Gunners close on Almunia

Arsenal are still refusing to confirm the £500,000 (€749,092) signing of Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia from Celta Vigo but the deal is expected to go through within the next 48 hours.

A sticking point may be that Celta Vigo still owe the Gunners around £1m (€1.5m) on their signing of former Highbury full-back Silvinho two years ago and negotiations could revolve around how much of the Brazilian’s valuation will be wiped off by Almunia’s arrival in north London.