Arsenal land Ospina and Chambers. Is Schneiderlin next?
Keeper and defender arrive at the Emirates, as former target Remy fails medical at Liverpool
Three down and how many more to go? Arsenal have completed their third signing of the summer by snapping up David Ospina from Nice with the club's official website confirming that the Colombian keeper has joined the Arsene Wenger revolution at the Emirates.
In recent weeks the Nutty Professor signed Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy and in announcing that the 25-year-old Ospina, a hit for his country in this summer's World Cup, Wenger told Arsenal.com: "Ospina is an excellent goalkeeper, with good experience and a proven record of performing with Nice and Colombia. He will add strength to our squad and we are very pleased that he will be joining us." It's expected that Ospina will provide stiff competition to the club's current first-choice gloveman, Wojciech Szczesny, and he could make his debut as early as next week in the Emirates Cup tournament.
Meanwhile the BBC has confirmed that the Gunners have also landed young Southampton defender Calum Chambers for a fee of around £16m. The England Under-19 international underwent a medical on Friday and it's his versatility - he can play at right-back, centre-back or in the midfield – that appears to have won over Wenger. In addition the BBC claims that Arsenal have also "enquired" about Saints midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and a double swoop is on the cards.
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Still with Arsenal and Metro says that Arsenal could add yet more firepower to their squad by landing Shakhtar Donetsk striker Douglas Costa. The Gunners are said to have "tabled another offer" for the 23-year-old, who has expressed his wish to leave Shakhtar because of the civil war in eastern Ukraine. According to the Metro Arsenal have offered Shakhtar £15.8m for the Brazilian sharpshooter.
Elsewhere and the Daily Star reports that Angel di Maria has "rushed an SOS" to Manchester United, currently on tour in the USA. Apparently the Argentine striker has pleaded with United boss Louis van Gaal to "get me out of here". 'Here' is Real Madrid, who in recent days have signed James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos leaving Di Maria to conclude he is "no longer considered one of the Bernabeu's famed Galacticos". United are said to be seriously considering making Real an offer and the Star says £45m should be enough to bring Di Maria to Old Trafford.
But United look less likely to get their hands on Kevin Strootman with the Daily Mail reporting that Roma coach Rudi Garcia has told the Old Trafford club they will have to stump up €100m euros (£79m) if they want to sign the Dutch midfielder. Currently recovering from a bad knee injury, Strootman is a favourite of Van Gaal but Garcia is determined to ensure he remains in Italy. Speaking after Roma had lost 3-2 to United in a pre-season friendly in the USA at the weekend, Garcia was asked about the possibility of Strootman moving to United. "What can I say…maybe after a three-digit offer, then we will sit down and think about it."
Finally the Guardian reports that Liverpool's move for Loic Remy has controversially bitten the dust with the French striker not now moving to Anfield after apparently failing a medical. The French striker's proposed £8m move from Queens Park Rangers "collapsed on medical grounds" but no further details have been forthcoming since the Reds made the announcement on Sunday evening.
At the same Liverpool confirmed that they have signed defender Dejan Lovren from Southampton, leaving the Saints squad further depleted ahead of the new season.
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