LONDON — Alisher Usmanov has urged Arsene Wenger to sign Wayne Rooney — insisting the striker would be a “big success” at Arsenal.
Daily Mail
The Gunners have been linked with a sensational £25 million summer move for Rooney.
And Usmanov yesterday gave his backing for boss Arsene Wenger to swoop for the Manchester United striker as the signing of Gonzalo Higuain seems completed. Emirates shareholder Usmanov said: “(Rooney is a) great player. If he comes it would be a big success for Arsenal and for Rooney also.”
Usmanov has been vocal about Wenger’s need to spend big and transform the Gunners squad. Yet the Uzbek billionaire reckons the thrifty Frenchman is still the man for the job. He said: “My point of view is that Arsene knows best. Of course, we as shareholders do point out some drawbacks in managing the club, in steering its way through. But I believe he is a great coach and he has already proven that last season.”
Manchester United are on the verge of signing Barcelona midfield star Thiago Alcantara in a £17 million deal.
The Premier League champions have stolen a march on rivals Manchester City by agreeing personal terms of £5m-a-year with Thiago (22) and his father Mazinho.
Sevilla’s Luis Alberto was expected to have a medical at Liverpool yesterday after a £6,8 million deal was agreed between the two clubs.
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The 20-year-old, who will sign on a four-year deal, has been on loan at Barcelona B and had expected to stay at Sevilla, but the cash-strapped club have had to let the striker leave.
Barcelona decided not to take up their option to sign him permanently at the end of his loan stint, and Alberto could be Liverpool’s second striker signing of the summer after a deal was agreed for Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo.
