Middlesbrough have confirmed they have clinched a deal for Arsenal's French striker Jeremie Aliadiere.

Chief executive Keith Lamb has revealed that Boro have reached an agreement with both Aliadiere and his club, and that the transfer will be pushed through when the player returns from holiday.

Aliadiere is Arsenal's second longest serving player but has never managed to carve out a regular first team place in North London due to a spate of injuries and the wealth of options available to manager Arsene Wenger.

The 24-year-old will now hope to become a regular member of Gareth Southgate's first XI at The Riverside, helping to fill the sizeable gap left by Mark Viduka's switch to Newcastle.

"We have agreed a fee with Arsenal for Aliadiere and completed a deal with them," Lamb told the club's official website.

"Everything is also agreed in principle with Jeremie and his transfer will be completed in the next couple of weeks.

"The only reason the deal hasn't already been completed is that the player is on holiday.

"We tried to sign Jeremie in January, but were thwarted by Arsenal's injury problems at the time.

"He fits perfectly the sort of player Gareth wants to bring to the club.

"He has pace and energy, and he is young with his best years in front of him."

However, Lamb has played down talk that former Boro favourite Geremi could be returning to The Riverside from Chelsea.

Johan Djourou has revealed he may leave Arsenal on loan next season in order to further his Premiership experience.

Newly-promoted Birmingham City have been linked with the young Swiss international who showed great promise in the early stages of last season when injuries struck in the Gunners backline.

However, with Kolo Toure and William Gallas set to resume their central partnership next season, Djourou is aware his chances could be limited under Arsene Wenger.

Djourou has now scheduled talks with his manager in order to establish whether he will be farmed out for a season in order to gain more first team experience.

"I will find out more when I get back," Djourou told The Express. "But my long-term future is very much at Arsenal.

"I have shown people I have enough quality to play in a number of different positions - midfield, right-back and centre-back.

"I have got a lot to learn still, so maybe I need to move to another club to get some more experience. I will have a discussion with the boss."

Birmingham are believed to be keen on the talented 20-year-old, following the success enjoyed by Sebastian Larsson, Nicklas Bendtner and Fabrice Muamba at St Andrews last season.

However, Djourou insists he will not follow Larsson and Muamba in sealing a permanent departure from North London, and the defender remains convinced that the club will be back in the hunt for trophies soon after two barren years.

"This season is the one where we have to win something," Djourou added.

"We are a young team but we have got a lot of experience now, even in the Champions League. It means we are ready to compete with the big teams.

"The team are really coming together and players such as Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby are ready to compete. This is going to be a big year for us."

ARSENE Wenger is cutting short his summer break to try to sort out the growing crisis at Arsenal.

But it now looks less and less likely that the Frenchman will extend his Emirates contract beyond the summer of 2008.

Wenger knows he faces a battle to hang on to frontline stars Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto Silva.

Henry has admitted he is flattered by AC Milan's interest, Fabregas has expressed strong reservations about the direction of the club and People Sport can reveal that Juventus are confident about prising away Gilberto from the Emirates.

They are prepared to hand the 30-year-old midfielder a four-year deal and Gilberto is another of Wenger's stars to privately question the ambition of the Gunners.

Wenger will be back from holiday early in a bid to sort out the mess but I understand he is STILL furious over the departure of David Dein.

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Arsenal’s Aliadiere switches to Boro

Arsenal’s French striker Jeremie Aliadiere has agreed a move to Middlesbrough following Mark Viduka’s departure for Newcastle.

The move had been agreed “in principle”, to be completed in the next couple of weeks when the 24-year-old returns from holiday.

Boro’s chief executive Keith Lamb said on Saturday: “We have agreed a fee with Arsenal for Aliadiere and completed a deal with them.

“Everything is also agreed in principle with Jeremie and his transfer will be completed in the next couple of weeks.

“The only reason the deal hasn’t already been completed is that the player is on holiday.”

Lamb added: “We tried to sign him in January but were thwarted by Arsenal’s injuries. He fits perfectly with the sort of player we are trying to bring in. He has pace and energy and he is young with his best years in front of him.”

Aliadiere, who has been with Arsenal since he was 16, had loan spells at West Ham, Celtic and Wolves. But despite Arsenal’s injury problems he struggled to force his way into Arsene Wenger’s plans.

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EMMANUEL Adebayor has told Arsenal fans to respect Thierry Henry's judgement if he decides his future lies away from north London.

Henry this week revealed he was flattered by interest from the top clubs on the Continent, and Adebayor said: "If he leaves you have to understand him. He has been in the team so long and if he wants a change then people have to respect that."

But Adebayor is confident that if Henry leaves, Arsenal have the perfect replacement in Robin van Persie.

"Robin can do everything," he said. "He's an amazing footballer and next season he will be even better."

Adebayor said he now feels fully at home at Arsenal.

"At the beginning it was difficult because I didn't speak English real well, but I feel very happy now."

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Yes, it's another Arsenal post. Yes, it's another post about a guy possibly leaving Arsenal.

One of these days maybe I'll be able to discuss a big signing coming to North London (I'm not convinced David Trezeguet is on Arsene's short list), but for now, I'm stuck wondering if another player is on his way out.

Granted Senderos never quite recovered from his injury at the World Cup, but then I don't think Thierry Henry ever recovered from his extra workload either. With so many players in Germany, it's no wonder the Gunners suffered through so many injuries last season.

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A.K.A.

Thierry Henry is now almost a Barcelona player: the shocking news comes from France, where sports mag "France Football" anticipates the numbers of the deal: a three-year contract with an option for the fourth for 10 million euros per season. 

According to the French magazine, which will be in news stands tomorrow, the striker's agent Jerome Anderson met the Blaugrana's agent Txiki Beguiristan last week.

The transfer is now apparently a done deal, and with Henry on their roster they will probably have to part ways with Samuel Eto'o, who could then take the road to Milan where the Rossoneri are in pole position to land his signature.

The good and bad news all in one, although i seriously hope not...most transfers are cool with me, this one measures close to Ronaldo leaving to Inter Milan relating to Eto'o leaving Barca that is.

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JOGO BONITA!

Henry 'will stay' at Arsenal

Thierry Henry's agent has threatened legal action over a story linking the Arsenal captain with a move to Barcelona.

France Football published a report saying the Gunners striker had already agreed terms with the Catalan club to move to the Nou Camp next season and sign for the side he spurned to agree a new four-year Arsenal contract last summer.

But Jerome Anderson, Henry's representative, has reacted angrily to the reports and has insisted that the France international is not seeking a move to the Spanish giants.

"No meetings have ever taken place between Jerome Anderson and Barcelona in France or anywhere else, and Jerome Anderson will be seeking legal advice against France Football," a statement released on Anderson's behalf read.

The on-off transfer saga involving Henry's potential departure from Arsenal has rumbled on for months, with it seeming likely that he would swap the Gunners for Barca last summer.

Rumours have resurfaced this summer after an inauspicious season for the mercurial Frenchman coupled with a string of injuries and another year without silverware at the Emirates.

Those factors and the uncertainty surrounding manager Arsene Wenger's future at the club in the wake of the departure of vice-chairman and key ally David Dein has added strength to the speculation.

Henry himself has admitted that he has been flattered by suggestions that European champions AC Milan want him at the San Siro, although he has always insisted he remains committed to Arsenal.

Henry joined Arsenal in 1999 and has gone on to become the club's record goalscorer, breaking the record set by Ian Wright.

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Ajax starlet Ryan Babel has conceded it would be 'a dream' to play under Arsene Wenger at Emirates Stadium. - PLANET FOOTBALL

Arsenal are understood to be taking a keen interest in the Ajax player who is currently starring for Holland in the European Under 21 Championship.

Babel - who scored in the 2-1 win over Portugal on Wednesday - has now admitted he would leap at the chance to work with the Frenchman in North London.

"If I get the chance one day to train with Arsene Wenger it would be a dream," said Babel.

"From when I was young I supported Arsenal. I liked the style, the ambience, how they show themselves on the field - everything."

Babel was also linked with a move to Newcastle in January, whilst talk of Arsenal's interest was fuelled when the young forward was spotted in London visiting his good friend Robin van Persie at the turn of the year.

The 20-year-old admits he is keen to test himself in the demanding arena of the Premier League.

Babel added: "I think it's maybe the best league, it's a very high level and there is good football."

(SOURCE = PLANET FOOTBALL). Arsenal have reached an agreement with FK Haugesund to sign starlet Havard Nordveit, according to reports in Norway.

Arsene Wenger has been keen to tie up a deal for the 16-year-old defender and travelled to Norway earlier this week in hope of sealing his signing.

However, The Gunners had a bid in the region of £1.8million rebuffed by Haugesund, who then invited other top European clubs to table their bids.

Arsenal have now come back with an improved offer of £2million which has been accepted by the Norwegian club.

