Sissoko and Witsel news + WHU, Liverpool, Arsenal

TRANSFER TALK

Tottenham and Liverpool have been tracking Newcastle united midfielder Moussa Sissoko, who wants to leave the North East club after their relgation. To stay in the French squad the 26-year-old will have to be playing at a higher standard of football, indeed the French boss prefers his players to be playing European football each season.

Thee is competition from Zenit St Petersburg, who watched him all last season. They would like him to replace Axel Witsel and are prepared to offer Newcastle £16.87-million (€20m - AUS$29.07m - US$20.22m) for him. Newcastle value him at double that, which just goes to demonstrate what other clubs think h is actually worth. He is priced as if a major club like Real Madrid were buying him, the majority of clubs don't entertain such inflated fees.

While mentioning Witsel, Naopli are said to be finalising the details of a £19.79-million (€23.5m - AUS$34.16m - US$26.08m) deal with Zenit St Petersburd for the 27-year-old. Witsel will sign a four-year contract with the option of an extra year. That dashes the hopes of Everton who couldn't offer the Champions League football he was seeking.

West Ham United are in the news again, this time it is Thomas Vermaelen they are after, but again without guaranteed European football they have little chance of success. The suggestion comes from Spanish sports daily, Sport. Roma have previously been linked with the 30-year-old Barcelona centre-back who the LaLiga side are prepared to let leave. He will want Champions League football, given the sides he has played for in the game.

Liverpool currently have 39-year-old former Arsenal, Juventus, Fiorentina, Siena and latterly FC Augsburg goalkeeper Alex Manninger training with them with a view to offering him a one-year contract.
Arsenal are in the news in Italy. According to Sky Sport Italia, they have offered 29-year-old French international striker Olivier Giroud to Napoli as part of a deal to bring the most prolific goalscorer in Serie A, Gonzalo Higuain, to Arsenal. The 28-year-old is contracted to Napoli and his release clause, which his agent feels is too high, ran out on 30 June, so he'll be more expensive now. It is hardly likely that Napoli would have any interest in the underwhelming Olivier Giroud.