Time to round up some of the transfer news coming out of Serie A this morning

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  • Fiorentina's Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado is set to meet Viola president Andrea Della Valle on Friday morning to discuss his future, with Manchester United and Barcelona ready to pounce
  • AC Milan are edging closer to signing Colombia full-back Pablo Armero on loan from Udinese, and also Real Madridgoalkeeper Diego Lopez. The Rossoneri are also interested inNapoli's Switzerland midfielder Blerim Dzemaili
  • Tottenham's Romania centre-back Vlad Chiriches remains a major transfer target for Roma
  • Genoa are the front runners to sign Uruguay defender Diego Lugano on a free transfer after he was released by West Brom

NEWS VERMALEN

With Thomas Vermaelen seemingly out of the picture, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal could turn his attentions to Ajax defender Daley Blind. The 24-year-old is now odds on to make the switch to Old Trafford.

More News

Here's our round-up of all the latest Reds-related stories from today's Mirror and the rumours across the web...

Cavani yes?

Liverpool have been offered a glimmer of hope in their quest to land Edinson Cavani.

The Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers is a huge fan of the striker and, the star’s agent has revealed, made an inquiry earlier this summer as he looked to instantly replace Barcelona-bound Luis Suarez.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward will command a huge salary and a big money transfer just a year after moving to the French cpital from Italians Napoli for a reported £53million fee, but it seems that hasn’t put off the Anfield outfit.

Cavani’s agent, Claudio Annelluci is reported in Uruguay newspaper El Telegrafo as explaining that there are offers on the table from the Reds and Premier League rivals Arsenal.

“There was much interest in the player during the past six months. I can confirm that Cavani has heard proposals from Liverpool and Arsenal,” he said.

“He would love to play in England, but has not yet made a final decision. He is not interested in money and fame, he just wants to be happy playing football.”

Falcao no?

Liverpool made an audacious enquiry for Radamel Falcao last week - but have admitted defeat in their blockbuster chase for the Monaco man.

The Reds, in need of forward reinforcements following Luis Suarez's £75million move to Barcelona, are keen on a marquee addition up front.

And they saw the Colombian hitman as the perfect option with the 28-year-old believed to be increasingly unsettled in the principality.

But when asking about the striker's availability the Anfield top brass were told he was heading elsewhere this summer.

Real Madrid have been strongly linked with an unlikely loan move with a fee of £10m mooted for a year.

  

Friday's Liverpool stories from other newspapers and websites

Red missed

Jamie McDonald 

Feeling blue: Lavezzi looks likely to leave Paris this summer

Liverpool could be set to miss out on Ezequiel Lavezzi after they hesitate over his personal terms.

Brendan Rodgers is firmly in the market for forward reinforcements this summer after Luis Suarez's £75m move to Barcelona.

And the Argentine flyer is thought to be high on his wishlist with rumours abound he is set to leave PSG.

The Reds are interested but have grown hesitant after it emerged he wants a long-term deal worth over £20m according to the Express.

Add to that a fee in the region of £18m and he looks an expensive addition at 29 years of age.

Moves like moving on?

Daniel Agger's future will be resolved by the end of next week according to the Telegraph.

Both Barcelona and Arsenal are believed to be keen on the Danish defender with the player himself desperate to leave.

The Reds are yet to receive any formal offers for him as yet but are keen to sort the issue out prior to the start of the season.

Agger made 20 league appearances last term but the arrival of Dejan Lovren is likely to see him shunted further down the pecking order.

Italian job

The drawn out sago over whether Fabio Borini will sign for Sunderland is continuing to drag on.

The Italian is yet to make a firm decision despite seeing a bid accepted by the Reds over a fortnight ago.

The Black Cats remain keen according to the Journal but Borini is still thought to favour an Anfield stay.

The 23-year-old feels he can carve out a career on Merseyside despite a number of attacking additions this summer.

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Wenger questions Lampard move

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has raised questions regarding Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard’s loan move to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.

Lampard, who spent 13 successful years at Stamford Bridge, will spend the next six months on loan at the Etihad before the start of the 2015 MLS season, having signed a two-year deal with new franchise New York City FC.

However, Wenger feels the English player’s move to City is a means for the club to adhere to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side were punished last season by UEFA for over-spending, and were dealt with a £49 million (R878 million) fine, and will only be allowed to select a 21-man squad (instead of the normal 25-man team) for Champions Leagues games this campaign, with eight of the squad members having to be home-grown players.

"Is it a way to get around the fair play? I don't know," Wenger told the press.

"At the moment the players they sign cannot play until next year so they will register them in the other clubs and can get out on loan.”

The English champions are part-owners of Lampard’s new Club, New York City FC, and own Australian club Melbourne City FC as well, and Wenger feels this is a ploy to capture players back on loan from their various clubs across the globe.

"It looks like all of these 'City' clubs will feed the main club Manchester City - I heard they want to buy five clubs all over the world,” said the Gunners coach.

"I don't know the rules well enough, but they bought a franchise for £59.4m to play in the States next season."

Wenger said his team will not repeat their rival’s antics, and will remain focused on running their own club in London.
"We are happy to dedicate the money to just run our club - there is not a lot of surplus to run other clubs," he said.

Van Gaal's United dispatch Madrid

Real Madrid vs Manchester United was the pick of the day as the two European giants met in a preseason friendly in front of a record crowd at The Big House on Saturday, while Liverpool beat Milan and Arsenal crush Benfica.

While our domestic season has already kicked off, the European leagues are still in the middle of their pre-season, with Saturday seeing a number of big clashes across the globe. Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, AC Milan, Arsenal and Benfica were all in action, and this is how they fared.

Real Madrid 1 -3 Manchester United

The two sides are currently on a pre-season tour of the US and met in front of a record 109 318 fans at the Michigan Stadium, where Louis Van Gaal’s men overpowered the Galacticos to a 3-1 victory.

Ashley Young opened the scoring in the 21st minute after a sequence of slick passing; Bale equalised from the penalty spot in the 27th minute before United secured an all-Premier League final against Liverpool, thanks to a second goal from Young and a third from Hernandez.

Liverpool 2-0 Milan

Liverpool brushed AC Milan aside with a 2-0 win in Charlotte on Saturday to set up an International Champions Cup final against arch-rivals Manchester United.

Goals from Joe Allan in the first half and Suso in the second sealed the victory for The Reds.

Arsenal 5-1 Benfica

French 21-year-old Yaya Sanogo netted four times in The Gunner’s 5-1 rout of Portuguese League champions Benfica in an Emirates Cup preseason friendly.  Sanogo upstaged new signing, and debutant on the day, Alexis Sanchez who had all the pre-match hype.

The Frenchman completed his hat trick within 20 minutes in the first half, with Joel Campbell also netting to give Arsenal a 4-0 lead going into the break. Sanogo then completed the rout in the 49th minute, before Nico Gaitan scored a consolation for The Eagles in the 62nd minute.

Manchester City (4)2-2(5) Olympiakos (after penalties)

Manuel Pellegrini's men were beaten 5-4 on penalties for the second time in four days as Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto Gago saved two penalties to dispose of the Premier League-side in the International Champions Cup.

City striker Stevan Jovetic opened the scoring in the 35th minute before 21-year-old Dimitros Diamantakos equalised. Aleksander Kolarov then restored the lead from the penalty spot, but Diamantakos completed a brace to ensure the match went into penalties.

Penalty misses from James Milner, Scott Sinclair and Micah Richards handed the Greeks a victory, which meant City now head back home to complete their preperations for the new Barckays Premier League season.

Article by: KICK OFF

http://www.kickoff.com/news/47377/man-united-beat-real-madrid-3-1

Jose: Chelsea stronger without Luiz

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes his side have not lost out on much on the field of play with the exit of Brazilian defender David Luiz.

The 27-year-old, who signed a five-year, £50-million deal with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain before the World Cup, was highly criticised after his performances in Brazil, and Mourinho feels he has a stronger squad at his disposal after the defender’s exit from Stamford Bridge.

"Last season he [Luiz] was not regular first-choice for us," Mourinho said.

"David did important things here, was always a good professional and we will miss him as a good guy when he was with us. But from a football point of view we believe our squad is stronger this season than it was.”

The Portuguese coach acknowledged his physical contribution to the Blues in centre of the park, but feels his side are more than covered in that position this season.

"As a central defender he was not at all [first-choice], it was John [Terry] and [Gary] Cahill during the whole season,” Mourinho continued.

“In midfield he was a physical guy and gave us some important things, especially when we played in the Champions League when Nemanja Matic couldn't play.

"This season Matic can play in the Champions League so we don't lose that physicality. The fact we also have Cesc Fabregas moves us in a different direction and we want to move in a different direction.

“It's something that our football needs and we want to go in that direction."

Pirates confirm Lekgwathi deal

Orlando Pirates have confirmed veteran defender Lucky Lekgwathi has been offered a new deal.

Lekgwathi, who turned 38 last week, had been training with Bucs as a free agent in pre-season.

However, Pirates today revealed via their official website that Lekgwathi has been handed a contract for the 2014/15 campaign.  

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