Football news

Neymar has said he intends staying with current club Santos, dampening expectations of a high-profile transfer to Spain or England.

“I’m staying at Santos,” Neymar said on his arrival from Argentina, where Brazil were eliminated on Sunday from the Copa America in the quarter-finals by Paraguay.

Neymar has been linked for months with both Chelsea and Real Madrid, but agent Wagner Ribeiro has insisted that there would be no news until August.

Chelsea had an initial approach for the 19-year-old turned down last year but Real and also Barcelona are reportedly monitoring the situation.

Neymar’s current deal with Santos is worth almost two million dollars a season through to 2015.

No offers for Zarate – Lotito

Lazio have not received any offers for striker Mauro Zarate, according to club president Claudio Lotito.

Zarate has been strongly linked with a move to Paris Saint Germain in recent days.

“We have not received any offers for Zarate,” Lotito said.

“If a player does get an offer and the conditions are there to free him, Lazio will not put up any obstacles. We will evaluate those offers.”

Lazio signed forwards Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse this summer increasing to eight the number of strikers coach Edy Reja has in the team.

Defender Maicon to remain at Inter

Brazil defender Maicon is set to remain at Inter next season, according to his agent.

Inter signed full-back Jonathan from Santos earlier this month increasing speculation that Maicon could leave Milan this summer.

Jonathan is considered a potential successor to Maicon, who has been a target of Real Madrid in recent seasons. However, Maicon’s agent Antonio Caliendo said: “I don’t think Maicon will move away from Inter.

“It’s a decision that will be made by (Inter) president Massimo Moratti. If an offer of a certain value does not arrive, I doubt that Moratti will sell him.”

Keeper Kameni not ­joining Roma

Roma are set to miss out on the signing of Carlos Kameni with the Cameroon goalkeeper told to report to Espanyol’s pre-season training.

Kameni had been granted permission by his club to discuss a possible transfer to Roma but the deal has failed to materialise so far.

A statement from Espanyol read: “Carlos Kameni will have to report to Espanyol after the failure to reach a definite agreement with Roma for his transfer.

“Hence, if in the next few hours there are no new developments, Kameni will have to undergo a medical with Espanyol and join the first team in pre-season training in Peralada.”

Roma have yet to acquire a replacement for Alexander Doni who joined Liverpool.

Behrami wants Aquilani swoop

Fiorentina winger Valon Behrami hopes to see Alberto Aquilani joining the Viola this summer.

The Florence club have been strongly linked with a move for the Italian midfielder, who is under contract with Liverpool until June 2014.

“Aquilani is the right player to bring back the enthusiasm of the Fiorentina fans,” Behrami said.

“He would be very useful to the team. Aquilani has great quality.”

Aquilani, who spent last season on loan at Juventus, wanted to remain in Italy but received no suitable offers despite making 33 league appearances for the Turin outfit.

Tottenham snap up Coulibaly

Tottenham Hotspur have signed highly-rated Ivory Coast youth international Souleymane Couli-baly.

The club yesterday announced the 16-year-old striker has moved to White Hart Lane, having previously played for Italian club Siena’s youth team.

Coulibaly was a big success at the U-17 World Cup where he scored nine goals in four games.

Tottenham said: “We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Souleymane Coulibaly to join the club.”

No transfer details were given by the English side.

Gunners have ‘substantial funds’

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has revealed the club has a “substantial amount of money” to spend during the current trans-fer window.

Wenger made his first significant deal on Monday when he secured Ivory Coast striker Gervinho for €11 million from Lille.

Gervinho’s arrival does not, however, address Arsenal’s perceived weakness in defence and with midfielders Cesc Fab-regas and Samir Nasri seemingly set to leave, Gazidis has admitted the north Londoners will be busy before the new season.

Gazidis said: “We haven’t finished our business at all. We’re just not conducting it publicly. We’re working hard privately. We understand where the weaknesses have been.

“We’ve got a substantial amount of money that we can invest.”