Arsenal Star Set For Exit in January

Arsenal have yet to sign any player in the winter transfer window, though manager Arsene Wenger has insisted that the squad may require reinforcement, especially in the strike department.

The Gunners are top of the league at the moment and there is a genuine hope that they can go all the way to seal the Premier League title. The squad seems a happy bunch, while Wenger has spoken about the need to solve the contract problems of few players as well.

However, the case of Thomas Vermaelen is intricate. The Arsenal skipper has dropped down the pecking order at the club behind Per Mertesacker and Koscielny, and in order to boost his World Cup chances, he needs regular games under his belt regularly.

Wenger understands that too, but he simply cannot break the defensive partnership, under any normal circumstances to incorporate him in the starting line-up. Also, Vermaelen is too good a player to warm the bench week-in-week out, although he is injured at the moment.

According to reports in Italy, Napoli are targeting to land the frustrated Belgian in the January transfer window.

Napoli boss Rafael Benitez is keen to find a solution to the fragile defence and have targeted Vermaelen as the right man to do the job for him.

Il Mattino reports that Vermaelen has agreed in principle to join the Naples club, but the two clubs are yet to come to an agreement on the fees. Also, Napoli are quite short of Arsenal’s valuation for the defender.

Napoli have already put in a bid for the defender, which was rejected but sporting director Riccardo Bigon is looking to follow up with a better bid.

The ideal situation for Vermaelen would be to go out on loan for the rest of the season, with Napoli given the option to sign him permanently next summer.

Should Arsenal allow Vermaelen to join Napoli? 

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Napoli to rival Man Utd for midfielder

Napoli manager Rafael Benitez looks set to rival Manchester United for Valencia midfielder Ever Banega.

Reports in both the Italian and Spanish press have linked the Serie A side, under the former Liverpool boss, with potentially making a move for the 25-year-old Argentina international.

The playmaker has been with the Spanish side since 2008 where he has played 133 games for the Primera Division side. Manchester United have already been linked with being interested in Banega as well as Tottenham Hotspur. Should Napoli now also join the race a bidding war is very likely to break out.

Banega, who is currently valued at around £16 million, is under contract to Valencia until June 2015 but with all the interest at the moment it would seem that he would leave the club before that expires.

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Napoli confirm interest in Nainggolan

Serie A giants Napoli have added fuel to speculations linking them with a January move for Cagliari star Radja Nainggolan.

It is no secret the Azzurri are looking to sign a quality midfielder this month, with Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons their number one target.

However, it appears they are also keen on Cagliari hotshot Radja Nainggolan, as witnessed by the latest comments of sporting director Riccardo Bigon.

“Nainggolan? There is nothing special except the interest in a player who is not the only footballer on our wish list,” Bigon explained to Sky Sport Italia.

“He may have the right features for us, we play with two central midfielders and he could adapt. He has the quality to cover different roles on the pitch.”

Top Serie A sides have been vying for Nainggolan ever since Cagliari chairman Massimo Celino revealed that the player would be sold this winter.

Local rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan are also believed to be keen, with reigning champions Juventus also in the mix.

Radja Nainggolan, 25, has spent last four years at Cagliari having joined from Piacenza, making 131 Serie A appearances for Isolani and scoring 7 goals.

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Man Utd tracking Napoli midfielder Gokhan Inler

Napoli midfielder Gokhan Inler is reportedly on Manchester United's radar.

Inler was linked with United, as well as rivals Manchester City, before he joined Napoli from Udinese in 2011, while more recently, Arsenal have been linked with the 29-year-old.

Just last month, Inler refused to be drawn on speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal during this month's transfer window, but according to TuttoMercatoWeb, United boss David Moyes is showing interest in the Switzerland international.

Moyes is widely expected to bring in at least one midfielder before the end of the month.

Speaking before Christmas, Inler had said of a move: "The transfer market? You will have to ask my agent, I do not pay attention to these things.

"I’m completely focused on my duties as a player."

Inler is under contract at Napoli until 2016.

