PSG signs David Luiz from Chelsea

Chelsea have confirmed they have agreed terms with Paris Saint-Germain over a move for defender David Luiz.

Luiz has made just 15 starts for the Blues this season after falling down the pecking order with John Terry and Gary Cahill, manager Jose Mourinho's preferred centre-back pairing.

The Brazilian is set to seal a sensational £40 million move to the French champions after the two clubs agreed a deal.

"Chelsea football club and Paris Saint-Germain have agreed terms for the transfer of David Luiz to the French club," said a statement on the club's website.

"The move is now subject to David Luiz agreeing personal terms with PSG and passing a medical examination."

Luiz joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2011 for a fee of £21.3 million and has gone on to win the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

However, Luiz has failed to become a regular under Mourinho and becomes another high-profile departure from west London, following Juan Mata who left for Manchester United in January for £37.1m.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are set to spend heavily this summer with Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa their top target, with the Blues having already agreed a £35m deal for the Spaniard.

Laurent Blanc's men had been expected to curb their spending after being sanctioned by Uefa for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.

PSG were fined €60m by the governing body and had their Champions League squad reduced to 21 players for next season.

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Real Madrid and Monaco lead race for Cole

Ashley Cole will consider lucrative offers from Monaco and Real Madrid this summer as he prepares to leave Chelsea after eight years.

Cole has already received approaches from eight other clubs, from the Premier League and overseas, and Monaco are set to compete with Real Madrid in a wages war to secure the former England international on a free transfer.

The 33-year-old has not completely dismissed the prospect of staying at Chelsea, with his contract expiring at Stamford Bridge at the end of next month, though the chances of him staying are thought to be remote.

Chelsea are offering only a 12-month deal on reduced terms so it seems more likely that Cole will pursue one final move before bringing down the curtain on his career, with Monaco understood to be keen on offering him a fresh start in France.

The super-rich Ligue 1 club, who are searching for a new head coach after former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri’s departure on Tuesday, are interested in Cole and will offer a mammoth tax-free salary. Backed by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, Monaco could conceivably offer even better wages than Madrid.

Liverpool and Manchester City have also made tentative inquiries about the defender while Inter Milan could also come into the equation.

Cole has gone away on holiday in California to decide his next move but has made it clear that playing in the Major League Soccer in America is not an option.

He is still convinced he can perform at the highest level and the chase to sign the free agent is likely to intensify over this summer.

Last season proved frustrating for Cole, after losing his place to Cesar Azpilicueta and making only 15 Premier League starts under Jose Mourinho, but he will be highly sought after and could seek a two-year deal.

He tweeted: “Now I’ll be looking for another journey in my life. I hope it can be like my others, full of fun and of course win something.

“I am weighing up my options for playing next season with my agent. Sadly, it does not look like Chelsea will be one of them.” Cole announced his retirement from international football last week after he was told he would not be included in Roy Hodgson’s squad for the World Cup.

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Ibrahimovic ruled out for four weeks

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out of action for four weeks, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi has announced.

The forward pulled up in the 68th minute of his side's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Chelsea on Wednesday and was forced to be substituted, with test later confirming a hamstring problem.

PSG have now revealed the Sweden international will miss the second leg against the Blues as he will likely be sidelined for a month, with scans expected to confirm the severity of the injury tomorrow.

"It's an MRI [scan] at this time," Nasser Al Khelaifi told RMC. "We will have the result within half an hour, an hour.

"But he will need at least four weeks of rest. He won't play the next game against Chelsea."

As well as missing Tuesday's return leg at Stamford Bridge, the 32-year-old will also be unavailable for the Coupe de la Ligue final against Olympique Lyonnais on April 19.

Lucas Moura, who replaced Ibrahimovic against Chelsea, has been given a vote of confidence by Al Khelaifi, who has backed the Brazilian to step up in the Swede's absence.

"I think Zlatan is very important for the team, but Lucas is ready," he said.

Al Khelaifi went on to stress that Edinson Cavani will not leave the club this summer, despite the player hinting at a possible exit admid reported interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.

He added: "Cavani is very important for us, he is very professional, very generous on the field, he gives everything. I appreciate that.

"If he wants to change position, it is not his decision, it is that of the coach and he understands. He is a star of PSG. And of course he will stay with us next season."

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Falcao: Joining Mourinho at Chelsea not possible

Monaco striker Radamel Falcao says that it "does not seem possible" that he will ever get the chance to play under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

The Colombia international was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last summer but the forward insists that a transfer from Atletico Madrid to the Blues was never on the cards.

"Would I like to play with Mourinho? I’d never considered it," he told Sky Sport Italia. "As of today it doesn’t seem possible, as we are on two very different paths and I have a five-year contract with Monaco.

“But Mourinho is a coach with a fantastic career, the titles that he has won speak for him and nobody can deny his capabilities.

"He has a different style, people might not like him, but that makes him special and football enjoy his eccentricity.

"But there has been a lot of speculation around European clubs interested in me. I didn’t think too much about that, though. I try to concentrate on my objectives, training to achieve important results."

