According to Barcelona’s official website, Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta confirmed how much the club offered for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. He said,

“We paid Liverpool 20 million euros plus the 4 million that came from the player by reducing his salary.”

“Both the Club and the player did as much as possible [for Cesc Fabregas]. Our second offer was 40 million euros. From the moment Arsenal said they didn’t want to negotiate we respected their position … We would have liked to have signed him but we weren’t able to negotiate. It wasn’t a disappointment – it was simply impossible … Thanks to the conversations we have re-established contact with Arsenal”.

According to Arsenal’s official website, Arsenal have sent forward Nacer Barazite to Vitesse Arnhem  on loan for the rest of the season.

UPDATE: According to Juventus’ official website, Juventus have signed Arsenal defender Armand Traore on a season-long loan for €500,000.

August 30th, 2010 According to Sky Sports News, Birmingham have contacted Arsenal about the availability of defender Armand Traore as they are interested in signing him on loan.

Also, according to EuroSpy at MirrorFootball, Juventus confirmed their interest in Armand Traore. Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta said:

“Traore is a player that is very interesting to us.”

According to Sky Sports News, Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who has been linked with Arsenal all summer, will be staying with the club.

Fulham tried signing Shay Given from Manchester City which most likely would’ve led to the sale of Schwarzer, but Manchester City did not want to let the veteran go.

According to Arsenal’s official website, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refused to rule out that the club is done buying this summer. Wenger said,

“It is dead at the moment … But maybe not finished … At the moment I would say, as it is today, it is finished.”

If Arsenal does purchase another player it is likely to be a goalkeeper and Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer appears to be the favorite.

UPDATE: According to ESPN Soccernet, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger confirmed that Squillaci has signed with Arsenal but that he will not be available to play Saturday. Wenger said,

“We needed a centre-back of quality and experience if possible, and at the right price - he was all of that … He is a real defender and is good in the one against one, good in the air, and can score goals on set-pieces as well. I believe he will be suited to the English game.

“He will train with us tomorrow morning, but will not be involved on Saturday.”

August 23rd 2010: According to Sevilla’s official website, Arsenal have agreed to a deal with Sevilla for Sebastien Squillaci. Squillaci is set to travel to London today to take a medical.

I’m hearing reports that the deal is around £6.5million.

August 19th 2010 According to Sky Sports News, Arsenal have made a bid for Sevilla defender Sebastien Squillaci. Sevilla made a statement saying,

“Sebastien Squillaci’s future is in the air … As was confirmed by sporting director Ramon Rodriguez at the airport in Porto, the club have received an offer from Arsenal … The player asked coaches not to play him in the match.”

According to Marseille’s official website (link in French), Marseille have confirmed the signing Nice striker Loic Remy. Remy signed a five-year deal with the club.

The deal is thought to be around £12.4million for the young striker, who was linked with Arsenal, Liverpool, Stoke City, and West Ham.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Arsenal made a 2nd bid worth £2million for Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer that was rejected.

UPDATE: According to Real Madrid’s official website, Real Madrid have agreed to a deal for Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Ozil. A statement was made that said,

Real Madrid C. F. and SV Werder Bremen have agreed to the transfer of Mesut Ozil.

As for the amount agreed upon, I’ve seen reports ranging from €15m-€20m.

August 14th 2010: According to ESPN Soccernet, Real Madrid have made a bid for Mesut Ozil that was rejected. Director of sport Klaus Allofs said,

“We have received an unacceptable offer that does not even provide any basis for negotiations.”

August 10th 2010: According to ESPN Soccernet, Barcelona have not made a bid for Mesut Ozil despite the rumor going around this morning. Bremen media director Tino Polster said,

“There is no agreement with Barca … There are no talks with and no offer from FC Barcelona.”

August 10th 2010: According to the Manchester Evening News, Werder Bremen confirmed that midfielder Mesut Ozil could leave the club this summer. Bremen Director of sport Klaus Allofs said,

“It is possible that there is now a bit of movement in the issue … But I am not running backwards and forwards to the fax machine or getting sweaty palms when I check my emails to see if maybe an offer has arrived.”

August 1st 2010: According to Ben Fairthorne at the Daily Star, Manchester United and Chelsea are two of five clubs that Mesut Ozil would dream to play for. Ozil said,

“There are four or five clubs in ­Europe that you would have to say as a player would be a dream to play for … Manchester United and Chelsea are very much two of them.

“When you are looking at moving clubs it’s impossible not to pay ­attention to the Premier League and even more impossible not to pay ­attention to Manchester United and Chelsea.”

July 31st 2010: According to James Robson at the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United is the front-runner in the race for Mesut Ozil. It is also reported that United are prepared to make an offer around £12million.

