Transfer news...

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Wesley Sneijder would tap into Sir Alex Ferguson's tactical anarchy[/h] Despite the manager's denials of interest, the Dutch midfielder's creative skills might enable Manchester United to close the gap on Barcelona

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Wesley Sneijder's best displays for Holland and Internazionale have come from a secure platform in front of two holding midfielders. Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Wesley Sneijder is a classic trequartista. To Sir Alex Ferguson this makes him both an incredibly attractive £35m target and a whole load of potential tactical trouble.
Trequartista, the Italian for three-quarters, has come to encapsulate an exquisite breed of footballer rarely found in England, whose natural habitat is the hole between central midfield and attack. Generally reliant on imagination and incision rather than speed and strength, these quintessential No10s are not quite secondary strikers but rather attacking playmakers occupying advanced, as opposed to deep-lying, roles.
Herein lies Manchester United's dilemma and, just possibly, explains why Ferguson has distanced himself from reports he was poised to sign the Dutch international from Internazionale.
Other disincentives include Sneijder's £190,000-a-week wages and the fact that he does not fit into United's policy of buying players aged 26 and under. Although such managerial denials could very easily be part of a smokescreen, Ferguson famously declined a chance to acquire Zinedine Zidane – a not entirely dissimilar player – from Bordeaux because he was unsure where he would fit into his side.
Since then United's manager has largely abandoned a 4-4-2 framework for more sophisticated configurations but unless Sneijder were deployed in a less influential, deeper-lying role, doing business with Inter would inevitably prompt a tricky recalibration of United's attacking assets.
If it is easy to envisage him at the apex of the diamond formation regularly deployed by Chelsea in recent seasons, no one seems sure whether accommodating his special talents at Old Trafford would prove destabilising or the key to competing more equally with Barcelona.
Although there appears a danger of provoking a considerable traffic jam in the area behind Javier Hernández, which would surely have Sneijder occupying space frequently coveted by Wayne Rooney (as well as by Ashley Young and Dimitar Berbatov), the alternative view is that United's skill at fluid positional interchanging should harness this apparent surfeit of creative attacking talent to devastating effect.
After all, when Vicente del Bosque memorably described United's manager as "a tactical anarchist", the former Real Madrid manager was complimenting Ferguson on his ability to defy football's unwritten geometrical conventions.
Paul Scholes, into whose newly retired boots Sneijder would, loosely, be stepping, evidently believes that the 27-year-old former Real and Ajax set-piece specialist is the right man to raise United's game towards Catalan heights.
Only last week United's latest coaching recruit was asked about the competing claims of Ferguson's principal midfield interests, Sneijder, Luka Modric and Samir Nasri. Scholes's reply proved instructive. "We've been linked with top players," he said. "Especially Sneijder, who has done it at World Cups as well."
All three are visionary distributors adept at unpicking the meanest defences and seeing their clever, goal-conjuring passes bypass the congestion promoted by spoiling midfield quintets. Ferguson has long had quite a crush on the deeper-sitting Modric but it seems Tottenham Hotspur's prize possession has his heart set on a switch to Chelsea. The Scot also admires Arsenal's Nasri but Scholes is not alone in suggesting that Sneijder, as the sole natural No10 among that trio, is the most extravagantly gifted.
Two-footed and with his balance boosted by a low centre of gravity allied to the upper body strength required to shrug off markers in the tightest of spots, Sneijder, who speaks impeccable English, can operate deeper in midfield and has done so. Yet if such positioning shows off his passing range to dazzling effect, Sneijder's best displays for Holland and Inter have come from a secure platform in front of two holding midfielders.
With United having failed to replace Roy Keane in the enforcement department, a role closer to Rio Ferdinand and company could only expose Sneijder's defensive vulnerabilities. Ironically that would represent a reversal of the situation a decade ago when Ferguson's recruitment of the deep-lying playmaker Juan Sebastián Verón failed partly because he fielded the Argentinian too high up the pitch.
The teenage Sneijder learnt to play several positions, most notably left-winger and full-back, but has been most imperious when deployed à la his natural Ajax predecessors Dennis Bergkamp and, even more pertinently, Jari Litmanen. More technically precise and prone to greater invention, if considerably less energetic, than Steven Gerrard, he is, like his Liverpool counterpart, highly versatile but happiest in the hole.
Quite where his mooted Mancunian advent might leave Rooney is anyone's guess. Not that football's celebrity watchers care. They are simply praying Sneijder's second wife, Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen – described as a Dutch amalgam of Jordan, Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham – is Cheshire-bound.

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]United's Sneijder bid hits fee stalemate[/h] Published 23:40 14/07/11 By David McDonnell in Seattle

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...n-want-at-least-37million-article768418.html#

Sir Alex Ferguson fears Manchester United could ultimately be priced out of a move for Wesley Sneijder.
United and Inter Milan have reached an impasse over negotiations on a fee for the Holland midfielder.
Inter's determination to receive at least £37million for World Cup star Sneijder is said to have seen the proposed transfer stall.
But while Sneijder is said to be keen on the move, it is understood the two clubs are a considerable way apart in terms of agreeing what he'll cost United.

"I couldn't tell you," said Ferguson, when asked about Sneijder. "I haven't been involved in that since we came over here.
"The situation is that there is no interest, at this moment in time, in Wesley Sneijder, for a number of reasons.
"So there's nothing I can tell you about it."
Ferguson admitted finding a replacement for Paul Scholes, who retired this summer, was the one issue of concern ahead of the new season.
"I don't think we will find another Scholes. He was a player of a lifetime. In his 20 years at the club, it is hard to pick out a bad game," he said. "But what we can do is find a replica.
"Manchester United has done that time and time again and hopefully we can do that. Eventually something turns up, either through our youth system or we will identify someone.
"Obviously, there is a bit of work being done on that at the moment by our scouting department."
United are running out of options in terms of a replacement for Scholes, with Ferguson having conceded defeat in his pursuit of Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Tottenham star Luka Modric keen on a move to Chelsea.
Fergie: United's Gea change will be smooth
Young's special delivery excites Ferguson
Valencia injury 'nothing serious' - Fergie
Fergie eyes Wycombe starlet, 15 (plus video of him in action)

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Stewart Downing talked the talk of loyalty – then walked[/h] By joining Liverpool Downing will have made few friends at Aston Villa, who have lost four England midfielders in two years

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Stewart Downing arrives at Liverpool's Melwood training ground after completing his move from Aston Villa. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA

