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Transfer Ticker: Arsenal makes moves, Hargreaves on verge of City move & more

Mertesacker (Reuters Pictures)

In the aftermath of Sunday's 8-2 drubbing at Old Trafford, it became quite clear that Arsenal had to make some moves before the close of the summer transfer window if it is to be considered a threat in the Premier League this season.

The Gunners have started that process by landing South Korean captain and striker Park Chu-Young from Monaco to boost their attacking options.

Arsenal is also reportedly on the verge of reinforcing its defense by signing Werder Bremen and German centerback Per Mertesacker and Brazilian fullback Andre Santos, who are both said to have taken physicals with the club.

Here are a few more transfer items from around the soccer world:

HARGREAVES ON VERGE OF JOINING CITY

Owen Hargreaves appears to be on the move from Manchester United, but it doesn't look like that he'll be moving very far. A one-time rumored target of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Hargreaves is reportedly close to signing with Manchester City on a free transfer.

Hargreaves' career has been plagued by injuries, and while he might be fit, he'll have a hard time getting minutes in a crowded City midfield that includes the likes of David Silva, Samir Nasri, Ya Ya Toure, Gareth Barry, James Milner and Adam Johnson.

COLE CLOSES IN ON MOVE TO LILLE

Joe Cole is reportedly set to join reigning French champion Lille on a season-long loan from Liverpool.

Cole has become the odd man out in a suddenly crowded Liverpool midfield, which now boasts the likes of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing, and he hasn't appeared on the matchday roster for the Reds yet this season.

LUKAKU LOAN TO STOKE FALLS THROUGH

Stoke City appeared ready to bring in Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea, but the move is prohibited from taking place per Premier League rules.

Lukaku joined Chelsea during the current transfer window, and league rules stipulate that a player can't be sent to another top-flight club during the same transfer window in which he is acquired, according to the BBC.

Lukaku made his Chelsea debut over the weekend, coming on as a substitute in the win over Norwich City.

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Do you think those moves will help Arsenal? What do you think about Hargreaves joining Manchester City? What do you think of Cole potentially heading to Ligue 1? Surprised Chelsea was looking to loan out Lukaku?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. From the MLS.com piece:

    ” Fulham told Arsenal that Dempsey would cost $16 million and change.”

    That’s dollars, not pounds. You probably flunked homework.

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  2. Well, if the only rumors you’ve seen are $8-10 million (and that’s dollars, not pounds, since 10 million pounds would be $16 million), then those must be the correct rumors.

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  3. JP said in reply to Roberto…

    “He’s skilled but too inconsistent, prone to mental breakdowns and silly mistakes that will cost his team games.”

    Sounds like he’ll fit right in at Arsenal, then.

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  4. Thanks, I didn’t know that. Also, (replying to Arsenalfan) a pay as you play deal sounds reasonable. I guess I was thinking more about Hargreaves wanting to prove he still had it, but not being able to get playing time at City. I didn’t consider the finances. From a financial standpoint, 7 games at City could be worth more than 14 at West Brom.

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  5. He’s skilled but too inconsistent, prone to mental breakdowns and silly mistakes that will cost his team games.

    Just watch how he played for Brazil in Copa America and also against Germany in a recent friendly. He will choke against better opposition.

    Mano Menezes has kept him out of his next national team call up for a reason…

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  6. They’re asking for 8 to 10 millions pounds bro. Where have you heard Fiore and Napoli are interested? I’ve heard Napoli mentioned in the past but nothing really substantial materialized.

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  7. More than Just Aresnal are after him…Villa, Roma, Napoli and Fiorentina…Leverkusen pulled out as the asking price (I’ve heard 16M pounds) was too high for them…

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  8. Can you be more specific? For what I have seen he is very good on the ball goes forward a lot and defends well, typical Brazilian full back. I remember watching him with Corinthians and always liked him

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  9. You can view them as a partial answer. Arsenal cannot realistically compete for the EPL title this year so their goal is to finish in the top four. The signings do not assure the place in the top 4, but should help. Mertesacker should immediately provide the discipline and physical presence, particularly in the air, that the back 4 currently lacks. I am less certain how well Chu-Young and Santos would fit, but at the very least they will provide some depth.

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  10. He’s said in the past that he wants to prove himself in the Champion’s League. He said it himself. Now, I did say that it’s not really necessary because he’s got a great thing going at Fulham, didn’t I? You’re overreacting.

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  11. Every team that wanted him would give him a pay as you play deal. Why settle for a team of financial status like West Brom if you get a quarter of a Million if you manage to play 7 games for City?

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  12. Top 5 teams in the world, or top 5 in the EPL? Never mind, either way you’re saying that Dempsey to Arsenal would be okay ;-).

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  13. I am so sick of this. Every post on SBI has someone wanting Dempsey to move. Why? And what has Dempsey, Fulham, or any other club done or said to make anyone think there is any possibility of this happening? He is the star at a top-half club, playing in Europe, living in London. What better situation could he hope to be in?

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  14. The whole Hargreaves to City move is a mystery to me. Why would they want him? Do they think he’ll be able to contribute? Why would he want to go? Does he think he’ll see more playing time?

    The only one I see benefiting is United — they will get to take his salary off the books. I’m not saying that Hargreaves is done as a player, but taking him would certainly be a risk.

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  15. Why on Earth would any team want to sign Owen Hargreves? He’s overrated and good for only 3-4 games max per season. It’s like a bad joke come to life.

    Joe Cole to Lille might be the best move for his career. Unlike the EPL, players in Ligue 1 tend to stay healthy since actual fouls are called on a regular basis and there’s a winter break in France. His leg speed is a perfect match for Lille, question will be how fast can he adapt to a flowing play in Ligue 1.

    In regards to Lukaku, I thought it would have been void since it would be his 3rd team in a year which is a No-No according to FIFA rules. Chelsea’s loaning him out after just acquiring him is another of the many problems in the game. How do you sign someone and then loan them out as soon as you get them? Stockpiling and just flat out WRONG.

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  16. Park Chu-Young is a respectable signing and Mertesacker is a solid defender who, though slow, is huge and dominant in the air. The problem, as a Gunners fan, is that these guys don’t seem like the answer to the problem. I’m sure they can add depth, but are they better or going to make the established players better?

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  17. So I’m pretty sure Dempsey can’t play in the Champions League, right? He played in the Europa League already. And also, how in the holy hell is Hargreaves going to find time in that midfield? Obviously he has to be fit too of course, which is unlikely unto itself…

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  18. I haven’t heard any rumors about Dempsey going to Aresnal and I doubt they’re true but it wouldn’t be a bad purchase for Arsenal in my opinion. He’s a proven goalscorer and creater in the EPL so there’s very little risk involved. Don’t know that Arsenal would be willing to pay the 8mil that Fulham apparently values him at though.

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  19. I’m still hoping that Dempsey moves to a Champions League squad. He is good enough, and should be playing in the Champions League.

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  20. I just want to know if Clint is staying or going… He’s got a great thing going at Fulham, so a move isn’t really necessary, but he CAN play at a higher level (Champion’s League team) and may want to prove it… I just want to know!

    Reply

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