Federico Marchetti Linked with West Ham United Move

Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti could move to premier league side West Ham United this summer. The Italy international, who represented Italy at the World Cup in South Africa, has also been linked with Serie A club Sampdoria. However, a deal with Sampdoria seems less likely as Cagliari’s valuation of the player seems too much for Sampdoria.

West Ham United keeper Robert Green has attracted interest from fellow London-based club Fulham who are looking for a quality replacement for their Arsenal-bound Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been on the lookout for a new goalkeeper and has already had a £2 million-bid rejected by Fulham for Schwarzer. However, reports available in the media suggest that a deal could be struck at around £3 million.

Hammers no.1 Green had a disastrous World Cup with England. His howler against USA denied the Three Lions 3 points in their World Cup opener. After that Green was not featured in any of the World Cup matches as David James stood between the sticks.

However, that does not mean that Fulham would be able secure Green’s service at cheap. In fact, the 30-year-old would cost the Cottagers around £6 million.

Federico Marchetti’s possible move to West Ham United now depends on a number of things. West Ham would consider a move for the 27-year-old only if Green joins Fulham to replace Mark Schwarzer, but before Schwarzer’s move to the Gunners would have to be materialized.

Arsenal to Let Kolo Toure Leave, If Matthew Upson Joins Arsenal?

(This entry was originally published on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009)

It seems Kolo Toure’s future at Arsenal now depends on the Gunners’ success in their bid to sign former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson from West Ham United. In the wake of a reported fall out between Toure and fellow central defender William Gallas, it is believed that Toure now wants to leave Emirates and Manchester United has already made a bid worth £8 million for the Ivory Coast international, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger does not want to let one of his best defenders go before bringing in someone of same quality. No doubt, Matthew Upson fits the bill to the fullest, but West Ham United has showed no interest to sell their biggest asset.

However, if Arsenal can offer in the region of £10 million, then West Ham might consider it seriously as the Hammers are running short of money at this moment. Meanwhile, Manchester City might also be ready to pay an amount around £10 million to sing Kolo Toure. So, the equation is that if Arsenal gets the green light from West Ham United for Upson, then so would Manchester City from Arsenal for Toure. Well, it is still a report which neither of the clubs confirmed officially. So, you can take it as another rumor out there in the busy January transfer window.

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Arsenal might Swap Nicklas Bendtner for West Ham’s Matthew Upson

(This entry was originally published on Monday, January 5th, 2009)

Arsenal might go for a swap deal with London neighbor West Ham United, bringing Hammers defender Matthew Upson in exchange of their Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner. Besides Bendtner, Arsenal would also have to pay about £4.5 million to land the central defender who excelled in his position at West Ham United so far this season. The recent contrastive form of Bendtner and Upson suggests that Arsenal might be the winner of the rumored swap deal as the North London club needs to bolster their back line to remain in the title race of premier leagues as well as in Europe.

While Upson has been in an excellent form so far this season for West Ham United, Bendtner fared poorly for the Gunners. So, it seems that Wenger might be happy to get an experienced player like Upson in Arsenal back line at the expense of 20-year-old unsettled striker Bendtner who scored only 6 goals from 40 premier league appearances for Arsenal. Matthew Upson joined West Ham United in a move away from Arsenal in 2003. Upson played at Arsenal from 1997 to 2003. Upson played 51 premier league matches in West Ham United outfit with a goal to his credit. Now, Arsene Wenger may have a reunion with his former student, if the deal comes into existence.

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