Deadline day: Arsenal and Man United set for manic Monday
Chelsea deal for Remy could spark striker scramble for Gunners as Man Utd hold fire sale
Chelsea are "delighted" to have signed Loic Remy from Queens Park Rangers, but the deal could prompt a chaotic deadline day as the striker's other suitors look for alternatives, and QPR boss Harry Redknapp winds down his car window and hunts for a replacement.
According to Chelsea's official website France international striker Remy has signed a four-year contract after spending last season on loan with Newcastle. The 27-year-old had been linked with Arsenal earlier in the summer and even on Saturday there were rumours that the Gunners planned to "hijack" the Blues bid to sign Remy. But instead Arsene Wenger is expected to make a bid today for Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca with Goal.com reporting that the Nutty Professor is quietly confident of landing the striker for £12.5m.
As for Remy, he was chuffed at his move to the Bridge, saying: "I feel very happy and very proud. When I heard Chelsea wanted to sign me I said "let's go" straight away because they are one of the best clubs in the world."
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Elsewhere in the strikers stakes Caughtoffside claims that Manchester City have "made a £32m bid for Radamel Falcao" which could persuade French outfit Monaco break a deal for him to move on loan to Real Madrid. Taking its cue from Italian website Calciomercato, Caughtoffside alleges that the 28-year-old Colombian frontman is poised to snub the reigning European champions in favour of the Sky Blues.
That would please Monaco who last month were said to be ready to accept £20m from Madrid for Falcao but now look like raking in an additional £12m as City look to recover from Saturday’s shock defeat at home to Stoke. Then again, on what promises to be a crazy day of speculation, The Guardian is equally convinced Arsenal are ready to table a £55m bid for Falcao.
The Daily Star predicts that Manchester United will need to rechristen themselves 'Manic United’ today as the club embarks on a "whirlwind" few hours of transfer business "involving up to eleven players." With the Old Trafford club agreeing terms with Ajax for Daley Blind over the weekend, the Star says they are also on the brink of signing Nigel de Jong from AC Milan in a £10m deal.
Should that deal for the Dutchman fail to materialise it’s reported that Louis van Gaal is prepared to make a move for either Arturo Vidal or William Carvalho, the latter recently linked to Arsenal. Meanwhile among the players tipped to leave United before Monday’s transfer deadline expires are midfielder Tom Cleverley, 25 – with Aston Villa leading the £7m chase – and striker Danny Welbeck, who Metro says is close to agreeing terms with Tottenham in a £2m deal.
The Star adds that the futures of Javier Hernandez, Anderson and Marouane Fellaini and goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard are also uncertain with United prepared to listen to offers for all four today.
One offer already accepted by United is that from Borussia Dortmund for Shinji Kagawa. The BBC confirms that the 25-year-old has rejoined the German club for an undisclosed fee in what is a four-year deal with the German club. Kagawa spent two years at Dortmund from 2010 to 2012 before his move to Old Trafford in a £12m deal. "I wanted to realise my Premier League dream but now I'm happy to be back in Dortmund in this great team. Dortmund is like a family," said the midfielder, who scored six goals in 57 appearances for United.
In other news, another deal completed over the weekend was that of former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song to West Ham on a season-long loan deal. Sky Sports says that the 26-year-old Cameroon international is leaving the Camp Nou after two unsuccessful seasons with Barcelona following his move from Arsenal in 2012. Song was at Upton Park on Saturday and declared himself happy to back in the Premier League. "I think the club has very good ambition and I hope we can maybe catch the European positions, because that would be very good for the club," he said.
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