West Ham’s ‘Hopes’ of Carlos Tevez Reunion Are Dashed
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, West Ham, Champions League, Championship, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
At a time when the previously reclusive Paul Scholes is busy plugging his autobiography by revealing to the world he once did a Carlos Tevez on Sir Alex Ferguson another of the troubled Argentinian's former clubs has expressed the desire to end his ruined spell at Manchester City.
It's not one of his ex-South American employers desperate to do a deal like Corinthians were in the summer. No, step forward West Ham United. Currently of the Championship. As you might already have guessed, it just ain't gonna happen.
According to the Sun, the Hammers were quick to contact City in the wake of Tevez's refusal to come off the bench at Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
The Championship club has a mountain of debt but were understood to be willing to fork out a big chunk of the forward's £250,000-a-week wages in a three-month loan deal in the knowledge that they could not be gazumped by anyone from the Premier League.
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City made it clear they were not prepared to listen so we will never know Tevez's own thoughts about swapping the Allianz Arena for the chance to play at Doncaster or Peterborough.
Tevez remains a legend at Upton Park thanks to a late flurry of match-winning goals that kept the Hammers up on the last day of the 2006-07 season but supporters will also remember his complicated third-party ownership arrangement ended costing the club millions in compensation and he quickly moved on to Manchester United anyway.
And even when he was wearing a claret and blue shirt he wasn't particularly happy as he stormed out of the ground in a huff at half-time in one game having been subbed by then-boss Alan Pardew. Some things are best left as memories and this is destined to be one.
Far more likely new destinations for Tevez now appear to be Inter Milan, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, who are hoping the kerfuffle will have halved the player's price to around £20 million by January.
PSG are bank-rolled by rich Qataris so could easily out-bid the Italians, both of whom failed to land Tevez in the summer.
Naturally, the fact that they have umpteen internationals already has not deterred City from ear-marking a top quality replacement once Tevez is finally shown the door and Arsenal fans will not be enjoying speculation suggesting Robin van Persie is that man.
The Gunners are still reeling from losing Samir Nasri to City in August and also sold Gael Clichy to the Eastlands outfit at the emnd of last season.
Those two were both in the final year of their Arsenal contracts and Netherlands forward van Persie will be in exactly that situation at the end of this term. It is understood he is in no hurry to renegotiate and could therefore be the centre of another tug-of-war next summer.
And all because a grouchy groucho refused to run about a bit alongside a patch of grass in Germany...
Why England Fans Must Hope Liverpool Reject Joe Cole Likes it in Lille
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham, Euro 2012, Champions League, Premier League, Football, Transfer News, England Football, World Cup 2010
Whatever Liverpool fans think about Joe Cole the fact is that he will be playing Champions League football this season while the only team from another country scheduled for a trip to Anfield any time soon is Swansea City.
Just over a year ago, the 29-year-old raised plenty of eyebrows by opting to join Liverpool on a free transfer after the World Cup finals in South Africa, having been jettisoned by Chelsea, when Arsenal and Tottenham had appeared much more likely destinations given that he had never previously been based outside his native London.
Clearly it did not work out for him in a red shirt and the midfielder hardly got a look in once Kenny Dalglish had replaced Roy Hodgson as manager.
This time round he could have stayed in the Premier League by hooking up with Aston Villa but opted instead for a complete change of scenery at OSC Lille, whose Champions League group includes 2010 winners Inter Milan and CSKA Moscow.
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Cole has already been pictured clutching his new number 26 shirt for a club that can be easily reached from his native London on the Eurostar railway and it is clear he has arrived there with much to prove.
It's a long, long time since he was hailed as the technically-gifted teenage prodigy who would take the England national team to a new level and, despite having won no fewer than 56 caps, this has not come to pass.
And although he won trophy after trophy with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea more often than not he was the first to be substituted and the tail end of his Stamford Bridge career was blighted by a serious knee injury.