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Chelsea’s €60m Higuain bid rejected

Chelsea have had a £50 million bid for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuaín rejected as Jose Mourinho tries to add some much-needed firepower to his attack.

Napoli have not given any encouragement to Chelsea in their efforts to land Higuaín and insist the Argentine, who played under Mourinho at Real Madrid, is not for sale.

Higuaín has scored nine goals in 16 league games since moving from Spain to Italy in the summer.

That may not deter Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who agrees the lack of goals from strikers is the major weakness in the side.

He is willing to back Mourinho in the transfer market, even though the club posted losses of almost £50 million last season.

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De Laurentiis: Napoli are the envy of Italy

Aurelio De Laurentiis says he is confident that 2014 will herald the dawn of a successful new age for Napoli.

The outspoken president used his annual end of year address to compliment the work of coach Rafa Benitez, and claim that the rest of Serie A are envious of the way the San Paolo club are ran.

The Naples outfit underwent a seismic summer overhaul after losing long-standing coach Walter Mazzarri and star striker Edinson Cavani, but have rallied to lie third in the Serie A table heading into the winter break.

And De Laurentiis says he can only see things getting better into the New Year.

“We have to be pleased with what 2013 brought. The fans want to win and that is all, but we must remember that we started out as a club built from nothing," the 64-year-old told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“Italian clubs struggle to compete with the revenue of Europe’s giants. We followed Financial Fair Play rules and were able to achieve as much as other clubs without wasting millions. We have less than half the turnover of Juventus.

“I send a message to those know-it-alls who tell us to buy him or him: I am proud of the Napoli players who are envied by everyone."

And De Laurentiis also insisted that Benitez is the right man to lead Napoli forward.

"We wanted an international choice and a coach capable of giving our football an identity like the most important clubs in the world, with a complex 4-2-3-1 system," he continued.

"Our objective is to keep reinforcing Napoli via Benitez and give him time to reap what he sows. No offence, but I don’t see other more prestigious clubs doing that well.”

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Caceres ready to rebuff Roma and Napoli

Martin Caceres has no desire to leave Juventus despite interest from Roma and Napoli, the defender's agent has confirmed.

Caceres, 26, joined Juventus from Sevilla in July 2012 but has made just seven appearances in all competitions for Antonio Conte's men this season.

The Uruguay international is thought to be considering his future in Turin ahead of the 2014 World Cup, but representative Daniel Fonseca insisted Caceres is not interested in a move in January.

"Roma, Napoli and other big clubs asked about Caceres," Fonseca told Tuttosport.

"However, Martin is in love with Juventus and wants to remain in Turin.

"Of course I expected him to play more, because he is a very strong defender, but it’s only normal at a big club like Juve to have a large squad full of quality."

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Mascherano on Napoli wishlist

Napoli are set to dip back into the transfer market in January to aid their bid for the Serie A title, with Erik Lamela and Javier Mascherano top of their shopping list.

The Partenopei made the headlines throughout the summer with their spending spree, which saw them snap up the likes of Gonzalo Higauin and Jose Callejon.

And club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is determined to help the San Paolo outfit continue their growth by spending big in January.

Mascherano has been a regular at Barcelona this season but it is understood that he would seriously consider an offer from the Serie A giants.

Lamela, meanwhile, is De Laurentiis' dream, but the film tycoon is yet to contact either his entourage or Tottenham over a potential move.

Two other likely January signings are Luca Antonelli from Genoa, who will provide greater competition at left-back, and Marco Borriello from Roma to become Higuain's back-up.

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Wenger : Our morale is still high

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his side will not be lacking in confidence for Monday's big game against Chelsea at the Emirates (Sky Sports 1, 8.00pm).

The Gunners remain top of the table but their lead is down to two points, following last Saturday's 6-3 hammering at Manchester City.

That defeat followed a 2-0 Champions League loss at Napoli, although that was not enough to prevent Arsenal from reaching the knock-out stages.

Wenger said: "They (recent results) have been disappointing for us but I don't think they have affected the morale.

