New Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh is keen for the Gunners to revisit his former club Bordeaux to snaffle French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff.

Arsene Wenger finally secured the signing of Moroccan international Chamakh last month having been chasing the goal-getter for a year.

And the Emirates Stadium supremo, who has been in South Africa working for French television, is on the lookout for more new recruits ahead of the 2010/11 campaign.

Lorient defender Laurent Koscielny is believed to be close to joining Arsenal, with fellow stoppers Sol Campbell, William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre on their way out of the Gunners and Philippe Senderos having already signing for Fulham.

And Wenger is widely expected to be without captain Cesc Fabregas' services next season, with the Spanish midfielder tipped to return to Barcelona after the World Cup finals.

French midfielder Gourcuff, who along with Chamakh guided Bordeaux to a first league title in 10 years in 2008/09, is already back in his homeland following France's dismal displays in South Africa.

He was sent off in the final group game against South Africa.

Chamakh has revealed that, should Fabregas seal his switch back to Catalunya, Gourcuff would be an ideal replacement, despite the fact that the former AC Milan playmaker will not be available on the cheap.

"It would be terrific if Gourcuff joined Arsenal," he said in The Sun.

 

The Daily mail reports that Arsenal have rejected a £4million bid for Alex Song from Galatasaray:

Quote:

Meanwhile, Arsenal will reject a £4m bid from Galatasaray for Alex Song

What a joke! The Turks thinking they can get one of our genuine first team players who is getting better and better for a mere £4 million. What an insult. Never in a million years would we sell.

The All Whites of New Zealand have been the surprise team in the World Cup, managing to go unbeaten in all three games, so it is no surprise that a lot of the watching scouts would have been impressed by their performances.

One of heir outstanding players was the right back Winston Reid, and sources in South Africa have told TVNZ that he has attracted the attention of Arsenal.

TVNZ tried to contact Reids European agents (Euro Connections ApS in Denmark) today to get confirmation but have not been able to talk to anyone yet.

NZ Football chairman (and goalkeeper in their 1982 World Cup campaign), Frank van Hatten, says that he is not surprised that some of his players will move on to bigger and better things. He said: “That’s what it’s all about in professional sport. These guys were on a big, big stage and some of them will get big, big offers.”

“If they’re on that stage, they’re going to be better.”

TVNZ will be pursuing Reids agents to get further news today.

Cesc Fabregas has reignited the speculation surrounding his protracted move from Arsenal to Barcelona after revealing his admiration for the Spanish club's coach Pep Guardiola.

Fabregas is believed to have told Gunners boss Arsene Wenger of his desire to return to the Camp Nou after seven seasons in north London.

Arsenal have already rejected one bid for their 23-year-old captain, who is currently away on World Cup duty with Spain.

But despite claiming he is totally focused on the World Cup , Fabregas has ensured his club future remains a hot topic after describing former Barcelona captain and now first-team coach Guardiola as his "idol".

"Guardiola has always been my idol since childhood," he said. "I played in his position and I noticed him. My coach even gave me a shirt signed by him."

Meanwhile, Fabregas claims the uncertainty surrounding his club future is not a distraction while in South Africa.

"I won't think about anything until after the World Cup," he told Spanish radio.

"It won't be a problem if I return to Barcelona because Barca is my home.

"The people there are always sensational in the way they treat me."

Arsenal' striker Robin Van Persie is relishing his World Cup experience with the Netherlands at the ongoing Fifa 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The 27-year old striker was at the thick of the action for his country yesterday, in their final World Cup Group E game against Cameroon.

Van Persie created some good chances for the Netherlands, but succeeded in converting just one. The Oranje had the better of the opening exchanges, and our man was very close to opening his World Cup account, after Rafael Van der Vaart had picked him up in the center of the pitch with a clever pass, Van Persie recieved the ball perfectly, but the resultant shot was too tame to trouble the Cameroonian goal keeper.

However, a few minutes later, Van Persie flagged off the match' proceedings with a beautiful opener courtesy a slick one-two with the impressive Van der Vaart. Being in an advantageous position the striker picked his spot and fired a low shot at the far post beyond the reach of the goalie.

Van Persie was very close to registering his third World Cup goal some minutes after resumption, but for Hamidou who did well to save the Arsenal man' shot from 20 yards.

