Arsenal to loan out Campbell as 'new Fabregas' signs on
Costa Rican striker could be farmed out on loan to Sunderland, as teen joins from Barcelona
Are the Black Cats about to pounce for Arsenal frontman Joel Campbell? That's what the Daily Star seems to think, as the paper reports that Sunderland are "interested in bringing the Costa Rica striker" to the Stadium of Light after attempts to sign Fabio Borini went up in smoke.
The Italian striker decided at the last minute that he wanted to stay at Liverpool and work his way into the first team now that Suarez is no longer at Anfield, leaving Sunderland boss Gus Poyet searching for a solution to his striker shortage with the new season now less than a month away.
The Star says that Poyet has now turned his attention to the 22-year-old Campbell, who starred for Costa Rica in the recent World Cup but looks unlikely to play a major role at the Emirates this season. Having spent last season on loan at Greek outfit Olympiakos, Campbell wants regular first-team action and Sunderland would be happy to give him that for at least a season on loan.
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Meanwhile have Arsenal found the next Cesc Fabregas, the spring-heeled former Gunner whose career has never been the same since he walked out of the Emirates three years ago? According to Goal.com they might have done – in the form of 15-year-old Georgios Spanoudakis.
Like Fabregas, the teenage midfielder has come through the Barcelona youth academy having arrived at the Camp Nou aged nine. Already earmarked as a potential great, Spanoudakis has "attracted interest from a number of Europe's top clubs". But it's the Gunners who have given him a trial after he impressed for their Under-18 team earlier in the week against Lincoln City. Goal adds that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is "keen to sign Spanoudakis to permanent forms" and negotiations with Barcelona are ongoing with Arsenal confident of sealing the deal in the coming weeks.
Metro goes further and says the deal has already been done. It claims Spanoudakis, who has been capped by Germany at Under-15 and -16 level but could still play for Greece, "rejected a host of other offers to seal a move to the Emirates Stadium this week". He will be part of the Gunners Under-18 outfit next season.
There are also claims that Arsenal have made a surprise £8m bid for Hoffenheim's Brazilian star Roberto Firmino. "It is believed that Arsenal have made contact with Hoffenheim over a move, but that their offer falls short of the German's valuation of the player," says the Daily Express.
The 22-year-old scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists in the Bundesliga last season.
On the subject of sealing deals, confusion reigns over the future of Juventus star Arturo Vidal with Metro claiming that Liverpool "are hoping to hijack Manchester United's move" for the 27-year-old Chilean ace. According to Talksport, United have made a final bid of £39m for the twinkle-toed midfielder, making it clear that it was their final bid and they won't be going any higher. Talksport says that Vidal, who joined the Italian champions in 2011, is seeking a fresh challenge and quite likes the idea of working with Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.
The trouble is, says Metro, he is also eager to play in the Champions League and that is something United can't offer – at least not this season after David Moyes' disastrous spell in charge. To that end, Liverpool are poised to swoop, not only because they will be playing in Europe's showpiece competition but because the Reds are prepared to offer Juventus a whopping £42.5m, a sum they can easily afford now they've cashed in on Luis Suarez.
Finally, the French language version of Goal.com reports that Everton are tracking Anderlecht youngster David Henen. The 18-year-old striker has caught the eye of Toffees boss Roberto Martinez, who noted his impressive performances in scoring two goals recently for the Belgium Under-18 side: "He's a young, talented footballer," said Martinez. "He is a bright boy and we feel he is something different."
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