Transfer rumours and paper review - Wednesday, September 10

Here are the top transfer-related stories in Wednesday's newspapers...

Arsenal are looking to sign Barcelona's 19-year-old midfielder Sergi Samper - with manager Arsene Wenger ready to pay his £9.6m release clause in January. (Metro)

Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, 31, has emerged as a shock transfer target for Manchester United and Liverpool. (Daily Express)

France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 24, says he was desperate to leave Southampton this summer before club bosses "blocked" his move. (Mirror)

QPR's wage bill is bigger than Italian giants AC Milan. (The Daily Telegraph)

Midfielder Alex Pritchard, 21, is hoping to catch the eye of Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino during his loan spell at Championship new-boys Brentford. (Daily Mail)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has told Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 26, that he plans to make him an important part of the team. (Daily Star) 

Exclusive – Arsenal turned down chance to sign Man City defender this summer

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger turned down the chance to sign Micah Richards during the summer transfer window, talkSPORT understands.

Wenger was on the search for defensive steel after selling centre-back and Gunners captain Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona for £15million in August.

The Frenchman was alerted to Richards’ availability, with the 26-year-old finding first-team opportunities limited at the Etihad Stadium under manager Manuel Pellegrini.

But Wenger instead opted to sign Southampton teenager Calum Chambers in a £16million deal, with Richards eventually joining Italian side Fiorentina on loan for the season on deadline day.

Richards previously revealed to talkSPORT that he was offered more money to stay with Premier League champions City, but decided to revive his career in Florence with the prospect of playing regular Europa League and Serie A football.

Fabregas: Arsenal will always be close to my heart, but I’m committed to Chelsea now

Cesc Fabregas insists he is fully committed to Chelsea following his summer switch to Stamford Bridge, but maintains he will always hold Arsenal close to his heart.

The former Gunners captain says he feels comfortable working under Blues boss Jose Mourinho, after Arsenal decided against taking up an option to bring the playmaker back from Barcelona to the Emirates Stadium.

Fabregas, 27, joined the Gunners from his boy-hood club as a raw teenager and developed into one of the most dynamic midfielders in the game, before returning to the Nou Camp in August 2011.

He won the La Liga title, a Copa del Ray and the FIFA Club World Cup during his three-year spell back in Spain, before returning to the Premier League early in the transfer window in a £28million deal.

And in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais, Fabregas explained that he will always cherish his rise to fame at Arsenal and that whatever he may achieve at Chelsea will not diminish his feelings for his former club.

The Spain international said: "Don't think I didn't think about it [playing for Arsenal's rivals when he decided to join Chelsea]. I will keep the Gunner feeling forever and I know that I will return to the Amirates and it will be a special moment, but I am a committed guy.

"I remind you that I played the Champions League final against Barcelona [with Arsenal] and I swear I would have done anything to win that game - and I have been a Barcelona fan since I was a kid.

"So I know that when I play against Arsenal I will know who is my team, who are my colleagues and who I defend. And I know that the Arsenal fans will understand me, I have no doubt."

Fabregas also admitted he needed little convincing to join his former club’s London rivals.

He added: "If you'd told me five years ago that I would play for Chelsea and Mourinho I would not have believed you, but life changes.

"I started to think about leaving Barcelona after the Copa del Rey final. It was when I started to think that it had finished, that there was a change or that I didn't want to continue.

"I spoke with my agent and asked him to find me a new team, and an offer from Chelsea arrived. For me it was coming back to London, where I grew up. There was no better way out.

"I spoke with Mourinho and he told me the things I needed to hear. I felt valued. I felt I was going to be important in an important project."

Welbeck hails new-look England after Switzerland win

England goal hero Danny Welbeck has heaped praise onto his team-mates after a 2-0 triumph over Switzerland.

Roy Hodgson’s side who came under fire after a turgid friendly win over Norway produced a promising display in Basle.

And Welbeck, who scored both goals on the night in the Euro 2016 qualifier, believes they could have won by more had they been slightly more clinical.

He told ITV: "I think we created a number of chances which maybe we could have done better with the final pass.

“Once we got the first goal I think we were in control and played a good team game today and you could see the work ethic - everyone is playing for each other and that's very important.”

Exclusive - Meulensteen: Man United should have promoted from within to replace Ferguson

Former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen believes the club were wrong to appoint David Moyes instead of turning to someone already at Old Trafford to lead the side into a new era after Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Scot was effectively annointed by Ferguson as the new Red Devils manager last summer but did not last the season as the then Premier League champions finished a dismal seventh.

Moyes was sacked with four games left of the season and Meulensteen claims United, who are now being led by Louis van Gaal, made a mistake in breaking the continuity and stability built up over 27 years by Ferguson.

"Being there with him first hand, I always felt the biggest challenge for Manchester United was managing the time after Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement," Meulensteen told Sunday Exclusive.

"There were only two ways about it – to bring in someone from outside, which they did with David Moyes, or to try and build it from within, which I personally thought would have been the better option.

"Manchester United is such a unique club and SIr Alex Ferguson has been so important in building that uniqueness. There’s been a lot of continuity and stability which are the two main parts for any club to be successful.

"That would have been the key to make sure you maintain that. You maintain that continuity, the stability and the philosophy that has run through the club for so many years."

Moyes took a bold approach after succeeding Ferguson by completely rejigging his backroom team, but it was a decision many questioned and, ultimately, it was one which backfired the former Everton chief.

But Meulensteen, who spent six seasons as coach at Old Trafford, believes the legendary Scot could not have pre-empted just how far United would fall under his compatriot's leadership.

