Sports! Arsenal To Sign Lucas Perez And Shkodran Mustafi

Arsenal manager,  Arsene Wenger,  has gone into the summer transfer market, looking for a central defender and a forward. He  has finally sealed the deals for two of La Liga’s top performers, Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna and Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia,

La Liga clubs determined to strengthen striker options

It's been one of the central themes in this summer's transfer market, that of securing a star number 9. Juventus spending close to 100 million euros on 28-year-old Gonzalo Higuain shows the value attached to capturing a guaranteed goalscorer - something which can tip the balance for titles or save a team from relegation - and here we take a look at how the teams in La Liga have been getting on in their dealings up front.

Barcelona

Champions Barcelona have yet to sign a striker and it's proving to be a complicated matter to secure a forward with the requisite quality, but also one who is comfortable knowing that he will be playing back up to the terrifying trident of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. The club lost Pedro last summer because of the winger's dissatisfaction at being a bench option and after being unable to pay Nolito's buy-out clause in the winter window, they missed out again as the Spain international traded Celta Vigo for Manchester City. Since then the former Barcelona B man has gone on record to say the propsect of regular first-team action under Pep Guardiola was a crucial factor in his decision to move to England.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid look much better stocked in this department after activating Alvaro Morata's buyout clause to take the striker back from Juventus. Many expected the Champions League holders to cash in after the forward's impressive displays at this summer's European Championship but it now appears he'll be staying put and will allow the chance of some rotation as well as offering a different sort of threat to Karim Benzema as the side's focal point.

Atletico Madrid

Getting the right fit up front has been an ongoing issue for Atletico Madrid ever since the departure of Diego Costa to Chelsea two summers ago,. Neither Mario Mandzukic nor Colombia's Jackson Martinez lasted more than a single season. After being frustrated in their chase of Higuain, the Colchoneros have added proven La Liga quality in the form of Kevin Gameiro, who found the net 67 times in his three seasons at Sevilla.

Villarreal

Villarreal manager Marcelino is fond of rotating and has given himself a further option by securing the former Milan striker Alexandre Pato to supplement the likes of Roberto Soldado, Cedric Bakumbu and Leo Baptistao. Pato, who joined Corinthians from the Italian side five years ago, was clearly too good for the Brazilian league but having failed to break in to the starting eleven while at loan at Chelsea has plenty to prove. His versatility could be a real asset as the Yellow Submarine return to the Champions League.

Athletic Club

Athletic Club de Bilbao believe they already have 35 year old Aritz Aduriz's long-term successor in the shape of Inaki Williams..

Celta Vigo

Celta have big shoes to fill in Nolito but once John Guidetti got a run of games last season he became a real fans's favourite. Although Eduardo Berizzo is reported to still be in the market, the versatility of Iago Aspas means they could make do with what they have.

Sevilla

Once again, just as with Alvaro Negredo and Carlos Bacca before him, Sevilla have cashed in a forward this summer as Kevin Gameiro departs. Monchi has proved to be a wizard as sporting director in selling high and buying low. This summer they welcome Luciano Vietto from Atletico on loan with an option to buy, should his time at the club prove successful.

Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad have already signed Juanmi and Willian Jose as Jonathas looks set to depart for Rubin Kazan.

Real Betis

Ambitious Betis have looked to ease the pressure of Ruben Castro by snapping up Tony Sanabria and Roman Zozulya.

Valencia

Valencia have sold Alvaro Negredo to Middlesbrough and appear to be betting on Santi Mina and Rodrigo as back up to Paco Alcacer.

Eibar

Eibar have lost Borja Baston after his excellent season up north.

Deportivo La Coruna

Further across the coast in Galicia, Deportivo La Coruna are poised to make one of the most exciting signings of the summer with Copa Libertadores winner Marlos Moreno set to join on loan once his transfer from Colombia's Aletico Nacional to Manchester City is confirmed.

The newly promoted trio of Alaves, Leganes and Osasuna have all been busy trying to beef up their forward lines also. The former have made three signings already, the latter are investigating several options, and Leganes have lost some important figures from their promotion campaign and need more bodies to back up Alexander Szymanowski who netted twelve tilla.for them last term.

Arsenal transfer news: £37m for Riyad Mahrez, Jese Rodriguez next?

It's the story every Gunner wants to hear and it's not the one about Olivier Giroud finally shaving off his Gallic beard.Rather it's reported that Riyad mahrez will sign for arsenal "in the next fews days."

The paper attributes the stunning news to according to Algerian media, citing a claim by news outlet Le Buteur that the 25-year-old winger will join the Gunners in a £37m deal.

The Leicester winger was recently linked with a move to Chelsea but the Sun says that is hogwash and stresses that Mahrez has "agreed terms" with Arsenal and all that remains is for the north London club to shake hands with the Foxes on the transfer fee.

The Algerian winger was named FA Player of the Year last season and Leicester gaffer Claudio Ranieri has made no secret of his wish to keep the wideman. On the plus side, however, the Sun points out that £37m isn't a bad mark-up on a player who cost Leicester £400,000 when they signed him from Le Havre in 2014.

And there could be more good news on the transfer front for Arsenal's long-suffering fans with Metro reporting that Zinedine Zidane has hinted that "Jese Rodriguez could be set for a move away from Real Madrid".