Robin was visibly elated with his performance, and insists he's ready to duel the impressive Slovaks who ended the Italians miserable World Cup outing in fashion yesterday: "We'll play Slovakia in the second round instead of Italy, it's really good news. It's a good draw," he enthused.

"That said, we should not underestimate the Slovaks. They beat the Italians 3-2, it means something. They are a good team to have beaten Italy.

"It feels good to score. During the first two games (Denmark and Japan) I wasn't at my best, today (yesterday) I was at my level best, and I am happy for that."

Arsène Wenger says there has been no new development regarding Sol Campbell's future at Arsenal.

The veteran centre back made a shock return to Emirates Stadium in January and finished the season so well that he was tipped for a place in England's World Cup squad.

Campbell's short-term contract expires this summer and he was due to discuss a possible extension with Wenger at the end of the campaign. But as yet no decision has been made over the 35-year-old's future.

"No. There is no update," Wenger told Arsenal.com.

Cогласно английским изданиям, "Арсенал" собирается сделать предложение "Ливерпулю" касательно вингера Райана Бабела. Арсен Венгер является давним поклонником таланта игрока и сейчас, пользуясь его неустроенностью на "Энфилде", желает заполучить полузащитника мерсисайдцев.

23-летний голландец особо не впечатлил за время трёхгодичного пребывания в стане "красных" и на данный момент, по слухам, может быть продан в другой клуб, так как "Ливерпуль" испытывает финансовые трудности. Достаточно много клубов желали бы видеть у себя бывшего игрока "Аякса".

До этих пор, не одно из предложений не было одобрено руководством "Ливерпуля", но, учитывая, что у "канониров" есть достаточно средств, и они готовы этим летом их потратить, "Арсенал" может сделать предложение, от которого мерсисайдцы не смогут отказаться.

Кристиан Перслоу заявил, что никакие предложения по продаже игроков не будут приниматься до тех пор, пока не будет назначен новый главный тренер. Но, как только это случится, со стороны "Арсенала" может последовать предложение на сумму в пределах 10-12 миллионов фунтов стерлингов за талантливого голландца.

Также стоит отметить, что Бабел и Ван Перси являются давними друзьями, и нападающий "Арсенала", несомненно, будет заинтересован в том, чтобы его партнёр по национальной сборной присоединился к нему на "Эмирейтс". 

Капитан лондонского "Арсенала" Цеск Фабрегас в очередной раз заявил, что со своим будущим он определится лишь после Чемпионата Мира. Также полузащитник признался, что переход в "Барселону" "не будет проблемой" для него.

Фабрегас, покинувший "Ноу Камп" в 16-летнем возрасте, является главной трансферной целью каталонского клуба в нынешнее межсезонье. Однако, дело осложняется тем, что у игрока есть долгосрочный контракт с "канонирами".

Впрочем, Цеск надеется, что ему удастся отстраниться от всех этих разговоров до окончания Чемпионата Мира. Сейчас футболист сосредоточен лишь на выступлении за сборную Испании, и свое клубное будущее он намерен определить позже. Однако, уже сейчас Фабрегас позволил себе заявить, что переход в "Барсу" дастся ему легко.

"Я не собираюсь думать ни о чем другом, пока не кончится Чемпионат Мира. Для меня не будет проблемой вернуться в "Барселону", ведь "Барса" - это мой дом. Люди там всегда очень горячо меня принимают".

"Гвардиола (главный тренер "Барсы") был моим идолом с детства. Я играю на его позиции. Однажды, мой тренер даже подарил мне футболку с его автографом", - сообщил Фабрегас в интервью Ona FM.

Arsène Wenger expects to welcome a new defender to Arsenal "quite soon".

The manager has been linked with a number of centre backs this summer as William Gallas, Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre all approach the end of their current contracts at Emirates Stadium.

Wenger told Arsenal.com last week that he wanted to announce a new signing before the end of the World Cup but he is staying tight-lipped over the identity of that player amid reports that Lorient defender Laurent Koscielny is close to completing a move to North London.

"Nothing has been done yet but I expect something will be done quite soon on that front, on the defensive front. We will sign a player soon," Wenger told Arsenal.com this week.

"But we do not want to come out with names before we announce it.

"Keep faith in what has always worked well for us and that is to keep it secret as much as we can."