The Departures Lounge: Walcott's wanted by City

The Arsenal winger could be out the door before Friday.

WITH JUST TWO days to go before Deadline Day, here are the top transfer stories we’ve ~~made up off the top of our heads~~ sourced this morning.

First up is word on the grapevine that Theo Walcott could soon be swapping Arsenal for Manchester City. The 23-year-old winger, who was linked with Liverpool earlier this summer, is in the final year of his contract at the Gunners and, after talks over his future reportedly broke down, Arsene Wenger may choose to sell.

Last season’s title winners City were hoping to add Swansea winger Scott Sinclair to their ranks but the Welsh club have rejected a bid nearing €8m and former Southampton player Walcott is now believed to be their main target.

Spurs are certain to be busy over the next 58 hours or so and following on from last night’s news that Fulham have accepted an €18 million offer from their fellow Londoners for Moussa Dembele, they are reportedly close to tying up the capture of French No1 Hugo Lloris.

Discussions over personal terms are already underway and Lyon will part company with their goalkeeper for around €15m. And there could be more to follow. In a final clearout, Jermain Defoe and Rafael van der Vaart may be offloaded with Malaga’s Isco, Joao Moutinho or Estaban Granero of Real Madrid possible candidates to arrive.

Going?

Across Europe there are a couple of big money moves to bring you… and news of Joey Barton.

Athletic Bilbao’s versatile Spanish international Javi Martinez has passed a medical at Bayern Munich ahead of a Bundesliga record move for €40 million. But in a twist, the Basque club have released a statement saying they did not give him permission to travel to Germany. So watch this space.

Fans of the Russian Premier League are surely looking forward to singing: “You’re not incredible…” with news that Zenit St Petersburg are about to clinch the relatively shot signature of Hulk. Porto’s powerful Brazilian will cost somewhere in the region of €50 million.

Credit: Twitter

Joseph Barton, as he wishes to be called these days, was “heartbroken” earlier in the week when he discovered that a proposed switch to Marseille had hit a snag. However, it looks like the deal is back on as he tweeted this photo of a private jet earlier today with the words: “En route to Marseille”.

Going?

Another player who is on his way out of the Premier League is Manchester United’s outcast Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian hitman has been nowhere near Alex Ferguson’s first team plans this season and his nightmare will end when he seals a move to Serie A with Fiorentina.

In other news related to the Florence outfit, Man City have agreed to take 19-year-old Serbian defender Matija Nastasic with Stefan Savic going in the other direction.

Elsewhere, Nicklaus Bendtner could join AC Milan for a cut-price €6m while Turkish giants Fenerbahce want Chelsea’s injury-prone Michael Essien and fellow midfielder Raul Meireles.