Arsenal to raid Barcelona for midfielder Romeu

They say revenge is a dish best served cold and it appears Arsene Wenger has rustled up a little something that is positively freezing as far as Barcelona are concerned. Having shamelessly (and unsuccessfully) pursued Cesc Fabregas for a year, Barcelona are now trying to ward off Arsenal as they attempt to lure 18-year-old Oriol Romeu from the Nou Camp. The Gunners famously took Fabregas off Barcelona's hands in 2003 when he was just 16, transporting him to London and transforming him into the World Cup winner he now is, and that's their intention with Romeu

According to reports in Spanish rag Sport Romeu, a defensive midfielder who was outstanding for Spain in their recent run to the final of the Under-19 European Championship, has expressed an interest in joining Fabregas at the Emirates. With the arrival of Javier Mascherano from Liverpool, Romeu doesn't see himself getting much game time in the coming year or two and Wenger has reportedly promised the young Spaniard that that won't be the case if he signs for Arsenal. Sport says that Romeu has put on hold his planned contract negotiations with Barcelona while he weighs up Wenger's suggestion.

Another teenager attracting interest among the Premier League big boys is Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta. The 17-year-old Atheltic Bilbao midfielder has caught the attention of Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona and all three are likely to make a bid for the player in January according to the Italian website Tutto Mercato.

Bolton Chairman Phil Gartside has put the word out that should any club come sniffing after England new boy Gary Cahill it will cost them a whopping £17.5m to prise him from the Reebok Stadium. The Bolton defender impressed on his debut as a replacement for Michael Dawson against Bulgaria on Friday night, but the crafty Garside added an escape clause to the contract Cahill signed a year ago that means that any club wanting to sign the 24-year-old must pay Bolton £15m to break the contract. In addition, the Sun reports that "the asking price will be increased by £2.5m" following Cahill's England debut. Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs are known to have watched Cahill in recent seasons although none is believed to have yet made an offer for the player.

Finally, the agent of Fiorentina keeper Sebastien Frey has said that neither Arsenal nor Manchester City ever came calling for his client as the transfer deadline loomed last week. Speaking to Violanews.com, Giovanni Branchini angrily denied suggestions that Frey was seeking a way out of the Serie A  club, saying : "This is the football world, including false rumours and denials, everyone feels entitled to speak, even if they don't know the facts." Arsenal were linked with a move for Frenchman Frey throughout the summer while the Sky Blues were said to be chasing the 30-year-old as a back-up to England shotstopper Joe Hart. But for the time being Frey is remaining loyal to Fiorentina, though Branchini hinted that may change in January's transfer window. ·