to Loftus Road. A sensational return for Andy Carroll has also been mentioned, as Liverpool are unlikely to keep the tall target man who spent the season on loan at West Ham.

The Hammers also want to keep him permanently, but Carroll would probably favour a return to his old team where he first made a name for himself in the Premier League. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Tim Krul is wanted by Serie A duo AC Milan and Roma, and Fabricio Coloccini is reportedly hoping to leave the club to return to his native Argentina due to homesickness. Long-serving goalkeeper Steve Harper has also announced he will be retiring from the game at the end of the season.<

Norwich City

The Canaries have already completed a decent signing with the announcement that on-loan left-back Javier Garrido will make a permanent transfer to the club from Lazio next season. A player who has been loaned out from the club will do the opposite, and make a permanent move away from Norwich, with Derby keen on signing striker Chris Martin. James Vaughan, on the other hand, is expected to return to Carrow Road from his loan spell at Huddersfield Town. Burnley midfielder Chris McCann is available on a free tranfer this summer and is being watched by Norwich as well as other Premier League clubs. Manager Chris Hughton is also reportedly keen on bringing former Blackburn Rovers defender Zurab Khizanishvili back to England.



Southampton

There have been recent rumours that Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino could already leave the club despite only joining in the middle of this season, and the search for a new manager would certainly affect the club's transfer plans. The Argentinian manager is widely tipped to make a raid on La Liga if he does stay, as he knows a number of talented players playing in Spain from his days in charge of Espanyol. Malaga defender Jesus Gamez is one from Spain that has been linked and could move to St Mary's for £5million. Other targets include free agent Mathieu Flamini from AC Milan, who is also wanted by Aston Villa, and highly-rated Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama, who has also been watched by big clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Squad players such as Billy Sharp, Emmanuel Mayuka, Tadanari Lee, Guly Do Prado, Steve De Ridder, Richard Chaplow and Danny Butterfield have reportedly all been told that their future’s lie away from the South coast club. However, they will hope to keep hold of Inter Milan target Morgan Schneiderlin and teenage sensation Luke Shaw, the young left-back who has impressed the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham with his displays this season, drawing comparisons to a young Gareth Bale.



Stoke City

A big high profile departure from Stoke this summer will be former Liverpool, Manchester United and England star Michael Owen, though the 33-year-old's retirement from the game will arguably not have a great deal of impact on Tony Pulis' side, as he has barely featured since joining on a free transfer at the start of the season. Elsewhere, striker Kenwyne Jones could leave for newly-promoted Cardiff City and ageing goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen may not have much of a future at the club with the arrival of promising young shot-stopper Jack Butland from Birmingham City. Butland will probably become the Potters' number one straight away, with current first-choice Asmir Begovic a target for big clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. The Bosnian could leave in a £15million deal and give Pulis money to strengthen a team that battled relegation this year with a poor run of form in the second half of the season. Peter Crouch could also leave the club after a drop in form, and is wanted by Sam Allardyce as a replacement for Andy Carroll at West Ham.

Charlie Adam, something of a disappointment since signing from Liverpool, could also be set for an exit to Crystal Palace if the Eagles win promotion under Adam's old boss at Blackpool, Ian Holloway. There have not been many names linked as coming in to the club so far, apart from Granada left-back Guilherme Siqueira and Arsenal misfit Nicklas Bendtner, who is unlikely to be kept by the Gunners and who could replace Crouch if he leaves for West Ham.



Swansea City

Swansea had a great transfer window last summer, bringing in one of the signings of the season in Michu, who signed for just £2million. Michael Laudrup will be hoping for similar success this year - that is, if he doesn't take the Everton job after emerging as another possible candidate. First, they might have to deal with the departures of key duo Michel Vorm and Ashley Williams, who are both targets for Arsenal and Liverpool. It has been rumoured that Vorm could be replaced by Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. They have already tried to sign young Sporting Lisbon defender Eric Dier, though he has rejected a move. They will be hoping to keep loan star Jonathen De Guzman on a permanent deal from Villareal, and will also likely look to La Liga again for some bargain transfers, having already agreed a deal to sign Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas. Scott Sinclair could also return to the club just one year after leaving, due to his inability to get into the Manchester City team, and other wingers are said to be on Laudrup's shortlist, such as Queens Park Rangers' Junior Hoilett and Chelsea's Victor Moses. Romelu Lukaku could also join on loan from the Stamford Bridge club.



Sunderland

After recently inheriting a struggling side from previous manager Martin O'Neill, Paolo Di Canio will be keen to put his own stamp on this Sunderland team, and is reportedly targeting some players from the Italian league that he knows well. Lazio centre-back Modibo Diakité has already been identified as a target, as Di Canio looks to improve on current defensive pairing John O'Shea and Carlos Cuellar. Danny Rose has impressed on loan from Tottenham and Di Canio has expressed his hope of keeping the England Under-21 international on a permanent deal, but he may lose in-form goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, whose displays this season have attracted interest from Arsenal and Napoli. Former striker Darren Bent could be an option for the club, as he is likely to leave after being frozen out at Aston Villa by Paul Lambert this season. The club apparently made an audacious attempt to sign Napoli's Edinson Cavani, though it is likely to be little more than a joke offer.