A man who has achieved so much is therefore also regarded as one of the game's great under-achievers and many of those who saw him in his early years as a Hammer are convinced that if only Sir Alex Ferguson had got his hands on him at Manchester United instead of Mourinho then a rare talent could really have flourished. The Scot had been keen to pay top dollar when Cole was still a teeanger but, for whatever reason, it never happened.
For Cole never quite seemed to fit into the rigid structure of English football as he was not quite a winger and not quite an out-and-out forward. Perhaps, then, a stint abroad, where a flair player is not automatically a luxury player, is exactly what he needs.
It is a long time since an England international played in France but Cole will surely know that Chris Waddle another mercurial talent, enjoyed a well-received time there with Marseille when he was exactly the same age. Waddle went on to help England reach the 1990 World Cup semi-finals (where he infamously missed a penalty of course) and left France as the club's second-favourite player of all time in the eyes of the supporters.
And while Cole has a hard task ahead of him to replicate even a portion of that success, getting out of Anfield right now seems a no-brainer, or whatever that is in French.
"I am a winner. It did not work at Liverpool for many reasons and it hurt me," he said. "I like the continental football and it's exciting for me. I love challenges. It's a different playing style and I hope that people in England will watch me play and get more interested in French football."
His departure won't be lamented by Liverpool fans - and he still has another two seasons with them once this one is over - but his failure there is still a disappointment given that Dalglish is currently busy making sure his side has a British spine.
Another midfielder, Christian Poulsen, knows that only too well as the Dane has also been loaned out to a French club, Ligue 1 newcomers Evian. Water under the bridge for him perhaps but Cole still has the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong on the biggest stage in club football.
Scott Parker Deal Will Kick Off Another Dramatic Deadline Day For Harry Redknapp
by John PercyFiled under: Bolton, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
How Harry Redknapp manages to pull off so many dramatic late transfers on deadline day with a Sky Sports reporter following him everywhere like an irritating child is quite an achievement.
But all the signs are that Redknapp will be pulling out all the stops again to prove he really is the wheeler-dealer of the Premier League.
Last season it was Rafael van der Vaart and almost Charlie Adam while this time it looks like Scott Parker, Gary Cahill, Lassana Diarra and possibly Craig Bellamy could be the late arrivals at White Hart Lane.
A deal for Parker is virtually assured with the final stages of negotiations between Spurs and West Ham smoothed by the player's decision to submit a transfer request last night. Parker's action means he will not receive any loyalty bonuses from the Hammers, helping bridge the gap in the two club's valuation of the player, with a compromise fee of around £6 million likely to be agreed.
The status of Redknapp's other planned moves is less clearcut.
Redknapp's interest in Cahill has been no secret for quite some time but the £17.5 million release clause in the England defender's contract has always been prohibitive.
Cahill's price tag increased when he made his first appearance for the Three Lions and it has proved too much for Spurs's North London rivals Arsenal to pay.
Spurs are also having problems meeting Bolton chairman Phil Gartside's demands and offered fringe players David Bentley and Sebastian Bassong plus cash to try and take Cahill.
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That potential deal was laughed off by Bolton but Redknapp will not be deterred and confirmed his interest in the centre-half via his favourite medium early on Wednesday.
He said: "I have always been a big admirer of Gary Cahill, so we will have to see what happens.
"We will have to shift one or two out before anything can happen. We will see how the day pans out and I'm sure the chairman will be busy."
Real Madrid midfielder Diarra could finally be signed up on deadline day after a summer-long pursuit, and you cannot discount Bellamy joining either.
Bellamy's move to Liverpool has hit the rocks after Manchester City refused to meet an agreement on the final 12 months of his contract.
But the Wales international would be the perfect fit for Redknapp's enterprising style of play and could be a late surprise deal.
One player Redknapp insists definitely won't be leaving White Hart Lane is Luka Modric, whose move to Chelsea is looking dead and buried.
Air Tycoon Tony Fernandes’ QPR Takeover is Now Off the Ground
by Mike McGrathFiled under: West Ham, QPR, Premier League, Football
Tony Fernandes has given QPR supporters cause for optimism at the end of a difficult first week back in the Premier League by confirming his
take-over of the London club.
