Chelsea ready to ramp up bid for Wigan's £10m-rated forward Moses

Chelsea are ready to improve upon their £3.5m offer for Wigan’s Victor Moses, who is rated at £10m by his club.
Chelsea saw their bid for Moses, 21, rejected earlier this month.
Latics boss Roberto Martinez wants to keep hold of his man but Moses' contract runs out next year and the player has expressed his desire to leave this summer.

Improved bid: Moses

With former club Crystal Palace due 20 per cent of any transfer fee, Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is playing hardball with Chelsea.

 

Whelan is arguing that Moses' potential and youth make him a more valuable asset than Charles N'Zogbia, who Wigan sold to Aston Villa last summer for £9.5m.
The Nigerian international netted six times for Wigan last season and is comfortable playing on either flank as well as off the main striker.

Aston Villa snap up right-back Lowton from Sheffield United for £3m

Aston Villa have signed highly-rated defender Matthew Lowton from League One club Sheffield United for a fee of £3million.
Lowton, who can play across the back line but is most comfortable at right-back, only signed a new deal at Bramall Lane last year.

Signing on: Lowton has joined Villa for £3million

 

The 23-year-old has been a regular at Sheffield United for the past two seasons and his move fuels speculation that Alan Hutton could be heading for the Villa Park exit door.
New Villa boss Paul Lambert has already moved quickly to strengthen his squad at Villa Park by bringing Karim El Ahmadi to the Premier League from Feyenoord.

The season starts here: Paul Lambert oversees a training session with Aston Villa

Manchester United continue their pursuit of Tottenham target Moutinho

Manchester United are continuing to monitor Porto midfielder and Tottenham target Joao Moutinho.
The Red Devils are understood to have opened talks with the Portuguese club over a deal for the attacking midfielder, who is rated in the £25million mark
After bringing Nick Powell and Shinji Kagawa to Old Trafford in the close season, Sir Alex Ferguson told MUTV earlier this week that he hopes to add two more faces - with Moutinho widely rumoured to be a top target.

In demand: United want Moutinho

'We're working on one or two things but there's nothing really to tell you to be honest.

 

'We always try to get our work done at the end of the season – we spent a good deal of time sorting the deal with Shinji and we'd agreed a deal with Nick Powell before the play-offs which was a good move by us because the boy had an outstanding final at Wembley.
'When you don't get deals done immediately and you're negotiating with a club over a long period, then you can't expect to just snap your fingers and get it done,' he said.

Arsenal forced to look at Lewandowski and Jovetic in hunt to replace skipper Van Persie

Arsenal’s scouting team will hold a meeting at the club’s London Colney HQ at the start of next week to discuss the prospect of replacing wantaway skipper Robin van Persie.Sportsmail understands Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic and Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski were both watched by the scouts last season and will be on the agenda.
Van Persie is keen to have his exit finalised by the time the club’s Asia tour kicks off on July 24. It is understood that he would rather not be included in the squad that flies to Malaysia as it would delay his pending move.

Can they replace RVP? Stevan Jovetic (left) and Robert Lewandowski (right)

But manager Arsene Wenger is unlikely to take a lenient view on him missing the trip.

 

Wenger has not given up hope of persuading Van Persie to change his mind and is planning a heart-to-heart meeting with the striker when he reports for  pre-season training in around 10 days.
But there is a feeling at the Emirates Stadium that Van Persie’s position is untenable after he admitted he does not agree with the club’s direction.

I'm off: Robin van Persie announced he will not be signing a new contract

As Sportsmail revealed, both Manchester clubs will battle it out for Van Persie’s signature in the coming weeks.
City would prefer to off-load one of their strikers before committing to a move for the 28-year-old — but with talks over Emmanuel Adebayor’s permanent move to Tottenham progressing well, that problem could soon be solved.
Juventus remain in the running to sign Van Persie despite holding talks with Napoli forward Edinson Cavani and remain confident of luring the Holland striker to Italy.

