According to Stefan Coerts at Goal.com, Chelsea are set to join in the bidding for FC Twente footballer Marko Arnautovic. Arnautovic was thought to be on the verge of going to Inter Milan.

Arsenal and Manchester United might also join in the bidding.

According to Vince Masiello at Goal.com, Napoli have rejected a €22 million bid by Liverpool for Ezequiel Lavezzi.

According to Darren Lewis at the Daily Mirror, West Ham United are prepared to sell striker Dean Ashton this summer. Ashton has dealt with injury all season.

Newcastle and Aston Villa were once thought to be interested in the striker and Everton might go after him as a replacement for Jo.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce plans to sell Luis Antonio Valencia and reinvest the funds back into the team. Bruce said,

“Valencia’s sale is inevitable. When you have five or six of the biggest clubs in the world after you it is very difficult for us to stand in the boy’s way,’”

“We will see what develops over the next few weeks - but I don’t know where they get the £21m from.

“He has done fantastically well and if we do get big money for him the one thing we will try to do is reinvest it back in the squad and try to make it stronger and better if we can.

“No-one wants to lose their best players but we are realistic here. It is always a problem; it was a problem in January which I tried to fight off before I came to the conclusion I was swimming against the tide.

“We’ve got it again with Antonio but it is what it is, we understand we are Wigan and to make us bigger and better it is what we have to do. I don’t think it affects the rest of the squad. The kid has had an outstanding season and an outstanding season last year.

“He has made himself one of the best right-sided players in the Premier League and with that comes a premium. He is 23 and although there is frustration as a manager you don’t want to lose your top players but sometimes it has to be.”

According to ESPN Soccernet, Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is not in any rush in signing midfielder Gareth Barry to a new deal. Barry currently has 12 months left on his current deal. O’Neill said,

“We have had discussions with Gareth’s agent. They have gone very well. They have been very open and amicable and straightforward.”

“There are things for the player to consider and for us to think about but I have said to him there is absolutely no need to rush into anything.”

UPDATE: According to Luis Mira at Sky Sports, Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso is not on the transfer list. When asked about the reports saying his client is on the transfer list, his agent Paulo Barbosa said,

“That is not true, Sporting do not work that way, and the club will soon have presidential elections and no-one knows who will win.”

“The player has a contract with the club, what could happen is that if interesting offers for both the club and the player are made, then they will be studied.”

May 12th, 2009 According to Jonny Abrams at Sport.co.uk, Miguel Veloso is drawing interest from three Premier League teams. His agent Paulo Barbosa said,

UPDATE: According to Jimmy Rice at Liverpools official website, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez does not want to sell midfielder Xabi Alonso. Benitez said,

“It’s very clear - Xabi has three years left and we do not want to sell him.”

May 21st, 2009 According to Football Spy at the Daily Mirror, Real Madrid are prepared to offer Liverpool £23 million for midfielder Xabi Alonso.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Everton defenders Phil Jagielka and Joseph Yobo both agreed to new deals with the club. Both contracts are for five-years.

According to Sky Sports, Manchester City boss Mark Hughes‘ interest in Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz is starting to cool down. Hughes is now starting to become interested in Aston Villa striker John Carew. Carew has scored 11 league goals in the season.