Nordveit is understood to have agreed a four-year contract at Emirates Stadium and the deal will officially go through on 2nd July.

The young stopper will travel with the rest of the Arsenal squad on their pre-season tour of Asia.

(SOURCE = PLANET FOOTBALL) Former Arsenal great Patrick Vieira has called on The Gunners to clear up the confusion surrounding the club.

The North Londoners recently lost the services of vice-chairman David Dein, while manager Arsene Wenger's long-term future remains unclear.

Wenger has one year left on his deal and many are worried the long-serving French tactician's tenure may be coming to an end.

Coupled with the constant speculation surrounding Thierry Henry's future, Vieira believes the club's current crop of players need stability as a platform for success.

"It is a difficult time for Arsenal because the players need to know what's going to happen," he told the Sunday Mirror.

"Arsenal are going through a difficult period - so many things have happened in the last few days.

"David Dein has left and, whether you like him or not, he has been a fantastic servant for the club.

"One has gone now so the base is not as strong as it used to be. All the speculation affects the team.

"Players need to know who's going to be the manager, which players are coming and which are going.

"If Arsenal do lose Thierry Henry it will be a big blow for the club and for the players who stay there."

(SOURCE = PLANET FOOTBALL) Arsenal's board will not stand in Arsene Wenger's way should he decide to sell Thierry Henry, according to managing director Keith Edelman.

The Gunners boss reportedly met with Barcelona officials in Paris last week to discuss a potential deal for the club captain and Arsenal's record goalscorer.

The debate surrounding Henry's future has reached fever pitch in recent weeks and, since the end of the season, the North London club have made no public guarantees that the French international will be staying at Emirates Stadium.

With David Dein having left the club, Wenger now holds all the power in terms of comings and goings, and Edelman admits the Arsenal board will respect any decision he makes over Henry's future.

"These are decisions for Arsene, it's his job to manage the team and it would be up to him," said Edelman in The Mail on Sunday.

"That's how we've always worked with Arsene.

"He will decide about the players. The board would be involved but we will do what Arsene asks us to."

(SOURCE = PLANET FOOTBALL) Ludovic Giuly has angrily hit out at French media reports which claimed Thierry Henry had contacted him regarding a possible move to Barcelona.

France Football suggested that Henry had sounded out Giuly regarding life in Catalunya, as talk of a move to Camp Nou continues to surround the Arsenal captain.

However, Barca's Giuly has dismissed the report in the strongest possible terms, claiming he has had no dialogue with his friend Henry about any interest from the Spanish club.

"Titi didn't call me to talk about his transfer to Barcelona," Giuly told Stade 2. "France Football say b******t.

"He hasn't asked me to find him a house, I am not an estate agent and I think that he is old enough to phone an agent on his own."

(SOURCE = PLANET FOOTBALL) Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood appears to be warming to American tycoon Stan Kroenke following a meeting this week.

The Gunners board were initially cautious of the Colorado Rapids owner, whose Sports Enterprises UK group holds a 12.19 per cent holding in the club.

Kroenke has been linked with a possible takeover of Arsenal ever since the shock exit of former vice-chairman David Dein in April.

Hill-Wood has previously made it clear that Kroenke's interest was unwanted, saying 'we don't need his money and we don't want his sort'.

However, he now looks willing to work with Kroenke as Arsenal aim to compete with the big-spending Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Hill-Wood and Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman held face-to-face talks with Kroenke in New York this week and they were apparently fruitful.

"It went perfectly well," said Hill-Wood.

"I hope we will be able to work with him in the future just as we would with any interested people."

(SOURCE = PLANET FOOTBALL) Cesc Fabregas is not fazed by criticism that Arsenal were 'over-elaborate' last season.

The Gunners played some of the most attractive football in the Premier League last term, but lacked a killer instinct in front of goal.

Fabregas accepts the end product was missing from the intricate approach play, but feels that is simply Arsenal's style.

"What can I say? The only thing that's been missing this year has been the goal after so many opportunities," Fabregas told The Official Arsenal Season review 2006/07, ITV DVD.

"I don't mind people saying we over-elaborate it. We are the players, we play.

"So I know the way I like to play. I know the way all my team-mates like to play and that's what we do.

"But just the goal has been missing and it's the most important thing in football."

The Spanish midfielder also reiterated his admiration for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger for retaining faith in his promise.

Fabregas added: "The best thing he's done to me is I know he had confidence in me.

"And it was just me. I had to show him I was good enough to be in the team.

"Sometimes I still had bad games and he still believed in me."