TRANSFER RUMOURS: Lewandowski to Manchester United, Arsenal target to Juve and Cavani to Chelsea

Lewandowski to Manchester United

12/12/12: Hans-Joachim Watzke, club executive: “As often as I am talking to Robert, I do not have the impression he wants to leave us. We will have to make decisions in this case at the end of the season. We may decide on economical factors. Would it be best to cash in a big fee? Or would it be even better to keep Lewandowski to ensure we are more likely to qualify for the Champions League with him in our side, as this would guarantee us big income? It’s a decision we will have to take. It’s our decision. It’s not something to be decided by others.”

28/2/13 – Michael Zorc, Borussia Dortmund sporting director: “Robert Lewandowski is not going to sign a new contract. We will have to see if he is going to be on the move in the summer. His contract runs until 2014. There are two options. Either he goes in June or he stays for another year.”

21/4/13 – Sir Alex Ferguson, then Manchester United manager: “Big signings? You are normally talking about forwards but it’s complicated enough as it is with the forwards I’ve got.” On his interest in Lewandowski: “Yeah, but Bayern Munich are strong with that too. We just have to wait and see where we are in terms of if we win the league. Then it may be different.”

25/4/13 – Maik Barthel, Lewandowski’s agent: “We are in agreement with a club and have the right to change this summer. All the claims of Dortmund are met.”

9/6/13 – Michael Zorc: “We have communicated to the player and his advisers that we will not agree to a transfer to FC Bayern this summer.”

10/6/13 – Reports emerge linking Manchester United with renewed interest in Lewandowski after the relationship has soured between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund following the sale of Gotze.

Higuain to Juventus

27/5/12 – Higuain: “I am excited by what is to come at Madrid and with the Argentina national team. I am going through a great moment. I have won La Liga with Madrid and I am with the national team again. I want to enjoy this. Madrid’s last match really touched me. The fact that all the fans asked me to stay, that my team-mates even thought about asking me that, or even Sergio Ramos’ comments before the game. This was one of the best moments, if not the best moment that I have experienced at this club, in these five years. These are the memories that will stay with you forever.”

4/6/13 – Higuain: “There have already been offers and I hope that Madrid do the best for me and themselves. Arsenal? They would suit me, I’m still young and I have goals.”

7/6/13 – Reports claim that Arsene Wenger has met with Higuain and his father Jorge in Paris.

10/6/13: Beppe Marotta, Juventus general manger: “Higuain is a great player but Real Madrid are looking to appoint their new coach and therefore they have not yet defined their market strategies. Consequently, Higuain is not on the market for the moment but when a new coach is appointed we will talk again with Real Madrid.”

Cavani to Chelsea

5/2/13 – Cavani: “I know nothing about Arsenal’s interest,” Cavani told Radio Onda Cero. “I have only heard about it now. My future? I have a contract for four years but in football you never know what to expect. Barcelona and Real Madrid are teams which stimulate the imagination. But I only think about the present.”

30/5/13 – Cavani: “It’s all a mystery and no-one knows what will happen. Eventually it will all be sorted. There is nothing concrete at the moment. Only when you sign a contract are you part of a team. It is not a distraction for me. I’m comfortable with what I do.”

7/6/13 – Aurelio De Laurentiis, Napoli president: “The budget for the transfer market will be based in relation to the Financial Fair Play rules. If Cavani is sold then I’ll reinvest all of the €63million (£53.5m) of his release clause. There is interest from Chelsea in Cavani, they’ll call me in the next few hours. I’ll be delighted if he stays, but if he leaves then he will be adequately replaced.”

10/6/13 – Reports emerge that Rafa Benitez is keen to bring Fernando Torres to Napoli in a part-exchange deal for Cavani.