Football Dispatch

Summer Football
19 June 2007
Barcelona have admitted interest in Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The 57-year-old Frenchman, in charge of the London club since 1996, has been on the periphery of its operations since the end of the Premier League season last month. The board of directors have supplied no transfer funds of any significance and rumors have swirled over the long-term futures of both Wenger and captain Thierry Henry. Barcelona, as it happens, is keen to land both in one, fell swoop. Having led the club through a trophy-barren campaign in 2006-2007, current boss Frank Rijkaard is expected to depart the club in the coming weeks. Barcelona director Feron Soriano is reported to have met with Wenger in Paris, recently, to discuss the status of Henry. The situation of Wenger, himself, is said to have come up in conversation, as well. Even if Wenger sees-out the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, he is unlikely to return to north London a year from now. In other words, if he resists the overtures of Barcelona and Real Madrid this summer, he can expect to be at the centre of speculation throughout all of next season.

Manchester United are continuing their pursuit of Fabio Quagliarella. Given the injuries to Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the unknown future of Alan Smith, Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate to add depth at the striking position as soon as possible. And with Fernando Torres and Dimitar Berbatov likely to remain at their current sides, Quagliarella is next on the United manager's shopping-list. Just 23-years-old, Quagliarrella scored 13-goals in the Serie-A for Sampdoria last term. He also scored twice for Italy against Lithuania in EURO 2008 qualification. The Udinese-owned forward is keen on a move to the Premiership. "Manchester United are a big deal," he stated, "and if it ended up going that way, I would gladly join the Premier League."

Prospective Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been notified that he must return to Thailand by 29 July or face arrest. The former Thai prime minister is facing charges of witholding assets through the secretive SC Assets Corporation PLC. Under Thai law, members of the government cannot maintain an interest in public companies. Shinawatra and his wife are suspected of holding stock in the company through a third party. His bid for Manchester City has dragged through the better part of two months.

Juventus have signed Vicenzo Iaquinta from Udinese for 11.3M-euros. The 27-year-old Italian World Cup winner scored 14-goals in the Serie-A for his club last season and is expected to replace David Trezeguet at Estadio della Alpi next term. "The moment has arrived to make a jump of quality in order to test myself," stated the Italian international, yesterday. He called the move to Turin a "challenge that only a great club like Juventus can offer."