Alcaraz set for Everton move

Everton are close to agreeing a deal for Paraguayan defender Antolin Alcaraz, according to Sky Sports.

The 30 year old is currently a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Wigan Athletic, for whom he was signed by Roberto Martinez from Belgian side Club Brugge back in 2010.

The new Toffee’s manager has already raided his former club this week for striker Arouna Kone, who’s singing was announced yesterday, and is set to link up with another of his former players in the shape of Alcaraz.

The centre-back has agreed a two year deal with the Merseyside club, and will undergo a medical on Tuesday ahead of the move.

Alcaraz has 22 caps for Paraguay, four of which were won at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where he scored one of his two international goals in a group match against then holders Italy.

Sky Sports also understand that Everton are set for talks with goalkeeper Joel Robles, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Wigan from Atletico Madrid.

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Christian Benteke hands in transfer request at Villa

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke may leave the Villans this summer after handing in a transfer request

Aston Villa’s star striker Christian Benteke has handed in a transfer request at Villa Park, amid reports that the striker has refused to travel to Germany on a pre-season trip.

The 22-year-old was outstanding for the Villans last season, scoring 19 Premier Leagues goals and helping to secure Villa’s Premier League status.

Confirmation

Benteke’s transfer request was confirmed on Villa’s website with a club statement that read:

“In response to reports that Christian Benteke has not travelled to Germany with the club and has made a transfer request, we can confirm that both are accurate.

“For clarity’s sake, however, he had already been given extra time off until July 18 and was reminded that there are three years remaining on his contract.

“We consider him to be a Villa player and expect that he will be with us for the 2013-14 season. Having received his transfer request, we have also informed him that should we receive an offer within an appropriate timeframe during pre-season which meets our valuation we would act upon it. But he will remain a Villa player should this not happen.”

Unknown

Benteke arrived at Villa from Belgium side Genk for a fee of £7million last summer. He was a virtual unknown to most Premier League observers. However, the young Belgian had previously attracted the interest of David Moyes, while he was Everton boss.

The Scot is believed to have scouted the striker, but Everton’s lack of financial resources meant that Moyes could not pursue his interest in the striker. Everton’s loss was Villa’s gain, as Benteke gradually became one of the most dangerous strikers in the top flight last season.

Benteke proved to be one of the bargain buys of last summer. If the youngster does move on this summer then it will be for far more than the £7million Villa paid.

Interest

There is huge interest in the young striker from a number of teams. The likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester City are all believed to be interested in acquiring the youngster’s services.

Reports from Spain suggest that Atletico Madrid are looking at Benteke as a replacement for Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, who moved to Monaco earlier this summer. Atleti certainly have cash burning a hole in their pocket and are in need of a prolific replacement for the Colombian star.

Whether Liverpool can afford to sign Benteke will very much depend on whether the Reds sell Luis Suarez or not this summer. If they do sell the Uruguayan, then Reds boss Brendan Rodgers may then pursue a deal.

Manchester City are not short of cash and are in search of a striker. A move for Benteke will depend on whether new City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes the youngster fits into how he wants his City team to play.

Tottenham are also on the lookout for a striker, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is notorious for the way he does business. He will do anything to get a better deal for his club and Villa are unlikely to let Benteke go on the cheap.

Potential

Although Benteke was outstanding last season, he is still quite raw. He does however have the potential and attributes to become a world-class striker, pace, power and agility, all attributes that terrify Premier League defenders.

Unfortunate

Aston Villa are unfortunate that the youngster wants to leave the club just as boss Paul Lambert finally looks like he is building a talented young team. In many ways Villa have been victims of Benteke’s success.

However, if Benteke was not a success last season then Villa may have been playing Championship football in the new season. Lambert will be desperate to keep Benteke and build a team around the striker, but the Scot will know that other teams can offer him more money and European football next season.

Villa will have the consolation of a hefty fee believed to be in the region of £30million. The Villans have already spent a fair deal this summer, but no doubt, Lambert will be given a share of the money to continue his summer recruitment.

Shame

It is a shame that young players like Christian Benteke feel the need to leave a club like Villa, after just one season. The striker is just 22 and has a whole career ahead of him to play European football and collect bigger pay cheques.

It is also a shame that clubs like Villa are now considered just a stepping stone to other richer Premier League clubs. Unfortunately, as in life, money rules football and those with it always seem to prosper.

Should Christian Benteke leave Aston Villa this summer?

 

Joel Robles reunited with Martinez at Goodison

Everton have signed Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Joel Robles on a five year contract, Sky Sports understands.

The 23 year old spent the second half of last season on loan at the DW Stadium, and becomes the third ex-Wigan player to move to the Toffees in the space of forty-eight hours following the arrivals of Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz.

Robles was recently in Israel as the third choice goalkeeper for the Spanish under 21 side, having impressed during his short stint in Wigan, turning out thirteen times in all competitions.

One of those appearances came at Wembley, where he kept a clean sheet in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

He will compete for a starting place at Goodison Park with US international Tim Howard, who has been the only recognised goalkeeper at the club since the release of Slovakia international Jan Mucha, who made just two league appearances in three years on Merseyside.

