Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Arsenal’s longest serving manager is set to remain in London for life.
At a press conference to announce Arsenal’s latest jersey sponsor Puma, Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis revealed that Arsene Wenger has agreed to stay with Arsenal into the future and sign a new deal. Reports in England speculate that the deal could be a three-year contract worth £24 million.
“Arsene will be extending with us and, at the right time, we will make that announcement,” Gazidis said, via the Telegraph. “We have always supported Arsene, the board and Stan Kroenke have always been completely behind him. Arsene has always been committed to the club. He’s the right person to see us forward.”
Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 from J-League club Nagoya Grampus. Since moving to North London, the 64-year-old manager has turned Arsenal into a consistent English Premier League power, finishing no worse than fourth in every season he’s been at the club. Though they haven’t won a trophy in eight years, Wenger has Arsenal atop the EPL and still alive in both the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Last summer, reports in England and France stated that Wenger was considering leaving Arsenal for Paris Saint-Germain, though the job ended up going to Laurent Blanc.
Here are some more stories to start your Tuesday:
NEWCASTLE TO SELL CABAYE TO PSG, READY TO ACQUIRE DE JONG
Yohan Cabaye’s time in Tyneside appears to be coming to an end.
Reports emerged in England on Monday evening that Newcastle have agreed a transfer fee with Paris Saint-Germain for the French midfielder, thought to be around £20 million. Cabaye, 28, is expected to arrive in Paris on Tuesday for a medical before signing with the club ahead of the end of the January transfer window.
But while Cabaye looks to be on his way out of the club, Newcastle already have a replacement lined up. Forward Luuk De Jong is reportedly on his way to Northeast England for a medical at Newcastle ahead of a transfer deal from Borussia Mönchengladbach. De Jong, 23, has found himself outside of the starting lineup all season long, making all 13 Bundesliga appearances this season off the bench.
Last season in his first year in Germany he scored eight goals in all competitions.
HERRERA TIPS MARQUEZ FOR WORLD CUP PLACE
Of the 23 potential players that will make up the Mexican National Team squad at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, El Tri manager Miguel “El Piojo” Herrera believes there’s only one player who has locked up a place.
Speaking to members of the press ahead of their trip to San Antonio, Texas for a friendly match with South Korea, Herrera claimed that only Rafael Marquez, formerly of Barcelona and the New York Red Bulls, is guaranteed a spot on the World Cup roster.
“I’ve given a place to no one,” Herrera said, via Univision. “For me the only safe bet right now is Rafa Marquez. Hopefully he’ll be fit. For me it’s the only certainty because he is the captain.”
Marquez, who was left out of Jose Manuel de la Torre’s El Tri squads after June 2012, made his return to El Tri last October to try and help the squad qualify for the World Cup. Stepping in for youngster Diego Reyes, Marquez helped Mexico rout New Zealand in the World Cup qualifying playoffs last November before leading Club Leon to the Liga MX Apertura title.
While Marquez looks like he can pack his bags for Brazil, Mexican midfielder Gerardo Torrado thinks he’s on the outside looking in. The 34-year-old midfielder has not represented Mexico since their loss at Costa Rica and has precious little time to prove to Herrera that he should be in the El Tri squad.
QUICK KICKS
Mario Balotelli has been fined 10,000 for making an inappropriate gesture towards the Cagliari fans during last Sunday’s match. (REPORT)
Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp is considering signing either Tottenham’s Lewis Holtby or Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland as a replacement for the injured Jakub Blaszczykowski. (REPORT)
Filippo Inzaghi is rumored to be the leading target to take over at Sassuolo if they fire manager Eusebio Di Francesco. (REPORT)
Bayer Leverkusen is closing in on signing Mexican winger Andres Guardado from Valencia. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Did you ever expect Wenger to leave Arsenal? Think that PSG are paying too much for Cabaye? How far can Mexico go in the World Cup with Marquez as captain?
Share your thoughts below.