It was April Fool's Day, which, in hindsight, was a clue that it would be dangerous for the reporters gathered at Bodymoor Heath to take everything that Stewart Downing was saying at face value. "Yes, I am happy here," replied Downing when asked whether he would stay at the club irrespective of what division they were in next season. "There is speculation that players are going to clubs all the time but I am happy here."
Downing went on to talk about the debt of gratitude he felt towards Villa because they had paid Middlesbrough £12m for him, two years ago, when he was on crutches and had no chance of playing a game until four months into the season. "A lot of faith went into me when Martin [O'Neill, the former manager] paid a lot of money for me when I was injured," he said. "It was a serious injury but I was over the moon."
A little more than a month later, and on the back of a thoroughly deserved clean sweep of the club's end-of-season player-of-the-year awards, Downing gave an interview to the Birmingham Mail, when he spoke with excitement about the prospect of signing a new contract at Villa. "I think there's been a couple of conversations already with my agent," Downing said. "I've already spoken to the manager who has said he'd like to keep me. I'm enjoying my stay here. I've enjoyed it since the first day I came. It's a terrific football club. It's fantastic they want me ... The important thing in football is, if you're happy, then why change it? I know it's been a disappointing season, but I can see the bigger picture."
Those Villa supporters who expressed their relief on various message boards, describing Downing, quite rightly, as the silver lining in a dreadful season, were in for a shock two weeks later. "My agent had a recent meeting with our chief executive," said Downing in an interview with the Northern Echo. "However, I am 26, and at a major crossroads in my career, so I won't be committing to a new deal at the moment."
Downing might as well not have bothered uttering the last three words. He was never going to sign a new contract. The writing was on the wall and it also appeared on the paperwork submitted to Villa yesterday afternoon, when Downing submitted a formal transfer request. Neither Gareth Barry nor James Milner had felt the need to take that course of action. Villa were left with little option. After all, what is there to be gained from holding on to a player against his will?
Villa did that for 12 months with Barry, who also pined for the chance to move to Anfield, although the circumstances were very different back then. First, Liverpool failed to meet Villa's asking price for Barry, which made it easier for the club to dig their heels in. Second, Villa were starting off the season with genuine ambitions of trying to qualify for the Champions League. Third, Barry had a long affinity with Villa and could be trusted to perform even if he was denied the move that he coveted. None of the above applies in relation to Downing.
It is, of course, easy to see why Downing is attracted to moving to Liverpool. As well as the chance to line his pocket, he is joining a club that appears resurgent under Kenny Dalglish. They have spent close to £100m since the start of the year and are genuine contenders for a top-four finish. Villa, on the other hand, are sliding in the opposite direction. The appointment of Alex McLeish as manager lacked imagination and top-six finishes are a thing of the past.
Whether Villa could have done anything about Downing's departure or not, the reality is that the former Middlesbrough winger has become the fourth England midfielder to leave the club in the last two years. Villa, in other words, are a selling club that serve as a stepping stone for players with greater ambitions.
As long as that remains the case, players like Downing will continue to move on and it is difficult to criticise them for doing so provided they are honest about their position. Downing, however, was happy to lead supporters up the garden path, saying all the right things until the moment he left Villa Park on the final day of the season. It is something he might be reminded of when he returns with Liverpool in the middle of December.

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Barcelona's pursuit of Arsenal's Cesc Fábregas does not add up[/h] Barcelona's wage bill for players is the world's highest
Cashflow suggests club cannot afford Fábregas

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Matt Scott
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 14 July 2011 23.24 BST Article history

Cesc Fábregas is a long-standing target for Barcelona, whose balance sheet is less glorious than their football. Photograph: Andrea Comas/Reuters

Arsène Wenger failed to conceal his contempt for what he considers to be Barcelona's underhand tactics in attempting to prise Cesc Fábregas away from Arsenal. This is hardly surprising. For a look at Barcelona's finances suggests Los Blaugranes can hardly afford the Spain international. A report last month by the University of Barcelona's football-finance expert, José María Gay de Liébana, entitled Spanish Football in the Throes of Crisis, lays bare Barcelona's embattled balance sheet.
A 2009-10 turnover of 398.1m (£350.9m) is indubitably healthy, driven by a television deal worth 157.6m. (By striking individual deals, between them Barcelona and Real Madrid seize 49% of the total Primera Liga broadcast revenues.) Indeed, the net debt of 59.1m is nothing to be concerned about, since the current book value of the playing squad, placed at 213.2m, is plainly understated. This simply reflects the success of
La Masia academy, since players who are not signed for fees are not accounted for on the balance sheet.
But Barcelona's operational costs are enormous. A player-wage bill of 234.8m is the highest in the world, and puts the wages-to-turnover ratio at a heart-stopping 76.8%. "Other running costs" push total expenditure to 380.1m. This means spare cashflow in 2009-10 stood at £15.9m and with a debt burden of 548.6m weighing heavily, there was negative interest cover, according to Gay de Liébana. For a fan-owned club, this is not a pretty picture.
"[That] Barcelona, the Liga champions and Champions League semi-finalists in 2009-10 and winners in 2010-11, are technically in a state of bankruptcy is alarming for the entire football sector," Gay de Liébana said.
Can Barcelona afford a £40m transfer outlay and minimum £25m future commitment in wages for Fábregas? Go figure. But by putting Xavi's unsettling comments about the Catalan on Barça's official website, perhaps they think they can get him on the cheap.
[h=2]Ridsdale charm offensive[/h]Friday is a big day for Peter Ridsdale. He must attempt to persuade the Football League and the Professional Footballers' Association that his £1 bid for Plymouth Argyle (its real estate assets are due to go to the property developer Kevin Heaney for considerably more) is in everyone's best interest. That may be tricky. As recorded here before, the League can block a takeover if there are complaints from football creditors. And the PFA may prove to be an obstacle. Its chief executive, Gordon Taylor, did not respond to Digger's call but a dressing-room source told of anger at the request for players to defer their salaries last month. The insider added they received a 40% payment only after a threat to boycott the pre-season friendly against Bristol City.
Argyle owe players around £500,000, which will not be fully repaid for a long time, and the playing squad also feel solidarity with staff who have been told they mightmay never receive all of their back pay. Making matters worse are perceptions that Ridsdale earned £25,000 from his consultancy to the administrator, Brendan Guilfoyle, over the month. Guilfoyle said Ridsdale's fees are "confidential" but added they were "nowhere near that". Still, Ridsdale must display all his undoubted charm and charisma if he is to achieve his aims today.
[h=2]Rangers read free sheets[/h]Queens Park Rangers' status as arguably England's second-richest club looks under threat as Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore have sought the help of Keith Harris to sell their stakes. Amit Bhatia, a former director and current shareholder at QPR, made what Ecclestone described as an "insultingly low" bid for his and Briatore's combined 67% stake in May.
Now Ecclestone has responded by engaging the market-maker Harris and his stockbroking firm, Seymour Pierce. Seeking a buyer for the entire share capital of the club to a third party has not been ruled out, though the views of Bhatia and the Mittal family are unknown. If it happens, the Rs' theoretical access to a combined £18.4bn of wealth more than any other club in football than Manchester City would end. This uncertainty may help explain how, despite guaranteeing £80m in income over the next four years through promotion to the Premier League, so far only Jay Bothroyd and Kieron Dyer have been added to the squad. On free transfers.

