Football Gossip

Manchester United are chasing the young Chilean starlet Alexis Sanchez according to the player’s agent.

Manchester United have reportedly had a bid turned down to secure the Chilean services next season. Sanchez was an influential player in helping his Argentinean side, River Plate win the championship. His impressive performances at such a young age has drawn attention internationally and several of the ‘Big clubs’ are chasing for his signature.

The 19 year-old is owned by Udinese without ever playing for them, after signing in 2006. He has been twice loaned out to South American teams previously Colo-Colo and currently River.

River realising his great talent are trying to tie him down for another season and have began talks with the Italian club Udinese. Apparently, the player has caught the eye of Manchester United who see him as a long term replacement of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sanchez’s agent Fernando Felicevich has told the Chilean media that United have already failed with one approach for his client.

“It was around two months ago and it was not just an enquiry, they [Manchester United] also presented an offer, but it did not meet the requirements of Udinese or Alexis so it was rejected,” he told La Cuarta.

Felicevich admitted that he could not rule out a renewed United bid, and claimed that the previous offer was substantial.

“The figure rejected by Udinese was very important,” he added.

Reports in Chile and Italy claim that Udinese have already put a 20million euros (£15.8million) valuation on Sanchez’s head, which would seemingly be enough to put off any interested parties.

With all this interest in the player Udinese are eager to see how Sanchez will fare in Serie A.

Sanchez departed for Italy on Monday to link-up with Udinese for pre-season training.

“It is the first time he will have been so far, far away from his family so we will have to see how it goes,” said Felicevich.

Sanchez in action:

Spanish press claim Robinho’s agent is in talks with Chelsea about a possible transfer. Real Madrid are confident of securing the premiership’s player of the year Cistiano Ronaldo and so can afford to offload the want-a-way forward Robinho.

Marca the Spanish newspaper assert that Robinho’s agent Wagner Riberio has met with Chelsea representatives including the sporting director Frank Arneson over his possible move to the London club.

The paper claims that Real Madrid need to raise money to finance their move for Cristiano Ronanldo which, if reports are accurate, will break all records. Real Madrid are asking for offers above £29milllion for the Brazilian striker Robinho.

The selling of their Brazilian star will be dependant on the aquisition of the Man Utd forward. This highlights Real Madrid’s confidence in signing the Portuguese winger, that they have already begun talks to sell the creative forward.

Real Madrid’s president Ramon Calderon reportedly told the 2008 Wimbledon champion Rafa Nadal that the signing of Ronaldo was as good as done even though he has repeatedly and publicly announced that he didn’t wish to talk about the transfer saga.

Robinho Vs Ronaldo

Arsene Wenger is winning the race for the signing of the highly rated Russian playmaker Arshavin ahead of Chelsea. Arshavin has attracted the attention of the Frenchman at the recent European Chanpionship 2008. His impressive performances in the tournament were instrumental in Russia’s run to the final and was enlisted in the UEFA EURO 2008™ Team of the Tournament.

This £15million star is in a four way tug-of-war after resisting a new £3.9million-a-year contract from his current club Zenit St Petersburg. The clubs interested in him include Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona.

Chelsea have recently inquired about the player and have a significant advantage over the other clubs due to Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich Russian connection. It seems that Abramovich will enforce a Russian player to be included in the Chelsea squad because of the recent success of the Russian team. Arshavin seems the most likely candidate as he was the most influential player in the team.

Arsene Wenger has been labelled “a cunning fox” in his pursuit of the Russian forward. The Arsenal manager is trying to outwit his competition by sending out mixed messages of his involvement. In true Arsene Wenger style this is probably an attempt to reduce the asking price of the player.

An interview of Zenit club official Dennis Lakhter reveals certain truths:

“In the morning he says (Arsene Wenger) Arshavin will play all the time at his club(Arsenal) and during the day he says he doubts the capabilities of Andrei to play three games in a row at the highest level.

“But this is a tactic to fool the competition.

“He calls Andrei a Tsar and then tries to deny interest in the player.”

Lakhter said Arsenal and Barcelona have made approaches but Arsenal remain “the most active”.

View Arshavin football skills here:

Arenal among other clubs have been continually linked to the Portugese midfielder Miguel Veloso. Although Juventus, Manchester United and AC Milan have been keeping tabs on the Lisbon defender it appears that Arsenal is the ost likely destination for the player.

The front two runners Arsenal and Juventus have both been insistent on midfield replacements during this transfer window. But Juventus have settled for Alonso leaving Arsenal clear for the player.

Juventus’s Giovanni Cobolli Gigli ruled out any further interest in the player, stating explicitly his intentions.

“We have looked at Miguel, but I can tell you that he doesn’t interest us any longer,” he said.

Arsene Wenger however, has remained silent, clearly weighing up his options, after losing the influential centre midfielder Flamini to AC Milan in the summer. Arsene has insisted in bringing replacement and Veloso seems a firm bet.

Veloso in action: