ARSENAL TARGET JULIO CESAR SET TO LEAVE QPR, CONFIRMS REDKNAPP

The Hoops boss says the goalkeeper will definitely move on this summer, with the Gunners and Roma heavily linked with a move for the Brazil international

QPR manager Harry Redknapp says goalkeeper Julio Cesar "will move on" following the club's relegation to the Championship.

Goal understands Arsenal have opened formal talks with the goalkeeper and are willing to pay €1 million for the Brazilian who they have identified as their No.1 shot-stopper target.

However, the Gunners will face competition from Roma after the Giallorossi's loan swoop for Chelsea newcomer Wallace stalled.

Meanwhile, Redknapp has confirmed he is fully expecting the 33-year-old to leave Loftus Road, and anticipates him moving to a top club.

"Julio Cesar will move on," Redknapp told talkSPORT.

“He’s a top class goalkeeper, Brazil’s No.1. He’s been in great for Brazil and I presume there’s a big club out there for him.

"He won’t want to play in the Championship, he’s a goalkeeper for a big club.”

THE SWEEPER: ARSENAL IN POLE POSITION SHOULD BARCELONA SELL FABREGAS

Jun 30, 2013 7:57:00 AM

The Gunners would be informed should the Catalans consider selling the midfielder, but the Spain star wants to prove himself at Camp Nou next season

WENGER IN REGULAR FABREGAS CONTACT

Arsenal have explored utilising the first-option clause inserted in Cesc Fabregas’ Barcelona contract this summer, The Sweeper understands.

Sources have said that Arsene Wenger has been talking on the phone "quite a bit" with his former captain during the domestic break.

TRANSFER LATEST
2/1	Cesc Fabregas is 2/1 with BetVictor to sign for Arsenal

Discussions are believed to have centred on Fabregas' willingness to return to the club where he spent eight successful years and blossomed into one of Europe's outstanding young midfielders.

The 26-year-old's progress has stalled during his two years back at Barcelona, prompting fevered speculation about a return to the Premier League.

Arsenal have a fixed price on Fabregas' buy-back clause, believed to be €29 million, and, should another club make a concrete offer for the midfielder, Barca would be obliged to inform the Londoners, who would then be given first refusal.

However, Fabregas has been equally as bullish in private as he has in public about wanting to prove himself at Camp Nou, the club where he emerged through the ranks before joining Arsenal as a 16-year-old.

Sources close to the midfielder are confident he will begin next season as a Barcelona player and that any possible return to England is on hold until 2014 at the earliest.

Manchester United, who are closing in on the signing of Fabregas' club and international colleague Thiago, had considered a bid for the former Gunner but Arsenal remain in pole position to capture the player if he cannot nail down a starting place in the Barca first team.

Wenger’s admiration for Fabregas has not been diluted by the manner in which the midfielder engineered his exit from Emirates Stadium and the Gunners boss has retained an excellent relationship with one of the most successful signings of his 17-year Arsenal reign.

- Wayne Veysey

HOW MANCHESTER CITY BAULKED AT ISCO AGENT FEES
Manchester City appear calm after missing out on Spanish sensation Isco to Real Madrid.

The Premier League runners-up were prepared to go as high as €29m but were not prepared to pay some of the add-ons the player's camp demanded.

Reports are emerging Isco's handlers, which include his father, could pick up about €7m in fees and bonuses over the lifetime of the five-year deal he has signed at Santiago Bernabeu.

City pulled out of a €39m deal for Eden Hazard last summer when the agents demanded a €7m fee.

- Paul Clennam

ARSENAL BACKROOM STAFF RETURN ON MONDAY

 

It is six weeks since the transfer window opened and Arsenal have yet to announce any new signings.

 

But that is likely to change at the start of next week, when the club's army of coaching and backroom staff, led by manager Arsene Wenger, return to work at the training ground following a month-long summer break.

 

The first tranche of senior players will return to training three days later on Thursday, although this will only include those not involved in summer internationals, such as Mikel Arteta. Those players who have figured for their countries will have phased returns, with each permitted a break of at least three weeks.

 

Arsenal are likely to start the month by announcing the signing of France Under-21 striker Yaya Sanogofrom Auxerre, who completed a medical at the club at the start of June.

 

The club will also press ahead with tying up deals for a number of senior targets, including GonzaloHiguain, Marouane Fellaini and Julio Cesar.

- Wayne Veysey

TOTTENHAM NEW LOAN PROPOSAL HAS TOP LEVEL BACKING

Tottenham have made excellent use of the loan market in recent years, with the likes of Kyle Walker, Stephen Caulker and Andros Townsend able to hone their games while enjoying productive spells at rival Premier League clubs.

But Spurs have also seen deals collapse because of the rule which limits top-flight clubs taking a maximum one player on loan from the same club during a season.

In a bid to prevent a repeat of the situation on deadline day in August 2012 in which Jermaine Jenas was forced to abandon his proposed flight to the north-east to join Sunderland after his then colleague Danny Rose had already completed a loan switch from White Hart Lane, Tottenham have proposed an amendment to Premier League rule V.75.

Spurs want clubs to be allowed to take two players on loan from the same club during a season provided the loans take place in different windows.

The Sweeper understands that the proposal had the support of the Premier League board of directors when it was put to them at their meeting in London on May 7.

It is believed that the board will not object to Spurs’ amendment if it is formally put forward by the London club, heralding an imminent change in the loan rules.