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

you can not have your way all the time....sometimes make use of what you already have...............

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Barcelona's pursuit of Arsenal's Cesc Fábregas does not add up[/h] • Barcelona's wage bill for players is the world's highest
• Cashflow suggests club cannot afford Fábregas

Matt Scott
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 14 July 2011 23.24 BST Article history

Cesc Fábregas is a long-standing target for Barcelona, whose balance sheet is less glorious than their football. Photograph: Andrea Comas/Reuters

Arsène Wenger failed to conceal his contempt for what he considers to be Barcelona's underhand tactics in attempting to prise Cesc Fábregas away from Arsenal. This is hardly surprising. For a look at Barcelona's finances suggests Los Blaugranes can hardly afford the Spain international. A report last month by the University of Barcelona's football-finance expert, José María Gay de Liébana, entitled Spanish Football in the Throes of Crisis, lays bare Barcelona's embattled balance sheet.
A 2009-10 turnover of €398.1m (£350.9m) is indubitably healthy, driven by a television deal worth €157.6m. (By striking individual deals, between them Barcelona and Real Madrid seize 49% of the total Primera Liga broadcast revenues.) Indeed, the net debt of €59.1m is nothing to be concerned about, since the current book value of the playing squad, placed at €213.2m, is plainly understated. This simply reflects the success of La Masia academy, since players who are not signed for fees are not accounted for on the balance sheet.
But Barcelona's operational costs are enormous. A player-wage bill of €234.8m is the highest in the world, and puts the wages-to-turnover ratio at a heart-stopping 76.8%. "Other running costs" push total expenditure to €380.1m. This means spare cashflow in 2009-10 stood at £15.9m and with a debt burden of €548.6m weighing heavily, there was negative interest cover, according to Gay de Liébana. For a fan-owned club, this is not a pretty picture.
"[That] Barcelona, the Liga champions and Champions League semi-finalists in 2009-10 and winners in 2010-11, are technically in a state of bankruptcy is alarming for the entire football sector," Gay de Liébana said.
Can Barcelona afford a £40m transfer outlay and minimum £25m future commitment in wages for Fábregas? Go figure. But by putting Xavi's unsettling comments about the Catalan on Barça's official website, perhaps they think they can get him on the cheap.
[h=2]Ridsdale charm offensive[/h]Friday is a big day for Peter Ridsdale. He must attempt to persuade the Football League and the Professional Footballers' Association that his £1 bid for Plymouth Argyle (its real estate assets are due to go to the property developer Kevin Heaney for considerably more) is in everyone's best interest. That may be tricky. As recorded here before, the League can block a takeover if there are complaints from football creditors. And the PFA may prove to be an obstacle. Its chief executive, Gordon Taylor, did not respond to Digger's call but a dressing-room source told of anger at the request for players to defer their salaries last month. The insider added they received a 40% payment only after a threat to boycott the pre-season friendly against Bristol City.
Argyle owe players around £500,000, which will not be fully repaid for a long time, and the playing squad also feel solidarity with staff who have been told they mightmay never receive all of their back pay. Making matters worse are perceptions that Ridsdale earned £25,000 from his consultancy to the administrator, Brendan Guilfoyle, over the month. Guilfoyle said Ridsdale's fees are "confidential" but added they were "nowhere near that". Still, Ridsdale must display all his undoubted charm and charisma if he is to achieve his aims today.
[h=2]Rangers read free sheets[/h]Queens Park Rangers' status as arguably England's second-richest club looks under threat as Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore have sought the help of Keith Harris to sell their stakes. Amit Bhatia, a former director and current shareholder at QPR, made what Ecclestone described as an "insultingly low" bid for his and Briatore's combined 67% stake in May. Now Ecclestone has responded by engaging the market-maker Harris and his stockbroking firm, Seymour Pierce. Seeking a buyer for the entire share capital of the club to a third party has not been ruled out, though the views of Bhatia and the Mittal family are unknown. If it happens, the Rs' theoretical access to a combined £18.4bn of wealth – more than any other club in football than Manchester City – would end. This uncertainty may help explain how, despite guaranteeing £80m in income over the next four years through promotion to the Premier League, so far only Jay Bothroyd and Kieron Dyer have been added to the squad. On free transfers.

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

barca can forget fabregas this season...maybe in the summer but not now.......................

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Kenny has spent £105m but Liverpool are still miles off the pace warns Roy Evans[/h] Published 23:01 14/07/11 By David Anderson

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...-Dalglish-warns-Roy-Evans-article768389.html#

kenny-dalglish-liverpool-kuala-lumpur-cropped

Kenny Dalglish's £105million refit of Liverpool is NOT enough to get them into the Champions League, claims Anfield legend Roy Evans.
Evans, part of Dalglish's Boot Room during his first spell in charge from 1985-91, feels the Reds are still short of the Premier League's top sides.
The former Liverpool boss has warned success-starved Kopites they must give Dalglish the time to make the team one of the *country's elite sides again.
"When you're at Liverpool, you always expect *silverware," he said."That's the name of the game and that's what comes with the job.