Hitting out: Russian-based billionaire and Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov

On Thursday, Arsenal's turbulent week descended into civil war after the club’s second biggest shareholder launched a withering attack on primary owner Stan Kroenke.
Less than 24 hours after Van Persie revealed his intention to leave the Gunners with a statement questioning the club’s ambition, Alisher Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri — who own close to 30 per cent of Arsenal shares through investment vehicle Red and White Holdings — criticised the Kroenke regime.

WHAT USMANOV SAID...

In a strongly worded five-page open letter addressed to the Arsenal board, Usmanov and Moshiri claim what they view as Kroenke’s lack of investment has led to:

* the loss of the club’s best players
* Arsenal signing second-rate stars
* the club no longer being able to  challenge for trophies

Under pressure: Usmanov's attack has turned up the heat on Stan Kroenke

An extract from the letter read: ‘As a consequence of this (Mr Kroenke’s) policy, which is dressed up as prudent financial planning, it is down to our manager, and not our shareholders, to have to deal with the club’s tight finances, carry the burden of repaying the stadium debt by selling his best players and having to continue to find cheaper replacements.

ARSENAL SHAREHOLDERS

• Kroenke Sports Enterprises UK Ltd - 41,581 shares = 66.83 per cent
• Red and White Securities Ltd (Alisher Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri)
  18,495 shares = 29.72 per cent
• Other shareholders = 3.45 per cent

‘This policy is leading to the loss of our best players, often to our main competitors, and even causes the players themselves to question their future at the club and the club’s ambitions.’
The letter continued: ‘It appears a place in the Champions League will be the pinnacle of our ambition again next season.’
Usmanov and Moshiri’s attack plunges the club into further controversy after Van Persie confirmed he would not be signing a new contract.
While Red and White Holdings have no major influence at the club due to the fact they have not been granted a place on the Arsenal board, the letter turns up the heat on Kroenke and the club’s hierarchy as the prospect of another summer of losing their prized asset looms.

Emirates exit? Winger Theo Walcott (right) could be the next to leave

Meanwhile, Theo Walcott could become the next big-name player to depart.
Like Van Persie, the England forward is in the final 12 months of his contract but the club have yet to call him in for talks over a new deal.
Chelsea are monitoring the 23-year-old’s situation.

What the back pages say: Murray ready to end hoodoo and reach Wimbledon final

DAILY MAIL

Andy Murray last night declared himself in good shape to take the penultimate step towards ending a British title drought at Wimbledon that he considers 'a bit shocking'.
Also: Usain Bolt has flown to see his German doctor three weeks before the start of the Olympics with what Sportsmail understands is a back injury.

THE SUN

Arsenal want to report Manchester City for allegedly 'tapping up' star Robin van Persie. Also: Theo Walcott is ready to follow Robin van Persie out of the Arsenal exit door.
Also: Andy Murray plans to KO Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and 74 years of hurt with one devastating Centre Court blow today.

DAILY MIRROR

Arsenal's two major shareholders were engaged in open war last night, with Robin van Persie the catalyst for hostilities.
Also: Andy Murray is ready to smash the 'shocking' hoodoo that has stopped British men reaching the Wimbledon final for the past 74 years.

DAILY EXPRESS

The burning memory of his worst Grand Slam defeat will fuel Andy Murray's historic charge to the final today.
Also: Serena Williams fired her way into her seventh Wimbledon singles final yesterday with an awesome display.

DAILY STAR

Fired-up Andy Murray goes into his fourth Wimbledon semi-final today believing his time has finally come.
Also: David Silva is set to snub Real Madrid and sign a new £52m contract with Manchester City.
Also: Goal-line technology could be used in the Premier League this coming season after football's lawmakers gave it the green light.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Britain expects. And why not after the form Andy Murray has produced on his way to the last four?
Also: The splits at the top of Arsenal deepened yesterday after Alisher Usmanov, the second largest shareholder, joined Robin van Persie in launching a public attack on the club's strategy.

THE TIMES

A 'very selfish' Andy Murray steps out on to Centre Court today thinking of himself first, the nation second and the history books a distant third.
Also: Manchester United have tabled a formal offer, believed to be about £20million, for Joao Moutinho, the Portugal midfield player.

