Flamini Explains Arsenal Exit and Other Transfer News
Who? - Mathieu Flamini - Very likely Where is he? - Arsenal Who is he linked with? - AC Milan
Former Arsenal star Mathieu Flamini has said he would have stayed at the club had they offered him a new contract last year. The French midfielder agreed a move to AC Milan earlier this month, and has been accused of greed by fans and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger. However, in an interview with The Daily Mirror, Flamini said: "If Arsenal had offered me a contract last summer I would still be their player now. Last July I told Arsenal I wanted to extend my contract so, of course, I would have signed if they had offered me a deal...but they didn't. They said they wanted me to prove myself first. It was difficult for me at the beginning. I had to see it as a challenge but I won't lie, it was not easy. You have to be mentally very strong to cope."
Who? - Julio Cesar de Leon - Speculation Where is he? - Genoa Who is he linked with? - Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Honduran midfielder Julio Cesar de Leon, accoring to the player's agent. Manrique Amador has said he has discussed a potential transfer with Spurs sporting director Damian Comolli and that the deal will go through once personal terms have been agreed. "Tottenham's sport manager Damian Comolli, who is Italian and worked in Messina, asked me for information about him," he told Colombian newspaper El Heraldo. "They really like the player and it only remains that they accept the conditions I let them know." De Leon has been playing since 1996 and is currently with Italian team Genoa. He has won 61 caps for the Honduras national side.
Who? - James Milner - Speculation Where is he? - Newcastle United Who is he linked with? - Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate will bid for Newcastle United star James Milner if Gary O'Neil decides to move on in the summer, according to reports. The talented midfielder only joined Boro from Portsmouth at the end of last season, but an impressive first term has attracted the interest of West Ham United and Fulham. Southgate wants to keep hold of the player, but if he does leave Milner is thought to be the manager's preferred replacement. Milner began his career at Leeds United in 2002 and has taken in a spell at Aston Villa as well as Newcastle.