"But I don't think it's going to be quite as easy as *everybody thinks.
"Kenny has done a fantastic job and took them to a reasonable place last season.
"But, in the last home game of the season against Tottenham you saw that we were short of a little bit of class against the better teams.
"It's going to be tough. Everyone expects Kenny to turn it around quickly. But I think it's going to take a little bit more time than the fans would like.
"We're still a fair bit behind the top four or five clubs in the Premier League."
All of the £105m spent by Dalglish since he returned in January has gone on strikers and midfielders and Evans feels his old pal needs to use a few quid on the back four.
"I do feel they're going to need a little bit of cover in defence," he told *radio station talkSPORT.
"Daniel Agger is a great footballer, but obviously injury-prone, and Jamie Carragher is still the lynchpin.
"He gives so much *information to the players around him and the two young lads, [Martin] Kelly and [John] Flanagan. Carragher helps them an awful lot and he'll be the biggest loss when he goes.
"I do feel we need to find a centre-back, as we seem a bit short at the back, and that's a worry."
Dalglish, who has broken off from the club's Asian tour to oversee Stewart Downing's £20m signing from Aston Villa, disagrees with Evans' *pessimistic assessment of their prospects for the new season.
The Scot claims that missing out on Europe for the first time in 12 years can help them clinch a *top-four spot.
"We'd much rather be in the Champions League than out of it and this is the first year for many years when we've not been in Europe," said the Liverpool manager.
"But maybe that will be an advantage to us because we will have fewer games to play and players will have a chance to get more rest.
"All we can say is we'll give our best for the football club. The more games we win, the more successful we'll be.
"We can promise everyone we will give everything for the *football club. All we can do is give our best and, if we get results, we'll be successful."
Downing has had his medical on *Merseyside and has been offered a four-year deal worth £75,000 a week.
The England winger will be joined at Anfield by Doni. The Brazilian *goalkeeper is due to complete his Bosman move from Roma today to become Pepe Reina's *understudy.
Fuelled by Liverpool's revival under Dalglish and their spending this summer, Kopites feel the good times are just around the corner.
But Dalglish is not worried at having to carry this weight of expectation on his *shoulders.
He says the players are just as desperate for success as the players.
"It's more of an honour than a burden to manage this club," he said. "The expectations are there, but we have to manage them and the supporters have to manage them.
"We know our fans have respect for us and *commitment to the *football club and we hope to get results for them."
**
SPEND ON, SPEND ON, WITH HOPE IN YOUR HEART
Liverpool last won the title in 1990. Their transfer outlay per season since has been...
1991 £2.6m
1992 £9.5m
1993 £7.3m
1994 £3.7m
1995 £8.7m
1996 £13.7m
1997 £10.2m
1998 £14m
1999 £32.1m
2000 £20m
2001 £20.4m
2002 £38.8m
2003 £16.8m
2004 £19.1m
2005 £46.1m
2006 £41.7m
2007 £69.9m
2008 £70m
2009 £38.8m
2010 £44.3m
2011 £80m
**
SEVEN BOSSES, 21 YEARS, ZERO CHAMPIONSHIPS
Liverpool's managers since 1990:
Kenny Dalglish (May 1985-February 1991) 307 games in charge
Ronnie Moran (February-April 1991) 10 games in charge
Graeme Souness (April 1991-January 1994) 157 games in charge
Roy Evans (January 1994-November 1998) 226 games in charge
Roy Evans/Gerard Houllier (July–November 1998) 18 games in charge
Gerard Houllier (July 1998–May 2004) 325 games in charge
Rafa Benitez (June 2004–June 2010) 350 games in charge
Roy Hodgson (July 2010–January 2011) 31 games in charge
Kenny Dalglish (January 2011–present day) 21 games in charge

Compiled by Sam Gilbert

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Young's special delivery excites Ferguson[/h] Published 23:00 14/07/11 By David McDonnell in Seattle

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...s-galore-by-Alex-Ferguson-article767769.html#

Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Ashley Young after his Manchester United debut and said he expects big things from his £16million summer signing.
Young, deployed on the left wing for United's 4-1 win over New England Revolution , impressed with his movement, touch and delivery, and looked immediately at home with his new team-mates.
"That was Ashley's position with Aston Villa until last season, when they started playing him in behind the strikers - [Gabriel] Agbonlahor or [Darren] Bent - in a more advanced role, like the way we use [Wayne] Rooney," said Fergie.
"His capabilities are such that he can play at wide left, he can play in behind the strikers and he can play wide right. He showed tonight he's a fantastic crosser of the ball.

"I think he hit three fantastic crosses in the game, which maybe isn't something we're used to with the way we play. But if we do get used to it then there's goals there. I was very satisfied."
Michael Owen opened the scoring in United's comfortable win, Federico Macheda bagged two, while Ji-Sung Park completed the victory with the fourth goal after a quick exchange of passes with Ryan Giggs.
"You're always glad to get the first game out of the way," said Ferguson. "You expect maybe some tiredness to creep in at some point in the game, but I thought our fitness looked good.
"We managed to get most of the players some game time, which was the main reason for having pre-season matches, to make sure everybody by the end of it has enough minutes to get his rhythm and tempo back in.
"These are the types of games that help towards that. I thought in the second-half, when we speeded up our passing in the last third, we scored some very good goals. So I'm satisfied.
"Michael Owen is a very good player. The problem for Michael last year, and the same applies to other strikers - Dimitar Berbatov in particular - was that the form of Chicharito [Javier Hernandez] was just too good.
"We couldn't leave him out. That's caused a headache for me. I've got Mame Diouf back and Macheda back now. I'm going to be picking from six strikers, which isn't a bad thing but sometimes that can be a confusing aspect of team choices.
"Macheda's finishes were first-class. He is special. At 19 years of age we still have great hopes for him."
United have now flown cross-country to Seattle for the second leg of their three-week US tour.

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Villa make £10million bid for N'Zogbia[/h] Published 07:53 15/07/11 By MirrorFootball

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...Stewart-Downing-Liverpool-article768473.html#

Wigan-West-Ham-Charles-NZogbia-Premier-League+cropped

Aston Villa have stepped up their interest in Winger winger Charles N'Zogbia by submitting a £10 million bid, Press Association Sport understands.
Villa manager Alex McLeish considers France international N'Zogbia his number one target to replace Liverpool-bound Stewart Downing.
The midlands club have ample funds available with the sale of Ashley Young to Manchester United and Downing - if his move to Anfield goes through - raising £36 million this summer.
McLeish is a long-term admirer of N'Zogbia who has one year remaining on his current deal with the Latics.

But he will take nothing for granted after the events of last year.
McLeish came close to signing the former Newcastle man at Birmingham 12 months ago only for the move to break down over personal terms at the 11th hour.
Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips and Spartak Moscow's Aiden McGeady are also on McLeish's radar should he fail to land N'Zogbia.
McLeish is keen to start rebuilding his squad for the new campaign.
Manchester City keeper Shay Given is expected to sign in a £3.5 million deal, once he has negotiated a settlement on the remainder of his contract, as a replacement for Brad Friedel.
In the midfield department, McLeish is interested in West Ham's Scott Parker although suggestions a formal bid has already been made are wide of the mark.

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Fergie eyes Wycombe starlet, 15 (plus video of him in action)[/h] Published 23:00 14/07/11 By Darren Lewis

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...-wonder-goal-last-weekend-article767913.html#

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to have 15-year-old wonderkid Jordan Ibe watched this weekend.
The highly-rated Wycombe starlet netted a stunning goal as the Chairboys beat Staines 5-0 to kick off their pre-season five days ago.
Manchester United boss Fergie will now send scouts to see him Ibe in action when Wycombe play Braintree on Saturday.
Boss Gary Waddock said of the youth-team star after last weekend's stunner: "We rate him very highly. He's in the first team group at the moment.