THE GUARDIAN

The war of words between Lance Armstrong and the US Anti-Doping Agency intensified after the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf named five former team-mates of the Texan at the US Postal Service team as having given evidence to the anti-doping body.
Also: The morning after Arsenal's captain and outstanding player, Robin Van Persie, announced he will not renew his contract and criticised the club's strategy and ambition, the club's brooding, frustrated 30% owner Alisher Usmanov piled in.

THE INDEPENDENT

 It has been 74 years since a British man reached the Wimbledon final and 76 years since a British man lifted the ultimate prize, but Andy Murray will not let such thoughts cloud his mind as he prepares to face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals here this afternoon.
Also: Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, is privately confident that Manchester United do not pose a threat to him buying Robin van Persie.

Kick-off countdown: Our guide to all the Premier League pre-season fixtures

After the dust settles on Euro 2012, it's back to the domestic front for many of the Premier League's stars as they bid to get into perfect shape ahead of the 2012/13 campaign.
So whether your side is jetting off to the United States, or just racking up a cricket score against a local pub team - Sportsmail gives you the lowdown on all the pre-season fixtures for the country's top 20 outfits.

The American dream: Chelsea face Paris Saint-Germain in the very first football game to be played at the Yankee Stadium

All kick-off times BST

Arsenal

July 14 Southampton (St Mary's - Memorial Cup) 8pm (45 minutes), July 14 Anderlecht (St Mary's - Memorial Cup) 6.45pm (45 minutes) July 24 Malaysia XI (Kuala Lumpur) 1.45pm, July 27 Manchester City (National Stadium, Beijing - China Cup) 12pm, July 29 Kitchee (Hong Kong) 10am, August 5 Nigeria (Abuja Stadium, Abuja) 4pm, August 12 Cologne (Rhein Energie Stadion, Cologne) 5pm.

Aston Villa

July 14  Burton Albion (Pirelli Stadium) 3pm, July 18 Philadelphia Union (PPL Park, Chester) 12.30am, July 21 Chicago Fire (Toyota Park, Chicago) 1.30am, July 24 Portland Timbers (Jeld-Wen Field, Portland) 3.30am, August 1 Peterborough (London Road) 7.45pm,  August 4 Nottingham Forest (City Ground) 3pm, August 11 Werder Bremen (Weserstadion) 5pm.

Chelsea

July 18 Seattle Sounders (CenturyLink Field, Seattle) 9pm, July 22 Paris Saint-Germain (Yankee Stadium, New York) 12am, July 25 MLS All-Stars (PPL Park, Chester) 1.30am, July 28 AC Milan (Sun Life Stadium, Miami) 11pm, August 4 Brighton (Amex Stadium) 3pm.

Everton

July 14 Morecambe (Globe Arena) 2pm, July 18 Dundee United (Tannadice) 7.45pm, July 21 Motherwell (Fir Park) TBC, July 26 Galatasaray (Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta - Java Cup), July 29 Indonesia XI/Malaysia XI (Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta - Java Cup) TBC, August 5 Blackpool (Bloomfield Road) 3pm, August 8 AEK Athens (Goodison Park) TBC, August 11 Malaga (La Rosaleda, Malaga) TBC.

Fulham

July 28 Wycombe (Adams Park) 3pm, August 11 Charlton (Craven Cottage) 3pm.

Liverpool

July 21 Toronto (Rogers Centre, Toronto) 9pm, July 25 Roma (Fenway Park, Boston) 11.30pm, July 28 Tottenham (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore) 6pm, August 12 Bayer Leverkusen (Anfield) 3pm.

Manchester City

July 27 Arsenal (National Stadium, Beijing - China Cup) 1pm, July 30 Malaysia XI (National Stadium, Bukit Jalil) TBC.

