Arsenal Hope to Sign Juventus Keeper Gianluigi Buffon for Free

Emirates boss considers move for Italian keeper.

Arsenal are weighing up the option of signing Italy’s veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on a free transfer from Juventus.
Arsene Wenger has turned to Jens Lehmann to try and solve his long-standing problems in goal, but the 41-year-old made a less than impressive return for the reserves at Wigan on Tuesday. Now the Arsenal boss is considering Buffon whose 10-year stay in Turin is expected to end in the summer as Juve look to offload his £125,000-a-week salary. It is doubtful that Arsenal would pay that much for a 33-year-old who has struggled with injury but, surprisingly, there would be no fee for Buffon under a clause inserted in his contract when he agreed to stay with Juve following the club’s demotion to Serie B in 2006.

SOURCE: Daily Mail

Given the keeping crisis Arsenal are currently in, although perhaps crisis is too big a word, Arsene Wenger will be licking his lips at the prospect of being able to land a keeper as accomplished as Gianluigi Buffon for nothing. Quotes coming from the player’s agent have suggested that a move to the Premier League interests the Italian international.

Arsenal started the season with Manuel Almunia as first choice but a series of clangers appear to leave the Spaniard without much of a future at the Emirates. Lukasz Fabianski was then brought in and although improved the Pole still looked liable to make mistakes, he then got himself injured. In came youngster Wojciech Szczesny who very much looked the part but then he too made some costly errors but clearly still has great potential. Vito Mannone was loaned out to Hull City and is apparently likely to leave in the summer.

Wenger chased Mark Schwarzer last summer but Mark Hughes was unwilling to allow the Fulham keeper to leave and the Gunners boss has since been linked with very real interest in Liverpool goalie Pepe Reina. One can understand how the North London club would be interested in Buffon, there are few keepers in the modern game who have accomplished more than the 33 year old, but no doubt there will be many clubs who will make an offer for the goalie should he look to end his ten year long association with his Turin employers.

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Ex-Liverpool 'keeper claims Reina wants out

Bulgaria international Mihaylov, 22, was signed by the Reds in 2007 and loaned out to FC Twente in a bid to secure a work permit.

He has since joined Twente on a permanent deal but, as he has now become a regular for his country, he has claimed Liverpool retain an option to take him back to Anfield.

"Liverpool are a huge club," he told Darik Radio. "It wasn't possible to get a work visa when I went there but now there'll be no such problems because I'm playing regularly in the national team."

Asked about Liverpool's option to re-sign him, Mihaylov said: "I think it's absolutely real. The option was made when Rafa Benitez was in charge."

Mihaylov believes Liverpool will be in need of a new goalkeeper in the near future as Reina has a desire to return to his home country.

"I know from my agent Pepe Reina wants to go back to Spain," he said. "His desire dates back one or two years.

"It's not difficult to see this. I know him well - he's one of the best 'keepers in the world but his current form is not as it should be in a club like Liverpool."

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Manchester United Agree £17.5m Deal to Sign Atletico Madrid Keeper David De Gea: Spanish Press Claim La Liga side Have Accepted Offer

Old Trafford club to seal signing of promising Spaniard.

Manchester United have reportedly agreed a deal with Atletico Madrid to sign young keeper David De Gea this summer, according to reports in the Spanish press today. Sir Alex Ferguson has sent scouts to monitor the talented 20 year as the Old Trafford side look to replace Edwin van der Sar who is set to hang up his gloves and retire from the game this summer.

Spanish publication Sport suggests that a deal has been agreed between the two sides that will see the Spanish Under 21 international join Manchester United for a fee of €20m (£17.5m) dependent on the Madrid born goalie agreeing personal terms with the Premier League table toppers.

De Gea has shown maturity beyond his years to become the first choice custodian at the Vicente Calderon and helped his side to clinch the Europa League in his first season at the club last term. Ferguson has been linked to a myriad of potential replacements for Van der Sar with the likes of Manuel Neuer, Hugo Lloris, Maarten Stekelenburg and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina often being mentioned as possible purchases.

Atletico Madrid are reportedly in something of a financial predicament that has led to much speculation that some of their top talents may be offloaded this summer with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan linked with big money exits and the fact that Quique Sánchez Flores’s side are currently languishing in eight place and could miss out on European football altogether next term may force the club to sell to balance the books.

Manchester United brought in Anders Lindegaard as further back up and there has been much speculation that Tomasz Kuszczak will leave in the summer. Sir Alex Ferguson has been looking at bringing in top young talent to help build a new generation of players to mix with those coming through the youth ranks and the purchases of Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling appear to have paid off and David De Gea is seen by many as an ideal long term replacement for Edwin Van der Sar.

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Arsenal to Make Shock Move for Juventus Keeper Gianluigi Buffon

The Stadio Delle Alpi goalkeeper could be on his way to the Emirates or to the Stadio Olimpico following a contract dispute.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon could make a surprise move to Arsenal this summer after contract negotiations broke down. La Republica reports the 33-year-old’s contract expires in 2013 but negotiations over a new deal stalled as the Old Lady wants to half his €6million a year salary.

Buffon has repeatedly said he wants to stay at Juventus but is unhappy about the terms being offered. “Future? I do not feel I need to address this issue now,” Buffon said. “Juve are experiencing a situation so delicate, contrasting with the club’s history that the last thing interesting to the fans are the individual situations.”

The club also wants the Italy international to sign but if he refuses they will cash in on him to remove his hefty salary. Arsenal will hope to take advantage of any problems at the Stadio Delle Alpi and will want Buffon to solve their goalkeeper crisis. Buffon rejected a bid from Manchester United last summer but he and his family are tempted more by a move to North London.

Juventus will consider the idea if striker Robin Van Persie was included in the deal. The new Roma owner Thomas DiBenedetto, and a partner in the New England Sports Ventures, is also an admirer of the goalkeeper and would love to make Buffon his first signing.

But ‘Gigi’ does not want to move to a direct rival of Juventus and his agent, Silvano Martina, has recently denied a move would ever materialise. “Gigi to Rome? Nothing is true,” Martina said. “Buffon will remain at Juve, but he has still two and half year contract.”

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