Jegsports

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger knows he needs Champions League qualification for his planned spending spree to be successful this summer. The Mirror says Wenger is planning the biggest and most ambitious spending spree of his 17 years in north London this summer. He has a £70million war-chest and is under pressure from fans and the Arsenal hierarchy to actually use the kitty - available because of the club's new sponsorship deal with Emirates and the huge Premier League TV contract that comes into effect next season. Wenger is confident he'll be able to land Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic - providing the Gunners finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.

Former Derby County, Plymouth and Inter Milan defender Taribo West has been accused of lying about his age. The former Nigeria centre half, now retired, joined Serbian team Partizan Belgrade in 2002 after leaving Derby County and told club bosses he was 28. But now the ex-president of Partizan, Zarko Zecevic, has accused him of lying, saying the defender was actually 40. 'He joined us saying he was 28. We only later found out he was 40, but he was still playing well so I don’t regret having him on the team,' Zecevic said. But according to the Croatian media, the former defender known for his colourful hairstyles also lied when trying to join Croatia’s Rijeka club. At the age of 44, they said West told club doctors he was only 32. It was only after an examination that the doctors raised suspicions with the club because West’s knees suggested he was older. He wasn’t signed to the team but later joined Plymouth and then Iranian side Paykan FC, where he ended his career at ...

He's not known for spectacular goals, he doesn't go past players with a string of stepovers and his team are battling relegation - from the German Second Division. Yet, should Leon Goretzka declare this summer that he's ready to leave hometown VfL Bochum, he will have the pick of Europe's biggest clubs. Goretzka has already denied fielding a call from Bayern Munich football chief Mattias Sammer, Hannover have failed with a bid and Borussia Dortmund are promising him first-choice status in their exciting midfield. But the interest is not just local, Real Madrid have been in contact with Bochum about the 18 year-old, Arsenal chief scout Steve Rowley has been a regular visitor for the past 12 months and local media sources insist Manchester United are also actively sounding out their German contacts for a lowdown on Goretzka. Former Germany international Darius Wosz is youth coach at Bochum and not surprised about the hype around Goretzka. "He is an exceptional ...

Flamengo are exploring the prospect of bringing Real Madrid midfielder Kaka back to Brazil. Despite an upturn in form in recent months, Kaka's future at Real remains clouded, with suggestions he will be part of a clearout planned by president Florentino Perez. Calciomercato.com says Flamengo are keen to bring Kaka back home and are in talks with adidas about helping fund a deal for the midfielder. Adidas are in talks with Fla about a kit sponsorship, which could be expanded to include helping bankroll Kaka's signing.