Tottenham Hotspur

It could be a big summer at White Hart Lane, with Spurs' future in the balance as they go into the final day of the Premier League this season. The club could be set for Champions League football if results go there way, and that will play a big part in determining whether or not star player Gareth Bale stays at the club. The Welsh winger has been in phenomenal form for the club this season and Real Madrid have made no secret of their interest, offering as much as £65million and possibly players like Gonzalo Higuain in return for the PFA Player of the Year. Andre Villas-Boas has said he hopes to keep Bale and may even tie him down to a new bumper deal of around £170,000 a week even if they don't finish in the top four, though the money brought in from his transfer could strengthen many areas of the squad.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto could leave the club and Danny Rose may make his loan to Sunderland permanent, meaning Spurs will step up their interest in Inter Milan left-back Alvaro Pereira, whom Villas-Boas knows from his Porto days and is keen to work with again. Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to leave after a poor season and is wanted by Monaco, so a striker could be on the agenda for Spurs, as the likes of David Villa and Christian Benteke have been linked to the club. Scott Parker hasn't had the best season either and could be shifted to Queens Park Rangers, meaning a midfielder could also join. Manchester United's Anderson has been linked, and they could try again for Mohamed Diame, who they were close to signing in January, though they may face competition from rivals Arsenal for the Senegalese international.

There have even been suggestions that long-serving striker Jermain Defoe could make way after a poor run of form, with a possible return to old club West Ham being mooted, as they will need a replacement for Andy Carroll when his loan deal ends. Andros Townsend could give AVB more options and compete for a place in the team following his return from a promising loan spell with QPR, perhaps replacing Aaron Lennon who has emerged as a surprise target for Serie A side Inter Milan. It perhaps looks like more outs than ins at the moment for Spurs, but a top four spot will ensure that it's mainly their unwanted squad players that depart, rather than their star names.



West Bromwich Albion

West Brom had a great start to the season under Steve Clarke, but have faltered slightly in the latter half of the campaign, showing perhaps that there is room for improvement at the club. One blow for the Baggies boss is that they will lose loan-star Romelu Lukaku as he either returns to Chelsea or goes on loan again elsewhere, being strongly linked with West Ham and Swansea City.

That will leave gaps upfront as Peter Odemwingie is also likely to leave after falling out with the club following his failed attempt to force through a move to Queens Park Rangers in January. Franco Di Santo is reportedly a target following his relegation with Wigan Athletic, as is Anderlecht striker Dieumerci Mbokani. They are also one of many clubs who are looking at Scott Sinclair's situation, after the 24-year-old is likely to be sold by Manchester City this summer. Also on the way out of the Hawthorns could be Graeme Dorrans, with the club saying they will listen to offers for the attacking midfielder. They will be determined, however, to hold on to Shane Long, who has been linked with Bundesliga duo Schalke and Hoffenheim.



West Ham United

A priority for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce this summer will be to keep hold of on-loan striker Andy Carroll, who will surely be sold by Liverpool. Newcastle are also interested in the 24-year-old target man, but Allardyce is a big fan of his and he has integrated well at Upton Park this season. Stoke City striker Peter Crouch is a backup option if Carroll leaves, and Romelu Lukaku could arrive on loan from Chelsea. Highly-rated Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes is also a target, though they would face much competition for the Championship goal-getter.

In other areas of the pitch, they might make a move for Chelsea's Michael Essien, who is unlikely to stay at Stamford Bridge after an injury-hit few years and an unsuccessful loan spell with Real Madrid. Essien would be the ideal replacement for Mohamed Diame if he leaves, and the Senegalese midfielder has been attracting strong interest from both Arsenal and Tottenham, who may activate his £3.5million release fee clause. Marouane Chamakh will presumably not be kept on after his failed loan spell from Arsenal, and another loan player Emmanuel Pogatetz could also leave, with AC Milan veteran Massimo Abrossini coming in as a replacement. They may also make a change to their goalkeeper, after being linked with Aston Villa shot-stopper Brad Guzan and Manchester United backup 'keeper Anders Lindegaard.



Watford/Crystal Palace

It is not yet clear which of these sides will be joining the other teams in the Premier League next season, as the two London sides have the small matter of the Championship Playoff final still to play. Watford may have a lot of work to do in the summer transfer window, as a lot of their current team is made up of loan players such as Chelsea's Nathaniel Chalobah and Udinese's Matej Vydra, both of whom have emerged as targets for bigger clubs such as Arsenal and Tottenham following their fine form in Gianfranco Zola's side's promotion push.

