TRANFER GIST - Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff slips out of Arsenal's hands Man Utd fail to lure Juan Fernando Quinterobut Liverpool could still get Wesley Sneijder and lots more

JAN 18th 2013

NOT for the first time, Arsenal are dithering in the
transfer market and it could cost them dear. The
Metro reports that the Gunners have yet to make a
move for Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, much to
the bewilderment of chairman Jean-Michel Aulas
who's been waiting for his phone to ring.
As we reported earlier in the week, Arsenal boss
Arsene Wenger is known to be a big fan of the 26-
year-old French international but the Nutty Professor
continues to keep his distance.
The Metro reports that when Aulas was asked by
French sports channel beIN Sport if Wenger has been
in touch to discuss a transfer, the chairman replied:
"I don't know about any offers. I have never spoken
with Arsenal."
Gourcuff moved to Lyon from Bordeaux in 2010 but
hasn't reproduced his form of the past and stories
emerged at the weekend that he could be offered to
Arsenal in a "a cut-price deal". Lyon paid £20m for
the former AC Milan playmaker but it's believed they
would be willing to drop their asking price to half that
amount.
Italian rag Gazzetta dello Sport reports that
Manchester United have failed in their bid to lure
Juan Fernando Quintero to Old Trafford. The 19-
year-old Colombian midfielder has been in sparkling
form for Pescara this season and that's prompted
interest from the Premier League leaders.
But asked by Gazzetta dello Sport if he was tempted
by the prospect of playing for United, the teenager
declared: "United? No, I like Inter." Asked why,
Quintero explained: "Because they have a lot of
South Americans at the club. And I'm happy in Italy."
Quintero is valued at £10m and it's believed that
Inter could make a play for him within the next
fortnight.
Talking of Inter, Liverpool may not be out of the
running for Wesley Sneijder after Turkish outfit
Galatasaray revealed that they "have hit a hitch" in
their transfer negotiations with the Italian club.
According to Talksport, the Dutchman was set to be
officially unveiled as a Galatasaray earlier in the week
but there is now a financial problem that could
scupper the deal and allow Liverpool to nip in for the
28-year-old midfielder. "There are no problems
between us and him, there is an agreement," said
Galatasaray director Bulent Tulun. "The problem is an
economic one with Inter over £1.6m."
Finally, the race is on to sign Swansea marksman
Danny Graham with Sunderland and Norwich both
vying for the striker's hand. The BBC claims
Sunderland have made "a formal bid" for the 27-
year-old, while Sky Sports reports that the Canaries
have tabled a bid of £5m.
Graham, who joined Swansea from Watford in 2011
in a £3.5m deal, has played second fiddle to Spanish
ace Michu for much of this season and that's
allegedly led to his seeking a fresh start. Sky claims
that Newcastle, Reading and QPR are also interested
in Graham and Swansea will likely bide their time in
the hope of a bidding war erupting.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN