Arsenal Ready To Hijack Tottenham Move For Brazilian Star

Arsenal is lining up a bid for Internacional striker Leandro Damiao who has been a target for arch-rivals Tottenham.

The Brazilian has been watched by Spurs on several occasions who have been harbouring an ambition to bring him to England but with comings and going having been thin on the ground at White Hart Lane this summer, manager Harry Redknapp has been unable to free up the space in his squad to accommodate the hitman. Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios have been heavily linked with moves to Stoke City while Chelsea's interest in Luka Modric is well-documented but with none of those deals having been completed, Redknapp has precious little room for manoeuvre despite a £9m bid having been mooted.

This has left the door open for Arsenal who are desperate to add numbers to their squad. While the attacking department would not - on the surface - appear to be a priority for the Gunners, their lack of goals so far this season has been a cause for concern. Manager Arsene Wenger brought in Marouane Chamakh last summer to provide an added threat and a muscular presence up front but the Morocco international has disappointed.

Damiao is a strapping 21-year-old who at 6 feet 2 inches is not your classic Brazilian forward. He would provide the aerial option that Wenger previously shunned but has come to realize is a necessary evil in order to compete with the likes of Stoke and Bolton and is now ready to make an approach for the player before the transfer window closes on Wednesday night especially after witnessing his side's crushing 8-2 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

Newcastle Lead Chase For Inter Milan Star

Newcastle is in talks with Inter Milan star Davide Santon according to the player’s agent Claudio Vigorelli.

The 20-year-old defender is also being tracked by Roma, but that move looks to have been scuppered as Vigorelli revealed a move to Newcastle is now the aim.

Toon boss Alan Pardew is facing a race against time to bring in reinforcements for his depleted squad, and a deal to replace Jose Enrique would signal a step in the right direction.

Vigorelli told the Corriere dello Sport: "At this time, there is no possibility that Santon can join Roma because right now the aim is Newcastle."

Spanish Giants To Swoop For Fulham Star

Clint Dempsey could be headed for Spain, with Sevilla having made an approach to sign the American midfielder, according to SkySports.

The Spanish club is believed to have offered around £8m for Dempsey, who is also being tracked by Paris St Germain and Aston Villa.

The American is apparently keen on the move, and is excited by the challenge of playing at a higher level, even though Sevilla have already been knocked out of the Europa League this season.

28 year old Dempsey has been an integral part of Fulham's team over the past few years, but manager Martin Jol could be tempted to sell in order to give him the funds to strengthen his squad elsewhere.

Dempsey scored what could be his last goal for the club during the team's 2-1 away defeat to Newcastle at the weekend.

Gunners Keen On Yossi

Sky Sports Sources understand Arsenal have made an enquiry for Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun.

Benayoun is expected to leave Chelsea before the close of the transfer window after falling down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

The Israeli international fuelled talk of a move away from Chelsea after handing over his No.10 shirt to new signing Juan Mata.

Benayoun has failed to establish himself at Chelsea since arriving from Liverpool last summer making only 10 appearances following a serious Achilles injury.

The 31-year-old has only made one brief substitute appearance this season as it appears he does not figure in Andre Villas-Boas' long-term plans.

Benayoun, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham as part of any deal for Luka Modric, has admitted on Twitter that he could be on the move and that he was speaking to several other clubs.

Arsenal could now be one of the clubs interested in Benayoun with Arsene Wenger desperate to bolster his squad before the close of the transfer window.

Wenger is in the need of midfield reinforcements after losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and Benayoun could help bring some guile to Arsenal's midfield if he steps up his interest in the former West Ham and Liverpool man.

Malaga Plan Shock £20m Bid For Chelsea Flop Fernando Torres

Atletico Madrid and Malaga are keeping tabs on Chelsea FC flop Fernando Torres with a view to making a bid either before the close of the transfer window on Wednesday or a cut price deal in January.

Torres, who is a Roman Abramovich signing has failed to impress since his arrival from Liverpool last January in a whopping £50m move and it is clear the Russian owner is becoming frustrated with the 27 year old he brought on board to help the side under the managerial guidance of Carlo Ancelotti.

Whilst it is believed the signing of Juan Mata may give Torres the required ball needed to find the net on more occasions, Torres has had ample chances without Mata playing and has so far shown that he is no longer the player he once was.

Whilst Spanish sides Malaga, and his original club Atletico Madrid are only enquiring at this stage they will expect to pay much less than the £50m Chelsea paid last January and would be looking to pay no more than £20m for a striker who scores only once per thirty attempts on goal.