Birmingham City's Nathan Redmond is a target for them, but is also being watched by other Premier League clubs, but Zola has previously hinted that he himself is not in control of transfers at the club. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will have to prepare for life without star striker Wilfried Zaha, who has agreed a deal to join Manchester United. They could also use another highly rated young player, midfielder Jonathan Williams, and much will depend on whether they achieve promotion. If they do, another target for manager Ian Holloway is Stoke City's Charlie Adam, whom he worked with to good effect at Blackpool a couple of years ago. They are also said to be one of several clubs chasing Leicester City's Andy King. Veteran striker Kevin Phillips is also expected to play on for the club next season, whether it is in the top flight or not.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/18/club-by-club-summer-transfer-window-guide-whos-in-whos-out/feed/ 0 Mark BrusSat, 18 May 13 00:38:44 +0000A club by club summer transfer window guide. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/chelsea-set-sights-on-talented-19m-bundesliga-defender/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/chelsea-set-sights-on-talented-19m-bundesliga-defender/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 20:30:22 +0000 The Newshound http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145543 Stamford Bridge side keen on Schalke centre-back.



Check in to Chelsea vs Everton

German source Bild Chelsea are one of two Premier League sides pursuing highly rated Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadpopoulos.

The Greek international is said to have a €22.5m (£19m) release clause which both Chelsea and Liverpool are seriously considering triggering this summer.

Chelsea would appear to be the favourites to win any battle between the two English sides and Roman Abramovich may well be keen on bringing in another defensive option given the limited role that experienced skipper John Terry now plays in the Blues first team.

Papadopoulos is into his third season at the Gelsenkirchen side and has been a first team regular ever since arriving from Olympiakos but has missed much of the current campaign with a knee injury.

Papadopoulos is a solid no-nonsense performer who rarely makes mistakes and is also very handy at popping up with occasional goals and is a regular in the Greek national team.

The 21 year old may well jump at the chance of a move to Stamford Bridge and may be all the more inclined to leave Schalke if they fail to secure a Champions League spot. His side currently sits in fourth spot but are just ahead of Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt with just one Bundesliga game left to play.

Though Chelsea can call upon the likes of Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic to fill central defensive spots they may well see Papadopoulos as a great asset for the long term.

]]> Stamford Bridge side keen on Schalke centre-back.



Check in to Chelsea vs Everton

German source Bild Chelsea are one of two Premier League sides pursuing highly rated Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadpopoulos.

The Greek international is said to have a €22.5m (£19m) release clause which both Chelsea and Liverpool are seriously considering triggering this summer.

Chelsea would appear to be the favourites to win any battle between the two English sides and Roman Abramovich may well be keen on bringing in another defensive option given the limited role that experienced skipper John Terry now plays in the Blues first team.

Papadopoulos is into his third season at the Gelsenkirchen side and has been a first team regular ever since arriving from Olympiakos but has missed much of the current campaign with a knee injury.

Papadopoulos is a solid no-nonsense performer who rarely makes mistakes and is also very handy at popping up with occasional goals and is a regular in the Greek national team.

The 21 year old may well jump at the chance of a move to Stamford Bridge and may be all the more inclined to leave Schalke if they fail to secure a Champions League spot. His side currently sits in fourth spot but are just ahead of Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt with just one Bundesliga game left to play.

Though Chelsea can call upon the likes of Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic to fill central defensive spots they may well see Papadopoulos as a great asset for the long term.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/chelsea-set-sights-on-talented-19m-bundesliga-defender/feed/ 0 The NewshoundFri, 17 May 13 21:30:22 +0000Stamford Bridge side keen on Schalke centre-back. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/man-united-on-alert-as-barcelona-put-thiago-alcantara-up-for-sale/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/man-united-on-alert-as-barcelona-put-thiago-alcantara-up-for-sale/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 20:18:47 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145481 Several clubs may pounce for Barca midfield starlet.

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A number of Europe's top clubs have been alerted to the availability of Barcelona's Thiago Alcantara, who has been put on sale by the club, according to the Daily Mail.

The 22-year-old is a highly rated midfield talent, but has been unfortunate in being unable to force his way past the likes of Xavi, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta in Barcelona's starting lineup.

Manchester United have been linked before, with Sir Alex Ferguson a fan of the youngster, though it is unclear if new United boss David Moyes will pursue the same targets as his predecessor. United are in need of a midfield playmaker though, as Paul Scholes is set to retire at the end of the season.

United's rivals Manchester City are also keen on a player of this kind, as they look to take the pressure off the jaded David Silva to be the team's main creator. They are also being linked with Arturo Vidal of Juventus and Adam Maher of AZ Alkmaar.

Former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is also a fan of Alcantara, and may look to bring him to his new club Bayern Munich next season, though there would be just as much competition for places at the Allianz Arena, with the club already confirming the signing of Borussia Dortmund playmaker Mario Goetze.

]]> Several clubs may pounce for Barca midfield starlet.

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A number of Europe's top clubs have been alerted to the availability of Barcelona's Thiago Alcantara, who has been put on sale by the club, according to the Daily Mail.

The 22-year-old is a highly rated midfield talent, but has been unfortunate in being unable to force his way past the likes of Xavi, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta in Barcelona's starting lineup.