Fernandes, the founder of Air Asia and owner of Team Lotus in Formula One, has been in negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone to buy a 66% stake in a club that was promoted as Championship title winners last season.
Most importantly, Fernandes is expected to make funds available to manager Neil Warnock to spend before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
Warnock has talked of his frustration in the transfer market since promotion and has brought in players on a budget. The need for reinforcements was emphasised at the weekend when QPR started their season with a 4-0 defeat to Bolton at Loftus Road.
Malaysian entrepreneur Fernandes is a West Ham have supporters and had previously tried to launch a takeover at Upton Park but had a bid rejected by current co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan.
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West Ham midfielder Scott Parker has also been linked with a move to QPR to give himself Premier League football ahead of next year's European Championships with England, should they qualify.
Fernandes, following confirmation of the takeover, told www.qpr.co.uk: "Everyone knows I've followed West Ham all my life, but I've always had a soft spot for QPR. Rangers were one of the first teams I watched as a child at Loftus Road.
"The opportunity to get involved with the club was mentioned to me by the previous owners and here I am. I've always wanted to be involved in football and the appeal of a London Club, like QPR, was too good an opportunity to turn down.
"It's funny how life has a way of spinning things round. It goes full circle sometimes. QPR is a raw diamond and hopefully I can contribute into turning it into a diamond."
The club also announced Amit Bhatia resumes his position as vice-chairman after resigning from his post at the end of last season.
"I'm very excited to welcome Tony to QPR and having spent considerable time with him, know that we share the same vision and values," said Bhatia, whose family control a 33 percent stake.
"We have discussed in great detail how to restore pride at the Club and I'm very pleased with the outcome of these discussions.
"It was a very difficult decision to resign from the board when I did, so I'm thrilled to be back and would like to thank all those who supported me and my family and look forward to serving the Club to the best of my abilities again.
"Tony and I will work alongside each other to try and make this season as exciting and successful as possible. I love this club and this is a very happy day for me."
Liverpool Misfit Joe Cole Should Think Hard About Taking Escape Route to QPR
by John PercyFiled under: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Joe Cole was convinced a move to Liverpool last summer would revive his career but he only succeeded in hitting the pause button.
Now, after a disastrous season in which he made only nine Premier League starts, he is facing the prospect of missing out on any chance of involvement in next year's European Championships.
His career at Liverpool has been such a colossal letdown that he has even been bracketed in the same company as Paul Konchesky, as one of the club's worst signings in recent years.
Cole has been held up as yet another sign of Roy Hodgson's bewildering regime and the fanfare that greeted his arrival last summer now seems light years away.
But the Guardian reports that QPR could be ready to offer Cole an escape route from his Anfield frustration in the form of a season-long loan move.
Despite such a substantial summer spending spree, Liverpool are still mindful of cutting costs and are desperate to get Cole's £90,000 a week wages off the books.
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Kenny Dalglish rarely used the former Chelsea midfielder after succeeding Hodgson and Cole must be acutely aware he faces a bleak future under his new manager.
A move back to London and, more importantly, out of Liverpool would suit all parties even though turning out for Neil Warnock's relegation favourites would represent a severe retrogade step.
Due to his gargantuan wages, it would require an enormous amount of goodwill from Liverpool to allow a loan move to Loftus Road to go through.
QPR would struggle to pay even a tenth of that, if the rumours about their finances are right, but the prospect of remaining in the Premier League, and pricking the conscience of Fabio Capello, would undoubtedly appeal to Cole.
West Ham, one of his former clubs, have also been mentioned as a possible destination but despite the emotional pull of returning to Upton Park does he really need to be playing in the Championship at such a vital stage in his career?
Cole would be well advised to keep a cool head and wait for other offers. The transfer window is notoriously slow at this time of year and clubs traditionally rush in the final weeks - or even days - to complete deals.
