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Report: Edinson Cavani to Arsenal for $85 million?

By Joe Prince-WrightAug 13, 2014, 10:53 AM EDT
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After already spending $95 million on new players this summer, is Arsene Wenger set to splash the cash once again?

Reports from Spain suggest that Wenger is chasing Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani and despite the forward stating he wishes to remain at PSG, Arsenal are set to make a bid believed to be in the region of $85 million. Wowza.

[RELATED: PL season previews]

Cavani, 27, has only been in the French capital for a season but was shunted out to the left wing as Zlatan Ibrahimovic played the lone forward role. The former Napoli man still managed to score 25 goals from the flank in all competitions for Les Parisiens but looked out of sorts for Uruguay at the World Cup this summer. His potential deal to the Emirates Stadium all hinges on Angel Di Maria’s reported move from Real Madrid to PSG, as Di Maria would take Cavani’s berth on the left wing of a three-man forward line and leave Cavani on the outside looking in.

Spanish journalist Kike Marin has set the rumor mill on fire after suggesting the Gunners are trying to push through a deal as PSG aim to cash in on Cavani to spend big on Di Maria. Ah, the old domino-effect.

So, do Arsenal need a new forward?

With Olivier Giroud as their lone targetman and youngster Yaya Sanogo backing him up, they do seem light in the central area after letting Nicklas Bendtner leave on a free. Alexis Sanchez has joined this summer for $55 million from Barcelona and can play out wide or as a second-striker. Sanchez’s pacey runs off of Cavani’s flick ons and their potential to develop a little and large partnership must have Wenger licking his lips in anticipation.

Of course Giroud isn’t a bad striker and despite a lean spell to end the season the French international bagged 22 goals in 51 games last campaign. Arsenal have options up top but if they have the chance to snap Cavani up and the funds are there for Wenger to spend, he must pounce.

Cavani, Mesut Ozil and Sanchez all in the same team… that would turn Arsenal from top four hopefuls to title contenders. No doubt.

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal field set

Sean Meagher/The Oregonian via AP
By Nicholas MendolaJun 21, 2018, 9:17 PM EDT
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The 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is down to one non-MLS entrant after LAFC fought past Sacramento Republic’s dogged effort to make it two, twice equalizing en route to a 3-2 win.

[ MORE: TFC extends Bono ]

Louisville City won a battle of USL sides in Wednesday’s final day of fifth round action, knocking off Nashville SC by a 2-1 score.

Now attention turns to the quarterfinals, where USL champions Louisville City will face the Chicago Fire on July 18.

All four quarterfinals will be staged on that day, and the winner of Louisville-Chicago will face the winner of the duel between Philadelphia Union and Orlando City.

The other side of the bracket shows Houston Dynamo against Sporting KC, and LAFC against the Portland Timbers.

Chicago and KC have won the cup an MLS-best four times each, while Philadelphia has finished second twice.

The remaining quarterfinalists have not advanced to a USOC final.

Sprawling translated Emery interview talks PSG, Guardiola, more

AP Photo/Thibault Camus
By Nicholas MendolaJun 21, 2018, 8:30 PM EDT
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Arsenal manager Unai Emery has given a sprawling interview, translated by France Football News, in which he discusses his history and his philosophies.

The interview was conducted after Emery was dismissed by Paris Saint-Germain but before he was hired by the Gunners.

[ MORE: Sampaoli defends Messi ]

It’s a fascinating read, with Emery going deep into his relationship with Neymar, the need for PSG to get an “A-ha” goal for its history books, and much, much more.

The interview is with Marti Perarnau, the author of “Pep Confidential,” and there are plenty of good nuggets regarding the Manchester City boss, as well as Rafa Benitez, Zinedine Zidane, PSG, Real Madrid, and Barcelona.

It’s fairly clear that Emery figured he’d be going to a new league, and he certainly seems like a guy fit for a project like succeeding Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. For one thing, he’s proud of his team’s style.

That’s something valued by the North London set, and Emery pointed out that Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid and Pep Guardiola at Man City had to fail before they succeeded.

Let me say this: PSG played well and won. Many people don’t value that enough and believe that it is easy. But what happened to us? We lacked competitiveness in important moments. Why? Because this team is not confronted with enough moments of adversity in the league. Being competitive also means being faced with adversity. One has to suffer like Simeone’s team to win. One has to suffer like Pep’s team to win in England.

My team had two basic principles: having possession and pressing. That was the basis. Having the ball, and winning it back as fast as possible. I should add a little nuance. I’m talking about having possession and not positioning because there are moments where you can win the ball through positioning, and others where moving out of position can surprise the opponent. And like Guardiola says, if you have to win with a long ball from the goalkeeper towards the striker and that the forward scores with his ass, then so be it! We work like that as well.

And here’s just a quick nugget on the importance of playmaking, and how good players make a coach look better.

During his first match against Toulouse at the Parc des Princes, we get corner. Neymar takes it quickly and Kurzawa scores. We hadn’t worked that at all with him. Afterwards, I told Neymar, “My work is limited to your strokes of genius.”

Love it. Arsenal seems like it’s in good hands. Read the full interview here.

Khedira laughs off Swedish reporter’s offer of tickets home

AP Photo/Matthias Schrader
By Nicholas MendolaJun 21, 2018, 7:43 PM EDT
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Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira brushed off a gesture from a Swedish reporter, trading a bit of banter ahead of Germany’s big World Cup match against Sweden on Saturday.

Germany fell 1-0 to Mexico in its opener while Sweden beat South Korea, leading a playful Swede to hand Khedira boarding passes for a flight home to Germany.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ] 

Khedira’s reply? He joked that Sweden won’t be a problem and he’ll use the tickets after the World Cup Final.

From Goal.com:

“After this bad start, we know that it’s super difficult, but we know that we are a strong team. We analysed the game, we saw Sweden play and we are sure that we are winning this game.

“I think we’ll need them [plane tickets] on the 16th of July.”

Report: Newcastle’s Clark knocked out on Spanish dance floor

Scott Heavey/PA via AP
By Nicholas MendolaJun 21, 2018, 6:54 PM EDT
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A wild story out of Spain says an Englishman knocked Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark unconscious at a night club.

[ MORE: Sampaoli defends Messi ]

Clark was on vacation in Spain, where he was spending time at Crystal’s Bar in Punta Ballena, Magaluf very early Sunday morning.

Clark and a man “in his 30s” got into an argument that saw the Irish defender knocked out, according to the BBC.

Clark was left unconscious and taken to hospital after an argument between him and the suspect broke out on the dance floor.

The 28-year-old suffered cuts and bruises to his face.

Clark, 28, scored twice in 20 Premier League appearances this season, his second at St. James’ Park.