Chelsea Star Delays Everton Transfer

Everton defender Joseph Yobo is set to join Turkish side Fenerbahce shortly, but only after Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel unwittingly delayed the transfer.

The Nigerian pair share the same representation, and as a result when Mikel's father was kidnapped, they were involved in intense negotiations with his captors.

That of course meant that they were unable to act on Yobo's behalf to finalize his move to Istanbul.

However, with Mikel senior recovered, Yobo can now push ahead with his move to Turkey, and he is expected to complete his move shortly.

Yobo has himself suffered personally at the hands of kidnappers, with his brother Norum taken in 2008.

Yobo returns to Fenerbahce having played there on loan last season.

Arsenal Smash Transfer Record With New Bid For Ligue 1 Ace

Arsenal has increased their bid for Stade Rennais defensive midfielder Yann M'Vila to 25m Euros, according to L'Equipe.

M'Vila is a tall defensive midfielder also capable of playing at centre back in an emergency, and is a fine distributor of the ball.

He is strong, tackles well and good in possession - making him sound like the perfect Arsenal signing.

However, M'Vila has previously stated his intention to stay at Rennes this season, as he believes he stands a better chance of keeping his place in the France national team if he doesn't move club.

What might aid Arsene Wenger in his quest to sign the Frenchman though, is if Rennes accept his club transfer record fee, M'Vila would move to an unquestionably bigger club - and doubtlessly improve as a player.

Rennes' situation in Europe is as precarious as Arsenal's.

They are not yet sure of their place in the UEFA Europa League, taking a 2-1 lead back with them to France.

Perhaps now is the time for M'Vila to show he can perform at a higher level.

Liverpool Agree Striker Loan Deal With La Liga Side

Liverpool has announced they have agreed to loan Spanish forward Daniel Pacheco to Atletico Madrid for this season.

The 20-year-old joined Championship promotion winners Norwich for the final three months of last season and he has now returned to his homeland in search of further first-team experience.

Pacheco made just seven appearances for Liverpool last term and has played only 14 matches overall.

"Liverpool have today finalized a deal to send Daniel Pacheco on a season-long loan to Atletico Madrid," a statement from the English club confirmed.

Atletico Madrid has already sold Sergio Aguero to Manchester City, while Diego Forlan appears likely to move to Inter Milan after being left out of his current team's European squad.

The Spanish side has already used the money from Aguero's sale to buy FC Porto striker Radamel Falcao, but a replacement for Forlan has not been decided.

Spurs Midfielder Linked With London Club Loan Switch

Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Warnock has launched an ambitious bid to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas on a season-long loan according to The Sun.

Following Tony Fernandes' takeover at Loftus Road, Warnock is looking to complete a number of deals in a race against the clock before the transfer window slams shut next week, and has started by reviving his interest in Jenas.

The 28-year-old Spurs star hasn't featured for Harry Redknapp's first-team since April 2, and would be open to a move away from White Hart Lane in search of regular football.

Rangers are proposing to take the former England international on loan for the season, with the view to completing a £5million permanent deal should they avoid relegation, but Warnock is finding it difficult to conclude any business.

"It's all right having money and making offers but getting them to sign and move on with you is a different ball game," he said. "In 10 days, I've got to do 12 weeks' work.

"In an ideal world, we've always done it early. It wasn't possible and we've just got to try to grasp this opportunity and strengthen the squad to give us a chance up to Christmas."

Another Tottenham player looking to be on his way out of White Hart Lane is £12million man Wilson Palacios - who is set to complete a move to Stoke City in the coming days.

Redknapp is still hoping to complete deals for Lassana Diarra and Emmanuel Adebayor, and has also today expressed an interest in bringing want-away Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole to north London to help aid Spurs in their quest for Champions League qualification in 2011-12.

Arsenal Prepare £28m Bid For Everton Pair

Arsene Wenger will reportedly look to nab Everton pair Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta as he looks to strengthen his Arsenal side before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. The Gunners boss is thought to be looking to take advantage of the financial problems that have beset the Merseyside club that may lead to David Moyes having to sell players in order to balance the books.

Arsenal have already failed with two bids to sign England international Jagielka but Wenger is ready to up his bid to £15m for the 29 year old centre back, a player the French boss feels can greatly assist in solidifying a leaky defence. The former Sheffield United has been a hugely important figure at Goodison Park and Moyes will be loathed to lose the player who arrived at the club in July 2007 and has amassed almost 150 appearances for Everton.

Jagilelka may feel that a move to Arsenal would assist in his pursuit of a regular place in the England set-up and would also garner his Sale born battler his first taste of Champions League football. Wenger has a severe defensive headache at present with last summer’s signings Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci both failing to adapt to life in the Premier League and with youngster Johan Djourou out has had to call upon inexperienced Spaniard Ignasi Miguel to partner the reliable Belgian Thomas Vermaelen.

Wenger is also keen on Mikel Arteta would he feels could be a good short to medium term replacement for Cesc Fabregas. The former Rangers man is a cult hero with Toffees fans and has often been a pivotal figure in the club’s attacking third but after six and a half years at Everton the talented midfielder would surely be tempted by a move to Arsenal.

The Spaniard, also 29 years of age, is a player of real quality who has an eye for goal and a set piece specialist who Wenger believes could be of great use to Arsenal for a few seasons and whilst Aaron Ramsey is considered as a potential replacement for Cesc Fabregas the Welshman is perhaps still not ready to fill his boots just yet.

Whereas Wenger is well known for his trusting to youth and his commitment to lesser known players he feels can step up a gear, he also knows that this current campaign could be a make or break one and after six years of relative failure is looking to bring in experienced players well versed in how the Premier League works and feels the most cost effective solution in this regard is to make the most of Everton’s need for quick cash with solid bids for Jagielka and Arteta.