Liverpool Misfit Joe Cole Should Think Hard About Taking Escape Route to QPR
by John PercyFiled under: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Joe Cole was convinced a move to Liverpool last summer would revive his career but he only succeeded in hitting the pause button.
Now, after a disastrous season in which he made only nine Premier League starts, he is facing the prospect of missing out on any chance of involvement in next year's European Championships.
His career at Liverpool has been such a colossal letdown that he has even been bracketed in the same company as Paul Konchesky, as one of the club's worst signings in recent years.
Cole has been held up as yet another sign of Roy Hodgson's bewildering regime and the fanfare that greeted his arrival last summer now seems light years away.
But the Guardian reports that QPR could be ready to offer Cole an escape route from his Anfield frustration in the form of a season-long loan move.
Despite such a substantial summer spending spree, Liverpool are still mindful of cutting costs and are desperate to get Cole's £90,000 a week wages off the books.
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Kenny Dalglish rarely used the former Chelsea midfielder after succeeding Hodgson and Cole must be acutely aware he faces a bleak future under his new manager.
A move back to London and, more importantly, out of Liverpool would suit all parties even though turning out for Neil Warnock's relegation favourites would represent a severe retrogade step.
Due to his gargantuan wages, it would require an enormous amount of goodwill from Liverpool to allow a loan move to Loftus Road to go through.
QPR would struggle to pay even a tenth of that, if the rumours about their finances are right, but the prospect of remaining in the Premier League, and pricking the conscience of Fabio Capello, would undoubtedly appeal to Cole.
West Ham, one of his former clubs, have also been mentioned as a possible destination but despite the emotional pull of returning to Upton Park does he really need to be playing in the Championship at such a vital stage in his career?
Cole would be well advised to keep a cool head and wait for other offers. The transfer window is notoriously slow at this time of year and clubs traditionally rush in the final weeks - or even days - to complete deals.
Liverpool Misfit Joe Cole Should Think Hard About Taking Escape Route to QPR
by John PercyFiled under: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Joe Cole was convinced a move to Liverpool last summer would revive his career but he only succeeded in hitting the pause button.
Now, after a disastrous season in which he made only nine Premier League starts, he is facing the prospect of missing out on any chance of involvement in next year's European Championships.
His career at Liverpool has been such a colossal letdown that he has even been bracketed in the same company as Paul Konchesky, as one of the club's worst signings in recent years.
Cole has been held up as yet another sign of Roy Hodgson's bewildering regime and the fanfare that greeted his arrival last summer now seems light years away.
But the Guardian reports that QPR could be ready to offer Cole an escape route from his Anfield frustration in the form of a season-long loan move.
Despite such a substantial summer spending spree, Liverpool are still mindful of cutting costs and are desperate to get Cole's £90,000 a week wages off the books.
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Kenny Dalglish rarely used the former Chelsea midfielder after succeeding Hodgson and Cole must be acutely aware he faces a bleak future under his new manager.
A move back to London and, more importantly, out of Liverpool would suit all parties even though turning out for Neil Warnock's relegation favourites would represent a severe retrogade step.
Due to his gargantuan wages, it would require an enormous amount of goodwill from Liverpool to allow a loan move to Loftus Road to go through.
QPR would struggle to pay even a tenth of that, if the rumours about their finances are right, but the prospect of remaining in the Premier League, and pricking the conscience of Fabio Capello, would undoubtedly appeal to Cole.
West Ham, one of his former clubs, have also been mentioned as a possible destination but despite the emotional pull of returning to Upton Park does he really need to be playing in the Championship at such a vital stage in his career?
Cole would be well advised to keep a cool head and wait for other offers. The transfer window is notoriously slow at this time of year and clubs traditionally rush in the final weeks - or even days - to complete deals.
Liverpool Misfit Joe Cole Should Think Hard About Taking Escape Route to QPR
by John PercyFiled under: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Joe Cole was convinced a move to Liverpool last summer would revive his career but he only succeeded in hitting the pause button.
Now, after a disastrous season in which he made only nine Premier League starts, he is facing the prospect of missing out on any chance of involvement in next year's European Championships.