"We saw a lot of him last year, with the work he's done in the youth department. They know how good he is.
"The lad's full of confidence. He's been training with us and we put him into a game situation.
"It doesn't matter about age. If he's a good player, he's a good player."
This, sadly, isn't THE goal, but it IS scored by Ibe - and if the one against Staines was much better then all we can say is "Fergie, Fergie, sign him up"...

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...-wonder-goal-last-weekend-article767913.html#

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Borussia Dortmund definitely not interested in buying Bendtner (Report)[/h] Published 09:19 15/07/11 By Football Spy

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...a-Dortmund-not-interested-article768526.html#

Arsenal-Sunderland-Nicklas-Bendtner-Premier-League+cropped

Borussia Dortmund have rubbished rumours they're in the running for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.
The Dane's dad had previously outed the Bundesliga club as being interested in his son, but official Josef Schneck told German TV:
"We have never been interested.
"We're currently at our training camp in Switzerland and have been asked about this by German, Swiss and many other reporters.

"But believe me, there's nothing in this at all."
Borussia Dortmund chairman, Hans-Joachim Watzke reiterated:
"There has never been an offer on Bendtner."

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Friday's papers[/h] Published 08:29 15/07/11 By Football Spy

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...oe-Cole-Friday-newspapers-article768474.html#

The summer transfer market is getting hotter than a dragon's nostril. Keep on top of all the latest news, rumours and gossip from the printed press and the web here.
Transfer stories from today's Daily Mirror
Villa make £10million bid for N'Zogbia
United's Sneijder bid hits fee stalemate

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Sergio Aguero: I'd prefer to play in Spain or England[/h] Published 10:27 15/07/11 By MirrorFootball

Recommend

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...-move-to-Spain-or-England-article768555.html#

Argentina forward Sergio Aguero insists he would be happy moving to England or staying in Spain but made it clear his future lies away from Atletico Madrid.
The 23-year-old would not rule out a move to Atletico's city rivals Real Madrid, insisting his current club was "his place of work" and that his only true loyalty was to his first professional club Independiente back in Argentina.
Aguero told Radio La Red: "I don't see myself (staying) at Atletico. I could not go to Racing (Club de Avellaneda) because I am (loyal to) Independiente. I arrived there aged eight and I want to retire there. But Atletico has been my place of work in Spain.
"I have given everything for the shirt and I have had a lot of fun but as far as my future is concerned, don't bet on anything."

As well as Real, Aguero has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City in England plus Italian giants Juventus, although the latter option looks less likely because of his stated desire to play in England or remain in Spain.
He added: "I have made clear in my statement that I do not see myself at Atletico.
"I will seek the best for me, I know that my representatives are working and for now I don't want to think about it. I will do something after the Copa America, when I am able to think calmly.
"But if I said I saw myself at Atletico, I'd be lying. I'd prefer to play in Spain or England, those are the two best countries."

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]Juventus make £45million for Tevez[/h] Published 09:10 15/07/11 By Football Spy

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...ntus-45million-bid-Rumour-article768525.html#

Manchester-City-Stoke-Carlos-Tevez-Premier-League+cropped

Corinthians president Andres Sanchez claims Juventus have entered the race to sign Carlos Tevez but insists his own club will not increase their offer for the want-away Argentinian.
Manchester City have already rejected a bid from Corinthians earlier this week, with the club believed to be holding out for £50m for a player who finished as joint top scorer in the Barclays Premier League last season with 20 goals.
Tevez's advisor, Kia Joorabchian, insisted this week that a deal with Corinthians remains "close", however, with the player himself keen on a return to the club he previously represented between January 2005 and August 2006.
Juventus' reported interest might be viewed as the trigger for a bidding war, but Sanchez is unwilling to engage the Italian club and is adamant the offer on the table will remain unchanged.

"I will do everything possible so that he can join us but I will not increase the offer by a cent," Sanchez told Brazilian sports newspaper Lance.
"Our offer stands until next year.
"City have an offer of 52million euros (£45.6m) from Juventus, but Tevez does not want to remain in Europe.
"I still dream of the possibility [of signing him] but it depends on Manchester City, and the player's decision means a lot."
Sanchez moved for the Argentina international after being alerted by Tevez's admission earlier this month that he wished to leave City for the sake of his family, with his two children based in Argentina.
The 27-year-old, who has previously played for West Ham and Manchester United, is under contract at City until June 2014.
Corinthians still hopeful of Tevez deal

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 15, 2011

[h=1]West Ham expecting £7m bid for Parker[/h] Published 23:00 14/07/11 By James Nursey & Alan Nixon

Recommend

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...from-Stewart-Downing-sale-article768408.html#

West Ham believe a £7million Aston Villa bid for Scott Parker is imminent.
Villa owner Randy Lerner has balanced the club's books by selling England wingers Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to Manchester United and Liverpool this summer.
And Upton Park chiefs David Sullivan and David Gold reckon new Villa manager Alex McLeish - who they appointed at Birmingham when they were in charge at St Andrew's - now wants Parker.
With Villa soon to be flush from Downing's £20m switch to Liverpool, West Ham believe they will firm up their initial interest in Parker.

McLeish is looking for a leader in the mould of midfield dynamo Parker to build his side around.
The Scot, who is close to snapping up Manchester City keeper Shay Given, also wants Spurs defender Alan Hutton, Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia and Fiorentina's Peruvian wide-man Juan Manuel Vargas.
N'Zogbia, 25, is a priority for Villa, but Latics supremo Dave Whelan is putting up N'Zogbia's initial £9m price-tag as he knows both the midlanders and Everton want him.
N'Zogbia is keen on a move to either club and is fuming about the hold-up.
But he is entering the last year of his contract and could yet sit tight and leave for nothing next summer.