"He had 27 years at the club and he made it the biggest club in the world, a unique club and unique brand," the Dutchman added. "I’m 100 per cent sure he will be very disappointed. He will be surprised. He honestly though David Moyes was the right man to step into it.

"I don’t think he never ever anticipated that David Moyes would get rid of his backroom staff. I think that is where the core of the problems started."

Transfer rumours and paper review - Sunday, September 7

Here are the top transfer-related stories in Sunday's newspapers...

Manchester City and Arsenal are preparing to go head-to-head in a bid to sign £25m-rated Borussia Dortmund winger Marco Reus, 25. (Daily Star Sunday) 

Manchester City are also planning a move to sign Southampton forward and Tottenham target Jay Rodriguez, 25, as manager Manuel Pellegrini looks to buy more English players. (Sun on Sunday) 

QPR are considering a loan move for Portugal forward Hugo Almeida, 30, who has been out of contract since leaving Turkish club Besiktas in May. (Sunday Mirror) 

Meanwhile United have vowed to buy "a Luis Suarez a year" as they reveal a new aggressive transfer policy financed by their lucrative kit deal with Adidas. (Sunday Telegraph) 

Atletico Madrid midfielder Tiago, 33, claims he has turned down "a great offer" from Chelsea to return to Stamford Bridge. (Evening Standard) 

QPR defender Rio Ferdinand, 35, says he "cannot believe" former club Manchester United sold striker Danny Welbeck, 23, to Arsenal. (Sun on Sunday) 

Arsenal ‘still behind Chelsea and Man City’ in Premier League title race, admits Gunners hero

Arsenal legend Alan Smith has told talkSPORT he believes his former side have no chance of competing with Chelsea and Manchester City for the Premier League title this season.

After a productive summer transfer window, with the arrivals of forward pair Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona and Danny Welbeck from Manchester United giving Arsene Wenger an much needed attacking boost, the Gunners are confident of following up last season’s FA Cup triumph with more silverware.

However, Highbury favourite Smith – who won two First Division titles during eight seasons in north London – believes they still have a way to go to finally challenge for the top flight crown again.

“Another trophy would be great this season, but I can’t see them winning the title, I really can’t,” Smith told My Sporting Life.

“They’re still a few furlongs behind Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as they might have done in the summer transfer window.

“I think they have moved forward with the signings of Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and [teenage defender] Calum Chambers, but I still think they are weak in terms of protecting the back-four.

“Realistically you’re looking at another top-four finish, and maybe they can nick a cup again, but unfortunately I still don’t see them as title challengers.”

Tune into to My Sporting Life from 10pm on Sunday night to hear the full interview with former Arsenal striker Alan Smith.

No Arsenal offer for Bundesliga hotshot

Schalke claim they have received no offers for Arsenal target Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The Gunners were linked with a deadline day move for the Dutch striker, who scored 14 goals in 21 appearances last season.

However Schalke general manager, Horst Heldt, has revealed that the Bundesliga side have received no bids for Huntelaar and have no plans to sell him.

"We have not been receiving any transfer enquires from Arsenal or any other club for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar," Heldt told German magazine Kicker.

"Huntelaar is a fixture at our club. We are definitely able to imagine signing a new contract with him.

"There is no doubt he is a top quality player and a true role model. He is ambitious, determined and truly hungry for success."

Disaster for England! Sturridge ruled out of Switzerland match

England have been dealt a massive blow after it was revealed striker Daniel Sturridge has been ruled out of the opening Euro 2016 qualifier in Switzerland with a thigh injury.

The Liverpool forward, 25, pulled up in training on Friday with the problem and has now returned to his parent club for further assessment.

An FA Spokesman said: “Daniel Sturridge picked up an injury on his thigh in training.

"He has had a scan and will now return to Liverpool FC for treatment. He will play no part in the forthcoming Switzerland match.”

The news will come as a massive blow to Roy Hodgson especially as the Three Lions boss is already tasked with taking a vastly inexperienced squad to Switzerland.

Stalwarts Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have all retired while a lenghty injury list includes the likes of Theo Walcott, Adam Lallana, Ross Barkley, Michael Carrick, Jay Rodriguez and Andy Carroll.

Hodgson's defensive options are also limited with Kyle Walker, Glen Johnson, Luke Shaw, Jon Flanagan, Chris Smalling and Kieran Gibbs all unavailable, while West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster and uncapped Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback withdrew from the 22-man squad with injuries this week.

Exclusive - Arsenal legend claims signing Welbeck does NOT make them title contenders

Alan Smith has told talkSPORT Arsenal desperately needed to sign Danny Welbeck, but that it will not turn the Gunners into Premier League title challengers this season.

Arsene Wenger snapped up the England striker from Manchester United for £16million on deadline day as a direct replacement for Olivier Giroud, who is out until the New Year.

And while the north London outfit have bolstered their fragile frontline, Arsenal legend, Smith feels the lack of a classy defensive midfielder will be what costs his former side in their pursuit of glory.

Asked whether Welbeck's arrival makes Arsenal title contenders, the former striker told Drivetime: "I don't think so. In all fairness, I still think they're short behind Chelsea and Manchester City.

"I would have liked to of seen a holding midfielder come in. Whether Arsene Wenger was after one at any point, I don't know. Sami Khedira was mentioned along the way, but he's [Wenger] already got the likes of Mikel Arteta.

"I don't think that's a natural role for Arteta, I don't think it's his best role. I think Arsenal suffer at times when Arteta is playing in that role.

"I don't think he's got the legs to do it these days and that is an area where they're not going to be strong enough."