His career at Liverpool has been such a colossal letdown that he has even been bracketed in the same company as Paul Konchesky, as one of the club's worst signings in recent years.
Cole has been held up as yet another sign of Roy Hodgson's bewildering regime and the fanfare that greeted his arrival last summer now seems light years away.
But the Guardian reports that QPR could be ready to offer Cole an escape route from his Anfield frustration in the form of a season-long loan move.
Despite such a substantial summer spending spree, Liverpool are still mindful of cutting costs and are desperate to get Cole's £90,000 a week wages off the books.
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Kenny Dalglish rarely used the former Chelsea midfielder after succeeding Hodgson and Cole must be acutely aware he faces a bleak future under his new manager.
A move back to London and, more importantly, out of Liverpool would suit all parties even though turning out for Neil Warnock's relegation favourites would represent a severe retrogade step.
Due to his gargantuan wages, it would require an enormous amount of goodwill from Liverpool to allow a loan move to Loftus Road to go through.
QPR would struggle to pay even a tenth of that, if the rumours about their finances are right, but the prospect of remaining in the Premier League, and pricking the conscience of Fabio Capello, would undoubtedly appeal to Cole.
West Ham, one of his former clubs, have also been mentioned as a possible destination but despite the emotional pull of returning to Upton Park does he really need to be playing in the Championship at such a vital stage in his career?
Cole would be well advised to keep a cool head and wait for other offers. The transfer window is notoriously slow at this time of year and clubs traditionally rush in the final weeks - or even days - to complete deals.
Liverpool Misfit Joe Cole Should Think Hard About Taking Escape Route to QPR
by John PercyFiled under: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Joe Cole was convinced a move to Liverpool last summer would revive his career but he only succeeded in hitting the pause button.
Now, after a disastrous season in which he made only nine Premier League starts, he is facing the prospect of missing out on any chance of involvement in next year's European Championships.
His career at Liverpool has been such a colossal letdown that he has even been bracketed in the same company as Paul Konchesky, as one of the club's worst signings in recent years.
Cole has been held up as yet another sign of Roy Hodgson's bewildering regime and the fanfare that greeted his arrival last summer now seems light years away.
But the Guardian reports that QPR could be ready to offer Cole an escape route from his Anfield frustration in the form of a season-long loan move.
Despite such a substantial summer spending spree, Liverpool are still mindful of cutting costs and are desperate to get Cole's £90,000 a week wages off the books.
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Kenny Dalglish rarely used the former Chelsea midfielder after succeeding Hodgson and Cole must be acutely aware he faces a bleak future under his new manager.
A move back to London and, more importantly, out of Liverpool would suit all parties even though turning out for Neil Warnock's relegation favourites would represent a severe retrogade step.
Due to his gargantuan wages, it would require an enormous amount of goodwill from Liverpool to allow a loan move to Loftus Road to go through.
QPR would struggle to pay even a tenth of that, if the rumours about their finances are right, but the prospect of remaining in the Premier League, and pricking the conscience of Fabio Capello, would undoubtedly appeal to Cole.
West Ham, one of his former clubs, have also been mentioned as a possible destination but despite the emotional pull of returning to Upton Park does he really need to be playing in the Championship at such a vital stage in his career?
Cole would be well advised to keep a cool head and wait for other offers. The transfer window is notoriously slow at this time of year and clubs traditionally rush in the final weeks - or even days - to complete deals.
Liverpool Misfit Joe Cole Should Think Hard About Taking Escape Route to QPR
by John PercyFiled under: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Joe Cole was convinced a move to Liverpool last summer would revive his career but he only succeeded in hitting the pause button.
Now, after a disastrous season in which he made only nine Premier League starts, he is facing the prospect of missing out on any chance of involvement in next year's European Championships.
His career at Liverpool has been such a colossal letdown that he has even been bracketed in the same company as Paul Konchesky, as one of the club's worst signings in recent years.
Cole has been held up as yet another sign of Roy Hodgson's bewildering regime and the fanfare that greeted his arrival last summer now seems light years away.