Falcao did admit, however, that he would like to ply his trade in Italy at some point in the future.

 “One day I’d like to play in Serie A. Where? I can’t say,” he stated.

“I loved Roberto Baggio, while of the current Italy squad I like Andrea Pirlo. Giuseppe Rossi is very talented and Francesco Totti ought to be called up for international duty."

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Juventus could go for Luis Suarez if Pogba departs

Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport reports the Serie A Champions Juventus will target the likes of Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema or Diego Costa, should they lose star midfielder Paul Pogba.

Juventus like any other top clubs have no intentions of selling their star midfielder Pogba, but they would be helpless, if mega-rich clubs like PSG puts a handsome offer on the table. The Bianconeri are not only hoping to keep the 20-year-old with them, as he has established as one of the best young midfielders in the world at the moment, but the Italian giants are also planning a contract extension as well.

Gazzetta reports that Juventus director Beppe Marotta is not only planning to extend the contract of Pogba and Pirlo, but is also plotting a counter-plan, should the Frenchman leave the club.

In that case, the club will make heavy investment in the strike department. They want another world class striker like Carlos Tevez and have lined up few options – top of that list is Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

Reds fans will remember that Juventus have been monitoring Suarez for couple of years now and even tried to lure him in the past, but with no effect. But, Juventus fear that Suarez could cost around 85m Euros, as he has recently signed a new long-term contract, while meeting his weekly wages could be a hindrance as well.

Alternatively, they have lined up Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa and Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic, should they fail to lure Suarez from Merseyside.

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Hazard: ‘I will definitely join PSG next summer’

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has reportedly revealed that he is to leave Chelsea next summer and join up with PSG in what will be a sensational return to Ligue 1.

The young Belgian has been linked with a move to the mega-bucks French champions for a few weeks now, and now according to the sources of French newspaper ‘Le Parisien’, Hazard has told one of his Chelsea teammates the news of his impending departure.

The French report quotes Hazard as telling an unnamed colleague, “I will definitely join Paris next summer”.

PSG are looking to bring in further attacking options in the midfield, and are reportedly also interested in Hazard’s teammate Juan Mata.

The French champions are said to want a ‘third striker’ to sit behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani in a more creative role, and Hazard would fit the bill.

But ‘Le Parisien’ admit that Hazard is still content in West London, and that PSG are still far from agreeing a deal.

Soccerlens had dismissed rumours of Hazard leaving in yesterday’s ‘Transfer Lens’, as Chelsea would surely not be willing to part with their best attacking outlet, and one of Mourinho’s favored few at Stamford Bridge.

With very little to go on, this report must be taken with a pinch of salt for now. Hazard seems happy in West London, despite the ‘quote’, and as we mentioned yesterday, why would Chelsea sell their star player?

What do you think? Is there any truth to these rumours? Let US know in the comments below…

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Arsenal & United race French for £37.5m midfielder

Arsenal are favourites to sign Schalke 04 midfielder Julian Draxler but will face competition from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in France.

Draxler, one of the most highly coveted young talents in Europe, is also believed to have attracted interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.

But the influence of Arsenal's German contingent and the club's current standing as
Premier League leaders leaves the Gunners in pole position ahead of their English rivals.
However, PSG also have a long-standing interest in Draxler, having first targeted the player earlier this campaign.

French publication Le 10 Sport reports that Draxler remains a priority as club management weigh up recruitment options in the January transfer window.

Draxler's contract with Schalke is understood to have a buy-out clause of £37.5 million that can be activated at the end of this season.

The 20-year-old has made 14 Bundesliga appearances this term, scoring once and providing five assists.

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Monaco could look to beat Liverpool to the signing of Valbuena

The 29-year-old has been with Marseille since 2006 and has often been linked with moves to bigger clubs, with Arsenal known to be another Premier League club keen on his talents.

However, Liverpool's search for a creative midfield player has seen them step up their interest of late, though they may now miss out on their target as big-spending Monaco are also looking at him.

Claudio Ranieri's side have made several big-name signings in recent history, bringing the likes of Radamel Falcao and Joao Moutinho to the club this summer, and with further spending looking likely.

It remains to be seen if Valbuena would favour a move abroad for a new challenge, or if the money on offer at Monaco could sway his decision.

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Ibrahimovic: Santa Claus should win the Ballon d'Or

Paris Saint Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he hopes Santa Claus wins the Ballon d'Or rather than the three high-profile contenders for the prize.

The Sweden international was touted as a potential winner of the prize himself before Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery were named on a three-man shortlist for the award, which will be presented to the winner on January 13.

Speaking to the press in Doha, Ibrahimovic joked: “The Ballon d’Or? For me, the three deserve to win it, but the one who must have it is Santa Claus.”

Ibrahimovic will come up against Ronaldo on Thursday as Paris Saint-Germain play Real Madrid in a exhibition match in Qatar and the 32-year-old spoke about his plans for the future with les Parisiens.

