Arsenal close in on £15.6m deal for Malaga's Cazorla

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Spain's Santi Cazorla after the maestro agreed terms with the club.

 The versatile Malaga man looks set to complete a move to north London in the coming weeks, a year after first being pursued by Arsene Wenger.

 The Gunners have tabled a bid of around £15.6million for one of La Liga's brightest talents and hope that any deal can be concluded swiftly considering the player's desire to move.

 Cazorla joined Malaga last summer from Villarreal - who were subsequently relegated - but has been in dispute with the club over unpaid wages.

 The financial situation is such that the threat of relegation looms over the Arab-owned club with a hefty tax bill owed to the Spanish government, as well as a number of unfulfilled obligations on transfer repayments.

 And now reports claim the 27-year-old will be the first of the big names out the door to help cover costs.

 Cazorla, who scored four freekicks last season, played in almost every position across the midfield and attack, and would be the third addition to the forward ranks this summer, after Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

 Meanwhile in another boost to Arsenal, Laurent Koscielny has signed a new long-term deal with the club.

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Galliani hints at AC Milan move for Kaka

The Brazil international's future at Madrid is in limbo as he has been struggling to secure regular first-team football at the Santiago Bernabeu, and recent reports suggest that the 30-year-old could leave the Liga champions this summer.

 Milan are understood to be one of the prime candidates to secure his services, and even though his wage demands could pose a problem for the Rossoneri, Galliani has opened the door for a Kaka return. "Certain loves never end.

 They go around on a big journey, and then they return," Galliani stated to reporters when questioned on a potential move for the playmaker. Meanwhile, Marca reports that a decision on the player's future will be made in the next 72 hours.

 It is believed that if Kaka is not included in the Madrid team for the friendly game against Benfica on Friday, he is expected to be omitted from the squad for the pre-season trip to the USA, making a transfer inevitable.

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BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea sign Thorgan Hazard

Chelsea have secured the signing of Belgian youngster Thorgan Hazard from FC Lens.

 Thorgan joins his older brother Eden at Stamford Bridge after completing his move from the Ligue 2 outfit.

 Thorgan plays in a similar position to his sibling, an attack minded midfielder.

 Being two years younger than Eden, Thorgan Hazard is yet to earn a cap for Belgium.

 However he is a Belgian youth international after representing his nation at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level and played at the 2011 European Under-19 Championship.

 He will join Chelsea's Under-21 squad, managed by Dermot Drummy, to continue his pre-season training and a loan move is being considered to continue his development.

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Lucas won't leave - agent

The agent of Brazil star Lucas Moura believes that Manchester United will not raise their bid for his client, leaving any deal in tatters.

 Lucas, 19, was thought to be close to a switch from Sao Paulo to the Red Devils, but the two clubs have failed to agree on a fee after Manchester United's €35 million bid was rejected.

 Now, with Sao Paulo reported to have changed their mind over a sale should they receive an increased bid, agent Wagner Ribeiro has claimed that the Premier League side have reached their limit for Lucas and a deal will not take place.

 "They have reached their limit," Ribeiro told UOL. "Lucas Moura won't leave. He is happy at Sao Paulo. We have to forget this subject. There is no possibility he leaves now.

 "Manchester United made an offer, which was rejected and they won't make another one as they have reached their limit." For Sao Paulo, the decision not to sell represents a major financial gamble.

Lucas' economic rights are currently 80% owned by the club, with the player retaining the remaining 20%, but from August 1 that ownership share will fall by 10% under the terms of his contract.

 If a deal cannot be struck by Tuesday next week, Sao Paulo risk losing nearly €4 million off any equivalent value transfer, with many believing that this financial reality will see further developments made in the coming days.

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Hamburg 1-2 Barcelona: Alves & Deulofeu strikes secure debut win for Vilanova

Tito Vilanova guided Barcelona to victory in his first game in charge of the club with a 2-1 victory over Hamburg at the Imtech Arena.

 Dani Alves got the Catalans off to a cracking start as he rifled an effort into the roof of the net after just five minutes but Tolgay Arslan drew the hosts level midway through the first half.

 Barca regained the lead before half time with a goal from Gerard Deulofeu and they saw out the win by retaining possession through the second period.

 Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was ruled out of the game beforehand having suffered muscular bruising to his right calf in training, reportedly saving the hosts €400,000 in appearance fees for the match that was set to celebrate their 125th anniversary.

 Barcelona were positive from the off with Alexis proving to be a popular outlet on the right.

 In the fifth minute Dennis Aogo failed to clear a corner and the Chilean picked up the ball at the back post.

 He then rolled it back to Alves who steamed in and belted an unstoppable shot past Rene Adler. However, the visitors soon became complacent and allowed the Bundesliga side a route back into the game.

 Son Heung-Min saw an effort saved by Jose Pinto in the 21st minute but Hamburg restored parity moments later. Arslan won the ball back in the Barcelona half before breaking forward and sliding it across the box to Marcus Berg.

 His stabbed attempt rattled the bar but the rebound fell kindly for Tolgay, who squeezed the ball into the back of the net.

 Alexis continued to be a thorn in HSV's side and was thwarted soon after by another terrific save from Rene Adler but the former Germany international was eventually beaten seven minutes before the break.

 After parrying Afellay's powerful shot away from goal, getting across to save Deulofeu's follow-up proved too big of an ask for Adler as the 18-year-old's shot crept over the line.

 Vilanova made nine substitutions at half time with Marc Muniesa and Rafinha coming on while Thorsten Fink replaced seven of his players.

 The wholesale changes stifled the game somewhat but Artjoms Rudnevs looked lively in the early stages of the second half and should really have hit the target from Muhamed Besic's cross in the 59th minute.

 Muniesa had been taken off the field after picking up an injury moments before and with him unable to continue, Marc Bartra returned to the field after being substituted at half time so that the Catalan club did not have to continue with 10 men. Hamburg could get nowhere near the ball and in the 73rd minute they almost fell two goals behind.

 A long ball up to the top from the Blaugrana was not dealt with by Adler but Cristian Lobato failed to tuck the ball away, lofting his volley well over the bar of an open goal.

 Barcelona will face Raja Club Athletic in their next friendly fixture on Saturday June.

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AC Milan to offer ticket refunds after Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva sales

AC Milan have announced they will be offering season ticket refunds after selling prize assets Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to the latest moneybags on the European block, Paris Saint-Germain.

 The Serie A side, who finished second behind champions Juventus last year, also lost the services of club idols Alessandro Nesta, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso and Filippo Inzaghi, who were all released at the end of their contracts.

 The mass clear out prompted a group of Rossoneri supporters to file a lawsuit against the club, claiming they had been sold their season tickets under false pretences, believing Ibrahimovic and Silva would be at the San Siro for the forthcoming campaign.

 Milan say the refund offer was made because of 'the need for style and love of the club towards its supporters and independent of any legal analysis', adding that 'the lawsuit is without any foundation'.

 And we thought English football fans were fickle…! The news has left Liverpool officials concerned they may have to offer a similar deal to Reds’ fans, as it became apparent Andy Carroll is likely to stay at Anfield for the 2012/13 campaign.

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Oscar's Chelsea move 'very advanced'

Internacional president Giovanni Luigi has confirmed playmaker Oscar's potential move to Chelsea is in a "very advanced" stage.

 Oscar, 20, is currently in England with Brazil's Olympic team preparing for the London 2012 Games.

 The midfielder has been linked to a £25 million move to Stamford Bridge throughout the summer, and late last week confirmed he has already undergone a medical.

 Reports in Oscar's homeland claim a deal will be finalised this Friday, and Internacional's chief confirmed the transfer is on the verge of completion, with just one hurdle still to be overcome.

 "The situation is very advanced, but not finalised yet," Luigi told Terra.

 "Oscar has to get his work permit. He needs to have a certain amount of caps to play in England, but I don't believe that will be a problem."

 Luigi did not confirm the £25 million price tag but did admit Oscar's former club Sao Paulo would receive a percentage of the transfer fee. "I won't confirm the value, but I can guarantee it wasn't in pounds.

 No cross-border negotiation is made in pounds - it's either Euros or dollars," Luigi said.

 "I have also reached an agreement with Sao Paulo over their part. It's Chelsea that will pay that, not Internacional."

 Oscar and his Brazil team-mates will open their Olympic campaign in Cardiff on Thursday evening when they take on Egypt.

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