But the Guardian reports that QPR could be ready to offer Cole an escape route from his Anfield frustration in the form of a season-long loan move.
Despite such a substantial summer spending spree, Liverpool are still mindful of cutting costs and are desperate to get Cole's £90,000 a week wages off the books.
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Kenny Dalglish rarely used the former Chelsea midfielder after succeeding Hodgson and Cole must be acutely aware he faces a bleak future under his new manager.
A move back to London and, more importantly, out of Liverpool would suit all parties even though turning out for Neil Warnock's relegation favourites would represent a severe retrogade step.
Due to his gargantuan wages, it would require an enormous amount of goodwill from Liverpool to allow a loan move to Loftus Road to go through.
QPR would struggle to pay even a tenth of that, if the rumours about their finances are right, but the prospect of remaining in the Premier League, and pricking the conscience of Fabio Capello, would undoubtedly appeal to Cole.
West Ham, one of his former clubs, have also been mentioned as a possible destination but despite the emotional pull of returning to Upton Park does he really need to be playing in the Championship at such a vital stage in his career?
Cole would be well advised to keep a cool head and wait for other offers. The transfer window is notoriously slow at this time of year and clubs traditionally rush in the final weeks - or even days - to complete deals.
Uncertainty at Loftus Road as Tony Fernandes Turns His Attention To QPR
by Ben HuntFiled under: West Ham, QPR, Premier League, Football
Tony Fernandes seems a sensible man. He is also an excellent businessman who has done extremely well for himself through his airline business, Air Asia. The 47-year-old is also the team principle of the Formula One outfit, Team Lotus.
He juggles both those commitments with other business interests, yet it seems as though he is still not content and has become hell-bent on buying a football team as well.
Fernandes, you might remember, was the self-proclaimed West Ham fan who tried to buy them in January 2010. However, he lost his battle to snap up the Hammers to David Sullivan and David Gold.
Undeterred, he launched another takeover for the club earlier this year yet rather than keeping his offer quiet, he decided to announce his plans to the world via his Twitter account.
As you can image, that rather upset Sullivan and Gold, who were themselves struggling to cope with West Ham's pending relegation from the Premier League.
Now though, according to The Daily Mail, Fernandes has switched targets from east to west London with a reported £100 million offer to buy Queens Park Rangers.
The newspaper reports that Fernandes has been given a guided tour of Loftus Road and met with the club's manager Neil Warnock.
His intention is to buy the 62 per cent majority shareholding from current co-owner Bernie Ecclestone. Should the move go ahead, then the deal could also take in the shares owned by Ecclestone's business partner Flavio Briatore.
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That would still leave the club's other shareholder, billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, who himself tried to buy the club from Ecclestone only to baulk at his asking price.
All in all, it means an uncertain time for Rangers when they are in need of long-term, committed investment. Warnock's signings this summer have been modest to say the least.
Good players they may be, but the names of Danny Gabbidon, Kieron Dyer and Jay Bothroyd are hardly ones that will get the supporters of supposedly one of the richest clubs in the world excited.
Scott Parker to Arsenal? Why it Would Be a Shrewd Move by Arsene Wenger
by Ben HuntFiled under: Arsenal, West Ham, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
The new Premier League season is now under three weeks away and Arsenal supporters are still anxious to find out whether their captain, Cesc Fabregas will still be at the club when they kick off their campaign against Newcastle.
Until now, there has been the sense that Arsenal's board are playing hard-ball with Barcelona - as they have in previous years - as the two clubs fail to share the same valuation of the 24-year-old.
But the club's manager, Arsene Wenger, seems to be planning for life without the Spain international, if reports in the Sunday Mirror are to be believed.
The newspapers claims: "Wenger has not ruled out a move for last season's Footballer of the Year Scott Parker.
"Parker's £60,000-a-week wages are a stumbling block and that outlay will severely test the resources of West Ham, following relegation to the Championship."
However, there is a snag that could hamper Parker's potential move to the Emirates Stadium - his age.