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 16, 2011

[h=1]Corinthians make new £40m bid for Carlos Tevez[/h] • Brazilian club raise offer closer to £50m asking price
• Suggestion before offer was that £40m will not be enough

Jamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 July 2011 00.18 BST Article history

Carlos Tevez is keen to join his former club Corinthians, who have tabled a new £40m bid for the Manchester City striker. Photograph: AP

Corinthians have made an improved offer of £40m for the Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez in the hope of concluding a deal before the Brazilian club's self-imposed deadline of Sunday night.
City have been asking for £50m and turned down a £35m bid from Corinthians last week. Although the Premier League club have indicated a willingness to compromise, the suggestion before the latest offer was lodged was that £40m would not be enough to conclude a deal.
Corinthians have described their latest bid as a final attempt to sign Tevez and City will have to be swift in deciding whether to do business with them because the Brazilian transfer window closes on Wednesday.
So far no clubs in Europe have made a formal offer for the Argentina striker, who is desperate to leave Eastlands, although Real Madrid retain a keen interest.
City will not countenance a loan deal – similar to the one that allowed Robinho to join Santos in 2010 – for Tevez, who has indicated that his preference is to rejoin Corinthians, where he played before moving to England.
Selling Tevez to a Brazilian club would avoid him playing for one of City's competitors in the Champions League.
Sheikh Mansour, the City owner, is content to retain the unsettled Tevez at the club for another season if his valuation of the 27-year-old is not met but he is mindful that Roberto Mancini, the manager, would prefer to sell Tevez.
Andrés Sanchez, the Corinthians president, claimed on Friday that Juventus had entered the race to sign Tevez by lodging a £45m bid, although that was denied by City. The South American side have increased their offer despite saying last week that they would not go above £35m and Tevez, the Premier League's highest-paid player on £250,000 a week, appears willing to accept a cut to his wages to return there.
If Tevez leaves, City are likely to move for another Argentinian striker, Sergio Agüero, who has suggested that he would like to leave Atlético Madrid for Eastlands. The 23-year-old is viewed by Mancini, the City manager, as the best replacement for Tevez, although the club will have to meet his release clause of £38m.
Agüero told the Argentinian station Radio La Red: "I have made clear in my statement that I do not see myself at Atlético. I will seek the best for me, I know that my representatives are working and for now I don't want to think about it. I will do something after the Copa América, when I am able to think calmly.
"But if I said I saw myself at Atlético, I'd be lying. I'd prefer to play in Spain or England – those are the two best countries. I have given everything for the shirt and I have had a lot of fun but as far as my future is concerned, don't bet on anything."
Beyond Agüero, José Mourinho, the Real manager, is thought to favour a permanent move for Emmanuel Adebayor, who spent five months on loan at the Bernabéu from City last season, and is unsettled at the club.
Shay Given is one player who appears certain to leave Eastlands. The Irish goalkeeper is closing in on a move to Aston Villa after he failed to make a single Premier League appearance last season. Shaun Wright-Phillips, the City winger, is also reportedly interesting Alex McLeish, the Villa manager.
Yaya Touré, meanwhile, stated that City expect to win the Premier League next season. The midfielder told the club's website: "The new season will be very, very hard and we need to improve, because this season the club will play in the Champions League [for the first time]. We expect to stay in the top four of the Premier League and we expect to win the Premier League because now we are coming with more confidence, the players know each other better. I think this year will be fantastic for us."
Touré, who scored the winning goals in the semi-final and final of the FA Cup, expects his brother, Kolo, to make a successful return to playing action after his six-month suspension for failing a drugs test. He said: "Kolo's well. He's in New York with the family. We hope September will come quickly and we hope to help the club win something again next year."

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 16, 2011

[h=1]Chelsea prepare to up bid for Luka Modric beyond £30m[/h] • Spurs insist Croat is not for sale despite transfer request
• Josh McEachran, Ryan Bertrand sign new Chelsea contracts

Dominic Fifield
guardian.co.uk, Friday 15 July 2011 22.30 BST Article history

Luka Modric has described Chelsea as 'a club all players dream of joining'. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Chelsea's stubborn pursuit of Luka Modric is set to continue with Tottenham Hotspur braced to receive a third improved offer in excess of £30m for the unsettled Croatia international.
Modric, who is contracted to Spurs until 2016 and is on tour with the club in South Africa, has publicly expressed his desire to move to Stamford Bridge and, with his relationship with the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, having apparently fractured beyond repair, had submitted a formal transfer request on the eve of the squad's departure for Johannesburg. Levy maintains that the player will not be sold at any price.
Yet Chelsea have been suitably encouraged by Modric's clearly expressed desire to move to Stamford Bridge - "They are a club all players dream of joining," he told the Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti last weekend – that they will maintain their interest in the midfielder. The Londoners have backed off in the past in their pursuit of a player when warned there was no desire to sell, most notably when Santos refused to countenance the young striker Neymar's transfer last summer, but they intend to continue to test Tottenham's resolve to retain the 25-year-old and will lodge a third bid.
There is an acceptance that theirs is likely to prove a protracted and acrimonious chase that could drag well into August, though Modric has been identified as Chelsea's principal target and will remain a priority. Their previous inquiries – an opening offer of £22m was rejected last month, with an improved package worth around £27m knocked back early last week – had served to infuriate Levy and strengthen his resolve to retain the player.
The Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp, has since stressed: "We know Luka wants to leave, so whether he writes it down on a piece of paper doesn't really make any different to our stance." Modric, who has been suffering from a slight ankle injury, is expected to miss Tottenham's friendly on Saturday against Kaizer Chiefs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane.
Chelsea, whose first team depart on a two-week tour of the Far East on Sunday, remain in dialogue with Anderlecht over the potential signing of their Belgium international forward, Romelu Lukaku, though the clubs are still some distance apart in terms of their valuation of the teenage striker.
The Londoners are also considering whether their interest in the England midfielder Scott Parker should be pursued, with West Ham United having now indicated they would allow the player to depart Upton Park only in a permanent £8m move rather than on a season-long loan.
A temporary switch, even involving the payment of a substantial loan fee, had made some financial sense to Chelsea given the loss of Michael Essien to a serious knee injury until February at the earliest. Parker, too, would have favoured that arrangement though Aston Villa have since expressed an interest in signing the 30-year-old on a permanent basis and may yet meet West Ham's asking price.
Villas-Boas did make some progress on Friday by agreeing new contracts with the highly rated England Under-21 internationals Josh McEachran and Ryan Bertrand. The former has signed a new five-year deal initially worth around £25,000 a week having impressed when given the chance to feature in the first team last season. The 18-year-old should play some part in Saturday's friendly at Portsmouth.
"This season my target is just to play more minutes," said McEachran, who played 17 times under Carlo Ancelotti. "If not at Chelsea, then I will go out on loan, but I want to play here as much as I can."
Bertrand, who was an ever-present for Stuart Pearce's Under-21s in the summer's European Championship in Denmark, has signed a four-year deal and, with competition fierce at left-back, could now be made available for loan.
Newly promoted Swansea City had expressed some tentative interest in bringing the 21-year-old, who spent the first half of last season at Nottingham Forest, to the Liberty Stadium.