"We have made good results until now because we have a good solidarity level and a good togetherness in the squad, and I don't see any sign of that dropping.

"I think even more that the players are focused to respond on Monday night.

"It can happen in a season when sometimes you have a bit of a weaker period. How you respond to this kind of problem is what matters."

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Benitez 'proud' despite Champions League exit

Rafa Benitez insists he remains proud of his players, even though they failed to advance into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Partenopei defeated Arsenal 2-0 in their final Group F fixture but despite finishing level on points with both Borussia Dortmund and the Gunners, they became the first team in the history of the tournament to bow out having amassed 12 points.

Consequently, Benitez says his side have no reason to feel ashamed of their early elimination from Europe's premier club cup competition.

"We picked up 12 points, beat Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund but still didn't qualify," the 53-year-old told Sky Sports.

"But everyone should be proud of these guys, we have put in a tremendous effort.

"Today we have seen on the pitch that there is a project going on here, and this team is growing."

The Spaniard also said he would be keen to see some new faces arrive during the January transfer window.

"We want to strengthen over time, so we will be looking at players of a particular age and ability that fit in with what we are trying to create," the former Liverpool boss explained.

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Benitez : Wenger is the best manager of Premier League

Arsenal have the best coach in the Premier League in Arsene Wenger, says Napoli boss Rafa Benitez.

The Gunners face the Partenopei in a crucial Champions League showdown on Wednesday and the former Chelsea boss has been impressed with the north Londoners' form this season.

The Spaniard feels that Arsenal are in with a great chance of lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time in 10 years but is still hopeful of leading Napoli to victory in a match that they must win by three clear goals in order to guarantee qualification for the last 16.

"This could be the year they win the league," Benitez told reporters. "For me Wenger is the best coach in the Premier League and knows what his team must do.

"Arsenal will try to control possession and hit us with counterattacks. We have to do our thing, focus on ourselves and not on them.

"In modern football everyone knows the quality of their rivals. Arsenal is a very strong side, we know, but we will try. My team have to give 100 per cent.

"My players know how important this game is and they have all trained really well. We have nothing to lose.

"For us, to play at home gives us an added strength. We were unlucky to be placed in such a difficult group but, for me, it's better to experience these games rather than watch them on TV."

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Pandev: Napoli gunning for revenge against Arsenal

Napoli attacker Goran Pandev is desperate to beat Arsenal in Wednesday's Champions League encounter at the San Paolo and reach the knockout stages at the expense of the Premier League leaders.

The Serie A side lost 2-0 in the reverse fixture and need a win by at least three goals in order to be guaranteed Champions League football after Christmas.

Pandev knows that Rafael Benitez's men face a tough task but says that Napoli are desperate to make amends for their defeat at the Emirates.

"Arsenal won the game in London, so let's make sure we win this one," the 30-year-old forward said at a press conference.

"It's a strange situation where we could go out with 12 points, but that's the way it is. We will have to try and overcome this and show Napoli are a great club.

"Arsenal are a great team and sit atop of the Premier League for a reason.

"We all know how strong they are. It would obviously be great if we could score an early goal, but the final result is all that matters. We cannot afford to just charge forward and try and rush things."

Pandev has been in sublime form for Napoli so far this term, scoring six goals in 13 Serie A appearances.

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Wenger: Signing Ozil made up for missing out on Higuain

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that the signing of Mesut Ozil has more than made up for the disappointment of missing out on Gonzalo Higuain.

The Frenchman spent the early part of the summer attempting to secure the services of 'El Pipita', who has scored 10 goals in 18 appearances for new club Napoli, but, after failing to meet Real Madrid's valuation of the Argentina international, eventually lured Ozil away from the Santiago Bernabeu instead.

The former Blancos team-mates will face-off on Wednesday in Italy, with both sides looking to progress to the last 16 at the expense of the other but, whatever the outcome, Wenger is adamant that he has no regrets over missing out on Higuain.

"Am I happy with the player I got in Ozil? Very much," he told reporters. "There were a lot of statements that were not true about Higuain.

