Arsenal Confirm £15million Deal For Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has sealed his dream switch to Arsenal for £15million, according to the Southampton club's website.

Southampton had initially been reluctant to sell their most prized asset, but after the midfielder made it clear he wanted to move to the Emirates Stadium, they accepted an offer which breaks the previous record for their highest transfer income.

The transfer is still subject to Premier League and FA approval.

Arsene Wenger will now concentrate on bringing in a centre back after Thomas Vermaelen was injured at the weekend.

John Carew Moves To West Ham United On Free Transfer

Former Aston Villa striker John Carew has joined Championship side West Ham United on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old, 6ft 5in Norwegian striker, who scored twice in 13 games on loan at Stoke last term, became a free agent after being freed by Villa.

"I am very happy to sign for such a big club," he told the West Ham website.

"I am so pleased to be here and am looking forward to being part of a good team here that will bring this great club back up to the Premier League."

Carew's registration was not completed in time for him to play in West Ham's opening Championship match against Cardiff on Sunday.

The powerful forward, who has been given the number 11 shirt at Upton Park, passed a medical before he was confirmed as West Ham's fifth signing of the summer.

He has scored 23 goals in 88 appearances for the Norwegian national side, and netted 52 goals in 133 matches for Villa.

His strike-rate in the FA Cup was particularly impressive, as he scored 11 times in 10 games.

Carew joined Villa from Lyon in 2007 and was a key member of their side under former manager Martin O'Neill.

But injury has prevented the striker from making an impact last season while his relationship with O'Neill's successor Gerard Houllier was strained, with the pair arguing in the press in 2010.

Alberto Gilardino Set For £10.4m Switch To Genoa

Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino has turned down interest from Marseille and is on the verge of joining Genoa, a source close to the situation has told Goal.com.

Last week the player's agent confirmed that the Ligue 1 outfit was in negotiations for the 2006 World Cup winner. However, the French side has now lost out on the 29-year-old to Genoa, for a fee believed to be in the region of €12 million (£10.4m) plus bonuses.

The likely move will see Gilardino link up with his former Fiorentina team-mate Sebastien Frey, who made the switch to Genoa last week.

Gilardino has made 47 appearances for Italy, scoring 17 goals while representing his country at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

He has scored 56 goals in 130 appearances for Fiorentina since joining the club in 2008.

Real Madrid Snap Up Seven-Year-Old Argentine

Real Madrid has signed seven-year-old Leonel Angel Coira from Argentina.

The Spanish club’s spokesman Juan Tapiador confirmed the move on Monday and added that the youngster would begin training on September 6.

Atletico Madrid were also reportedly interested in Leo but their city rivals made the first move in an effort to stave off challenges from other European heavyweights in the future.

The youngster admitted that Barcelona star Lionel Messi was his favourite player but added that Real Madrid is his preferred club.

"Lionel Messi is my idol, but my dream is to play in the Real Madrid first team," he told Ole. "I will start training there on September 6."

Leo’s father was delighted with the move and was quoted by ESPNSoccernet as saying: "It looks good when I say it because I'm the father, but I'm excited to see how he plays with the ball."

Kharja Set For Fiorentina

Genoa midfielder Houssine Kharja is on the verge of completing a move to Serie A rivals Fiorentina.

The Moroccan has been paired with the Stadio Artemio Franchi outfit over the last few weeks after he was told to find a new club.

Kharja, according to reports, will join the Viola on a co-ownership deal that will see Genoa net €3m for him.

The former Siena midfielder only returned to Marassi this summer after spending the last six months of the previous campaign at Inter.

Kharja joined the Nerazzurri on loan in January, but the club opted against signing him outright at the end of the 2010-11 campaign.

Tottenham Turn Attention To FC Twente Striker

Tottenham have made a move for FC Twente striker Bryan Ruiz.

Ruiz has impressed in Holland, scoring 33 goals in 61 Eredivisie games, alerting Redknapp to his possible availability.

The Costa Rican striker, signed by Steve McLaren in 2009, is aware of Spurs' interest and is keen to test himself in the Premier League.

The Spurs boss was there to see Ruiz play for FC Twente in the 1-0 league win away to NAC Breda on Sunday.

And Ruiz admitted: "They have approached my agent. I was told about Tottenham's interest two days ago. Spurs are a great club. I'd say that the chance that I'll leave Twente is 50%."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is keen to freshen up his strike force this season, having seen Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch score just 17 Premier League goals between them last season.

