Arsenal Smash Transfer Record With £35m Playmaker Bid

Arsenal has made a bid of 40m Euros - approximately £35m - for Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Mario Gotze, according to German publication Kicker.

Arsenal are bidding to strengthen in the final days of the transfer window, and will look to spend the £60m acquired from the sales of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas on Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Park Chu-Young, with the remainder earmarked for the 19 year-old Gotze.

However, Borussia Dortmund has reportedly rejected Arsenal's huge offer, which would eclipse their previous transfer record of around £15m spent on Andrei Arshavin.

"We know that Mario is very interesting for teams from Pot 1 [of the UEFA Champions League]," said Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc.

Those of course include Arsenal, but it is difficult to see Arsene Wenger raising his bid beyond the 40m Euros offered already.

Tottenham & Fulham Chasing Sulley Muntari

Tottenham and Fulham are amongst a group of Premier League clubs keen to sign Sulley Muntari from Inter, according to the player’s representative.

The 27-year-old midfielder has a year left to run on his current deal with the Serie A giants but his European representative has revealed he would be keen on a move now, especially to a London outfit.

The former Portsmouth midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Sunderland and a return to England could well be on the cards.

"Tottenham and Fulham are several of the Premier League teams that are interested in Muntari,'' Muntari's representative Claudio Mossio told Press Association Sport.

"But right now his destination is not unclear. The situation must be resolved as soon as possible because the transfer market ends tomorrow.

"Muntari wants to play in the Premier League. He really likes that tournament and his family would be very happy in London.''

The Ghana international previously enjoyed a spell under current Tottenham boss during their time together at Portsmouth.

Joe Cole Closing In On Loan At Lille

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole is close to agreeing a season-long loan deal with French club Lille.

Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur was also interested in signing the 29-year-old England international.

Cole moved to Anfield in July 2010 on a four-year deal from Chelsea but made only 11 Premier League starts for the Reds and was sent off on his debut.

Lille is in this season's Champions League after winning their first French league title since 1954.

When Cole signed for Liverpool it was thought to be an astute deal, but he has struggled to recapture his Chelsea form at the Anfield club.

Cole has not even made the bench in Liverpool's first three Premier League games of the season.

Last season he also failed to hold down a place in the team, making only 20 appearances, and 12 in Europe.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has strengthened his midfield over the summer with the additions of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.

And it is thought that Liverpool would like to get Cole off their wage bill.

Lille has turned to Cole after being rejected by Monaco's South Korea striker Chu Young Park, who is set to complete a move to Arsenal.

The French champions also failed with a bid for Chelsea's failed with a bid for Chelsea's Yossi Benayoun.

Cole fits the bill for the French club with his Champions League experience as they prepare for the competition.

Spurs Eye Shock Owen Move

Skysports.com understands Tottenham is lining up a shock move for former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

Hargreaves is available on a free transfer after being released by United earlier this summer following a series of knee injuries that blighted his time at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old is determined to find himself a new club in the Premier League and even took to YouTube to prove his fitness in a series of videos.

West Brom and Leicester City have both expressed an interest in signing the England international, but Hargreaves has yet to fix himself up with a new club.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is now weighing up a move for the former Bayern Munich man as he looks to bolster his midfield options.

Redknapp is desperate to reinforce his midfield after seeing his options blighted by a series of injuries to key players.

Brazilian Sandro is recovering from a serious knee injury after undergoing surgery, while Jermaine Jenas and Tom Huddlestone have both been struggling with injuries this term.

Redknapp's options could be further limited by the possible departures of Wilson Palacios and Luka Modric.

Palacios is on the verge of a move to Stoke, while Modric's future remains shrouded in doubt as he looks to secure a move to Chelsea.

Redknapp is thought to be a big fan of Hargreaves and he could decide to offer the 30-year-old a move to Spurs on a short-term basis if he can prove his fitness, as the Canadian-born midfielder would prove to be a bargain if he can stay fit and recapture the form that helped him win 42 caps for England.

Real Madrid Has Given Fernando Gago The Go-Ahead To Join Roma

Real Madrid has granted Fernando Gago permission to hold talks with Roma over a loan move, agent Ernesto Bronzetti has confirmed.

Bronzetti, who has a host of associations at Madrid, is working to secure a transfer for the Argentine midfielder who is apparently not part of Jose Mourinho's plans.

An earlier move to Boca Juniors fell through, leaving Roma with room to manouevre.

And there is optimism an agreement between the clubs can be reached over a loan with a purchase option set at €6 million (£5.3m).

"I have spoken with Real Madrid directors and they have given the transfer the go-ahead," Bronzetti told Tele Radio Stereo.

"I have been asked to assist in this transfer and now Roma look like they are in a position to close a deal.

"Gago and his agent are still in Madrid, and Real Madrid know the only way is a loan.

"There is also an option to buy for €6m."

Gago joined Real Madrid from Boca Juniors in January 2007, but has been struggling to secure regular first-team action in the past two seasons.

Aliaksandr Hleb Set For Wolfsburg Switch

Wolfsburg is closing in on the signing of Barcelona attacker Aliaksandr Hleb, according to reports from Germany.

