Milan defender Thiago Silva could become the subject of the biggest transfer fee in French football history if talks between the Italian club and Paris SG succeed this week.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani flew to Paris yesterday to open talks with PSG over the eventual transfer of the Brazilian to the Parc des Princes, according to reports in France.
The reports added that PSG, now owned by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), could pay Milan 45 million euros for Silva, who would receive a five million euro bonus as well as an annual salary of nine million euros.
PSG already hold the French transfer record having paid 42 million euros for Argentinian Javier Pastore last summer.
Arsenal closing in on striker Giroud
Arsenal are closing in on France striker Olivier Giroud, according to his club Montpellier.
Giroud is thought to command a fee in the region of £13m. The 25-year-old scored 25 goals last season to help Montpellier win the Ligue 1 title, igniting the interest of several top clubs.
But Montpellier manager Rene Girard insists it is Gunners manager Arsene Wenger who is leading the chase.
“Arsenal are very interested and Giroud wants to play in England, if Arsene agrees with the president, he will sign for them,” Girard said.
Bologna in talks on Ramirez
Bologna general director Roberto Zanzi has revealed they are negotiating with a top European club over the sale of coveted playmaker Gaston Ramirez.
The Uruguay international has been strongly linked with a move away from Bologna this summer and is a reported target of Manchester City, Liverpool and Juventus.
“We are negotiating with an important foreign club for Ramirez,” Zanzi said.
“But their offer does not satisfy us. The deal is by no means close to completion.”
Bologna have placed a price tag of over £20m on the 21-year-old Ramirez.
Paraguay sack coach Arce
Paraguay have parted company with national team coach Fran-cisco Arce.
Arce, 41, took charge of Paraguay last year following the resignation of Gerardo Martino who stepped down soon after leading his side to the Copa America final.
Paraguay, who under Martino also reached their first-ever World Cup quarter-final in South Africa in 2010, have suffered a dismal start to their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, and currently lie second bottom of the CONMEBOL group having picked up just four points from their opening five matches.
Matri rules out Fiorentina move
Juventus striker Alessandro Matri has denied reports he will join Fiorentina this summer.
Matri is a rumoured target for the Viola but the 27-year-old has no intention of leaving the Italian champions any time soon.
“I am going nowhere,” Matri was quoted as saying.
“Next season, I will remain with Juventus.”
Matri joined Juventus last year from Cagliari and is under contract with the Turin club until June 2017. He scored 10 goals in 31 league appearances last season.
UEFA probing Balotelli claims
UEFA yesterday said that it was investigating claims Italy striker Mario Balotelli was racially abused during the country’s Euro 2012 Group C match against Spain.
“Following the provision of new independent information today (Tuesday) regarding the two cases of alleged racist chanting in the Spain-Italy and Russia-Czech Republic matches, UEFA is now conducting further investigations,” it said in a state-ment.
“There are, however, no dis-ciplinary proceedings open at this moment in time.”
UEFA has already said it was investigating claims from a racism monitoring group that the Czech Republic’s Theodor Gebre Selassie was targeted by Russian fans on Friday.
Croatia in dock for fans’ flares
Croatia are facing possible sanctions after their fans lit flares and let off smoke bombs to celebrate two first-half goals in their 3-1 win over Ireland.
A spokesman for UEFA told reporters that the organisation’s Control and Disciplinary Com-mittee would discuss the case on Friday.
An AFP reporter at the match in Poznan on Sunday said that at least two flares were clearly visible in one section of the crowd, as ecstatic Croatia fans marked Mario Mandzukic’s third-minute header.
The stadium announcer issued an appeal to fans to behave but at least four more flares were lit while a smoke bomb was let off and curled over the pitch after Nikica Jelavic added Croatia’s second in the 43rd minute.