The Spanish frontman is rumoured to be unhappy at his lack of first-team football at the Bernabeu and Arsenal are said to monitoring the situation. Asked about Rodriguez's future, Zidane hardly made a case for keeping him, saying: "If he wants to leave to play more, I don't know... Everyone's here, that's all I can say now."

Liverpool are also said to be interested in the 23-year-old but Arsenal's ability to offer Rodriguez Champions League football could prove crucial in any bidding war.

The Gunners may have found the solution to their defensive concerns following the long-term injury to Per Mertesacker. The blocker in question is Shkodran Mustafi, the 24-year-old Germany international currently with Valencia. The Indy claims that "Arsenal were offered Mustafi" by the Spanish club earlier in the summer but Arsene Wenger was put off by the £21m price tag.

But with Mertesacker out until Christmas with a knee injury the tight-fisted Frenchman is "considering going back in for him".

Real Madrid calm over transfer inactivity

While the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona have been busy in the transfer market so far, Real Madrid are biding their time as they assess their options.

Having only re-signed Alvaro Morata from Juventus for 32 million euros, Los Blancos have been unusually quiet with no further arrivals seemingly imminent.

Deals for Andre Gomes and Paul Pogba have failed to materialise despite a lot of speculation, with the former joining the Blaugrana and the latter all but sealing a return to Old Trafford.

The likes of Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne and Denis Suarez have also strengthened Real's eternal rivals, while clinching Eric Bailly from Villarreal, Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund and free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic will likely make the Red Devils a force under new boss Jose Mourinho.

Also spending heavily are Chelsea, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Juventus, who just made Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain the third most expensive player ever, but Real continue to wait.

Meaning August will likely be a busy time at the Estadio Santiago Bernbeu.

Higuain aims to justify price-tag

Higuain's controversial transfer marks the third most expensive transfer in football history as he signed a lucrative five-year contract with the Serie A champions.

Upon his unveiling at the club the 28-year-old insisted he was keen to prove his worth on the field of play in the upcoming season.

"Now I need to show to them that I am worth the money they paid for me," he told reporters.

"What can you say about Juventus, they are known all over the world. It is a great team that has it all to gain."

Last season's Capocannoniere winner, with 36 goals in 35 games, then responded to his former club's owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, who had suggested the Argentina international was a 'traitor'.

"Relations with him [De Laurentiis] never went well because his way of thinking is at odds with my way of thinking," added Higuain.

"I chose to join Juventus but he pushed me to do it. Now, I'm really happy I did and I want to thank Juventus for the effort they made to come and get me."

Simeone: We will always play with the same passion

Following an International Champions Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur, Diego Simeone remained unapologetic about Atletico Madrid's penchant for passion.

A late first-half strike from Diego Godin tipped the balance in the Colchoneros' favour during Friday's encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"How we approach games hasn't changed at all over the years, whether in friendlies, the Super Cup, Europa League, La Liga or Champions League," Simeone said.

Now in his fifth year as Atletico coach, Simeone insists that the Champions League finalists will continue to stay true to their time-honoured approach.

"We have the same enthusiasm and passion for every game and we will never change."

Chelsea’s Mikel denies donating $30,000 to Nigeria Olympic squad

The midfielder has dismissed claims that he gave out a certain amount of money to the Dream Team VI

John Obi Mikel has disproved reports that he donated the sum of 30,000 dollars to the Nigeria U23 team camping in the United States of America.

Mikel, who is one of the two overage players in Samson Siasia’s squad for Rio Olympics was reported to have given the Dream Team VI that amount to alleviate their sufferings owing to neglect from the Nigeria Football Federation.

But the Chelsea star has refuted the news saying it was a tactic to divide the team.

"I was first told of this unfortunate story by a friend who called me from Nigeria. I thought he was joking until he sent me the link,” Mikel told the NFF.

"I don't know the source of this story which to me is all out to divide us as a team. I would have thought that stories that should be coming out in the media are stories that will unite the team instead of dividing us. Our target in Rio is to excel, but if they continue like this, then I wonder how we can be united.

"Tell me the players who are in this team that are so hungry that will be looking up to me for survival? Is it (William) Ekong, (Oghenekaro) Etebo, (Shehu) Abdulahi, (Daniel) Akpeyi, (Kingsley) Madu, (Okechukwu) Azubuike or (Stanley) Amuzie, who are my team –mates in the Super Eagles, that I will be donating to, or other players who are plying their trade abroad and are doing well for themselves?

“To me, this is just mere distraction that won't help this team going into a major tournament like the Olympics,” he concluded.

Nigeria face Japan on August 4 at the Amazônia Arena Manaus in their opening game of the competition as they gun for a second Olympic football gold medal.

I have not been paid for 5 months, we are suffering in US – Siasia

Head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has revealed that he is being owed salaries for five months, by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Siasia is currently in Atlanta, Georgia with his squad, as they continue to prepare for next month’s Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

“We are suffering in Atlanta. We have not received any money since we arrived this training camp. I have not been paid for the past five months,” Siasia said.

“We will not hold the country to ransom by threatening not to play our matches, but the government has to come to our rescue.

“I know that by the time the Olympics will be over, our monies will not be paid.”

The Dream Team VI are scheduled to fly to Brazil from USA on Friday.