Arsenal target Felipe Melo has officially signed for Juventus, according to TV station Sky Sport Italia.

The 25-year-old recently emerged as Brazil’s first-choice midfielder in the Confederations Cup tournament this summer and subsequently prompted interest from Gunners’ boss Arsène Wenger along with several other European giants.

A swap deal involving Emmanuel Eboue was even hinted at by the Viola’s sporting director Pantaleo Corvino. But unfortunately, to many Gooners’ disgust, fresh-faced Melo sealed his big-money deal to Juve earlier this evening.

The Dutchman, 25, has ended speculation on his future by signing a new, long-term deal which is reported to be worth some £80,000 a week.

Van Persie told Arsenal TV Online: “Lots of people have given me love from this club, and for me, it is a small thing I have to do to pay them back.”

Melo, who arrived in Florence from Spanish side Almeria last summer in a €8.1 million transfer, is a target of the Gunners.

“(Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger wants to talk to me,” said Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino. “I have no objection also because Eboue seems a valid swap.”

Brazilian Melo (25) has signed a one-year contract extension with Fiorentina that includes a €25 million release clause. He is contracted to Fiorentina until 2013 and is also a target of Juventus.

“In order for that (Melo to go to Juve) to happen, there needs to be a payment of €25 million as stipulated in his release clause,” said Corvino. “No club has made such an offer and there are no meetings arranged in the near future.”

Read more here at The Irish Times

Manchester City’s spending since the close of last season has dominated the back pages as reports of astronomical fees and wages become commonplace.

With Chelsea and a cash-rich Manchester United also expected to open their chequebooks freely in the close-season, more heavy investment is anticipated from the top flight’s biggest spenders.

Arsenal remain determined to stay on an even keel financially and Gazidis has called for a greater responsibility from Premier League clubs.

It has been suggested that the Gunners would cash in on Emmanuel Adebayor to help fund squad strengthening, but Wenger claims there will be no repeat of last summer when Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb both left the club.

“We lost Hleb and Flamini last summer and we have had to rebuild,” said Wenger. “But we have done that now and the future looks bright. We don’t want to have to rebuild again, so I want to keep all the players together for next season. I don’t want to lose anyone.

“I want to add to the squad and have identified one or two targets. But identifying players and buying them are two different things.”

Read the rest here at soccernet

Manchester United have agreed to sell Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a world-record £80million, while Fabregas has been linked with a return to former club Barcelona.

The 22-year-old is also admired by Real but has a contract until 2014 and insists he has no intention of leaving Arsenal. “Of course I see my future at Arsenal. I have a very long contract with the club”, Fabregas told the club’s website.

‘I would have never signed that if I did not think I was capable of making it (to the end of the contract). The boss knows that I really want to stay here.’

Read more here at Metro.co.uk

And the France international full-back has claimed he could be ready to take off-field retribution against the Spain midfielder. Fabregas clashed with Evra during the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford which sealed the Red Devils’ third successive Premier League title triumph.

That meeting came just days after United saw off their top-flight rivals in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, after which Evra branded the Gunners ‘babies’. Former Monaco ace Evra is standing by his comments and insists there is no place on the field for challenges such as the one made by Fabregas.

Read the rest of this post here at Skysports

The Norwegian star has been one of the Premier League’s most impressive defenders this season.

And it was widely reported today that Arsenal have inquired about his availability.

But Hangeland told today’s Evening Standard: ‘The club has been going in the right direction from the time I came here in January last year. Hopefully we can agree a new contract, and then I’ll stay here for a long time.’

Fulham qualified for the Europa League on Sunday after finishing seventh in the Premier League.

source: metro.co.uk

New signing Arshavin, 27, has found he takes home less cash here that he did in his native Russia, even though his gross salary is far higher.

It’s because in Russia he was paying 13 per cent tax – and here he is clobbered by the new 50p top rate.

Now, Arshavin has ordered his agent to renegotiate his contract with the Gunners and earn him an increase.

But fans yesterday said the midfielder was displaying “sheer greed.”

read the rest about Arshavin here at The Mirror