Barcelona Make Offer For Ruiz

Saprissa's teenage striker John Jairo Ruiz is the latest young Costa Rican to attract interest from Europe as his agent claims Barcelona have made an offer for him.

Ruiz, 17, starred at the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia and now looks set to join Arsenal's Joel Campbell in moving to the continent following his performances in the tournament.

"Barcelona has tabled a good offer for John. It's now up to Saprissa to decide whether it's good enough for them," agent Ricardo Cabanas was quoted as saying by La Nacion.

"We were obviously very happy when we heard about this. Joining Barcelona is a dream for any player, so we are very excited. It is important that John gets good advice on this matter."

Lille Weighing Up Move For Chelsea Striker

Lille is preparing a bid for Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou.

Andre Villas-Boas is willing to let the Ivorian leave Stamford Bridge following the arrival of promising young striker Romelu Lukaku.

Kalou has failed to start regularly at Chelsea following his move from Feyenoord in 2006 and is ready to move clubs to kick-start his career.

Arsenal has been keen on him in the past but there’s currently no interest from Chelsea’s London rivals, with Lille the favourites to land him.

The French club lost Gervinho to Arsenal earlier this summer, while they have also missed out on signing Park Chu-Young to Arsene Wenger.

Lille is eager to add some power up front after losing out on Park, with Kalou their main target.

Discussions are at any early stage but Lille is confident the £10m they banked from the Gervinho sale can be used in funding the squad’s overhaul.

According to sources in France, Lille is also keen on Kalou’s team-mate Yossi Benayoun, who has confirmed he will leave Chelsea this summer.

Forlan Leaves Atletico To Join Inter Milan

Diego Forlan is joining Inter Milan after Atletico Madrid agreed to sell the Uruguay striker to the Serie A club.

Forlan, who will fill the vacant striker spot left after Samuel Eto'o's departure for Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, announced his departure from Atletico at a news conference Monday at the club's Vicente Calderon stadium.

"It's not everyday you get the chance to play for Inter Milan at 32. Let's hope I can meet expectations,'' Forlan said. "It's a great club with great players fighting for major trophies. I hope to adapt quickly.''

Financial terms of the deal were not announced. Forlan will not be allowed to take part in Champions League play for Inter unless it reaches the knockout stages since he already featured for Atletico in Europa League qualifying this summer.

Forlan, who was named best player at last year's World Cup in South Africa after Uruguay reached the semifinals, spent four seasons at Atletico and helped it to the 2010 European Supercup and scored both goals in the 2-1 Europa League final victory.

"Some moments weren't great but the majority of years here have been spectacular,'' said Forlan, who spent the latter half of his last season out of the starting lineup due to problems with then-coach Quique Sanchez Flores. "But I'm happy with the decision I've taken because life goes on, players come and go and you have to accept that.

"I achieved the objectives we had set out. It was an enormous pleasure to win the titles we did here.''

The former Manchester United and Villarreal striker had two years remaining on his Atletico deal with reports suggesting he has agreed to a two-year deal with the Italian club.

"I go to another great club where I like the project and the expectations they have,'' Forlan said.”But these past four years remain a good memory.''

Forlan scored 96 goals in 198 appearances for Atletico, which he also guided to the Copa del Rey final in 2010. Forlan won the Golden Boot award as Europe's top goalscorer twice.

Atletico paid FC Porto 40 million euros ($58 million) for Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, who arrives with high expectations following the departures of the club's fearsome strike partnership of Forlan and Sergio Aguero, who joined Manchester City.

Wolfsburg Snap Up Jonsson

Wolfsburg have made Swedish striker Rasmus Jonsson their 11th new arrival this summer after signing him for an undisclosed fee from Helsingborg.

Jonsson, 21, signed a four-year deal before joining up with the Sweden Under-21 national team for their European qualifiers against Lithuania.

''I am delighted to have signed a highly-talented forward,'' said Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath, who has now made enough new signings to form a brand new team since he arrived at the club in the spring. Rasmus Jonsson can both score and create goals and he will help us.''

Before leaving for international duty, Jonsson spoke of his delight at joining the 2009 Bundesliga champions.

''I am very happy - this transfer is a big step in my career,'' he said. ''The Bundesliga is one of the biggest leagues in Europe and Wolfsburg is one of the biggest clubs in Germany.

''My aim is to be successful with the team and also to improve myself as a player. I will work hard to find my place in the team.''

Jonsson's arrival could pave the way for the departure of former Germany international Patrick Helmes, who has been attracting interest from clubs both in Germany and abroad.