Manchester United have been linked before, with Sir Alex Ferguson a fan of the youngster, though it is unclear if new United boss David Moyes will pursue the same targets as his predecessor. United are in need of a midfield playmaker though, as Paul Scholes is set to retire at the end of the season.

United's rivals Manchester City are also keen on a player of this kind, as they look to take the pressure off the jaded David Silva to be the team's main creator. They are also being linked with Arturo Vidal of Juventus and Adam Maher of AZ Alkmaar.

Former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is also a fan of Alcantara, and may look to bring him to his new club Bayern Munich next season, though there would be just as much competition for places at the Allianz Arena, with the club already confirming the signing of Borussia Dortmund playmaker Mario Goetze.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/man-united-on-alert-as-barcelona-put-thiago-alcantara-up-for-sale/feed/ 0 Mark BrusFri, 17 May 13 21:18:47 +0000Several clubs may pounce for Barca midfield starlet. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/arsene-wenger-denies-arsenal-approach-for-wayne-rooney/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/arsene-wenger-denies-arsenal-approach-for-wayne-rooney/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 20:17:55 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145501 Arsenal have not contacted Manchester United over Rooney.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger denies that the club have made contact with Manchester United over want-away striker Wayne Rooney, according to Reuters.

The Gunners manager is known to be looking to add a striker to his team in this summer's transfer window, and has been linked with Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic and Queens Park Rangers' Loic Remy.

However, it also emerged earlier today that Arsenal were considering a move for Rooney, who recently submitted a transfer request at Old Trafford following a difficult season.

The England star is now being linked with a number of Europe's top clubs, after becoming unhappy with his role in this United team, often playing out of position and spending a lot of time this season on the bench in important games.

Rooney has tried to leave before, asking for a move in 2010, and he may now get his wish as he seeks an exit again. The likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea have been linked with the 27-year-old, but Wenger is not even convinced that the former Everton man will leave United this summer.

"I don't know if Man United will sell Rooney, and that is the best sign to show you that we have not made any approach for him; the first thing is to phone Manchester United, which we did not do," he told reporters.

Bayern Munich also recently ruled out a bid for Rooney.

]]> Arsenal have not contacted Manchester United over Rooney.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger denies that the club have made contact with Manchester United over want-away striker Wayne Rooney, according to Reuters.

The Gunners manager is known to be looking to add a striker to his team in this summer's transfer window, and has been linked with Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic and Queens Park Rangers' Loic Remy.

However, it also emerged earlier today that Arsenal were considering a move for Rooney, who recently submitted a transfer request at Old Trafford following a difficult season.

The England star is now being linked with a number of Europe's top clubs, after becoming unhappy with his role in this United team, often playing out of position and spending a lot of time this season on the bench in important games.

Rooney has tried to leave before, asking for a move in 2010, and he may now get his wish as he seeks an exit again. The likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea have been linked with the 27-year-old, but Wenger is not even convinced that the former Everton man will leave United this summer.

"I don't know if Man United will sell Rooney, and that is the best sign to show you that we have not made any approach for him; the first thing is to phone Manchester United, which we did not do," he told reporters.

Bayern Munich also recently ruled out a bid for Rooney.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/arsene-wenger-denies-arsenal-approach-for-wayne-rooney/feed/ 0 Mark BrusFri, 17 May 13 21:17:55 +0000Arsenal have not contacted Manchester United over Rooney. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/manchester-city-knocked-back-in-pursuit-of-borussia-dortmund-winger/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/manchester-city-knocked-back-in-pursuit-of-borussia-dortmund-winger/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 18:33:05 +0000 Steven Green http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145530 Polish star happy to stay.

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Manchester City have been dealt a serious blow in their chase of Borussia Dortmund wide man Jakub Blaszczykowski, according to The Express.

City, along with Italian giants Juventus, have been tracking the 27-year-old for some time and the Premier League side has thought to be frontrunners to land his signature as they are prepared to pay any price in a bid to add more width to their squad next term.

David Silva hasn't been able to replicate the good form he displayed last season and the signing of Scott Sinclair has been a spectacular failure following the promise he showed at Swansea.

The club had identified the Polish international as the prefect remedy to their problems and were waiting for the transfer window reopens to activate the £12.7 million buy-out clause installed in his contract.

However, 'Kuba' as he is affectionately known in Dortmund has stopped any speculation regarding his future dead in its tracks by pledging his future to the club and claiming that he is happy to stay and see out the remainder of his contract which expires in 2018.

"I have been here for six years now and I'm part of the city and the club," he said.

"I have grown up as well. I have no fears or worries."

"The question is where would I feel as good as I do in Dortmund."

]]> Polish star happy to stay.

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Manchester City have been dealt a serious blow in their chase of Borussia Dortmund wide man Jakub Blaszczykowski, according to The Express.

City, along with Italian giants Juventus, have been tracking the 27-year-old for some time and the Premier League side has thought to be frontrunners to land his signature as they are prepared to pay any price in a bid to add more width to their squad next term.

