Arsenal lose Chamakh but sign ‘wonder boy’ Galindo

The soap opera that is Marouane Chamakh appears to have reached the final episode, and it's not a happy ending for Arsenal fans. The Mirror reports that the highly rated 27-year-old Bordeaux striker has agreed to join Liverpool in a £25 million deal.

Arsenal had been at the head of the pack to sign the Moroccan international for several months, a pack that also included Juventus and Inter Milan, but the Gunners had pressurised Chamakh to sign in January, something he was reluctant to do. He preferred to bide his time at Bordeaux until the end of the season, when he is out of contract so that, according to the Mirror, "he can command a massive signing on fee, in the absence of a transfer fee".

Arsenal's hesitation has been exploited by Liverpool and after what the paper describes as "intensive negotiations" at the weekend the Reds are confident they have agreed a five-year deal with Chamakh. More importantly for the cash-starved Liverpool, they believe they have the money to entice Chamakh to Anfield in the summer, namely a £12 million signing-on fee, and a contract in the region of £60,000 a week.

The move would certainly boost the flagging morale of the Liverpool faithful who, in recent days, have been concerned not just with the lack of activity by the club in the transfer window but also by rumours suggesting Liverpool might sell Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to raise capital.

Still, it's not all doom and gloom for Gunners fans. Not only has Sol Campbell hooked up with his old pals at the Emirates but Arsene Wenger has signed Samuel Galindo, the 17-year-old "wonder boy" who captains the Bolivian Under-21 side. The Mirror says that Arsenal have signed Galindo "in an amazing coup" that will infuriate Everton boss David Moyes, who had been tracking the midfield genius for several months.

Galindo currently plays for Bolivian outfit Real America but visited England recently where he met representatives from both Everton and Arsenal. It seems the hospitality laid on in north London was particularly effective and Arsenal are now in the process of applying for a work permit  for Galindo.

The Mirror says that Arsenal will only have to pay "£500,000 up front for Galindo" although his Bolivian club will receive more as and when he becomes a first-team regular at the Emirates. According to sources in South America, such a small outlay represents a sharp investment on the part of the ever canny Wenger.
 
A former Arsenal young gun, midfielder Mathieu Flamini, might be on his way back to the Premier League if reports in the Daily Mail are to believed. The paper says that the 26-year-old Frenchman is the subject of a "surprise move" from AC Milan to Tottenham.

Flamini's career has never been the same since his injudicious decision to leave Arsenal for Italy in 2008, and he has struggled to establish himself at the San Siro where Milan see him as a defender and not in his preferred midfield role. With Flamini desperate to make France's World Cup squad, the Mail says that Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is ready to bring him to White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile Chelsea are reportedly interested in bringing Everton's gigantically-coiffured midfielder Marouane Fellaini to Stamford Bridge according to the Mail. They have switched their attentions to the Belgian after missing out on Edin Dzeko, who is set to achieve his stated aim of a move to AC Milan.

Carlo Ancelotti's former club in Italy have offered £20 million plus defenders Marek Jankulovski and Kakha Kaladze for Wolfsburg striker Dzeko, who was also being watched by Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal.

In other transfer news, the Scottish Sun reports that Manchester United are keeping a close eye on the contract dispute involving Glasgow Rangers and Danny Wilson. The promising 19-year-old centre-back, who made his debut for the club last October, has 18 months left on his contract but the Sun says Wilson has "turned down" a new contract after United expressed an interest in bringing him to Old Trafford. ·