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It is well known that Wenger is not keen on having players who are over 30 in his squad and Parker, as good as he was last season for West Ham, is 31 in October.
Would Wenger be willing to break his rule - the one that cut short Thierry Henry's time at Arsenal short - to sign Parker? He should for it makes a lot of sense.
Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, Parker can fill in for Fabregas in midfield, should he leave.
Parker showed last season in a struggling West Ham team that he can still play at the highest level and even broke into the England team.
Also, Parker understands the demands of the Premier League and what it takes to win on a wet Tuesday night in Wigan, something perhaps an overseas player would not necessarily get to grips with in his first season.
Parker could therefore be a short-term measure while Wenger takes his time to find a player who can fill Fabregas's role permanently.
Secondly, and this is what should be appealing for the frugal Frenchman, Parker would be cheap.
Around £3 million could be enough to sign him, given that West Ham need him off their wage bill. At that sort of price even Wenger can take a gamble on the midfielder.
Finally, there is the fact that Parker will want to join them. He has made it clear he wants to stay in London and Arsenal would be an attractive proposition for him.
Chelsea Need New Blood to Kickstart the Andre Villas-Boas Era at Stamford Bridge
by Ian WinrowFiled under: Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
After a relatively intense few weeks in which the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti was followed by the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas, things have gone quiet at Chelsea.
Villas-Boas himself helped diffuse the excitement by refusing to grandstand in the manner of predecessor and one-time mentor Jose Mourinho immediately following his appointment.
And the understated mood has been consolidated by a lack of eye-catching transfer activity that would confirm the anticipated - and much-needed - overhaul of an ageing squad had finally clicked into gear.
Thibaut Courtois, the 19-year-old goalkeeper, is expected to complete a £5 million move from Genk shortly. Otherwise, the most exciting news to come out of the club was Josh McEachran's new, five-year contract, timely given the knee injury to
Michael Essien that will keep the Ghana midfielder out for at least six months.
The ongoing attempt to sign Tottenham's Luka Modric has offered the most tantalising prospect of new blood while the unexpected link with West Ham's Scott Parker suggests a pragmatic note will underpin business in the coming weeks.
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The opening game of the Villas-Boas era, perhaps unsurprisingly, offered few hints of fireworks to come with Chelsea ambling to a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth, helped on their way by an own-goal from former defender Tal Ben Haim.
Speaking after the game at Fratton Park Villas-Boas remained sanguine about the Modric situation that clearly has a long way to run yet.
The Croatia international was believed to have handed in a transfer request, although a report in the Sunday Mirror suggests this may not be the case. Either way, Spurs' desire to keep the player shows no sign of wilting.
"If it happens it happens, if it doesn't happen we respect whatever position Tottenham takes," said Villas-Boas. "Also, the prices that we are talking about are incredible. It's a lot of money. So let's judge it carefully."
"We didn't have a chance to meet personally. But I wouldn't like to extend myself on what is the focus of the press at the moment."
The Essien injury has only reinforced the need to strengthen and a decision about a move for Parker, whether on loan or as a permanent recruit, will be made shortly although Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, a long term admirer of the player, articulated the issues surrounding a move for the 30-year-old.
"If you take into account the fee of around £8m, signing on fees and wages you're talking about a £30m deal," said Redknapp told the Sunday Mirror, suggesting this was enough to rule out any interest from Spurs in a player with no resale value. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will harbour similar doubts.
Villas-Boas is still assessing his squad and is showing no outward signs of impatience to bring in new players.
That situation can't continue for much longer, however, especially as Chelsea's main rivals have already concluded pieces of business.
Abramovich has got his man. Now he needs to step up the efforts to give Villas-Boas the tools to do the job he wants the manager to do.
Football Digest: Patrick Vieira Retires; Eidur Gudjohnsen to Join West Ham
by Ian WinrowFiled under: Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Manchester City, Stoke City, Tottenham, West Ham, Championship, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Patrick Vieira has called time on his 18-year playing career and will take up an off-field role with Manchester City.