ARSENAL TARGET WILLIAMS' €12M PRICE TAG IS 'COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED', SAYS SWANSEA DEFENDER DAVIES

The Swans' left-back insists his defensive partner should not leave the club for less than eight figures following a sterling campaign at the heart of a team that won silverware

Swansea left-back Ben Davies insists the mooted €12 million asking price for star defender Ashley Williams is "completely justified".

As Goal exclusively revealed in May, Arsenal have agreed terms with Williams but are still in discussions with the Welsh club over a transfer fee.

But Davies believes Williams excelled last season as the Swans won the Capital One Cup and should not sell the 28-year-old for less than €12m.

"Last season I would say Ash was one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, I cannot think of many who were better than him. The job he did was incredible," he told reporters.

"A price of £10million or more to sign him is completely justified.

"You see some of the money that gets spent in this league on players who are unproven in the Premier League. I think £10million is more than a fair price."

Davies also believes losing his Wales international team-mate would be a huge blow to Michael Laudrup's side.

He added: "You could see last season how good he was for us and he would be a massive loss.

"At the moment he is still a Swansea player and hopefully that will stay the same, but if he does leave for another club we will have to adapt quickly.

"We have Jordi Amat coming in as a new signing and hopefully he can be as good as, if not better than, him if it comes down to it."

Davies, 20, also paid tribute to the guidance Williams provided him in his first full professional campaign - a season that saw him make the left-back spot his own following injury to Neil Taylor.

"Ash gave me a lot of confidence on the pitch and the transition from Swansea to playing for Wales was made a lot easier as I played with him every week," he continued.

"He is a great player and a great captain, he is always there to talk to, and if you have to say something he is happy to take it.

VIEW AND GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FINAL BRAZIL 3-0 SPAIN: FANTASTIC FRED SEALS CONFEDERATIONS CUP

getty

The Selecao, fueled by a deafening atmosphere inside the Maracana, brought la Roja to their knees with an outstanding display to win the tournament for a fourth time

2′ Fre

44′ Neymar

 

47′ Fred

Two goals from Fred and a stunning Neymar finish saw Brazil claim their third straight Confederations Cup title in emphatic fashion, as they brushed Spain aside 3-0 in the final on Sunday.

The tournament hosts were in supreme form inside a raucous Maracana, ripping the reigning world and European champions to shreds to end their 29-match unbeaten run, and claim the trophy for the fourth time, alongside their triumphs of 2009, 2005 and 1997.

Fred needed only 90 seconds to open the scoring, before a thumping second from Neymar moments before the break rounded off an excellent first half for Brazil.

The onslaught continued two minutes after the restart when Fred put another past a shell-shocked Spain, who showed their ineptitude at both ends when Sergio Ramos lashed a penalty wide.

Gerard Pique's 68th minute red card ended any fleeting hopes of a comeback from la Roja, as Brazil's win sparked wild celebrations in the stands and saw Spain lose by three goals in a competitive game for the first time since 1985.
The fans had the Maracana rocking long before kick-off, and barely two minutes in, the home side nearly blew the roof off the famous stadium when they took the lead.
Oscar delivered a ball into the box which Fred, Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa and Pique all challenged. A goalmouth scramble ensued and, despite laying on the turf, the Fluminense man reacted quickest to poke home.
Fred very nearly set Oscar up for the second within minutes when he flicked across the box from Neymar’s cross, but Chelsea’s young playmaker drilled agonisingly wide.
Paulinho then made Casillas work hard to keep the deficit at one with a cheeky lob after robbing Andres Iniesta, with the Spain keeper backpedalling to get a hand to the attempt.
Vicente Del Bosque’s side were simply struggling to cope with the tenacity and energy in Brazil’s play, which was matched every step of the way by the fervour raining down from the stands.
And Arbeloa nearly committed a fatal mistake when he flattened Neymar on the halfway line, but with the fans baying for blood, only a yellow card was issued to the defender.
Spain finally showed signs of life when Iniesta’s rasping drive forced Julio Cesar to push around the post, but it was an aberration amid Brazil’s dominance, and Casillas had to stand tall again to stop Fred from point blank range.
However, it was then the hosts' turn to live on the edge when an outrageous goal-line clearance from David Luiz denied Pedro a sure-fire goal after Mata’s pass put him one-on-one with Cesar.
But with half-time approaching, Brazil would get their deserved second. Oscar drew the attention of the defence on the edge of the box and deftly slipped in Neymar, who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.
And two minutes after the interval, the hosts struck again. Hulk’s fantastic diagonal ball was cleverly dummied by Neymar, leaving Fred to finish coolly into the bottom corner.
Spain were handed a glimmer of hope with a penalty after Marcelo clumsily challenged substitute Jesus Navas, but Ramos extinguished that optimism almost instantly with a wild spot-kick that flew wide.
And they were finished for good when Pique stuck out a leg in vain to bring down the onrushing Neymar, earning the Barcelona defender a straight red card as the last man.
It was party time inside the Maracana, with the irrepressible Neymar driving past defenders with ease, and substitute Jo coming close to a fourth with a powerful strike that was saved by Casillas.
Spain had a few chances to restore a little pride, but Pedro was denied excellently from close range by Cesar, who did equally well to push away a curling Villa effort with only minutes remaining.
But it just was not la Roja's night, with the final whistle signalling what had been an inevitability for some time as the Brazil celebrations kicked off in earnest.
The question now is whether the Selecao can ride this wave of momentum all the way onto the biggest stage of them all at World Cup 2014.