Campbell rejoins Arsenal, is Louis Saha next?

Sol Campbell appears to have made a sensational return to Arsenal and will play for the reserves against West Ham on Tuesday night.

The news was accidentally leaked on the Arsenal website, which published an article stating that the 35-year-old had re-signed for the club. Campbell's last spell at Arsenal was between 2001 and 2006.

The offending article quickly disappeared but the Sun reports that Campbell has indeed signed a short term deal. Rumours that the defender, who walked out on Notts County earlier in the season and had been training with the Gunners, could return began circulating last week.

Not content with signing his old mucker Campbell, Arsene Wenger seems to have another veteran in his sights. The Daily Mail says Arsenal are "weighing up" a move for Everton striker Louis Saha. The news comes after it emerged that the Blues won't cave in to the Frenchman's demand for a new three-year contract worth £60,000-a-week.

The 31-year-old Saha, who arrived at Goodison Park from Manchester United in August 2008, wants to secure his future as he enters the twilight of his career. But Everton just haven't the cash to see him into a cosy retirement, even though he's the club's top scorer this season with 12 goals to his name.

But according to the Mail, Arsenal are so impressed with Saha that the Gunners are willing to compromise their normal rule of offering only one-year contracts to players over 30 and would hand Saha a two-year deal with the option of a third year.

Tottenham and Liverpool are also reported to be interested in Saha, who becomes a free agent at the end of the present season, while Everton are said to considering a loan deal for Marseille 22-year-old winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

Meanwhile a former star of Marseille, midfielder Franck Ribery, has fuelled speculation that he could be on his way to Chelsea this summer. Speaking on French television, Bayern Munich's Ribery expressed his desire to sort out his future before jetting to South Africa in June with the French World Cup squad.

There has been much talk in recent weeks that the 26-year-old could come to England, with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich apparently willing to stump up £45m to cover the move, and Ribery did little to quell the gossip during his interview with the Stade 2 sports programme.

"There's a lot of talk about Real Madrid and Chelsea," said Ribery. "It's true, they are two big clubs. But I don't think it will be a long soap opera. It will be quick. We will know before the end of the season. In about two months' time. I would want to know before the World Cup."

Barcelona and Arsenal have also been linked with Ribery despite the fact the Frenchman this season has seen more action on the treatment table than the training park. A niggling knee injury sidelined him during the autumn and now he's suffering from a toe infection.

Chelsea are also leading the chase to sign Racing Santander's Spanish midfielder Sergio Canales who is also a target for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

His contract situation is particularly complex. Half his rights are owned by Deportivo La Coruna, and they want to cash in on the 18-year-old. His contract with Racing will also expire in the summer - unless he plays 450 minutes. If he does then it automatically extends by another season.

That milestone is likely to be reached this month as Canales has scored four goals in three games and is unlikely to be dropped, so his pursuers are eager to sign him up now.

One player who could be heading out of Stamford Bridge on a free transfer is England winger Joe Cole. He is out of contract at Chelsea at the end of the season and talks with the club over a new deal have reportedly stalled.

Under current rules Cole can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club and leave Stamford Bridge for nothing at the end of the season. If he stays in England Chelsea could demand compensation from the FA.

Spurs are said to be at the head of the queue to sign him.

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly ready to do battle with Chelsea and Manchester United for the services of Benfica's Angel di Maria. The 21-year-old midfielder comes with a £15m price tag and Mourinho is keen to bring him to Milan. But the Mail claims United have offered £12m plus winger Nani for di Maria, while Chelsea have been to see him in action several times this season.
 
Di Maria, who has recently established himself in the Argentina squad, is a prized asset at Benfica but club president Luis Filipe Vieira is quoted as saying: "The player will be allowed to leave in the transfer window if another club pays the clause in his contract. We need to know what the offer will be and then make a decision on which is the best value for the club."

In other news, Fulham are said to be lining up a £1m bid for Kamil Glik, a 23-year-old Polish defender with a reputation for taking no prisoners. The 6ft 3in Pole counts Real Madrid among his former clubs but currently plays in his homeland for Piast Gliwice.

Birmingham City have signed playmaker Michel from Sporting Gijon for £3m after the 24-year-old passed a medical. ·