Roma table late bid for Arsenal star Wilshere

Roma have reportedly made a late bid to sign Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere on a season long-loan deal according to Sky Sports.

The England international is understood to have choice between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth as his destination on a season-long loan.

Reports in Italy are reporting that the 27-year old star wants to move to Roma and that the two clubs are trying to agree a deal on his wages.

It is understood Wilshere and his representatives met Palace boss Alan Pardew on Tuesday afternoon and Cherries manager Eddie Howe in the evening.

Both those meetings were in London and Wilshere told Pardew and Howe he would inform the respective clubs of his decision on Wednesday morning.

But Italian giants Roma have now joined the race – making a “significant effort”, according to Sky sources – to sign the England man, with Wilshere now having the option of a glamorous move abroad to consider too.

The combative midfielder agreed with the Gunners last week that he would go out to get regular games following a series of injuries and having made just one Premier League start last season.

Man United stops Inter Darmian pursuit

Manchester United have rejected an offer from Inter Milan to sign defender Matteo Darmian on loan, reports the Daily Mail.
The Italy right-back is yet to feature for United this season and there are doubts over his future under Jose Mourinho, as he appears to have lost his place to Antonio Valencia.
The 26-year old joined last summer from Torino for a fee believed to be in the region of £12.7m, and had a bright start to life at Old Trafford under former manager Louis van Gaal, but suffered with injuries afterwards and never quite looked like the player he was when he initially joined.
Along with Valencia, he is also battling with youngster Timothy Fosu-Mensah for the right-back role, but his versatility could however be his greatest advantage as he can also play at left-back, central defence and in midfield.
Darmian began his career at Inter’s city rivals AC Milan – playing for them over three seasons – before spells at Padova, Palermo and Torino.
New Inter boss Frank De Boer reportedly held a meeting with the club’s finance chief Giovanni Gardini, and sporting director Piero Ausilio, to put plans in place for the final throes of the transfer window.
It however appears they will be looking for a cheaper solution to strengthen their defence – due to issues with Financial Fair Play – with Darmian a key target.
Inter have already been forced to give up on moves for Zenit Saint Petersburg defenders Domenico Criscito and Ezequiel Garay, with the latter set to join Valencia, while the potential transfer of Juventus right back Stephan Lichtsteiner is proving tricky.

Rohr to lead Eagles against Akwa United today

The Super Eagles of Nigeria under the tutelage of new German Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr will take on Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Akwa United in a friendly today.

The match will be played inside the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium as the three-time African Champions prepare for the final match of their 2017 AFCON qualifier against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania.

The game is scheduled for 5pm and the full complement of the 23 invited players are in camp including Manchester City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho who missed his club’s last game against West Ham United due to injury.

Captain Mikel Obi breezed in yesterday alongside Chelsea teammate Victor Moses who scored for the Blues in the 3-1 home win over Burnley and they are expected to be joined in attack by Watford’s super star Odion Ighalo.

Rohr has also arrived in Uyo alongside his assistants Everson Ferreira, Jean-Luc Royer, Nabil Trabelsi and will be joined by the Nigerian duo of Alloy Agu and Salisu Yusuff for his first game in charge of the Super Eagles although it’s an unofficial match.

FULL LIST OF PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Imoh Ezekiel (Al-Arabi Sporting Club, Qatar), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany)

Official| Joe Hart completes Torino move

Joe Hart has completed a season-long loan move to Serie A side, Torino from Manchester City.

The England number one was forced to find another club after he lost his place to Willy Caballero at the start of the season.

The bad case for Hart was worsened as new coach Pep Guardiola also opted to sign Claudio Bravo from Barcelona effectively relegating the England international to third choice.

Having tied all the loose ends, Hart told Torino’s website, he is ready for the new challenge : “Suddenly, my career has taken an important turn…Torino’s offer came in the right moment, in the right manner. I am very excited to test myself in an important and beautiful league such as Serie A. He said.

“The history of goalkeepers in Italy is known everywhere. I am sure I will learn in Torino, too. For this reason I accepted President Cairo’s proposal.

“I have read an interview about ‘Toro’: the coach wants humility and ambition. I like that. That’s how I want to be.” Hart concluded

A statement on the City website read: “A popular, well-liked figure in the dressing room and a fans’ favourite thanks to his articulate, straight-talking candour in interviews, Hart now joins Turin-based Serie A outfit Torino for the remainder of the current campaign

“From everyone at the club, good luck and thank you, Joe!”

Bony frees space for Iheanacho with Stoke move

Wilfried Bony has ‘freed space’ for Kelechi Iheanacho at Manchester City having agreed to a season-long loan move to Stoke City on transfer deadline day.

Iheanacho is seen to be ahead of Bony on the strikers’ pecking order at the Etihad and the Ivorian who is keen for more playing time as opted for a move to try his luck with Coach Mark Hughes’ side.

Hughes told the club website: “Bringing Wilfried in was a no-brainer for us to be perfectly honest, because he knows the Premier League and has scored plenty of goals at this level.

“He has power, speed and very good physical attributes which will undoubtedly help us, and his technical and finishing skills are outstanding too.

“Eighteen months ago he was being bought for a hugely significant amount of money, so we know that we are bringing in a top quality striker.”

“Everybody is aware of Wilfried and what he is capable of, and it was no surprise that one of the bigger clubs came in for him on the back of his performances for Swansea – the only surprise has been that he didn’t enjoy the success with Manchester City that we all thought he would