AS ARSENAL'S quest for silverware enters its ninth season, the Gunners have signed a striker they hope can deliver them a trophy next year. According to The Sun, Arsenal have agreed a deal for a player who almost quit football to become a postman.
The postie in question is Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo. Having scored ten goals in 13 games last season for the Ligue 2 club, the France Under-21 international has apparently been signed on a four year deal by Arsenal after Arsene Wenger gave his stamp of approval to the transfer.
The Sun says the 20-year-old Sanogo was spotted by Gunners scout Gilles Grimandi and invited to meet Wenger in Paris. "I was very impressed that he had come all that way specially, he told me I would get my chance at Arsenal," says Sanogo. "He said he'd been following me for years. The journey he'd made convinced me to join Arsenal."
Three years ago Sanogo broke his leg in two places and it was feared he would never play again. "I was going to work for the Post Office," he explained, "but one day I tried to run once more, it went well, and I recovered bit by bit."
Still with Arsenal, and ace reporter Brian Fantana from Anchorman could well be on 'Higuain-watch' outside the Emirates. Today's update on the never-ending saga of Gonzalo Higuain's move from Real Madrid comes courtesy of The Sun, which tells us that the player's father believes negotiations are "at an advanced stage".
But worryingly for Gunners fans he played down reports that the Argentine had agreed personal terms with the London club although he did suggest that a deal was close.
More positive news concerns defender Johan Djourou, who has not worn an Arsenal shirt for many months and is unlikely to do so ever again after Wenger made it clear that he was surplus to requirements.
The Swiss international spent the second half of last season on loan at Hannover, and now the Evening Standard reports that their Bundesliga rivals Hamburg are keen to sign him. The paper explains that the the German outfit would be keen to take Djourou on a season-long loan or, even better, sign him permanently. But it bodes well for Wenger's efforts to offload the defender because Hannover are also said to be interested in keeping the player for another season.
Back to Sanogo, and the former postman might be well advised to keep a lookout for Luis Suarez next season, what with his reputation for biting, but according to the Daily Express the Liverpool striker might not be at Anfield. The paper claims that Manchester City are poised to launch a surprise £35m bid for the Uruguayan frontman.
Apparently new Sky Blues' boss Manuel Pellegrini had been eyeing up Napoli's Edinson Cavani but was not prepared to meet the £53m escape clause. So instead City have turned their attention to Suarez, who has made no secret of his desire to test himself in the Champions League.
The Express believed that the Reds have resigned themselves to losing the former Ajax star, and are therefore looking to flog him for a fortune.
Real Madrid have made noises about signing the 26-year-old in recent weeks, and there is speculation that European champions Bayern Munich are also interested. Liverpool bought the South American for £23m and it's claimed that they are cautiously optimistic they could sell him for well over £30m.
Perhaps that is why Liverpool have apparently splashed out £7.5m on Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo. The Daily Mail reports that the 25-year-old Spanish striker, who scored 12 goals for Celta last season, has penned a long-term contract with the Reds after being given a clean bill of health at his medical. All that remains, according to the official Liverpool website, is for the deal to receive international clearance. Although the Reds didn't reveal the exact amount they paid for Aspas, the Mail says it's believed to be around £7.5 m.
Finally, Metro says that Tottenham plan to open talks with Aston Villa over a possible £20m deal for Christian Benteke. The 22-year hitman netted 23 goals for Villa last season, and though Arsenal were reportedly interested, the Metro says that Spurs are now the red-hot favourites to sign the barnstorming Belgian.
What works in their favour is that Spurs gaffer Andre Villas-Boas will use Emmanuel Adebayor as an added incentive, throwing in the former Man City striker along with a big wad of cash. The Metro said Villa had been hoping Tottenham would give them Jermain Defoe instead, but Villas-Boas wants to hang on to the England forward.
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