<div id="main-article-info">

<h1>Corinthians make new £40m bid for Carlos Tevez</h1>

• Brazilian club raise offer closer to £50m asking price • Suggestion before offer was that £40m will not be enough

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<a class="contributor" rel="author" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamiejackson">
Jamie Jackson</a>
</li><li class="publication">
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/">guardian.co.uk</a>,

<time datetime="2011-07-16T00:18BST" pubdate="">Saturday 16 July 2011 00.18 BST
</time>

<li class="history"><a class="rollover history-link" id="history-link-byline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/16/corinthians-40m-bid-carlos-tevez#history-link-box">Article history</a></li></li><div id="article-wrapper" data-global-auto-refresh-switch="on">

<div id="main-content-picture">
<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2011/7/16/1310771870597/Carlos-Tevez-007.jpg" alt="Carlos Tevez" height="276" width="460">
<div class="caption">Carlos Tevez is keen to join his former
club Corinthians, who have tabled a new £40m bid for the Manchester City
striker. Photograph: AP</div>
</div>

<div id="article-body-blocks">
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/corinthians" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Corinthians">Corinthians</a> have made an improved offer of £40m for the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Manchester City">Manchester City</a> striker <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/carlos-tevez" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Carlos Tevez">Carlos Tevez</a> in the hope of concluding a deal before the Brazilian club's self-imposed deadline of Sunday night.City
have been asking for £50m and turned down a £35m bid from Corinthians
last week. Although the Premier League club have indicated a willingness
to compromise, the suggestion before the latest offer was lodged was
that £40m would not be enough to conclude a deal.Corinthians have
described their latest bid as a final attempt to sign Tevez and City
will have to be swift in deciding whether to do business with them
because the Brazilian <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/transfer-window" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Transfer window">transfer window</a> closes on Wednesday.So
far no clubs in Europe have made a formal offer for the Argentina
striker, who is desperate to leave Eastlands, although Real Madrid
retain a keen interest.City will not countenance a loan deal –
similar to the one that allowed Robinho to join Santos in 2010 – for
Tevez, who has indicated that his preference is to rejoin Corinthians,
where he played before moving to England.Selling Tevez to a Brazilian club would avoid him playing for one of City's competitors in the Champions League.Sheikh
Mansour, the City owner, is content to retain the unsettled Tevez at
the club for another season if his valuation of the 27-year-old is not
met but he is mindful that Roberto Mancini, the manager, would prefer to
sell Tevez.Andrés Sanchez, the Corinthians president, claimed on
Friday that Juventus had entered the race to sign Tevez by lodging a
£45m bid, although that was denied by City. The South American side have
increased their offer despite saying last week that they would not go
above £35m and Tevez, the Premier League's highest-paid player on
£250,000 a week, appears willing to accept a cut to his wages to return
there.If Tevez leaves, City are likely to move for another
Argentinian striker, Sergio Agüero, who has suggested that he would like
to leave Atlético Madrid for Eastlands. The 23-year-old is viewed by
Mancini, the City manager, as the best replacement for Tevez, although
the club will have to meet his release clause of £38m.Agüero told
the Argentinian station Radio La Red: "I have made clear in my
statement that I do not see myself at Atlético. I will seek the best for
me, I know that my representatives are working and for now I don't want
to think about it. I will do something after the Copa América, when I
am able to think calmly."But if I said I saw myself at Atlético,
I'd be lying. I'd prefer to play in Spain or England – those are the two
best countries. I have given everything for the shirt and I have had a
lot of fun but as far as my future is concerned, don't bet on anything."Beyond
Agüero, José Mourinho, the Real manager, is thought to favour a
permanent move for Emmanuel Adebayor, who spent five months on loan at
the Bernabéu from City last season, and is unsettled at the club.Shay
Given is one player who appears certain to leave Eastlands. The Irish
goalkeeper is closing in on a move to Aston Villa after he failed to
make a single Premier League appearance last season. Shaun
Wright-Phillips, the City winger, is also reportedly interesting Alex
McLeish, the Villa manager.Yaya Touré, meanwhile, stated that
City expect to win the Premier League next season. The midfielder told
the club's website: "The new season will be very, very hard and we need
to improve, because this season the club will play in the Champions
League [for the first time]. We expect to stay in the top four of the
Premier League and we expect to win the Premier League because now we
are coming with more confidence, the players know each other better. I
think this year will be fantastic for us."Touré, who scored the
winning goals in the semi-final and final of the FA Cup, expects his
brother, Kolo, to make a successful return to playing action after his
six-month suspension for failing a drugs test. He said: "Kolo's well.
He's in New York with the family. We hope September will come quickly
and we hope to help the club win something again next year."
</div>

</div></ul></div>

Rutashubanyuma · Jul 16, 2011

[h=1]Chelsea prepare to up bid for Luka Modric beyond £30m[/h] • Spurs insist Croat is not for sale despite transfer request
• Josh McEachran, Ryan Bertrand sign new Chelsea contracts

Dominic Fifield
guardian.co.uk, Friday 15 July 2011 22.30 BST Article history

Luka Modric has described Chelsea as 'a club all players dream of joining'. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Chelsea's stubborn pursuit of Luka Modric is set to continue with Tottenham Hotspur braced to receive a third improved offer in excess of £30m for the unsettled Croatia international.
Modric, who is contracted to Spurs until 2016 and is on tour with the club in South Africa, has publicly expressed his desire to move to Stamford Bridge and, with his relationship with the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, having apparently fractured beyond repair, had submitted a formal transfer request on the eve of the squad's departure for Johannesburg. Levy maintains that the player will not be sold at any price.
Yet Chelsea have been suitably encouraged by Modric's clearly expressed desire to move to Stamford Bridge - "They are a club all players dream of joining," he told the Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti last weekend – that they will maintain their interest in the midfielder. The Londoners have backed off in the past in their pursuit of a player when warned there was no desire to sell, most notably when Santos refused to countenance the young striker Neymar's transfer last summer, but they intend to continue to test Tottenham's resolve to retain the 25-year-old and will lodge a third bid.
There is an acceptance that theirs is likely to prove a protracted and acrimonious chase that could drag well into August, though Modric has been identified as Chelsea's principal target and will remain a priority. Their previous inquiries – an opening offer of £22m was rejected last month, with an improved package worth around £27m knocked back early last week – had served to infuriate Levy and strengthen his resolve to retain the player.
The Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp, has since stressed: "We know Luka wants to leave, so whether he writes it down on a piece of paper doesn't really make any different to our stance." Modric, who has been suffering from a slight ankle injury, is expected to miss Tottenham's friendly on Saturday against Kaizer Chiefs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane.
Chelsea, whose first team depart on a two-week tour of the Far East on Sunday, remain in dialogue with Anderlecht over the potential signing of their Belgium international forward, Romelu Lukaku, though the clubs are still some distance apart in terms of their valuation of the teenage striker.
The Londoners are also considering whether their interest in the England midfielder Scott Parker should be pursued, with West Ham United having now indicated they would allow the player to depart Upton Park only in a permanent £8m move rather than on a season-long loan.
A temporary switch, even involving the payment of a substantial loan fee, had made some financial sense to Chelsea given the loss of Michael Essien to a serious knee injury until February at the earliest. Parker, too, would have favoured that arrangement though Aston Villa have since expressed an interest in signing the 30-year-old on a permanent basis and may yet meet West Ham's asking price.
Villas-Boas did make some progress on Friday by agreeing new contracts with the highly rated England Under-21 internationals Josh McEachran and Ryan Bertrand. The former has signed a new five-year deal initially worth around £25,000 a week having impressed when given the chance to feature in the first team last season. The 18-year-old should play some part in Saturday's friendly at Portsmouth.
"This season my target is just to play more minutes," said McEachran, who played 17 times under Carlo Ancelotti. "If not at Chelsea, then I will go out on loan, but I want to play here as much as I can."
Bertrand, who was an ever-present for Stuart Pearce's Under-21s in the summer's European Championship in Denmark, has signed a four-year deal and, with competition fierce at left-back, could now be made available for loan.
Newly promoted Swansea City had expressed some tentative interest in bringing the 21-year-old, who spent the first half of last season at Nottingham Forest, to the Liberty Stadium.

