SOCCER AND TRANSFER NEWS 21-06-2013

Arsenal are set to make 25-year-old striker GonzaloHiguain the club's highest-paid player once atransfer fee is agreed with Real Madrid, accordingto the London Evening Standard.

West Ham United sign Danny Whitehead from Conference North side Stockport County for an undisclosed fee.

England international Jay Bothroyd is released from his contract by QPR.Bothroyd joined QPR on a free transfer in the summer of 2011 and signed a three-year deal, but the club had the option of releasing him after two years.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas is quoted in Spanish national daily sports newspaper Marca saying Gareth Bale will not be leaving White Hart Lane this summer despite Real Madrid's very public pursuit of the player."We have the pledge of the chairman that Bale is not going to leave the club," Villas-Boas says.

Chelsea defender David Luiz requires surgery after suffering a broken nose playing for Brazil. The 26-year-old incurred the injury in a collision with team-mate Thiago Silva during Wednesday's 2-0 win over Mexico in the Confederations Cup.

Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard is 35 today.Lampard joined Chelsea in an £11m move from West Ham in June 2001 and has gone on to score 203 goals in 609 appearances in all competitions for the Blues. He has also won 97 caps for England.

A Spanish judge summons Barcelona's Lionel Messi to court over tax fraud allegations.Messi, and his father are accused of defrauding the Spanish authorities of more than £3.4m. They are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use Messi'simage. They both deny the allegations.

Manchester City hope to complete a £21m deal for Malaga midfielder Isco in the next 48 hours. There were fears Real Madrid could hijack City's move for the 21-year-old, who indicated on Thursday that a deal with the Blues could be tied up over the weekend.

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