David Silva hasn't been able to replicate the good form he displayed last season and the signing of Scott Sinclair has been a spectacular failure following the promise he showed at Swansea.

The club had identified the Polish international as the prefect remedy to their problems and were waiting for the transfer window reopens to activate the £12.7 million buy-out clause installed in his contract.

However, 'Kuba' as he is affectionately known in Dortmund has stopped any speculation regarding his future dead in its tracks by pledging his future to the club and claiming that he is happy to stay and see out the remainder of his contract which expires in 2018.

"I have been here for six years now and I'm part of the city and the club," he said.

"I have grown up as well. I have no fears or worries."

"The question is where would I feel as good as I do in Dortmund."

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/manchester-city-knocked-back-in-pursuit-of-borussia-dortmund-winger/feed/ 0 Steven GreenFri, 17 May 13 19:33:05 +0000Polish star happy to stay. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/barcelona-target-arsenal-tottenham-pair-to-shore-up-defence/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/barcelona-target-arsenal-tottenham-pair-to-shore-up-defence/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 17:36:23 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145462 Barcelona considering bids for Arsenal and Tottenham centre-backs.

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Barcelona are considering bidding for Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny or Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen in a bid to improve their defensive displays next season.

Tito Vilanova's side sealed their La Liga title triumph last week but have been on a  poor run of form towards the end of the season, finding themselves lacking particularly in games against the big sides.

They were humiliated in the Champions League semi-final, going out 7-0 on aggregate to high-flying Bayern Munich, and the Nou Camp board are concerned at how easily their side was ripped apart by the Bundesliga side.

With Carles Puyol ageing and having recent problems with injuries, a centre-back is a priority for the club this summer, as they look to tighten up at the back and estbalish themselves as genuine Champions League contenders again.



Laurent Koscielny is said to be a target, and is also being watched by Bayern, as former Barca boss Pep Guardiola is a fan of the Frenchman, who has not always been a starter at Arsenal this season.

The 27-year-old has forced his way into the team of late though, due to the poor form of Thomas Vermaelen, and has shown his quality in reading the game, as well as on the ball, looking like a perfect fit for Barcelona's style of play.

He would cost around £20million, but Barca are expected to sell a number of their squad players this summer which will help fund the offer. They will hope that Arsenal's recent track record of selling their key players will show once again, and add Koscielny to the list of Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry as recent players to swap the Emirates Stadium for the Nou Camp.

They are also reportedly keen on Vertonghen, who has had an excellent season with Tottenham since joining from Ajax. The Belgian has looked solid at the back as well as providing a good outlet going forward, showing great composure and technique to score and create goals. He would also cost around £20million, and Barca may be able to lure him away if current club Spurs do not qualify for next season's Champions League.

Although it is thought that they would only sign one of these players, they could target both if they make a decision to demote Gerard Pique to a backup role at the club. The former Manchester United defender's form has dropped this season and he may no longer be guaranteed a starting place if it continues.

Arsenal may already be preparing for the exit of Koscielny to Bayern or Barca, having made moves to sign Swansea City defender Ashley Williams as a replacement. Spurs, meanwhile, will be keen to hold on to Vertonghen as they only signed him a year ago, and they will not want to lose two key players in one go, as Gareth Bale is widely tipped to be subject to a big-money offer from Real Madrid.

]]> Barcelona considering bids for Arsenal and Tottenham centre-backs.

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Barcelona are considering bidding for Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny or Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen in a bid to improve their defensive displays next season.

Tito Vilanova's side sealed their La Liga title triumph last week but have been on a  poor run of form towards the end of the season, finding themselves lacking particularly in games against the big sides.

They were humiliated in the Champions League semi-final, going out 7-0 on aggregate to high-flying Bayern Munich, and the Nou Camp board are concerned at how easily their side was ripped apart by the Bundesliga side.

With Carles Puyol ageing and having recent problems with injuries, a centre-back is a priority for the club this summer, as they look to tighten up at the back and estbalish themselves as genuine Champions League contenders again.



Laurent Koscielny is said to be a target, and is also being watched by Bayern, as former Barca boss Pep Guardiola is a fan of the Frenchman, who has not always been a starter at Arsenal this season.

The 27-year-old has forced his way into the team of late though, due to the poor form of Thomas Vermaelen, and has shown his quality in reading the game, as well as on the ball, looking like a perfect fit for Barcelona's style of play.

He would cost around £20million, but Barca are expected to sell a number of their squad players this summer which will help fund the offer. They will hope that Arsenal's recent track record of selling their key players will show once again, and add Koscielny to the list of Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry as recent players to swap the Emirates Stadium for the Nou Camp.

They are also reportedly keen on Vertonghen, who has had an excellent season with Tottenham since joining from Ajax. The Belgian has looked solid at the back as well as providing a good outlet going forward, showing great composure and technique to score and create goals. He would also cost around £20million, and Barca may be able to lure him away if current club Spurs do not qualify for next season's Champions League.

