Arsenal close in on bargain Joel Campbell

Despite Arsenal's latest defensive debacle, this one against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, it appears the Gunners are still more concerned with bolstering their frontline rather than their defence. The Mirror claims that Arsenal are closing in on Joel Campbell, just weeks after it was rumoured that they had lost out to Manchester United in the race to sign the 19-year-old striker.

Campbell, who plays for Costa Rican powerhouse Deportivo Saprissa, is currently strutting his stuff for his country in the U-20 World Cup in Colombia, and is quoted by the Mirror as saying: "We are talking to Arsenal again. I have not signed yet, but I'm waiting to hear from my agents." It's believed that Campbell could come as cheaply as £900,000 now that United have pulled out of the bidding.

The Daily Mail on the other hand predicts that Arsene Wenger is weighing up a move for Wolves and England winger Matt Jarvis. Apparently the nutty professor ordered his scouts to Portman Road at the weekend to track the 25-year-old Jarvis only to be disappointed when he was rested from Wolves friendly with Ipswich.

Meanwhile United boss Alex Ferguson has given short shrift to rumours suggesting he's issued Wesley Sneijder with an ultimatum – either sign for us or forget about Old Trafford for the rest of your life.

Speaking after United's 2-1 defeat of Barcelona in a friendly in Washington, Ferguson rubbished reports of any such ultimatum: "Absolute nonsense. I have never discussed him. There is nothing new."

United have been linked with the Inter Milan midfielder for weeks, apparently as a replacement for Paul Scholes, but no deal has been forthcoming with rumours that the Dutchman wanted to be the best paid player at Old Trafford. However, the Sun says Sneijder has dropped his biggest hint yet that a move to Manchester is imminent, quoting him as saying: "There is always a chance something will happen but we will see."

The Metro says that Chelsea are ready to up the ante in their bid to wrest Luka Modric from Tottenham before the start of the new Premier League season. The Blues initial offer of £20m was knocked back by the Lilywhites, so now they're apparently ready to offer £30m for the Croatian midfielder.

Chelsea have the funds available after they failed in their attempt to sign Javier Pastore from Palermo, losing out to Paris Saint-Germain who snared Pastore for £37.5m on Friday. With Pastore and Modric very similar in style, the Metro says that Chelsea are now more determined than ever to get their hands on the Spurs playmaker.

The People says that Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is busy himself in the transfer market, ready to launch an audacious swoop for Fulham and England striker Bobby Zamora with Peter Crouch offered to the Cottagers in part exchange. The 30-year-old Zamora endured a barren spell at White Hart Lane in 2003 but Redknapp believes he's now a far better player who still has two or three good years in him.

With Spurs able to offer Zamora considerably more than the paltry £50,000-a-week that he earns at Fulham, the People says Redknapp will sign the frontman before the new season starts.

Elsewhere Italian rag La Gazzetta dello Sport drops a bombshell with a report indicating that Manchester City have offered bad boy striker Mario Balotelli to Roma. The paper says that the 20-year-old Balotelli – who was involved in an ugly spat with City boss Roberto Mancini last month – is on the brink of joining Roma on loan for the forthcoming season.

Apparently Walter Sabatini, Roma's director of sport, has been in talks with Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola and negotiations are proceeding well. ·