Sunderland Target Santa Cruz

Steve Bruce wants to bring forgotten striker Roque Santa Cruz to Sunderland.

He faces opposition, however, from Scottish giants Celtic, who also want the Manchester City striker.

Santa Cruz, 30, has started just eight games at City - scoring four times -since signing from Blackburn two years ago.

Back then, he cost £18million, but interested clubs are now set to pay far less as City try to get the frontman - who has picked up around £8m in wages during his spell at the club - off their books.

Sunderland boss Bruce has already signed rising striking star Connor Wickham from Ipswich this summer to boost his attacking options.

But he sees Santa Cruz as an experienced alternative to Ghana World Cup star Asamoah Gyan.

Spanish sides Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano are interested in signing the Paraguay international on loan, but City are said to have dismissed their offers as insufficient.

Arsenal To Bid For Real Madrid Defender

Arsenal has reportedly turned to Real Madrid centre back Raul Albiol in their search for a proven defender to strengthen their backline.

Albiol has seen his hopes of first team football this season dashed after falling behind the likes of Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and Rafael Varane in the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabue Stadium, and so could be keen on the move.

Valencia will provide competition for the player's signature as they are interested in resigning their former defender, and the Metro reports that a deal could be done for around £8million.

The Gunners have money to spend following the departures of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri to Manchester City, and manager Arsene Wenger has made it his priority to bring in a defender.

The club have also been linked with moves for Phil Jagielka, Per Mertesacker and Gary Cahill recently, but now appear to favour a move for Spanish centre back Albiol.

Arsenal has been linked with Albiol before, after tracking him during his time at Valencia.

Bruno Alves Wanted By Juventus

Bruno Alves of Zenit St Petersburg is reportedly Juventus’ top target as their search for a new defender continues.

The Old Lady are looking for a centre-back and the 29-year-old is on the radar of director general Beppe Marotta.

The Turin giants could make a move for the former Porto man by taking advantage of Zenit’s interest in two Juve players.

Boss Luciano Spalletti is understood to have asked Russian officials to make bids for Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Pepe.

Juve are understood to have already rejected an €8m offer from the outfit for Bonucci previously this summer.

Inter Milan Chasing Zarate

Inter Milan want to replace outgoing striker Samuel Eto'o with Mauro Zarate, according to the Argentinian's agent.

Eto'o is expected to complete his record-breaking move to Anzhi Makhachkala this week, which will leave the Nerazzurri with a huge void in their frontline.

Diego Forlan has been heavily linked with a move to the San Siro, but Zarate's agent Giuseppe Bozzo says the 2010 European champions are also interested in his client.

Lazio have admitted they would be willing to sell Zarate at the right price, thought to be around €20 million, though Bozzo said Inter have yet to make an official bid.

"Zarate is no ordinary player," Bozzo told Sport Italia. "He's an important one for president Claudio Lotito and the fans. Mauro is very attached to the Lazio shirt and he'll remain if no side demonstrates a concrete interest in his services.

"Now Inter have shown an interest in him and a decision will be taken calmly. The Inter offer was made to me and not Lotito. It's an option that could transform into a negotiation. However, it is obvious that the two clubs would have to sit down and talk about it."

A potential stumbling block could be Inter's reported desire for a loan arrangement, with Lazio determined to only accept a full sale.

Zarate, 24, scored nine Serie A goals last season to Eto'o's 21 strikes and the Lazio forward's scoring record has never been as impressive as the Cameroon superstar.

Chavez Set For Napoli

Argentine striker Cristian Chavez has flown in to Napoli to undergo a medical and complete his move to the Serie A side.

A deal has been agreed for Chavez to join Napoli from San Lorenzo and he is looking forward to getting started with his new club.

The 24-year-old is particularly relishing the prospect of playing alongside compatriot Ezequiel Lavezzi.

"This option has been in the works for a long time and now it has finally come to a head," said Chavez.

"It is more than a dream for me, as everyone wants to play in Europe. I am going to play with Lavezzi, my idol, so it's a dream come true."

Eto'o Completes Anzhi Transfer

Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala have completed the signing of striker Samuel Eto'o from Inter Milan.

Eto'o has joined the big-spending Premier Liga outfit on a three-year deal which will make him one of the highest-paid players in world football.

Anzhi spokesman Alexander Udaltsov told Sky Sports News: "Just right now in Italy, Samuel signed a three-year contract so we can officially say the deal is done.

"We just received the medical results maybe one hour ago and he is in the right physical condition so we can sign the three-year contract.''

Udaltsov told BBC Sport on Tuesday that his club would pay an initial €15 million (£13.2m) for Eto'o, rising to €21m (£18.5m), and that he would earn €30m (£26.4m) over the course of his contract - almost £170,000 per week.

But he backtracked to an extent on those claims on Wednesday, saying: "We decided with Inter Milan not to disclose the fee, but it's not even close to all the remarks in the press - €16million, €18m, €20m.''

Asked if Eto'o would become the highest-paid player in the world, Udaltsov added: "I don't know, but he will be the highest-paid player in Russia for sure.''

The move has attracted criticism that Eto'o is moving simply to swell his bank balance, but Udaltsov claimed he was swayed by the club's ambition.

"Our owner Suleiman Kerimov is a really big person and has real ambition,'' he said. We have the ambition of playing in the Champions League and that's why we are signing the best players like Samuel Eto'o.

"Eto'o didn't want to come to Makhachkala (at first) but once we spoke about our ambitions he changed his mind.''