The Gunners have stepped up their pursuit of the Swansea City central defender, who is also attracting strong interest from Liverpool, while Barcelona target Thomas Vermaelen

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | UK Correspondent

Arsenal held talks with representatives of Swansea City defender Ashley s last week, Goal.com can reveal.

s’ camp visited the London club for discussions as Arsenal stepped up their interest in the centre-back.

The Gunners are ready to go head to head with Liverpool this summer in a bid to prise the £12 million-rated defender from Swansea.

Arsene Wenger is a big admirer of the 28-year-old, who he believes has the calibre and battle-hardened Premier League experience to beef up a defence that has been found wanting against the leading clubs this season.

Arsenal are also keeping close tabs on highly rated Marseille centre-back Nicolas N’Koulou, 23, who has admitted he could leave the French club this summer.

The north Londoners are preparing for an overhaul of their back line this summer, with a new goalkeeper, right-back and leader of the central defence their main priorities.

As revealed by Goal.com, Arsenal have already made an enquiry to sign Sochaux right-back Sebastien Corchia and they have now begun formalising their central defensive plans.

s turns 29 in August but he has played the best football of his career over the last two seasons, playing an instrumental role in both establishing Swansea as a Premier League club and their League Cup triumph this season.

Arsenal face strong competition for the Wales captain from Liverpool, who have targeted s to reinforce a defence that is likely to be deprived of Martin Skrtel and Sebastien Coates this summer, as well as the retiring Jamie Carragher.

Liverpool can offer s a reunion with his former manager Brendan Rodgers as well as a nailed-on first-team spot, although Arsenal are increasingly likely to be able to provide the carrot of Champions League football.

The Gunners made a deadline-day bid for Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Amorebieta in January but the Venezuelan, 28, had dropped off the radar even before agreeing to sign for Fulham. 

Arsenal, who will allow veteran Sebastien Squillaci to leave on a free at the end of the season, have no plans to sell Per Mertesacker or Laurent Koscielny but could be willing to listen to offers for Thomas Vermaelen, who is attracting strong interest from Barcelona.

The runaway Spanish league leaders are in the market for a left-sided centre-back and the Arsenal club captain is believed to be one of those on their shortlist.

Vermaelen, who is rated in the £15m bracket, was axed from the Arsenal team in March following a series of mixed displays and only regained his place against Norwich City last Saturday due to Mertesacker‘s suspension.

The German returns to the squad for the Premier League visit of Everton on Tuesday.

Thousands of football fans filled Anfield to pay tribute to the 96 lives that were lost on April 15 1989, fuelled by a quest for justice against those culpable for their loss

By Jeremy Butler

For 24 years Liverpool have been commemorating the 96 fans who died watching their team at an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough.

But on Monday, for the first time, the mass of fans who flock to the club’s famous Kop end on an annual basis arrived with hope in their hearts.

Hope that a campaign to bring justice for the 96 was finally coming to a conclusion, with those they feel responsible for the disaster being brought to order.

And also a sense of satisfaction that an independent panel report had swept away the lies that claimed Liverpool supporters had caused the tragedy.

It was a myth that has hung over the service for far too long and meant the palpable grief was always multiplied by anger.

After 24 years of crying, the tears still flow but that anger is slowly starting to subside.

Margaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group and mother of James, who died on that heart-breaking day, delivered the most powerful speech of the afternoon.

She said: “After 24 years the truth is finally out and the record has finally been put straight.

“It has taken 8,551 dark days and a report to expose what we have known from day one – the fans were not to blame.”

The calls for justice no longer sound hollow and a campaign that has included a number one single and support from clubs across Britain is finally expected to bring some closure.

After a weekend of unrest at Wembley and in Newcastle, Anfield proved that the power of the game can unite communities and bring fans together in a common cause.

The tragedy is a grief carried by the families of the 96 but shared by a nation of football loving fans who understand nobody should die when they go to watch their team play.

The city of Liverpool had already marked the occasion before Liverpool threw open the Anfield doors to all-comers wishing to pay their respects.

A grand-father clock, its hands stopped at 3.06 to mark the time the game was abandoned, was undraped at Liverpool Town Hall and a seven-feet high bronze drum-shaped monument with the names of the lost inscribed in it was unveiled at St George’s Hall.

But it is the service at Anfield that is always the focus of any memorial to the 96.

It is on the Kop, Liverpool’s most famous of terraces, where the families of those who died and the folk of a city unite in sorrow.

Just as before every home game, many stopped at the memorial on the Anfield Road on their way in. Some with a single rose in hand, some in Everton shirts, many with pushchairs and prams.

And just as before every match, those who studied the names struggled to comprehend the youthful ages of so many of those who died at Hillsborough.

The 96 who went to watch a football game but never came home.

Many of those who climbed the steps of the imposing Kop this afternoon had been in Sheffield 24 years ago to witness the horror.

Liverpool’s manager back then, Kenny Dalglish, who carried such a heavy burden at the time in comforting the families of those who had lost loved ones, was in attendance.

As were some of his players on that day like Alan Hansen and Ian Rush. They were clapped to their seats as loudly as the families who filled the front rows alongside them.

They sat shoulder to shoulder with the current Liverpool squad, all of whom know the pain Hillsborough has caused this city whether they grew up in Bootle or Brazil.

The sombre service, punctuated with readings and hymns, started with a choir singing Abide With Me before the names of each of a 96 was read out as a candle was lit in their memory. A minute’s silence was held at 3.06.

Brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers – sometimes two, on occasions three from the same family – in a sad list in a book of remembrance that is far too full.

A standing ovation greeted each and every name that was read out.

Liverpool’s owner John W Henry spoke of how the families’ search for truth and justice had “humbled” him.

“Now there is a real belief justice will be served,” he said. “This club will always cherish the memory of family and friends who were lost 24 years ago today. They will forever be a part of Liverpool Football Club.”

He was followed by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, offering support in a city where reds and blues live as neighbours.

Speaking to a crowd where Everton mixed with Liverpool, as friends rather than rivals, he said: “My life will never be the same after today, I promise you that.

“Like all of you I watched that documentary a few weeks back.  There were two words that were mentioned an awful lot.  The two most important words in the English language. ‘Me mom’.

“We’ve all got mums. And you mums here today, I appreciate the pain you would have felt on that day.  The 96 are here with you today as much as they’ve always been.

“I hope that next year you’ll be celebrating the greatest victory any team has ever had – not just in football, but in life.”

It was an emotional speech by Kenwright, but it was left to Mrs Aspinall to close the ceremony. She demanded the culpable face justice once again, before the Liverpool anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” provided a poignant finale.

Never has a song been so relevant.

The 24-year-old striker is currently on loan from Liverpool but the Hammers boss admits new financial laws could prevent a permanent move to Upton Park

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce admits the club are unlikely to sign Andy Carroll on a permanent deal from Liverpool due to the striker’s wage demands.

The 24-year-old forward, who is currently on loan at Upton Park from Brendan Rodgers’ side, has scored six goals in 18 Premier League appearances this term.

As from next season, Premier League clubs could be in danger of losing points and being fined after a rules to limit wage bills and cap the losses sides can make to £105 million over three years were ratified last Thursday.

“The hardest thing is the overall package and the overall negotiation that needs to go on and make it is sustainable,” Allardyce told reporters.

“I point to financial restrictions being implemented next season that could blow the whole deal, in one go. Financially, you’re restricted to be able to do it.

“In one fell swoop the financial restrictions mean we won’t be able to sign Andy Carroll from Liverpool because it is too expensive, even if we wanted him, which we do.

“Someone will have a bigger and better budget than us probably but this is what is going to happen.”