Although it is thought that they would only sign one of these players, they could target both if they make a decision to demote Gerard Pique to a backup role at the club. The former Manchester United defender's form has dropped this season and he may no longer be guaranteed a starting place if it continues.

Arsenal may already be preparing for the exit of Koscielny to Bayern or Barca, having made moves to sign Swansea City defender Ashley Williams as a replacement. Spurs, meanwhile, will be keen to hold on to Vertonghen as they only signed him a year ago, and they will not want to lose two key players in one go, as Gareth Bale is widely tipped to be subject to a big-money offer from Real Madrid.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/barcelona-target-arsenal-tottenham-pair-to-shore-up-defence/feed/ 0 Mark BrusFri, 17 May 13 18:36:23 +0000Barcelona considering bids for Arsenal and Tottenham centre-backs. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/german-international-keeper-rules-out-arsenal-move/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/german-international-keeper-rules-out-arsenal-move/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 17:03:29 +0000 Steven Green http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145438 German international won't be moving to London.

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Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler has ruled out a summer move to Arsenal, according to talkSPORT.

The 28-year-old has been just one of a number of players linked with the club in line to replace Wojciech Szcz?sny, who has lost the confidence of Arsene Wenger. Adler, Victor Valdes and Michel Vorm have been the favourites to take over from the Polish international but Adler has distanced himself from the speculation.

"I am under contract at Hamburg, this is a fact," he said.

"I can say that since I have arrived, I have never thought of, or considered, leaving the team."

Alder is under contract with the Bundesliga side until 2017 after joining from Bayer Leverkusen last summer on a free transfer after spending six years with the club.

He had emerged as somewhat of a shock target for the Gunners had reportedly been on Arsene Wenger's radar for sometime, but after this news he will have to turn his attentions elsewhere.

Adler has made 32 appearances for Hamburg this season, conceding 55 goals which currently sees the side sat in seventh place. It has been a disappointing campaign for the club after acquiring the likes of Adler and Rafael Van Der Vaart last summer.

]]> German international won't be moving to London.

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Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler has ruled out a summer move to Arsenal, according to talkSPORT.

The 28-year-old has been just one of a number of players linked with the club in line to replace Wojciech Szcz?sny, who has lost the confidence of Arsene Wenger. Adler, Victor Valdes and Michel Vorm have been the favourites to take over from the Polish international but Adler has distanced himself from the speculation.

"I am under contract at Hamburg, this is a fact," he said.

"I can say that since I have arrived, I have never thought of, or considered, leaving the team."

Alder is under contract with the Bundesliga side until 2017 after joining from Bayer Leverkusen last summer on a free transfer after spending six years with the club.

He had emerged as somewhat of a shock target for the Gunners had reportedly been on Arsene Wenger's radar for sometime, but after this news he will have to turn his attentions elsewhere.

Adler has made 32 appearances for Hamburg this season, conceding 55 goals which currently sees the side sat in seventh place. It has been a disappointing campaign for the club after acquiring the likes of Adler and Rafael Van Der Vaart last summer.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/german-international-keeper-rules-out-arsenal-move/feed/ 0 Steven GreenFri, 17 May 13 18:03:29 +0000German international won't be moving to London. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/five-in-five-out-potential-liverpool-summer-transfer-plans-2/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/five-in-five-out-potential-liverpool-summer-transfer-plans-2/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 13:54:28 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145455 A look at who could be coming and going at Anfield in this summer's transfer window.



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Out: Pepe Reina

The 30-year-old Spaniard looks past his best at Liverpool, after a great five years or so of service when he signed from Villareal in 2005. He has simply looked far too error prone over the last couple of seasons and has surprisingly found himself as a transfer target for Barcelona, where he started his career as a youngster, as the Catalan giants look for a replacement for the departing Victor Valdes. Brendan Rodgers would be well advised to bite their hand off and take any offer, so he can fix the club's goalkeeping problem with a better long-term option between the sticks.





Out: Martin Skrtel

The Slovakian centre-back looked a good signing when he joined the club in 2008 from Zenit St Petersburg, but at 28 years of age he does not seem to have progressed into the player he should have been. Brendan Rodgers insists Skrtel still has a future at the club, despite keeping him out of the team behind veteran defender Jamie Carragher for much of the season and targeting a number of central defenders in the transfer window. Skrtel's time at Anfield looks like it's over, and a surprise move to Arsenal has been mentioned as a possibility.





Out: Jordan Henderson

Brendan Rodgers will be keen to rid himself of players like Jordan Henderson, who were brought in for ridiculous money by previous manager Kenny Dalglish. Signed for £20million from Sunderland, the 22-year-old has not looked capable of making the step up at a top club like Liverpool, despite some promising displays as a youngster at his former team. There have been signs in recent months that he's improving, but Liverpool need to lose deadwood players such as this if they are to move forward and launch a real assault on the Premier League's top four places next season.