Vieira, 35, made his final appearance in City's FA Cup final victory over Stoke and, with no playing contract on offer at Eastlands, will fill the newly created position of Football Development Executive.
The midfielder spent eleven years at Arsenal where he was involved in three Premier League title winning campaigns including the unbeaten 2004 'Invincibles' season
Vieira also won four Serie A titles with Inter Milan and was part of the France side that won the World Cup in 1998, two years before they triumphed at Euro 2000.
The Frenchman will now work with City's youngsters as well as helping deliver the club's programmes abroad and he told www.mcfc.co.uk: "This role is a fantastic new challenge for me and I am very grateful to Manchester City for offering me this opportunity.
"I have a lot to learn about the non-playing areas of the business but there are many very experienced people here for me to learn from and I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to the club's ongoing success."
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Gudjohnsen close to West Ham switch
Eidur Gudjohnsen is set to be reunited with former manager Sam Allardyce after undergoing a medical at West Ham.
The former Chelsea and Barcelona striker, 32, who worked with Allardyce at Bolton, is a free agent after being released by Stoke and will strengthen the Hammers' forward options ahead of the Championship campaign.
Forwards Demba Ba, Robbie Keane and Victor Obinna have left Upton Park since the end of last season while Carlton Cole, the England striker, is close to a switch to Stoke.
Redknapp Stands Firm on Modric
Harry Redknapp insists Tottenham will not sell Luka Modric, despite the player submitting a written transfer request.
Modric has been the subject of two bids from Chelsea, the latest believed to be worth around £27 million, but Redknapp maintains the Croatia midfielder will not leave White Hart Lane.
The Spurs squad has arrived in South Africa for a pre-season tour, and the manager told BBC Sport: We know he wants to leave, whether he writes it down on a piece of paper doesn't really make any difference to our stance.
"He's a great player and we don't want to lose him."
Scott Parker Could Leap Back to Chelsea as Michael Essien’s Replacement
by Matt ButlerFiled under: Chelsea, West Ham, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Every cloud, eh? While Michael Essien is contemplating six months of kicking his heels in his Surrey mansion near the Chelsea training ground, Scott Parker could be celebrating a dream move back to the Premier League.
Essien has been ruled out until at least February having had surgery on a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee sustained in training last week. It leaves Chelsea short of steel in midfield - and the club are keen to find a replacement, as the Ghana international's absence in the first half of last season certainly told.
A club statement confirmed Essien's injury: "Following injury to his right knee in training last week, Michael Essien had surgery today to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. The surgery was successful and Michael's full recovery could take up to six months."
COMPETITION: Win an adidas football signed by Chelsea players
It is a bitter blow for Chelsea and manager Andre Villas Boas. But he just happens to know of a man who played at Stamford Bridge in his time as scout under Jose Mourinho, who would be the perfect replacement for Essien. And it is none other than West Ham's Parker.
It may seem far-fetched that Parker, who made just eight starts for Chelsea in his last stint at the club - which lasted a season and a half - could be in with a chance of a return.
But Villas Boas is understood to be a fan of the combative midfielder and remembers his presence in the dressing room as much as his cameos in the first team.
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West Ham have made no secret that they want to keep their player, who was one of the few highlights in a dismal season which ended in relegation to the Championship. But they are also realistic - Parker is contracted until 2014, which would mean he would command a hefty transfer fee.
And one thing that the West Ham owners like to remind everybody on a regular basis is how little money they have. Co-owner David Sullivan, according to the Daily Mirror newspaper, would not comment on whether he has had an approach from Chelsea for Parker.
But Villas Boas is keen on bringing him back to Stamford Bridge. Apart from Parker's performances on the pitch - he has grown stronger and more tenacious since he was last at Stamford Bridge - it is the way he commanded respect last time he was at Chelsea which impressed the manager.
On Essien he said: "Everyone at Chelsea wishes Michael well for his recovery. His team-mates and all the staff and I look forward to helping him return to playing as soon as possible."