Arsenal bid for Falcao, Wenger wants Benzema

A battle royale could be about to erupt between Arsenal and Spurs over the future of Porto's £26m-rated striker Radamel Falcao. According to his agent the clubs have both made offers for the Colombian forward, who scored the winner in this year's Europa League final.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed his most prolific season as his team claimed the treble of the Europa League, and the Portuguese league and cup. And Goal.com reports that his form has led both Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp to bid for him. The player's agent apparently said: "Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are the two clubs that are keen to sign him, and have already tabled an offer for Falcao."

That offer would need to be at least £26m in order to  trigger the player's buy out clause, but his representative said: "The club that matches that clause has a good chance of signing him."

If he misses out on Falcao, Wenger may turn his attention to Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who the Arsenal boss has admitted he would like to sign. However, Metro predicts the nutty professor might find it hard to entice the 23-year-old French striker to London.

"Signing him does not seem impossible," said Wenger, adding: "He's a player that I like. He's intelligent in his movement, he is capable of combining well with others and making a difference, and of doing individual moves as well. So, for me, he's a player who's at the top level in the world."

Benzema has not commented where he would like to play his football next season but it seems increasingly unlikely he'll be at the Bernabeu after Real coach Jose Mourinho relegated him to the subs bench for most of the domestic campaign.

However, Benzema still managed to score 26 goals and it's that form that had drawn interest from a host of other top European sides. According to Metro the Frenchman will probably opt to stay in Spain though a move to Italy shouldn't be ruled out.

Meanwhile, Patrice Evra has told compatriot Samir Nasri that if he wants to admire his reflection in some silverware he should up sticks and move to Old Trafford.

The Manchester United defender has won a host of trophies since arrived at the club in 2006 and on Saturday Evra might add a second Champions League winner's medal to his collection if the Red Devils overcome Barcelona at Wembley.

The 23-year-old Nasri, on the other hand, has won diddly squat since joining the Gunners from Marseille three years ago. And now Evra, who plays for France alongside midfielder Nasri, has used an interview with French sports daily L'Equipe to suggest the Arsenal star – known as the 'Little Prince' in France – should quit the Emirates when his contract expires in 2012.

"Every year, you play to win trophies," said Evra. "That is the culture at Manchester United. You are guaranteed to win something here. I have been at the club for five years now and I do not even remember how many trophies I have won – 13 or 15... Little Prince, if you want to become the king, you know where you have to go."

Evra added that he was unaware of any United "interest" in Nasri but that if he did decide to swap London for Manchester he would be royally received.

The Metro suggests that if Nasri does decide to move on Arsenal's interest in Eden Hazard will intensify.

Up at Old Trafford it appears that all is not what it seems on the goalkeeping front. Earlier this week Alex Ferguson appeared to confirm that Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea would be taking over from the retiring Edwin van der Sar next season. But that claim has now been refuted by the player - or at least his lawyer, who said: "De Gea will not consider the contract extension offer from Atletico - or any other offer - until 30 June."

In other news, Italian rag Corriere Dello Sport claims that Manchester City captain and frontman Carlos Tevez could make the extraordinary decision to quit Eastlands for Juventus in the summer, even though the Turin club failed to make the cut for both the Champions League and the Europa League.

With City having qualified for the Champions League next season Tevez was reported to be staying put in Manchester but according to Corriere Dello Sport he now fancies a move to Italy. However, it's alleged that Juventus won't be able to meet the Sky Blues asking price of £36m and are hoping that £26m will be enough to secure the Argentine striker.

The Daily Mirror says that City are near to completing a deal for Bolton's England centre-half Gary Cahill, which if true would distress Arsenal. The Gunners have long been interested in Cahill but the Mirror says that he will be sold to City next month in a £20m deal that will include City's Nedum Onuoha.

Defender Onuoha, who's been at Sunderland on loan this season, interests Bolton boss Owen Coyle and the move could be finalised next week.

Finally, Talksport report that Liverpool are by no means certain of signing Brazilian Diego from German club Wolfsburg even though the midfielder isn't seeing eye to eye with the backroom staff.

The Reds have been linked with Diego, 26, for weeks and when the player spoke recently of his determination to leave Wolfsburg it was expected a move to Anfield was imminent. But coach Felix Magath has told Talksport as far as he's concerned Diego will be back with Wolfsburg next season. "I'm not interested in his comments," he said. "I expect him to be there when we start training." ·