Manchester United

July 18 AmaZulu (Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban) TBC, July 21 Ajax Cape Town (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) July 25 Shanghai Shenhua (Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai - China Cup) TBC, August 5 Valerenga (Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo) 7pm, August 8 Barcelona (Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg) TBC, August 11 Hannover (AWD Arena, Hannover) TBC

Newcastle

July 13 Chemnitzer (Stadion an der Gellertstrasse, Chemnitz) 7.30pm, July 16 Monaco (TBC, Landsberg am Lech) 8pm, July 27 Olympiakos (Algarve Stadium, Faro) 7.45pm, July 28 Porto (Algarve Stadium, Faro) 7.45pm)  August 11 Cardiff (Cardiff City Stadium) 3pm.

Norwich

July 21 Hertha Berlin (Solarstadion der stadt, Gleisdorf) 6pm, July 24 Celtic (Celtic Park) 7.45pm, July 28 Peterborough (London Road) 3pm, July 31 Ajax (Carrow Road) 7.45pm, August 3 MK Dons (Stadium MK) 7:45pm, August 7 Hull (KC Stadium) 7.45pm, August 11 Borussia Monchengladbach (Carrow Road) 3pm.

QPR

July 18 Sabah XI (Likas Stadium, Sabah) TBC, July 20 Kelantan (Shah Alam Stadium, Kuala Lumpur) TBC, July 23 Persebaya Surabaya (Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya) TBC.

Reading

July 14 AFC Wimbledon (Kingsmeadow) 3pm, July 21 Quarteirense (Quarteira Stadium, Vilamoura) 8pm, July 24 Sheffield Wednesday (Quarteira Stadium, Vilamoura) 8pm, July 27 Olhanense (Quarteira Stadium, Vilamoura) 8pm, August 4 Bournemouth (Steward Stadium) 3pm, August 7 Brighton Amex Stadium - Michel Kuipers’ testimonial) TBC August 11 Crystal Palace (Madejski Stadium) 3pm.

Southampton

July 14 Anderlecht (St Mary's - Memorial Cup) 5.15pm (45 minutes) July 14 Arsenal (St Mary's - Memorial Cup) 8pm (45 minutes), July 18 Etoile Carouge (Stade de la Fontenette, Carouge) 7pm, July 21 Evian (Stade Parc des Sports, Annency) July 28 Ajax (St Mary's) 3pm August 4 Wolves (St Mary's) August 7 Bristol City (Ashton Gate) 7.45pm, August 11 Udinese (St Mary's) 7pm.

Stoke

July 18 Sion (TBC, Montreux) 6pm, July 24 Columbus Crew (Crew Stadium, Columbus) 12.30am, July 28 Orlando City (Citrus Bowl, Orlando) 12.30am), August 1 Sporting Kansas City (Livestrong Sporting Park, Sporting) 1.30am, August 6 Torquay (Plainmoor) 7.45pm, August 7 Yeovil (Huish Park) 7.45pm, August 10 Greuther Furth (Trolli Arena)

Sunderland

July 19 Seongnam (Suwong Stadium, Suwong) (Peace Cup) TBC, July 22 Hamburg/Groningen (Peace Cup) TBC, July 27 Hartlepool (Victoria Park) 7.30pm, August 8 Derby County (Pride Park) 7.45pm, August 11 Leicester City (King Power Stadium) 3pm.

Swansea

July 21 Port Talbot (Genquip Stadium) TBC, July 24 Colorado Rapids (Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City), 2am, July 28 Ventura County Fusion (Oxnard College Stadium, Oxnard) 1am, July 31 San Jose Earthquakes (Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara) 3.30am.

Tottenham

July 18 Stevenage (Lamex Stadium) 7.45pm, July 24 LA Galaxy (The Home Depot Center, Carson) 3.30am, July 28 Liverpool (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore) 6pm July 31 New York Red Bulls (Red Bull Arena, Harrison) 12am August 9 Valencia (Estadio Mestalla, Valencia) 8pm

West Brom

July 19 Malmo (Swedbank Stadion) TBC, July 25 Copenhagen (Parken Stadium, Copenhagen) 6pm, July 28 Barnsley (Oakwell) 7.45pm, August 4 Sheffield Wednesday (Hillsborough) 3pm, August 7 Walsall (Bescot Stadium) 7.45pm, August 10 Nottingham Forest (City Ground) 7.45pm.