Out: Stewart Downing

Many eyebrows were raised (again) when Kenny Dalglish spent an incredible £20million to bring Stewart Downing to Liverpool from Aston Villa. The former Middlesbrough wide man flopped spectacularly in his first season, providing 0 goals and 0 assists in the Premier League, simply abysmal for a player of that kind of price. The 28-year-old has shown some signs of improvement in his second season with the club, but once again Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to lose a player inflicted on him by his predecessor. The club need more ammunition from the wide areas, to provide more chances for star striker Luis Suarez, and to take the pressure off him to score all their goals.





Out: Andy Carroll

The worst of all of Kenny Dalglish's expensive transfer flops, Andy Carroll has looked nothing like a £35million striker since joining Liverpool from Newcastle, and will now surely be forced out of the club as his style of play and skillset certainly do not fit in with Brendan Rodgers' way of doing things. The 24-year-old has spent this season on loan at West Ham, and has looked a bit more comfortable in Sam Allardyce's setup. The Hammers will be hoping they can sign him permanently, though Newcastle are also interested. Liverpool will want to hold out for a decent fee after investing so much in Carroll, but should accept whatever comes their way and move on. They could certainly do with taking his huge wages off their wage bill, which could be spent on a striker of much superior quality.





In: Michel Vorm (Swansea City)

With Reina surely set to exit, Rodgers may target a raid on his old club Swansea for their highly impressive goalkeeper Michel Vorm. The Dutchman has been a revelation since moving to the Premier League and has attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona - all the more reason for Liverpool to sell Reina to Barca, so they don't beat them to the signing of Vorm. The talented shot-stopper could win a lot of crucial points for the Reds next season, and give them more stability in a backline that has often struggled and conceded poor goals.





In: Ashley Williams (Swansea City)

Another player that Rodgers knows well from his time at Swansea, Ashley Williams would be an excellent replacement for both the retiring Jamie Carragher and the off-form Martin Skrtel. The Swans captain has been in great form for Michael Laudrup's side this season, leading them to glory in the Capital One Cup and establishing himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Arsenal are also said to be keen on signing the 28-year-old, so Liverpool should act fast to bring in this experienced and commanding player to shore up their defence.





In: James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)

Liverpool are said to be interested in this talented young midfielder, who has really impressed for Wigan this season, despite their relegation. The 22-year-old is an all-round central midfielder, who could offer the Reds plenty in terms of shielding their back four, as well as breaking forward and playing in his team-mates. McCarthy should be available following Wigan's drop to the Championship, as he is certainly someone who should be playing Premier League football. Rumour has it, he could be part of a double Liverpool swoop on Wigan, with young winger Callum McManaman also interesting Brendan Rodgers.





In: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona)

The Chilean winger could be part of a summer clear-out at the Nou Camp this season, as he just hasn't found his best form for Barcelona since joining from Udinese for £22million. Barcelona have had a difficult year and are understood to be set to make a number of changes, and he no longer features in Tito Vilanova's plans. The talented winger, who can also play upfront, was once wanted by Manchester City, and could still be a target for Arsenal and a number of Serie A clubs this summer. Liverpool's style of play would suit him well, and a move could be just what he needs to get his career back on track. His goals and assists from wide positions would be very useful to Brendan Rodgers indeed, as he surely can't be any worse than Stewart Downing. Sanchez is still young, just 24, and has still managed 10 goals and 12 assists for Barca this season despite being in and out of the team and at far from his best form.





In: Jackson Martinez (Porto)

The exciting Porto striker has been compared with Colombian team-mate Radamel Falcao, impressing hugely in his first season at the club and attracting interest from both Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund. He has 33 goals in all competitions this season and the deadly finisher would really take a lot of weight off Luis Suarez's shoulders as Liverpool's main goal scorer. He may be expensive after this explosive breakthrough season, but this kind of ambitious signing is just what the Reds need to challenge for silverware and the top four again. Liverpool's interest is genuine, and this could happen if Dortmund turn their attention to Aston Villa's Christian Benteke, who they also see as a target for replacing Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona's David Villa may be a decent backup option, and he too has been linked with the Reds, but is currently favourite to join Tottenham.


]]> A look at who could be coming and going at Anfield in this summer's transfer window.



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Out: Pepe Reina

The 30-year-old Spaniard looks past his best at Liverpool, after a great five years or so of service when he signed from Villareal in 2005. He has simply looked far too error prone over the last couple of seasons and has surprisingly found himself as a transfer target for Barcelona, where he started his career as a youngster, as the Catalan giants look for a replacement for the departing Victor Valdes. Brendan Rodgers would be well advised to bite their hand off and take any offer, so he can fix the club's goalkeeping problem with a better long-term option between the sticks.





Out: Martin Skrtel

The Slovakian centre-back looked a good signing when he joined the club in 2008 from Zenit St Petersburg, but at 28 years of age he does not seem to have progressed into the player he should have been. Brendan Rodgers insists Skrtel still has a future at the club, despite keeping him out of the team behind veteran defender Jamie Carragher for much of the season and targeting a number of central defenders in the transfer window. Skrtel's time at Anfield looks like it's over, and a surprise move to Arsenal has been mentioned as a possibility.





