Arsenal Manager Tempted By Swoop For Tottenham Defender

White Hart Lane star could be leaving for the Emirates on a free.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is contemplating a sensational summer swoop for Tottenham Hotspur defender Jonathan Woodgate.

The 31-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is unlikely to be offered a new deal because of his poor injury record.

But this will not put off the Gunners boss, who is looking for an experienced defender to be used as back-up in his squad.

The Frenchman believes Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou are good enough defenders to win Arsenal the Premier League for the first time in seven years.

But injury concerns over Djourou and Vermaelen highlights the issue of only having Sebastian Squillaci as cover.

Wenger sees Woodgate as the perfect back-up. Wenger was even interested in buying the former Real Madrid player when he joined Tottenham from Middlesbrough. Arsenal were linked with a move for the centre back by Sky Sports in January and it appears there is still a great deal of interest in the former England international.

Woodgate will be offered a one-year rolling contract according to our sources and Wenger will be keeping an eye on the centre-back to see if he is worth taking a risk on.

Over the years several defenders have switched allegiances in North London. Sol Campbell left Tottenham for Arsenal in 2001, while William Gallas did the opposite last summer.

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Defender Heitinga Could Leave Everton In The Summer

According to the Daily Post, Everton defender John Heitinga is unhappy with his playing time and position at the club and could leave this summer. Heitinga said,

“I have certainly not come here to sit on the bench … Together with Phil Neville, I have more experience than all the others. I have played in four major national team tournaments and I have played the World Cup final.

“But I refuse to go and play in every position now. I don’t want to be right-back again. I told the manager that … I am still aiming for big success here in England. Well, I have played 65 games in the Premier League in two seasons. That is a start.

“I hope being out is a temporary thing. I will decide in the summer what I will do … It’s strange for me to sit on the bench at Everton. I will always claim that I am the best central defender at this club – definitely since the World Cup.

“I could understand it if the manager leaves me out of the team when I make big mistakes. But right now I can’t get over the last few weeks … The manager is not a big talker. Never has been. He does not explain his decisions. He just says everybody will get playing time.”

“I’m not worried about the future … My career is still going up. I can tell that by the massive clubs who came knocking on the door for me in the winter.”

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Tottenham To Offer Defender William Gallas New Deal

According to the Telegraph, Tottenham are set to offer defender William Gallas a new deal. Gallas joined the club on a free transfer last summer and signed a one-year deal, although the contract will extend another year for playing in 30 games. Manager Harry Redknapp said,

“The chairman’s doing a deal … William fully deserve it, he has been top class. He’s a nice man, a quiet man who just gets on with it.

“He could have gone abroad during the summer and made money, but the deal he did with us was an awful lot less than he was on at Arsenal. He has been one of the signings of the season. He has been magnificent for us and has played nearly all the games.”

This entry was posted on Friday, March 25th, 2011 at 5:16 am and is filed under Tottenham Rumors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Tottenham Likely to Sign Manchester United Defender This Summer

Old Trafford man heading for White Hart Lane.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is set to take advantage of defender Wes Brown’s falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United by signing the full back this summer. The England international and his manager at Old Trafford have reportedly not seen eye to eye for some time now, with the 31 year old barely having been spotted in a United shirt in recent seasons after the pair had a spectacular falling out last summer. And, with Redknapp known to be in the market for a new right back at the end of this season due to continued and lingering doubts over current duo, Croatia international Vedran Corluka and his understudy at White Hart Lane, Scotland international Alan Hutton, it is believed the Tottenham boss will make a move for Brown. Brown himself has told friends that he does not expect to be offered a new long-term deal to stay with United and would relish the chance to resurrect his career in north London.

SOURCE: Sportingo

Having reportedly fallen out with Sir Alex Ferguson earlier in the season it was only a matter of time before the experienced utility man looked at making an exit and if Tottenham are genuinely interested then it could well be a good move for the England international to make.

Wes Brown has featured a few times this season but in reality the only reason that he has figured in Ferguson’s plans at all has been down to suspensions and injuries forcing his hand and to be honest when called in the Manchester United man has not covered himself in glory and it seems like this summer would be the right time to move on.

The emergence of Chris Smalling at Manchester United has seen Brown slip down the pecking order at centre back with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans also ahead of the one club man. At right back he has similarly been usurped by Brazilian youngster Rafael with John O’Shea also standing in his way.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has split right back duties at White Hart Lane between Vedran Corluka and Alan Hutton with neither really securing the position as their own and much has been made of the North London club’s various injury concerns at the centre of their defence with the likes of William Gallas, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Dawson and Ledley King all having had their fair share of time out with various knocks.

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Liverpool To Make Move For £9.5m Birmingham City Defender

St Andrew’s hero could be on his way to Anfield.

Sky Sports reports Dalglish is keen to reshape the Reds’ defence and wants Dann to be at the heart of it.

The 24-year-old has worked his way up through the leagues with Walsall, Coventry and excelling at Birmingham City.

He has established himself as one of the best English centre-halfs in the Premier League but has been ruled out for the season following hamstring surgery.

The former England U21 player is rated by Birmingham at £9million, after spending £3.5million to bring him to St Andrew’s in 2009.

A number of clubs have Dann on their radar, most notably Manchester United and Arsenal, but Dalglish is determined to get his man.

But the new director of football Damien Comolli believes there are better options available on the continent but the Scot wants a Premier League proven player.

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Bayern Munich Join Arsenal And Manchester United In Race For £20m Defender

Reebok Stadium star to choose between the Emirates, Old Trafford and now the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich have joined the hunt for Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill but face competition from a string of Premier League clubs, according to the Daily Mail. The Bundesliga champions were impressed by the centre-back’s performance in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, after sending scouts to watch Dimitar Berbatov.

The 25-year-old is out of contract after next season and has been linked to the Red Devils, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa. Arsenal were favourites to sign the England international last January but decided to wait until the summer.

The move may cost the Gunners as the German giants are said to be ready to back their interest with a firm bid. The Trotters manager Owen Coyle admits he is likely to lose his £20million-rated talisman.

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Manchester City Turn Attention To £33m Real Madrid Defender As Dani Alves Signs New Barcelona Deal

Manchester City will turn their sights to Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos after losing out on Barcelona full-back Dani Alves.

Ramos, 24, joined Madrid in 2005 from Sevilla for £23million but contract extension negotiations have stalled amid suggestions of a row with manager Jose Mourinho. Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini likes the Spain World Cup winner because he can play at right-back and centre-half.

Madrid do not want to sell the fan-favourite but if Ramos refuses to sign a new contract the La Liga giants will have little choice. City will attempt to sign the £33million-rated player in the summer as Dani Alves signed a new four-year deal at Barcelona. The 27-year-old was linked with moves to Eastlands and to Chelsea after contract negotiations broke down.

“Barcelona announces that they have reached an agreement with Dani Alves to extend his contractual relationship with the club for three more seasons until June 30, 2015,” read a club statement on their website.

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