Robinho linked with Chelsea - Latest Transfer News.
Who? - Aleksandr Hleb - Speculation Where is he? - Arsenal Who is he linked with? - Barcelona
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has told 4thegame.com of his disappointment at Aleksandr Hleb's desire to leave the club. The Belarusian midfielder is rumoured to be on his way to Barcelona this summer after complaining of his displeasure with life in London. Keown told 4thegame: "From what I can see - from an outside perspective, I'm not involved with the club - Alex is trying to wriggle his way out of the club, instead of just coming out and saying that he wants to leave. It's disappointing because I don't remember him having won a trophy and I think players in the past, like Henry, Vieira, Pires and Anelka, they all left with trophies under their belt. I'd like Hleb to stay a little bit longer and win a trophy, then he can deserve the right to go and make his money somewhere else, because there is a lot left in him as a player, as there is in Adebayor. But as an ex-player, you can feel sure that Arsene Wenger will make the right decision for Arsenal Football Club."
Who? - Robinho - Speculation Where is he? - Real Madrid Who is he linked with? - Chelsea
Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Robinho has hinted that he would like to join his fellow countryman Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea. The 24-year-old had said at the weekend that he was not interested in a transfer to Manchester United as part of any deal that would see Cristiano Ronaldo move in the opposite direction. However, he has not ruled out the prospect of moving to Stamford Bridge. Robinho had told AS that he was happy at the La Liga champions, saying: "I hope to stay at Real this year. I don't want to be part of the Ronaldo deal." But later on he said: "It would be a dream for me to work with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is one of the best coaches in the world. I have always spoken highly of him and he has always spoken very highly of me, since well before he was at Chelsea." Meanwhile, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard will travel with the rest of the Blues squad on their five-game tour to the Far East and Russia.
Who? - Wayne Bridge - Speculation Where is he? - Chelsea Who is he linked with? - Portsmouth
Former Southampton left-back Wayne Bridge is being linked with a summer transfer from Chelsea to Portsmouth. The England international will not travel with the rest of the Blues squad on their pre-season tour to China, fuelling speculation that he is on the verge of sealing a 7million switch to Fratton Park. The 27-year-old has started only 116 matches since moving to Stamford Bridge almost five years ago and has lost his starting spot to Ashley Cole in the Chelsea line-up. Pompey boss Harry Redknapp is also interested in bringing Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips to the south coast. Redknapp has signed a host of England players in the last 18 months with David James, Jermain Defoe, Sol Campbell, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson all currently on Pompey's books.
Who? - Gareth Barry - Speculation Where is he? - Aston Villa Who is he linked with? - Arsenal
Arsenal have made a tentative enquiry to see if Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry would be interested in moving to the Emirates Stadium. The England international has been linked with Liverpool throughout the summer but Villa boss Martin O'Neill has been unable to agree a transfer fee with the Reds for the 27-year-old. O'Neill said on Saturday that a deal still had not been struck between the two clubs, although he was hopeful of a resolution soon. However, the Gunners are now believed to be ready to launch a bid for Barry, with right-back Justin Hoyte potentially involved in the deal as part-exchange. Arsenal's assistant manager, Pat Rice, has contacted Villa, according to O'Neill, who told The Sun: "Myself and Steve Walford both know Arsene Wenger's assistant Pat Rice. He phoned Steve to ask how the Liverpool thing had gone and said that they might show an interest. At the end of the conversation Arsenal said 'that's fine' and that they'll let us know. That's exactly what happened."
Who? - David Bentley - Speculation Where is he? - Blackburn Rovers Who is he linked with? - Aston Villa, Tottenham and Liverpool
Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince has vowed to keep David Bentley at Ewood Park even though Aston Villa have joined the race to sign the England international midfielder. The 23-year-old former Arsenal trainee has also been linked with Tottenham and Liverpool this summer, but Ince is ready to fight to keep all his big-name stars. Speaking after his side's 2-1 friendly win at Macclesfield Town, Ince said: "I'm still loving every minute of my new job and, no, I don't want to lose my best players. The David Bentley situation won't go away, only time will tell whether he's here in August. He'd have played at Macclesfield if he hadn't been injured, but I know that in football players come and players go. We've had an offer from Aston Villa, but I don't want him to go. He's injured and he'll have a couple of days off and I hope to take him to Germany on Wednesday for our training trip. When I came to Blackburn I said I wanted to keep my best players, and Brad Friedel comes into that category, he's one of the best keepers in the Premier League. There's no interest from me in Paul Robinson. As far as I'm concerned I want to keep Brad. I don't want to sell Brad, so why should I want Paul Robinson?"
Who? - Roque Santa Cruz - Speculation Where is he? - Blackburn Rovers Who is he linked with? - Manchester United
Paraguay international Roque Santa Cruz has attempted to quell speculation about his future by insisting he has no intention of leaving Blackburn Rovers this summer. After scoring 23 goals for Rovers last season, Santa Cruz had been linked with a host of clubs, but the former Bayern Munich striker says he is happy at Ewood Park. He told Paravision TV station: "A lot of people said my transfer to a bigger club was about to happen, but I live in the present and I'm focused on Blackburn. I'm happy for the good season that I had and the important goals that I scored. I am motivated by the other teams' interest, but if I am not transferred then I want to have the best possible season at Blackburn." Rovers boss Paul Ince last month warned Sir Alex Ferguson that he had no intention of allowing Santa Cruz to join Manchester United. He said at the time: "If he comes on asking about Santa Cruz then I'll just tell him he's not having him. I had a text off Sir Alex to say 'congratulations, well done', as I've had off numerous people. But I'm under no illusions, I'm the enemy now."
Who? - Xabi Alonso - Speculation Where is he? - Liverpool Who is he linked with? - Juventus
Juventus have completed the signing of Sevilla midfielder Christian Poulsen to suggest that they have ended their interest in Liverpool's Xabi Alonso. The 28-year-old Denmark international has signed a four-year contract with Claudio Ranieri's side after moving to Turin in a 9.75million euros deal. "I cannot wait to begin my adventure with Juventus," Poulsen said. "I know I will be able to earn the confidence of my new fans. "My hope is to pleasantly surprise the Italian public and show that I have a good technique. I will be able to prove it and to give a different image of myself." Alonso has been linked with Juve for much of the summer but Reds boss Rafa Benitez claimed last week that the 26-year-old could still be at Anfield next season. He had admitted: "The situation with Alonso has not changed. Juventus made an offer that was not good enough and now we are just waiting. I do not know, really, whether that will go through. Xabi wants to stay because he is happy here, but he also knows that Juventus is a top side. I have talked to him, he knows my ideas and he knows why. So we will try to find a solution for him, for us, and the best for the club."
