By TRAVIS CLARK
Brazilian playmaker Diego looks set to make a return to the Bundesliga. Just one year after swapping Germany for Italy, the 25-year-old is reported to have passed a medical ahead of joining VfL Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg will pay a reported fee of €15 million to Juventus for Diego's services, who returns to the league where he made for himself at Werder Bremen from 2006-09, before joining Serie A last summer.
Diego's acquisition is a boon for Wolfsburg, who already boast a formidable attack force with strikers Edin Dzeko and Grafite. The club also landed Danish defender Simon Kjaer during this year's transfer window to bolster their defense.
Here are a few other stories for Thursday:
FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SQUILLACI JOINS ARSENAL
The contingent of French players at Arsenal grew by one more Thursday, as Arsene Wenger confirmed the acquisition of Sevilla defender Sebastian Squillaci for a rumored fee of £5 million. A 30-year-old central defender, Squillaci was a member of this year's French World Cup squad, though he never got on the pitch in South Africa. His arrival significantly improves the depth of Arsenal's defense, who only had three center backs listed prior to his arrival.
AC MILAN CHASING PAIR OF STRIKERS
In an aim to improve their strike force prior to the start of the Serie A season, Italian giants AC Milan have been linked with moves for both Manchester City striker Robinho, and FC Barcelona forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic is said to be at the top of Milan's list, while Robinho would be an alternative if they couldn't land the Swede. Current Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar is reported to be part of a new deal that would see Ibrahimovic return to Italy.
MASCHERANO'S LIVERPOOL FUTURE UP IN THE AIR
The future of Javier Mascherano at Liverpool appears to be over, with both Barcelona and Inter Milan interested in the Argentinian midfielder. Roy Hodgson is adamant that Mascherano will only leave for the right price, and as Barcelona struggles to match Liverpool's valuation, Inter Milan has entered a new bid.
Barcelona made a reported first bid somewhere between £12-16 million, not enough for Hodgson to part with Mascherano.
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What do you think of Thursday's transfer news? Will Diego star once again in Germany? Is Squillaci
Diego is big disappointment!
Won’t work. If a player doesn’t play at least a certain percentage of matches (if fit/healthy), they are able to, effectively, rip up their contract.
also, his wife and kids are absolutley miserable in liverpool. i understand it’s not an all out excuse to demand a transfer, but if the family is not happy then i don’t think any player would give his all w/ out being effected in some level.
I hope Inter comes in with a better bid and Hodgson sells Maschearno to them instead of Barca. Barca deserve that for trying to unsettle players because they don’t have enough money to buy them at their fair market price.
futbol does not work like NFL where the league will do that to a player. In reality, players have free movement in football than any American sport and I prefer that. You letting your emotions get the best of you and Liverpool needs the transfer money and getting his salary off their books helps too.
hard draws for Americans in Champs league. Hard games for Shalke. Milan will never play Gooch against Madrid or Ajax. Hard games for Shalke,Braga and Rangers.
So far Tottenham have got Bremen and Inter Milan. AC get Real Madrid and Ajax. UTD got rangers
thins is sczhenezy can play but wengter wants to give him 2 more years, just like waht city did to hart
Hmmm, now only if Wenger can get us a GK…..
I think ANYONE would rather have the money and him out of the dressing room than lose a massive transfer fee just to prove a point.
Steve McLaren is setting himself up nicely for the season. That’s one hell of a triangle up top with the acquisition of Diego. They will be fun to watch.
Liverpool should sit Masch at home for the remainder of his contract and have him see it out. I am so tired of stars going on strike and not wanting to play because they want to move on.
Ruin his career and make sure he can never play for another club again until his contract runs out.