Juventus tell Arsenal to forget about Felipe Melo

Arsenal might have to think again about signing Felipe Melo from Juventus. The Brazilian defensive midfielder has been at the centre of speculation about a move to the Gunners for several weeks but it appears the Italian club intends holding on to the 26-year-old. "Melo will remain with us," said Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc in an interview with tuttojuve.com, adding:  "Do not make any more comments about the transfer market. We will focus on these matches left until the end of the season without looking too far ahead, but by demonstrating our qualities on the field."

As reported in The First Post yesterday Melo had a spat with Juventus fans during the recent 3-3 draw with Siena, an incident that culminated in the Brazilian making a public apology. Melo, who arrived at Turin from Fiorentina last summer on a £21m deal, has struggled to adapt to life in the Europa League with Juventus (who tonight take on Fulham) and is reported to be keen to join Arsenal.

One player apparently not so eager to remain at the Emirates is Armand Traore. The 20-year-old joined Arsenal from Monaco in 2006 and after a slow start is beginning to find his feet at the club. But in an interview with French rag Le Parisien, Traore says he wants to return to the French capital to play for Paris St Germain, the "club of his dreams".

"PSG will always be PSG," said Traore, which presumably means they'll continue to underachieve. It's sixteen years since they last won the French league and this season they're more mediocre than usual, languishing in 12th place without a hope of European football next season. But in Traore's imaginative young mind, PSG remain a European powerhouse. "They are a great club which made a whole generation of people dream during the years 1990-2000," he simpered. "And the Parc des Princes is a mythical stadium. Still today when I talk to other players, prestigious or not and of all nationalities, they talk to me about PSG, telling me that they dream about playing there one day."

Quite which players he's been talking to, Traore didn't say, but he himself would jump at the chance of running out each week in front of a meagre 30,000 fans, PSG's average attendance. "I know that I will play there one day. If people from PSG contact me this summer, I would listen carefully to what they have to say... God willing, I'll come there later. I really want it."

In other news, the in-demand Palermo centre-back Simon Kjaer has pledged his loyalty to the club by saying he has no intention of leaving for the Premier League, unless the price is right. The 20-year-old has impressed this season, helping Palermo climb into the top four of Serie A, and his form has attracted interest from Manchester's two clubs, United and City, as well as Spurs and Liverpool.

But the Danish international has sent a strong message to his suitors - along with the usual footballer's caveat: "I am a regular for this team and I have the chance to play in some prestigious competitions with the pink and black jersey. I have another three years on my current deal with Palermo. It would take an offer to which you can't say no to arrive for me to leave here."

The redoubtable Kjaer went on to say he quite fancied joining Liverpool so he could partner compatriot Daniel Agger in defence.

Finally, the Daily Mirror says that Aston Villa are well on the way to securing the signature of Robbie Keane. The 29-year-old frontman has enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with Celtic – netting eight goals in eight games since he arrived from Spurs in January – but the Scottish club can't afford to keep the Irishman on a permanent basis. Keane costs £65,000-a-week, too much for Celtic, but small fry to Villa, whose boss Martin O'Neill is keen to bring the striker south. According to the Mirror, O'Neill will raise the cash for Keane by offloading the likes of Habib Beye, Steve Sidwell and Nicky Shorey. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is happy to sell Keane now that Roman Pavlyuchenko has settled down at White Hart Lane. ·