United confirm De Gea signing, Clichy Arsenal exit

Manchester United have confirmed that keeper David De Gea will be joining them next season as the replacement for Edwin van der Sar, who retires after Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona. The 20-year-old Atletico Madrid keeper has been linked with a move to Old Trafford since before Christmas and reports from Spain earlier this week claimed a deal had been agreed for £18.3million. Speaking to Sky Sports on Tuesday evening after Gary Neville's testimonial match, Ferguson said the rumours were true and De Gea was signed and sealed: "We've been working on it for quite a while. We identified him quite a while back as one we should go for. He's a young goalkeeper, very quick, good composure, presence, he's an outstanding replacement to Edwin van der Sar."

Not such good news in London where Gael Clichy has told Arsenal he wants out, and Inter Milan are believed to be at the front of the queue to sign the once reliable left-back. The 25-year-old Clichy, who joined the Gunners in 2003, has been one of many Arsenal stars to underperform in the club's season from hell and according to goal.com he feels the time is right for a change.

An offer of £5.5m is expected from Inter, who are keen to snap up Clichy ahead of Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. It's believed the Gunners will allow the Frenchman to go so they can make some money off him before he has the chance to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires next year. Why Inter are so desperate to sign a player who's defence this season has been as watertight as a Ryan Giggs superinjunction isn't clear, particularly as Japan's Yuto Nagatomo has filled the role with aplomb since arriving at the San Siro in January.

One Gunner who won't be going anywhere is striker Marouane Chamakh, or at least that's what he is currently telling anyone who will listen. The Moroccan hitman, scorer of 11 goals this season, has been linked in recent weeks with a move to Marseille despite the fact he only arrived at the Emirates from Bordeaux last summer. But in an interview with French radio station RMC, the 27-year-old rubbished the reports, saying: "These rumours are completely false. If I was thinking about leaving Arsenal again for a French club, it would only be to return to Bordeaux."

Talksport would have us believe that Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel is set to snub Arsenal and Manchester United in preference for a move to Serie A. Fiorentina and AC Milan are favourites to sign the 22-year-old Witsel, who has been mooted as a Premier League player for over a year. Apparently representatives from Fiorentina and Milan have opened negotiations with the Belgian club and a bidding war between the pair is likely to break out next month.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has declared that anyone who thinks the club will offload Luka Modric and Gareth Bale in next month's transfer window is living in cloud cuckoo land: "We shall simply not entertain any approaches for these players," said Levy of the two players who have consistently impressed for the Lilywhites this season. However, Spurs striker Robbie Keane is facing up the probability that he will be sold in the summer, telling Metro newspaper: "I am sure they [Spurs] will probably want to do business on me. The chances in the Premier League for me are fairly slim. For me it is about enjoying my football and playing as much as I can, maybe going to a team where I can maybe help the younger players that are coming through."

In other news Liverpool are eying up Hamburg winger Eljero Elia and a bid is believed to be imminent. The young Dutchman is seen by Reds manager Kenny Dalglish as a player to give breadth to his side, and his crosses could prove profitable to towering centre-forward Andy Carroll next season. Talksport claim that Liverpool made an approach for Elia in January, only to be knocked back, but that they will come again in June. And according to Talksport, the 24-year-old Elia would be only too happy to swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League. ·