Arsenal Raise Andrei Arshavin Bid - Report

UK tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Arsenal have tabled a bid of €13.5 million, plus a potential €6 million in add-ons, for Zenit St. Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin.

The North London club recently offered around €11 million (£10 million) for the 27-year-old, but the 2008 UEFA Cup winners turned it down as it fell well short of their valuation.

"I can confirm that Zenit did get an official offer from Arsenal about Andrei Arshavin. It was rejected as insufficient," said Zenit spokesperson Alexei Petrov.

"They offered about £10m. No new offers have arrived from them since. At the moment, Arsenal are the only club to have approached us about the player."

The Russian giants are thought to be holding out for around €20 million, and it seems the Gunners are edging closer with each trip to the negotiating table.

Arsenal left it late to defeat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 in the Premier League yesterday.(Goal.com)

Manchester City To Beat Arsenal To Andrei Arshavin - Report

Manchester City are reportedly set to beat Arsenal in the race for Zenit St Petersburg striker Andrei Arshavin, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Zenit have previously admitted they have been in discussions with the Gunners over a proposed transfer for Arshavin and it had been reported that the Russian side rejected Arsenal’s initial bid.

Whilst the Gunners are believed to have returned with an improved offer, they still appear to have fallen short of Zenit’s asking price with the striker’s wage demands also a potential problem.

However, City, who appear to have limitless financial resources following their takeover, are reportedly ready to hijack the deal and bring Arshavin to Eastlands.

The Sunday Mirror reports that the Sky Blues have agreed an £18 million deal with Zenit and that club official’s have also met with the striker and agreed to meet his wage demands.

Should the report prove to be correct it would undoubtedly be a huge blow to Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger, who appeared to have made Arshavin their primary transfer target.

City, meanwhile, have already added Wayne Bridge to their ranks from Chelsea, yet have been frustrated so far in their attempts to add further players to their squad.

A bid for Blackburn Rovers’ striker Roque Santa Cruz has been rejected by Sam Allardyce's men and the Sky Blues have also so far failed in their attempts to sign West Ham United pair Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy.(Goal.com)

Cristiano Ronaldo selected as FIFA World Player Of The Year

Cristiano Ronaldo beat off competition from Lionel Messi, Xavi, as well as Fernando Torres, and last year’s winner Kaka, to win the FIFA World Player of the Year Award with a total of 935 vote points.

In second place was Barcelona star Lionel Messi with 678, while Liverpool striker Fernando Torres finished third with 203.

AC Milan star Kaka was not far behind in fourth with 183, while Barcelona's Xavi ended up fifth with 155.

The attacking wideman had a magnificent 2007/08 season, scoring 42 goals for Manchester United, and capturing the Premier League, Champions League and European Golden Boot. He followed this up this term by lifting the Club World Cup in Japan.

Ronaldo caps off a clean sweep of the major awards, having also picked up the prestigious Ballon d'Or (European Footballer of the Year) at the end of 2008.

The 23-year-old becomes the first English-based player to be named FIFA World Player of the Year, and only the second Portuguese, following in the footsteps of Luis Figo, who triumphed in 2001.

In the women's category, Brazilian sensation Marta was victorious, winning for the third year in succession.

The FIFA Fair Play Awards went jointly to the Armenia and Turkey Football Federations for the work they did in helping bring the two countries together politically, socially and football-wise.

The FIFA Presidential Award was presented to the United States Women's National Team.(Goal.com)