Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, 23, has told his representatives to secure him a return to Newcastle. (from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle) But the Reds will seek to recoup at least £20m from the sale of Carroll this summer, a valuation that will sorely test Newcastle's aspirations to re-sign the England striker (The Guardian)
I can imagine the conversation now -
Liverpool: "We want £20 million for Carroll".
Newcastle: "£20m - are you having a laugh - he's not worth more than £10m"
Liverpool: "But you sold him to us 18 months ago for £35m!"
Newcastle: "Hello, hello, this is a very bad line, no I'm sorry, I cant hear you, SORRY WRONG NUMBER"
Manchester City appear the only club with the means to pay a huge fee and salary for Arsenal's Robin van Persie, 28, who has announced he will not sign a new contract. (The Guardian)
As part of the deal City are planning to build a tunnel directly from the Arsenal training ground to Manchester.