He said: “Yes, it’s an option for me to finish in Paris and we’ll see what happens in the future.

“I’m never fully satisfied. The team progresses, the club has made a leap in a short time, but we must continue to work. We have great qualities and I am optimistic for the future,” he added.

Thursday’s friendly will see Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti face his former club, but the Swede said he was looking forward to seeing his old coach.

“We’ll see Carlo Ancelotti, who was at the initiative of the new Parisian project and he left his mark. He pulled the group and the club up. He is a great coach, and I was happy to work with him at Paris and I wish him the best in Madrid.”

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Falcao: Ronaldo better than Messi

Monaco striker Radamel Falcao believes that Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo is a better player than Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The Colombia international is a huge admirer of both players, having played alongside them in La Liga for two years before leaving Atletico Madrid for Monaco during the summer.

However, as far as Falcao is concerned, the Portugal international is the slightly superior talent.

"Messi and Cristiano are the two most important players in the world today but, for me, Ronaldo is the best," the 27-year-old striker told El Tiempo.

Falcao only returned to the Monaco line-up just before the winter break after a spell on the sidelines with an injury that some reports suggested was merely a convenient way of covering up an alleged falling-out with coach Claudio Ranieri.

However, the former Porto forward insists that there was no truth in the rumours that he had been dropped and was trying to force through a move away from the Stade Louis II.

"I had a physical problem and it was not convenient to play," he stated. "It was risky. It was not a serious injury, but it could have turned into something worse."

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Valdes to play in England or France next year

Valdes has choice of Monaco or Man City

Victor Valdes will join either Monaco or Manchester City when his Barcelona contract expires in the summer. The presence of Joe Hart at the Etihad means the Ligue 1 side are currently favourites.

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Thiago Silva: I want to win World Cup and Ballon d'Or

Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva says he dreams of emulating Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro by winning the World Cup and Ballon d'Or in the same year.

The former Juventus centre-back, Cannavaro, was the last defender to win the prestigious individual trophy after guiding Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, and Silva hopes to achieve a similar feat next year with Brazil.

"If we become world champions it may open the door to the Fifa Ballon d'Or, although I think it would be difficult," the PSG defender told the official Fifa website.

"Every 10 years a centre-back may win it once. You never know what tomorrow brings, but I realise it’s very tough.

"What I’m thinking about is playing well to provide my team with a solid foundation to win games. What I’m thinking about is winning the World Cup. If this puts me among the best again, I’ll be very happy."

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Ranieri puts pressure on PSG

Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri has piled the pressure on Paris Saint-Germain by claiming there is more expectancy on les Parisiens ahead of this weekend's clash between the two sides.

Ranieri's men have made an unbeaten start to the campaign and sit top of Ligue 1 having won four of their five opening matches, but face their sternest test yet when they travel to the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

The newly-promoted club spent heavily during the close-season and the arrival of Falcao, Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez have raised expectations of a title challenge.

However, Ranieri has sought to take the pressure off his side by claiming PSG - who are also undefeated, but sit two points behind his men in the table - need a victory more than Monaco.

"Winning the game is more important for PSG than for us," the 61-year-old said. "The players are very motivated for this game, for us it will be a good test.

"I do not think PSG will suffer after their match in the Uefa Champions League, this is only the beginning of the season."

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Europe’s top five league summer spendings

La Liga can be considered to be one of the winners of the summer transfer window as the only of the top-five leagues to record a significant profit ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

Despite Real Madrid signing of Bale with a cost of 100mln or Barca buying Neymar for 57mln , LA LIGA still have a positive balance.

Meanwhile Premier league has recorded a huge loose , by 150mln.

SOME STATS :

League	Revenue	Expenditure	Total
	La Liga	€492.6m	€390m	€102.6m
	Serie A	€412.8m	€409.7m	€3.1m
	Bundesliga	€204.6m	€263.3m	€-58.7m
	Ligue 1	€229.1m	€378.9m	€-149.8m
	Premier League	€275.4m	€762.7m	€-487.3m

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Liverpool, €17m for Sakho

The English club has reached and agreement with the champions of France, to sign the french defender , Mamadou Sakho.

The Reds will pay the Ligue 1 champions a €17 million fee for the 23-year-old defender, a defender who have played 150 times with the French team , and not scoring atleast once.

He will be fightin for a place in the starting XI at Liverpool , against  Daniel Agger and Kolo Toure , but he looks quite favourite of having a starting place at the englisht team.

Paris Saint-Germain accept the Premier League side's offer, with the Reds also closing in on Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori as they look to bolster their defensive options

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One more year at Lyon

Clement Grenier has revealed he is happy to remain at Lyon, despite the club's Champions League exit.

Lyon entered the Europa League after the 4-0 loose on aggregate against Real Sociedad at playoff stage.

The 22-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Premier League outfit Arsenal earlier in the summer but, with days to go in the transfer window, Grenier - whose contract expires in 2016 - has ruled out a last-minute departure from French recordmens.

"There is no question to ask. I will stay at least one more season , I'm happy here" - he said for the press.

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