The deal that takes Luis Suarez from Liverpool to Barcelona could be finalised this weekend, says the Daily Mirror, provided the Spanish giants can find the £75m that Liverpool require for the player. The Reds want the money in one payment, but Barcelona have asked to pay in instalments. If a compromise can be reached the deal will be finalised quickly, believe sources at Anfield.
The controversial striker has agreed the terms of a four-year contract worth around £200,000 a week. He is so keen on a move to the Catalan club he is prepared to take a substantial pay-cut to push the move through.
Barcelona have also arranged a medical for the player in Uruguay, as their doctors are already in South America checking on injured Brazilian Neymar, and have been told to nip over the border to check on Suarez.
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As Liverpool and Barcelona await more news on what is likely to be the summer's biggest transfer, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has also been anxiously monitoring the situation, according to the Daily Express.
The Gunners boss was reportedly "fuming" as the delays have affected his purchase of Alexis Sanchez. Barcelona have been unwilling to sanction the £35m deal until their move for Suarez was done and dusted, and the delays have meant that Arsenal's plan to get the Sanchez deal tied up ahead of this evening's new kit launch hangs in the balance.
However, the BBC reports that the Gunners and Barcelona have reached a deal in principle and the 25-year-old has also agreed personal terms. The Daily Mirror is even more bullish and claims that the player was on his way to London on Thursday afternoon for a medical, raising hopes that he could yet be unveiled along with the new Arsenal Puma kit this evening.
The Mirror also claims that another South American could be heading to the Emirates. Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina is the latest gloveman to be linked with a move to Arsenal, after he caught Wenger's eye in Brazil. What's more he could be available from French side Nice for around £3m, says the paper.
A player who may be leaving north London is Gunners captain Mikel Arteta. The Times says Fiorentina have made an approach for the midfielder, who is in the final year of his contract at the Emirates. Wenger is holding out for £6m for the Spaniard but Fiorentina hope to get their man for closer to £3.2m.
Meanwhile, Manchester United's Patrice Evra will sign for Juventus by the end of the day, predicts Sky Sports. The defender is said to have been won over by Juve's offer of a two-year deal worth £55,000-a-week after tax.
Although the 33-year-old signed a one-year contract extension in May, he will join the Italian giants, says Sky. His wife is reported to have pressured the left-back to accept the Serie A side's overtures as she is keen for a move to a new country.
With Netherlands knocked out of the World Cup Louis van Gaal is now free to concentrate on Old Trafford, and the expectation is that Manchester United are about to be linked with almost anyone who owns a pair of boots in the coming days.
Leading the charge is ESPN, which says that the Dutch boss wants to bring 30-year-old Wesley Sneijder, part of his World Cup outfit, to Manchester from Galatasaray. However, the Turkish club are demanding a fee of around £16m.
Finally, Chelsea have secured the services of Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis, according to The Sun, which says the 28-year-old is a natural replacement for Asley Cole at full-back. The Brazilian played no part in his country's World Cup humiliation and that may be what prompted Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to cave in and pay £20m for his services.
On the other hand, some may wonder what Chelsea see in a defender who was unable to claim the Brazilian left-back berth from a joker like Marcelo.