 

Inter Milan, A.S. Roma want Wallace on loan; Joel Robles to Everton

Chelsea F.C. right-back Wallace Oliveira dos Santos, commonly known as Wallace, is reportedly attracting interest from a host of European clubs, including Inter Milan and Roma, Sky Sports understands.

Wallace, 19, made his senior debut for Fluminense at the age of 17. Since 2011, the Brazil Under-20 international has made 21 first-team appearances in the Brasileirão for Flu.

The 19-year-old defender, who agreed a deal with Chelsea in December, has joined the Blues for pre-season training amid reports that a number of Serie A clubs are interested in signing the player on loan for the 2013/14 season.

Wallace’s agent Frederico Moraes has yet to rule out a move, while confirming reported interest from Italian giants Inter Milan and A.S. Roma.

“There has been a lot of talk about him, and Inter have now emerged, too,” Moraes told Tutto Mercato.

“But at the moment there are no concrete offers.

“The interest from [Roma sporting director, Walter] Sabatini is not a mystery but no concrete offers have arrived.

“Until you reach this point, there is no point in talking about a transfer.”

In other news, Chelsea are reportedly interested in want-away Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.

The Belgium international, who is currently rated at £25 million, has handed in a transfer request despite the club’s attempts to strengthen the squad with the signings of Aleksandar Tonev, Antonio Luna, Jed Steer, Jores Okore, Leandro Bacuna and Nicklas Helenius this summer.

Joel Robles to Everton

Former Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Joel Robles has joined Everton from Atletico Madrid on a five-year deal, according to Sky Sports.

Robles, 23, is the third Latics player to follow Roberto Martinez to Goodison Park, following in the footsteps of Antolin Alcaraz and Arouna Kone.

“Atletico Madrid and Everton have reached an agreement for the transfer of Joel Robles to the English club,” read a statement on Atletico’s official website.

“The goalkeeper, who ended last season playing on loan at Wigan, will compete in the Premier League following the agreement reached between the three parties. In our club we wish him luck in this new stage of his career.”

The 23-year-old shot-stopper made 13 first-team appearances while on loan at Wigan last season, including four starts in the FA Cup.

Robles, who made eight saves and kept a clean sheet in the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on 11 May 2012, is expected to play second fiddle to U.S.A. international Tim Howard at Goodison Park next term.

 

Atletico reignite interest in Diego

AS has revealed that Atletico Madrid are ready to return for Wolfsburg midfielder Diego Ribas da Cunha.

The Brazilian playmaker had been made one of club’s top targets this summer, but the club officials opted to shelve talks for Diego while they were looking to sign a perfect replacement for Radamel Falcao.

Having signed David Villa from Barcelona at a cut-back price, los Colchoneros are now ready to resume negotiations for their former player.

Diego is eager to return to Vicente Calderon after spending the 2011/2012 season there, but his €5 million yearly wage could prove to be obstacle to any deal.

Nevertheless, Atletico Madrid chiefs are hoping the appeal of Champions League football will prove enough for the player to accept a pay cut and facilitate a move to Madrid.

Diego, 28, has continued with impressive performance after returning to Wolfsburg, managing 10 goals and 6 assists in 32 Bundesliga games last term.

 

West Ham considering Downing move

West Ham United are in talks with Liverpool over a potential move for Stewart Downing, the Daily Star understands.

The Hammers have already done business with the Reds this summer having completed a deal for striker Andy Carroll, and they are now deciding whether or not to pursue fellow England international Downing.

The 28 year old has made ninety-one appearances for Liverpool since signing from Aston Villa for £20m two years ago, but was told by manager Brendan Rodgers last November that he was free to find a new club.

Before moving to Villa Park, Downing made well 234 appearances during an eight year spell with Middlesbrough after coming through their youth system, while he also had a short spell on loan with Sunderland during the 2003/04 campaign.

Should a deal materialise, the winger would become Sam Allardyce’s fifth summer signing following Carroll, defender Ravzan Rat, goalkeeper Adrian and striker Daniel Whitehead.

 

Chelsea snap up Schwarzer on one year deal

Chelsea have signed goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on a one year contract, Sky Sports understands.

The 40 year old was released by the Blues West London rivals Fulham last month after five years at Craven Cottage, and becomes Jose Mourinho’s third signing since retaking the reins at Stamford Bridge.

Schwarzer moved to England in July 1996, making thirteen appearances for Bradford City before moving to Middlesbrough six months later.

During his eleven-and-a-half year spell in the North East, the Australia international turned out almost 450 times; the highlight coming in the 2004 Carling Cup final victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Schwarzer secured a free transfer to Fulham in 2008, missing only a handful of league games during his time at the club.

He is the only overseas player to have made over 500 Premier League appearances, though he is likely to spend the majority of the next twelve months as Petr Cech’s understudy.

His arrival is will almost certainly see an end to the clubs pursuit of Norwich City’s John Ruddy, for whom they had an improved, £6m bid rejected yesterday.