West Ham

July 7 Austria Vienna (Generali Arena, Prague) 4pm, July 10 Boreham Wood (Meadow Park) 7.30pm, July 14 Southend (Roots Hall) 3pm, July 17 Oxford United (Kassam Stadium) 7.45pm, July 21 Colchester (Weston Homes Community Stadium) 3pm, July 25 FC Rot-Wieb Erfurt (Steigerwaldstadion, Erfurt) 7pm, July 27 Dynamo Dresden (Glucksgas Stadion, Dresden) 7:30pm, July 29 Energie Cottbus (Stadion der Freundschaft, Cottbus) 2:30pm, August 4 Ipswich Town (Portman Road) 3pm.

Wigan

July 24 TBC (TBC, Linz) TBC, July 26 Botev Plovdiv (TBC, Linz) TBC, July 28 Hoffenheim (TBC, Linz) TBC

Guardiola 'heads for talks' over becoming the next Russia manager

Pep Guardiola is expected to arrive in Moscow on Friday amid claims that he has signed a preliminary agreement to become Russia's next manager.
Fabio Capello has already expressed his interest in replacing Dick Advocaat, and sources at the Russian FA's executive committee meeting on Wednesday claimed a contract had already been signed with a new coach.
Spartak Moscow owner and oil tycoon Leonid Fedun has already confirmed he is willing to help fund Guardiola's salary.

Holiday: Pep Guardiola quit Barcelona in May to take a break from football

The former Barcelona boss is at the beginning of a sabbatical, but Russia's most respected newspaper Sport-Express claims he will be in the Russian capital on Friday.
The post has proved flexible in the past, with Guus Hiddink allowed to spend much of his time abroad while manager of Russia.
Guardiola has long been linked with the Chelsea manager's job, with Blues owner Roman Abramovich a long-time admirer of the Spaniard.
But Abramovich handed Roberto Di Matteo a two-year deal to take the reins at Stamford Bridge following the club's Champions League triumph in Munich in May, ending talk of Guardiola considering an offer from Chelsea.

Transfer window: Club-by-club guide to all the Premier League deals

New man: Marko Marin poses with the Chelsea shirt

                                                                                                                                        

IN

Olivier Giroud (Montpellier, £13m), Lukas Podoloski (Cologne, £11m)

OUT

Joel Campbell (Real Betis, loan), Manuel Almunia (released), Gavin Hoyte (released)

Race for Van Persie hots up as Barcelona and Milan weigh up offer for Arsenal striker  

Barcelona and AC Milan are considering joining the race to sign Robin van Persie. 

 Manchester City and United both want Arsenal’s talisman, while it is no secret that Juventus have him at the top of their wish list.

Barcelona added Van Persie to their transfer plans during his fantastic run of form last season but feared he would be overpriced at an age (28) when his value will diminish.

Farewell: Robin van Persie is set to leave Arsenal this summer

 

The Catalans are not expected to spend extravagantly this summer are not prepared to enter an auction with the fantastically wealthy City or Paris Saint-Germain.
But they feel the attraction of the Nou Camp could give them an advantage in signing Van Persie, who has claimed money is not his motivation for wanting to leave the Emirates.
David Villa’s future is far from certain and a £20million exit would trigger attempts to sign a replacement. 
Barca feel that would be more than enough to sign Van Persie now that he has publicly made way for his move out of north London. But, for now, Barca are patiently monitoring developments, reports Catalan newspaper Sport.

In demand: Van Persie is a target for several of Europe's biggest clubs

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi set his heart on signing Van Persie when the Dutchman dazzled against his side in the Champions League this season.
Berlusconi would not be happy to see him strengthen rivals Juventus and reportedly wants to sound out Van Persie about sitting out his Arsenal contract and joining on a free transfer next summer for a hefty salary.
Money for a transfer fee is currently tight at the San Siro after pulling out the stops to keep Thiago Silva at the club, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s possible move to England or Spain would change the landscape.