He looks likely to lose out on Emmanuel Adebayor to Real Madrid, while a move for Edin Dzeko failed due to his wage demands, and Redknapp has now turned his attentions to Ruiz.

Chelsea Linked To Surprise Move For Ligue 1 Playmaker

Chelsea is weighing up a potential bid for Marseille's Lucho Gonzalez.

The Argentina international celebrated his 30th birthday in January and with the emphasis seemingly being on lowering the average age of the squad at Stamford Bridge, a move to the London club would certainly be a surprise. However, he is available having requested a transfer from the Stade Velodrome after the player and his family were the victims of a 'home-jacking' in March in which armed raiders attacked them at their property and robbed them.

The club has agreed to his demands under the difficult circumstances and he has been looking for new employers though so far to no avail. Chelsea is seeking to fill a creative void and have been linked to both Wesley Sneijder and Javier Pastore in this transfer window. But with the former likely to go to Manchester United and the latter already at PSG, Lucho is a more viable - and cheaper - option.

Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas has also received favourable reports on the player from officials at former club FC Porto where Lucho spent four years between 2005 and 2009. Though the pair's time in Portugal did not overlap, the schemer's efforts at the Estadio Dragao left a lasting impression.

Atletico Madrid Offer Cash Plus Eduardo Salvio for Radamel Falcao

Atletico Madrid has put together an offer of €25 million plus Eduardo Salvio for Porto striker Radamel Falcao, according to news daily AS.

The Colombian international has been a target of Atletico in recent weeks as the Spanish club look for a successor to Sergio Aguero, who left for Manchester City earlier in the summer.

Falcao has been linked with the exit door at Porto after a season in which he scored 38 goals in all competitions, including 18 in the Europa League, a new record in the competition.

The striker recently signed a two-year contract extension which saw his release clause increased from €30 million to €45m, but AS claims that Porto president Pinto da Costa promised that the player would be sold if an offer which matches his buy-out clause came in.

Salvio's stock in Portugal is very high after the winger impressed while on loan at Benfica last season. However, the Argentine has returned to Atletico without a guaranteed first-team role, meaning the player could move on as a result.

However, Atletico will have to convince Salvio to be included in the deal, as the player stated on Friday he did not want to be used as makeweight in negotiations for Falcao.

Bayer Leverkusen Reveal Interest In Stuttgart's Bernd Leno

Bayer Leverkusen has expressed their desire to bring young Stuttgart goalkeeper Bernd Leno to the club as a short-term replacement for Rene Adler.

German international goalkeeper Adler is a long-term injury casualty with a knee injury and is unlikely to return until the second half of the season. With deputies Fabian Giefer and David Yelldell far from convincing, the club has turned their attentions to the 19-year-old.

"We are looking at Leno," Leverkusen president Wolfgang Holzhauser told Sky Deutschland. "Whether we bring him in depends also on Stuttgart."

Giefer was at fault for Mainz's first goal as last season's runners-up went down to a 2-0 opening round defeat at the Coface Arena. He then suffered a concussion towards the end of the game following a collision with Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and was taken to hospital.

Holzhauser outlined the profile of the shot-stopper the club are looking for and ruled out a move for Jens Lehmann, who had been close to joining Bayer's Bundesliga rivals Schalke earlier in the summer.

"[The new goalkeeper] should be stronger than the other two but not a direct competitor for Rene Adler. We have not spoken at all about Jens Lehmann."

Man City Eye Shock £15m Swoop For Tottenham flyer

Manchester City is eyeing a shock move for Tottenhams England winger Aaron Lennon.

City chief Roberto Mancini wants a wide man before the start of the season and has earmarked Lennon as his number one candidate.

According to previous reports, the former Leeds man was set to be part of a swap deal that would see City misfit Emmanuel Adebayor move to White Hart Lane.

But a straight £15m switch is looking more likely, after the Togoleses high wages proved a stumbling block in agreeing a move.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has made Lennon available after a hit-and-miss season with the Lilywhites.

Redknapp has been told by chairman Daniel Levy he will need to sell before he can buy this summer and Lennon looks set to be the first high-profile casualty of the White Hart Lane overhaul.

Mancini has admitted he wants a winger to open up defences and Lennon’s pace and ability to beat defenders would offer the Blues something different in attack.

City is still keen on Arsenals Samir Nasri with Mancini planning to deploy him in a more predominant central midfield role.

The Eastlands club's lack of flair in forward areas was all too apparent in Sunday's shocking 2-3 defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United, and Mancini wants the signings of Lennon and Nasri to provide a creative spark in attack.