Out: Jordan Henderson

Brendan Rodgers will be keen to rid himself of players like Jordan Henderson, who were brought in for ridiculous money by previous manager Kenny Dalglish. Signed for £20million from Sunderland, the 22-year-old has not looked capable of making the step up at a top club like Liverpool, despite some promising displays as a youngster at his former team. There have been signs in recent months that he's improving, but Liverpool need to lose deadwood players such as this if they are to move forward and launch a real assault on the Premier League's top four places next season.





Out: Stewart Downing

Many eyebrows were raised (again) when Kenny Dalglish spent an incredible £20million to bring Stewart Downing to Liverpool from Aston Villa. The former Middlesbrough wide man flopped spectacularly in his first season, providing 0 goals and 0 assists in the Premier League, simply abysmal for a player of that kind of price. The 28-year-old has shown some signs of improvement in his second season with the club, but once again Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to lose a player inflicted on him by his predecessor. The club need more ammunition from the wide areas, to provide more chances for star striker Luis Suarez, and to take the pressure off him to score all their goals.





Out: Andy Carroll

The worst of all of Kenny Dalglish's expensive transfer flops, Andy Carroll has looked nothing like a £35million striker since joining Liverpool from Newcastle, and will now surely be forced out of the club as his style of play and skillset certainly do not fit in with Brendan Rodgers' way of doing things. The 24-year-old has spent this season on loan at West Ham, and has looked a bit more comfortable in Sam Allardyce's setup. The Hammers will be hoping they can sign him permanently, though Newcastle are also interested. Liverpool will want to hold out for a decent fee after investing so much in Carroll, but should accept whatever comes their way and move on. They could certainly do with taking his huge wages off their wage bill, which could be spent on a striker of much superior quality.





In: Michel Vorm (Swansea City)

With Reina surely set to exit, Rodgers may target a raid on his old club Swansea for their highly impressive goalkeeper Michel Vorm. The Dutchman has been a revelation since moving to the Premier League and has attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona - all the more reason for Liverpool to sell Reina to Barca, so they don't beat them to the signing of Vorm. The talented shot-stopper could win a lot of crucial points for the Reds next season, and give them more stability in a backline that has often struggled and conceded poor goals.





In: Ashley Williams (Swansea City)

Another player that Rodgers knows well from his time at Swansea, Ashley Williams would be an excellent replacement for both the retiring Jamie Carragher and the off-form Martin Skrtel. The Swans captain has been in great form for Michael Laudrup's side this season, leading them to glory in the Capital One Cup and establishing himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Arsenal are also said to be keen on signing the 28-year-old, so Liverpool should act fast to bring in this experienced and commanding player to shore up their defence.





In: James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)

Liverpool are said to be interested in this talented young midfielder, who has really impressed for Wigan this season, despite their relegation. The 22-year-old is an all-round central midfielder, who could offer the Reds plenty in terms of shielding their back four, as well as breaking forward and playing in his team-mates. McCarthy should be available following Wigan's drop to the Championship, as he is certainly someone who should be playing Premier League football. Rumour has it, he could be part of a double Liverpool swoop on Wigan, with young winger Callum McManaman also interesting Brendan Rodgers.





In: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona)

The Chilean winger could be part of a summer clear-out at the Nou Camp this season, as he just hasn't found his best form for Barcelona since joining from Udinese for £22million. Barcelona have had a difficult year and are understood to be set to make a number of changes, and he no longer features in Tito Vilanova's plans. The talented winger, who can also play upfront, was once wanted by Manchester City, and could still be a target for Arsenal and a number of Serie A clubs this summer. Liverpool's style of play would suit him well, and a move could be just what he needs to get his career back on track. His goals and assists from wide positions would be very useful to Brendan Rodgers indeed, as he surely can't be any worse than Stewart Downing. Sanchez is still young, just 24, and has still managed 10 goals and 12 assists for Barca this season despite being in and out of the team and at far from his best form.





In: Jackson Martinez (Porto)

The exciting Porto striker has been compared with Colombian team-mate Radamel Falcao, impressing hugely in his first season at the club and attracting interest from both Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund. He has 33 goals in all competitions this season and the deadly finisher would really take a lot of weight off Luis Suarez's shoulders as Liverpool's main goal scorer. He may be expensive after this explosive breakthrough season, but this kind of ambitious signing is just what the Reds need to challenge for silverware and the top four again. Liverpool's interest is genuine, and this could happen if Dortmund turn their attention to Aston Villa's Christian Benteke, who they also see as a target for replacing Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona's David Villa may be a decent backup option, and he too has been linked with the Reds, but is currently favourite to join Tottenham.


]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/17/five-in-five-out-potential-liverpool-summer-transfer-plans-2/feed/ 0 Mark BrusFri, 17 May 13 14:54:28 +0000A look at who could be coming and going at Anfield in this summer's transfer window.