Transfer talk: Olivier Giroud expected to stay at Arsenal, as is Riyad Mahrez with Leicester City

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Striker Olivier Giroud is likely to stay at Arsenal, his agent Michael Manuello has said, playing down speculation linking the France international with a move to Italy's Napoli.

Uncertainty surrounding the 29-year-old’s future intensified after British media suggested that he had been included in a deal to bring Napoli’s Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain to the Emirates Stadium.

Manager Arsene Wenger failed to sign Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy, and Manuello suggested that any incoming striker would be a replacement for the injured Danny Welbeck, not for Giroud.

“Everything I’ve read on Giroud is not true. I personally have only said that if Arsenal want to sell, then we will see,” Manuello told London’s Evening Standard.

“I do not know where (the Napoli story) came from. We never talked to Naples and there are no other persons appointed over me that can do this - we need to clarify this.

“You always need two strikers and Welbeck is out for (a total of) nine months, unfortunately. But if you play in a great team, it is natural that we could face strong competition.”

Arsenal, who finished second in the Premier League last season, begin their new campaign on Aug. 14, when they host Liverpool.

(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Ranieri expects Mahrez to stay

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri is confident Riyad Mahrez will stay at the club after midfielder N'Golo Kante's Chelsea move triggered speculation that the influential winger could follow suit.

Leicester have already had to fight off advances from several clubs to keep striker Jamie Vardy and left wing-back Jeffrey Schlupp and Ranieri was certain of retaining the majority of the Premier League title-winning squad.

Mahrez remains the subject of interest from several clubs, including Spanish champions Barcelona, according to the British media, while Vardy rejected Arsenal and signed a new deal at Leicester last month.

“Only Kante wanted to go – that’s okay. But I understood him, he came from a little team in France and had a fantastic season. I said to him stay with us and have another year with us but he wanted to go,” Ranieri told British media.

“Everybody here is happy and, yes, he wants to stay. No other players will go away – we will stay together. The football continues without Riyad or without Kante but Riyad will stay with us for all of the years. It’s important to maintain the group, with the spirit, with the humility – that’s important for me.”

Leicester will kick off their title defence with a trip to the KC Stadium, where they will face promoted Hull City on Aug. 13.

Liverpool seal deal for Estonia defender Klavan

Liverpool have finalised the signing of Estonia defender Ragnar Klavan from Augsburg, the Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday.

Klavan agreed a “long-term contract” after passing a medical at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground and will cost the Reds a reported £4.2 million (Dh 22.2 million.13 $5.5 million, 5 million euros).

The 30-year-old has won over 100 caps for Estonia and is well known to Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp, a former Borussia Dortmund coach, after spending four seasons playing in the Bundesliga.

Klavan, who featured in both legs of Augsburg’s Europa League last-32 tie against Liverpool in February, will provide cover at centre-back as Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez are both currently injured and Tiago Ilori is heading to the Olympics with Portugal.

The defender is Klopp’s fifth close-season signing, following the arrival of goalkeeper Loris Karius, defender Joel Matip, midfielder Marko Grujic and forward Sadio Mane.

Sevilla add Italian midfielder

Sevilla have completed the signing of Italy international Franco Vazquez from Palermo on a five-year contract, the Europa League champions announced.

The 27-year-old attacking midfielder has put pen to paper on a deal that ties him to the club until June 2021. Sevilla announced in a statement: “Franco Vazquez is officially a new Sevilla FC player.

“He has signed a five-year contract.”

Atletico did not give any financial details regarding the transfer fee but the Spanish media have estimated that Sevilla paid Palermo 12million euros.

Vazquez arrived at Palermo in January 2012 and played 73 Serie A games for the Sicilian club in the last two seasons, scoring 18 goals and setting up 17 more.

The Argentina-born player has already had a stint in Spain, playing on loan at La Liga side Rayo Vallecano from Palermo in the 2012-13 campaign, scoring three goals in 18 games.

West Ham waiting on Sakho

Diafra Sakho will not be sold until West Ham United find replacements for the striker, the Premier League side’s co-chairman David Sullivan has said.

The 26-year-old Senegalese scored five times in 21 league appearances after missing much of last season with a thigh muscle strain and, according to British media, handed a transfer request to leave the club.

West Ham have already signed wingers Sofiane Feghouli and Gokhan Tore and defender Havard Nordtveit, but sold James Tomkins to Crystal Palace.

“He is not for sale until we get players in. Until we bring strikers in, we simply cannot let strikers go. James Tomkins was different because we had a surplus in the centre-half department,” Sullivan told the Mirror.

“But until we get at least a couple of strikers we can’t let any forward go. I am a little concerned because I’d like to have signed one by now. But it is what it is.”

Norwich add Irish keeper

Norwich City have signed Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern on a three-year-deal, the Championship club have said.

McGovern, whose heroics in goal helped Northern Ireland to the last 16 of Euro 2016 in their first major competition since the 1986 World Cup finals, was a free agent after his contract with struggling Scottish side Hamilton Academical expired.

The 32-year-old’s arrival sees him reunite with Norwich manager Alex Neil, who previously signed the keeper in 2014 while he was the player-manager of the Scottish side.

“Having worked with the gaffer before, that was a big pull for me. I had some interest from elsewhere but I’m really looking forward to working with him again now at Norwich,” McGovern told the club’s website (www.canaries.co.uk).

The Canaries were relegated in their first season back in England’s top flight, finishing second bottom of the table with 34 points.

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