After struggling to earn regular playing time in Spain, the Belarussian has spent loan spells at Stuttgart and Birmingham City, and, according to Kicker, is now on the verge of returning to Germany to play under Felix Magath. Having agreed to personal terms, he is reportedly in Lower Saxony to undergo a medical check.

With his contract set to expire next summer, Barca is reportedly willing to release Hleb for €1.5 million rather than watch him leave on a free transfer.

The 30-year-old Hleb is no stranger to the Bundesliga, having played at Stuttgart from 2000 to 2005 before his loan spell in Swabia for the 2009-10 season. In April he expressed his desire to return to the Bundesliga, and now he appears to have had his wish granted.

Valencia Secure Ruiz Deal

Valencia has secured the signing of Victor Ruiz from Napoli, just months after the defender joined the Italian club.

Ruiz linked up with Napoli on a long-term contract from Espanyol in the January transfer window, but has now returned to Spain.

He has signed a five-year deal with Valencia and will undergo a medical on Tuesday before being presented as the club's new signing.

Valencia technical secretary Braulio Vazquez believes the acquisition of Ruiz, who helped Spain win the European Under 21 Championship earlier this summer, will prove to be "an important step forward" for Los Che.

He told the club's official website: "[Ruiz is] of the highest level in Europe. He has great technique, positional sense and strength.

"He will help to complement our existing defence and offer something different to our squad.

"He is a player with a big future ahead of him, and will definitely shine in the present.

"We are proud to have him here, and to have reached an agreement for his signature after a difficult negotiation process, because Napoli valued him very highly.

"I think that with Victor on board, we have taken an important step forward."

CSKA Moscow Target Man United Keeper

CSKA Moscow has lined up Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak as a replacement for Igor Akinfeev.

Current number one Akinfeev could be out for up to six months with a knee injury and he is set for more scans on the problem.

The initial fears, though, are that the injury is serious and CSKA have drawn up a list of possible replacements should Akinfeev - once linked to United before David De Gea joined - miss a significant portion of the season.

Kuszczak is the club's favoured target if Akinfeev is out long-term and United are willing to sanction a deal.

The club has been keen to shift the Polish goalkeeper all summer but have failed to find a buyer. With De Gea the first choice and Anders Lindegaard battling him to be number one, Kuszczak does not appear to have a future at Old Trafford.

Kuszczak, 29, said earlier this summer he needs first team football and he would be given just that if CSKA press ahead with their move.

Michael Bradley Completes Move To Chievo

Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Michael Bradley has completed a move to Serie A side Chievo, his agent announced via Twitter on Tuesday.

"I am happy to report that Michael Bradley has signed with Chievo of the Italian Serie A," agent Ron Waxman said.

Goal.com was the first to report earlier this month that a move to Italy would be in the US international's future in the days leading to the transfer deadline on August 31. Terms of the transfer deal were not disclosed.

Bradley's representative in Italy, Paolo Alberto Faccini, revealed to Goal.com that fellow Italian clubs Napoli and Roma were also interested in the player.

The move represents a fresh start for Bradley, who fell out of favour at Gladbach last year before an unsuccessful loan stint at Aston Villa. After his return to Germany this summer, it was clear Bradley was not in coach Lucien Favre's plans despite being contracted for one more year.

Bradley was also left off of Jurgen Klinsmann's latest squad for the upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica and Belguim. The new USA coach, who replaced Bradley's father following the Gold Cup, has said he will only call up players who consistently get minutes with their club teams.

The 24-year-old New Jersey native began his professional career at 16 in Major League Soccer with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. He went on to play for Heerenveen in the Netherlands before making his way Gladbach.

Last season Chievo finished in 11th place in Serie A with 47 points. The club begin their new league season at home to newly promoted Novara on September 10, having seen their original opener postponed due to the current Italian players' strike.

Gers Plan Murphy Move

Skysports.com understands Rangers are to push ahead with a move for Arsenal starlet Rhys Murphy following an impressive trial.

The 20-year-old striker linked up with the Glasgow giants at the start of August in the hope of earning a permanent stay.

He has already spent time on trial at Middlesbrough since the 2010/11 campaign came to a close and is keen to put down roots.

Murphy is a product of the renowned Academy system at Emirates Stadium, having been on their books since 2004.

He has caught the eye in the Gunners' youth teams and gained senior experience during a loan spell at Brentford in 2009.

It is understood that Rangers are now preparing to offer him an opportunity to shine in the Scottish Premier League, with Ally McCoist keen to bring the youngster on board.

Heerenveen Snap Up Van la Parra

Heerenveen has completed the signing of Dutch winger Rajiv van la Parra on a free transfer after his contract at French side Caen expired.

The 20-year-old, a product of the Feyenoord youth academy, departed Holland for France in 2008 but failed to make an impact in Ligue 1, featuring mostly off the bench.

Van la Parra's deal at the Stade Michel d'Ornano ran out at the end of last season and Heerenveenhave secured his signature to fill the void left by Roy Beerens, who joined Dutch rivals AZ Alkmaar earlier this summer.

Technical director Johan Hansma told the club's official website: "We are very happy to sign such a talented player as Rajiv at Heerenveen.

"After the departure of Roy Beerens we were looking for a new winger who would fit perfectly with players such as Oussama Assaidi, Luciano Narsingh and Quenten Martinus.

"With Van la Parra we have doubled our options on the wing."