Arsenal double whammy over Remy, RVP to stay at Man Utd

IT LOOKS like Nicklas Bentdner's trousers aren't the only thing being dropped this week with Metro reporting that Newcastle United have dropped their biggest hint yet that they will lose striker Loic Remy in the summer. The French frontman has been on loan with the Magpies from QPR and the London club are likely to sell Remy asap in order to pay off some their £65m operating losses.

Metro says Arsenal and Tottenham are the frontrunners to sign the 27-year-old Remy who has scored 13 goals for Newcastle this season. Though the Tyneside club would like to take Remy on a permanent basis they acknowledge that he wants to play Champions League football, a goal he's more likely to achieve with Arsenal than any of his other suitors.

So convinced are Newcastle that they'll lose Remy at the end of the season that they're apparently turning their attention to Montpellier playmaker Remy Cabella. According to the Daily Star the Magpies are ready to meet the French club's asking price of £15m after Montpellier president Louis Nicollin softened his stance on the possible move.

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Initially set against selling Cabella, Monsieur Nicollin has said recently: "He was promised that if there was an ambitious club interested, we'd let him go... unless there is something catastrophic in the last ten games, I think a club will come in for him."

But could Arsenal hit with Newcastle with a double Remy whammy by also making a move for Cabella? The Star claims that the Gunners "are known to be interested" in the creative midfielder and could yet nip in ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign the Frenchman.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror reports that Robin van Persie is ready to commit his future to Manchester United. In recent days speculation has been increasing that the 30-year-old striker will be on his way out of Old Trafford at the end of the season, with Juventus heavily linked to the Dutchman. But van Persie has insisted he's no intention of walking out on United, saying: "The truth is I'm very happy at this club. I signed for four years and I'd be delighted to stay even longer, beyond the next two years I have left on my contract."

But asked about rumours that he doesn't see eye to eye with David Moyes, the man who replaced Alex Ferguson last summer, Van Persie was rather less effusive: "I've been a professional footballer for 12 years and there's no doubt I'm learning new things and progressing with David Moyes."

On to goalkeepers and the Daily Telegraph reports that Arsenal's second-string stopper Lukasz Fabianski, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has turned down the chance of a new contract at the Emirates. An uncharacteristically impressive performance against Bayern Munich means there is no shortage of suitors for his services. Spanish clubs Villareal and Sevilla want him, as do FC Basle and Schalke, says the paper.

Chelsea on the other hand want their goalkeeping prospect Thibaut Coutois, who has been at the centre of transfer gossip all season, to spend yet another season on loan at Atletico Madrid, where he may soon get a testimonial. The Independent reports that Chelsea are loathe to lose the highly-rated keeper, but are not yet ready to ditch veteran Petr Cech. They apparently want him to sign a contract extension and then spend a fourth season in Spain.

In other news Talksport says that Liverpool "starlet" Suso wants to sign a new deal with the Reds. The 20-year-old midfielder is currently showcasing his skills in Spain with Almeria but his loan deal expires at the end of the season and Suso is gagging to give it another go at Anfield. "Of course I want to be back at Liverpool," he told Talksport. "It's a dream playing at Anfield every weekend and... I would like to sign a new contract with Liverpool and stay there for a number of years."