Soccer:Faced with the prospect of losing a host of stars this summer, Arsene Wenger is reported to be preparing a bid in excess of €12.5 million for Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle. Wolves have already insisted they intend to keep Doyle at Molineux but a big-money offer could sway their thinking.

Arsenal appear likely to lose Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Nicolas Bendtner and Gael Clichy, with the latter understood to be having a medical at Manchester City today. While he may be loathe to let such important players leave the club, Wenger will be given the opportunity to re-invest the funds and the Frenchman is known to be an admirer of Doyle.

Wenger made preliminary enquiries about signing Doyle for Arsenal 12 months ago and this time around, despite a season disrupted by injury, the Wexfordman has been linked with a number of other Premier League outfits as well as a couple of mainland European sides.

Doyle is halfway through a four-year deal at Molineux but manager Mick McCarthy has admitted in the past he could not stop the Arsenal taking his star striker if the right fee was forthcoming. Wenger could also turn his attentions to Shay Given after losing out on Maarten Stekelenburg. The Ajax number one is close to agreeing to move to Roma, leaving Wenger in the market for a new goalkeeper.

Manchester United John O’Shea, meanwhile, will complete his proposed move to Sunderland by the middle of this week if Steve Bruce has his way. The Sunderland manager has made a joint bid for O’Shea, Darron Gibson and Wes Brown but has also agreed an individual fee with United for O’Shea worth around €3.5 million.

Bruce is hoping to conclude a deal for the defender before his players come back in for pre-season training on Wednesday.