Interesting Note: Mesut Ozil is entering the final year of his contract with Werder Bremen which could reduce his price tag.

July 18th, 2010 According to the Telegraph, Werder Bremen admitted that they are willing to listen to offers for midfielder Mesut Ozil if the 21-year-old wants them to. Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs said,

“I can imagine that in the coming weeks or just before the transfer window closes, one club or another will begin to press us a little harder … We will have to listen to those offers if that is what Mesut wants.”

Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United are a couple of teams that could make a bid for the youngster.

According to Arsenal’s official website, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has signed a contract extension with the club that will keep him there until June of 2014.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given would be willing to leave the club on loan if Joe Hart is named the starting goalkeeper. Given said,

“Ideally I’d like to stay at the club because it’s a big club to be at, a very ambitious club with fantastic owners. I want to be part of it, which is why I joined in the first place. If I don’t start I guess it’s an advantage the transfer window will still be open.

“Maybe I’ll go out on loan, come back and see where that takes me. But I know I’m at a stage where I need to be playing. I’m 34, and I’ve not got millions of years left.”

Arsenal and Fulham are both mentioned as possible destinations.

According to Arsenal’s official website, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas released a statement today that discussed how the transfer speculation is behind him and that he is fully committed to Arsenal. Fabregas said,

“I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me. This was the club where I learnt my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing. There are not many players in this world who would not want to play for Barcelona.
 
“I have had many conversations with Arsène Wenger both in person and over the phone over the last few months and although the content of those conversations will remain private, the conclusion is that Barcelona have had two formal offers rejected by Arsenal.
 
“I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal’s prerogative not to sell me … I owe a lot to the Club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal.
 
“I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended I will be 100 percent focused on playing for Arsenal … I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about … I am looking forward to the start of the season and putting this speculation behind me.”

According to Leeds United’s official website, Leeds United have signed Arsenal striker Sanchez Watt on a season-long loan.

Watt made six appearances for Leeds United when he joined them on loan last season.

UPDATE: According to ESPN Soccernet, Werder Bremen have no intention of selling defender Per Mertesacker. Bremen general manager Klaus Allofs said,

“Per remains 100 percent committed to Werder … I have already said this several times … Nothing has changed. Per and his advisers have so far not commented due to a request from us.”

July 27th 2010 According to John Cross at MirrorFootball, Arsenal are interested in signing Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker, who is thought to be worth around £10million.

It is also reported that two backup options for Arsenal are Dynamo Kiev defender Pape Diakhate and Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen.

According to Sky Sports News, Arsenal are in talks with Montpellier for defender Emir Spahic. Spahic told Sportssport.ba,

“The most important thing is that so far the negotiations go as planned and that the transfer could be completed soon … Arsenal is a great club, I’m an admirer of Arsene Wenger and I hope that Montpellier will cooperate.”

According to Paul Warburton at the Fulham Chronicle, Fulham boss Mark Hughes is not looking to sell Mark Schwarzer or Paul Konchesky. Hughes said,

“There’s always interest in your better players. But it’s not my intention to let them leave the club because we don’t have to sell – but we do want to progress … I would suggest the two players mentioned will be Fulham players by the end of the transfer window in August.”

Schwarzer has been linked with Arsenal this summer while Konchesky has been linked with Birmingham and Liverpool.

According to Marc Iles at The Bolton News, Bolton manager Owen Coyle is interested in signing Manchester United starlet Tom Cleverley on loan as it appears he will not be able to sign Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere.

According to Sky Sports News, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger does not plan on loaning out youngster Jack Wilshere. Wenger said,

“I think I will keep him (this season) … He can play on the flank or in the middle, deeper or wider as well. He should get a few games.”

According to Arsenal’s official website, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is still looking to sign another central defender as he currently has just Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, and Johan Djourou. Wenger said,

“I wouldn’t like to give you any names … There are plenty of names that we consider and we analyse. We look at the financial possibilities and the technical potential. But it is impossible for me to come out with a name.

“We are still on the search because at the moment we only have three centre backs and we have seen last season you needed five. I believe we need at least four because we have some other players who can fill in this position but overall we are still on the search.”

According to Sky Sports News, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas admitted his love of Barcelona but that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger are a huge part of him. Fabregas told DIR Emotions,

“I’m a Barca fan, I’m a socio, as is my grandfather, my uncle, my cousin… I have felt the colours from a young age, I’m Catalan.”

“However, I’m the captain of Arsenal, I’m a ‘Gunner’, and I have become a player there and matured as a person … He [Arsene Wenger] is a second father for me, the most important person in my life after my father. He has behaved really well with me and taken me in like a son. I am part of his family.”

“He doesn’t want me to leave. And in my last conversation with him in London, it was one of the most difficult moments I have experienced. I ended up very upset.”