"He has joined [Rafa] Benitez. He is in good hands and shows he is a great striker [but] we have Olivier Giroud who shows as well that he is a great striker."

Despite recording four victories from their five games, Arsenal still have work to do in order to ensure qualification.

However, the Premier League leaders need only to avoid defeat by a three-goal margin to progress and a point would ensure top spot in a group that also includes last year's runners-up, Borussia Dortmund.

Wenger added: "Our priorities are simple: First, qualify, if possible top [of the group]. For me, the first priority is to qualify. If we finish top, it is even better."

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Higuain: I want to make history at Napoli

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain is aiming to “make history” with his new club following his good form since his big-money move from Real Madrid in July.

The Argentine striker was signed for a fee of €37 million to replace Paris Saint-Germain-bound Edinson Cavani and has hit the ground running at San Paolo, with eight goals in his first 14 games for the club.

And with Napoli only four points off Serie A leaders Roma in third and in contention to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League, Higuain believes that the time has come to get the Partenopei back to the top of the football landscape.

“I’m here to win and make history for the club,” he said at a press conference. “We are not yet top, but I’m sure that we will get there soon. I’ve come to Naples for the project.”

The 25-year-old also took time to praise coach Rafa Benitez and the Napoli fans, who he felt gave him the motivation to challenge for honours.

“The coach gives me confidence and I find it good to play on this team,” he continued.

“It’s [also] great to play for the fans, who live football. I’m very happy, and I have to think about doing as well as I did before to make our fans happy.”

Napoli host Parma on Saturday in the league, before traveling to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, where a point could see them qualify for the round of 16.

While Higuain understands that both games are crucial to the club’s push for silverware, he maintains his belief that he should take each fixture one game at a time.

“We think about Parma first, where we have to win to stay [in contention] for first place, then we will focus on the challenge of Dortmund, which is very important.

"It is true that the championship is long, but we need to win so that we go to Dortmund with hope.”

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HIGHLIGHTS : Napoli vs B.Dortmund

FT SSC Napoli 2 - 1 Borussia Dortmund half-time: (1 - 0) match details : 29' Gonzalo Higuain 1 - 0 67' Lorenzo Insigne 2 - 0 87' 2 - 1 (o.g.) Juan Camilo Zuniga

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Napoli vs Borussia Dortmund / LINE UPS

Napoli injuries and suspensions

Out: None

Borussia Dortmund injuries and suspensions

Out: Sebastian Kehl (foot), Łukasz Piszczek (hip), İlkay Gündoğan (back).

Projected lineups

Napoli: Pepe Reina, Christian Maggio, Paolo Cannavaro, Raúl Albiol, Juan Zúñiga, Valon Behrami, Gökhan Inler, Jose Callegon, Marek Hamsik, Lorenzo Insigne, Gonzalo Higuaín.

Dortmund: Roman Weidenfeller, Kevin Grosskreutz, Neven Subotic, Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer; Nuri Sahin, Sven Bender, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marco Reus, Robert Lewandowski.

Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Stadio San Paolo, Napoli, Italy

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Klopp : Napoli is like us

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has said that Napoli play a similar style of football to his team.

The Champions League finalists begin their campaign this term with a trip to the San Paolo and the 46-year-old is full of respect for their opponents.

"Napoli play a very lively kind of football, it's not too different from ours," Klopp told reporters.

"If you look at the players at Napoli, they have a very experienced defence while their attack stands for pace and technique.

"We do not fear them, but we know what we are dealing with and have a lot of respect."

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Has Nani signed a new deal with Manchester United?

Manchester United winger, Nani has signed a new contract with Manchester United, according to Giuseppe Marotta – the Juventus sporting director.


The winger, who made 10 appearances last season, scoring 2 goals with Manchester United, has been linked with various other teams, including Juventus, who have now said that they have stopped pursuing the striker as they believe he has signed a new club to keep him at Manchester United.


Nani also had interested from Galatasaray, Monaco and Roma over the summer break.

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