<div id="main-article-info">

<h1>Chelsea prepare to up bid for Luka Modric beyond £30m</h1>

• Spurs insist Croat is not for sale despite transfer request • Josh McEachran, Ryan Bertrand sign new Chelsea contracts

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Dominic Fifield</a>
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/">guardian.co.uk</a>,

<time datetime="2011-07-15T22:30BST" pubdate="">Friday 15 July 2011 22.30 BST
</time>

<li class="history"><a class="rollover history-link" id="history-link-byline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/15/luka-modric-chelsea-tottenham#history-link-box">Article history</a></li></li><div id="article-wrapper" data-global-auto-refresh-switch="on">

<div id="main-content-picture">
<img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2011/7/15/1310750397058/Luka-Modric-Tottenham-Che-007.jpg" alt="Luka Modric Tottenham Chelsea" height="276" width="460">
<div class="caption">Luka Modric has described Chelsea as 'a club all players dream of joining'. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</div>
</div>

<div id="article-body-blocks">
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chelsea" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Chelsea">Chelsea</a>'s stubborn pursuit of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/luka-modric" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Luka Modric">Luka Modric</a> is set to continue with <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/tottenham-hotspur" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Tottenham Hotspur">Tottenham Hotspur</a> braced to receive a third improved offer in excess of £30m for the unsettled Croatia international.Modric,
who is contracted to Spurs until 2016 and is on tour with the club in
South Africa, has publicly expressed his desire to move to Stamford
Bridge and, with his relationship with the Tottenham chairman, Daniel
Levy, having apparently fractured beyond repair, had submitted a formal
transfer request on the eve of the squad's departure for Johannesburg.
Levy maintains that the player will not be sold at any price.Yet
Chelsea have been suitably encouraged by Modric's clearly expressed
desire to move to Stamford Bridge - "They are a club all players dream
of joining," he told the Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti last
weekend – that they will maintain their interest in the midfielder. The
Londoners have backed off in the past in their pursuit of a player when
warned there was no desire to sell, most notably when Santos refused to
countenance the young striker Neymar's transfer last summer, but they
intend to continue to test Tottenham's resolve to retain the 25-year-old
and will lodge a third bid.There is an acceptance that theirs is
likely to prove a protracted and acrimonious chase that could drag well
into August, though Modric has been identified as Chelsea's principal
target and will remain a priority. Their previous inquiries – an opening
offer of £22m was rejected last month, with an improved package worth
around £27m knocked back early last week – had served to infuriate Levy
and strengthen his resolve to retain the player.The Spurs
manager, Harry Redknapp, has since stressed: "We know Luka wants to
leave, so whether he writes it down on a piece of paper doesn't really
make any different to our stance." Modric, who has been suffering from a
slight ankle injury, is expected to miss Tottenham's friendly on
Saturday against Kaizer Chiefs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane.Chelsea,
whose first team depart on a two-week tour of the Far East on Sunday,
remain in dialogue with Anderlecht over the potential signing of their
Belgium international forward, Romelu Lukaku, though the clubs are still
some distance apart in terms of their valuation of the teenage striker.The
Londoners are also considering whether their interest in the England
midfielder Scott Parker should be pursued, with West Ham United having
now indicated they would allow the player to depart Upton Park only in a
permanent £8m move rather than on a season-long loan.A temporary
switch, even involving the payment of a substantial loan fee, had made
some financial sense to Chelsea given the loss of Michael Essien to a
serious knee injury until February at the earliest. Parker, too, would
have favoured that arrangement though Aston Villa have since expressed
an interest in signing the 30-year-old on a permanent basis and may yet
meet West Ham's asking price.Villas-Boas did make some progress
on Friday by agreeing new contracts with the highly rated England
Under-21 internationals Josh McEachran and Ryan Bertrand. The former has
signed a new five-year deal initially worth around £25,000 a week
having impressed when given the chance to feature in the first team last
season. The 18-year-old should play some part in Saturday's friendly
at Portsmouth."This season my target is just to play more
minutes," said McEachran, who played 17 times under Carlo Ancelotti. "If
not at Chelsea, then I will go out on loan, but I want to play here as
much as I can."Bertrand, who was an ever-present for Stuart
Pearce's Under-21s in the summer's European Championship in Denmark, has
signed a four-year deal and, with competition fierce at left-back,
could now be made available for loan.Newly promoted Swansea City
had expressed some tentative interest in bringing the 21-year-old, who
spent the first half of last season at Nottingham Forest, to the Liberty
Stadium.
</div>

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    <div id="main-article-info"> 
         
                     
                 
            <h1>Corinthians make new £40m bid for Carlos Tevez</h1> 
                 
                    • Brazilian club raise offer closer to £50m asking price • Suggestion before offer was that £40m will not be enough 
         
                 
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                                    <a class="contributor" rel="author" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamiejackson"> 
                                                                             Jamie Jackson</a> 
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            <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/">guardian.co.uk</a>,             
                                                                         
                 <time datetime="2011-07-16T00:18BST" pubdate="">Saturday 16 July 2011 00.18 BST          
</time> 
         
     
         
         
    <li class="history"><a class="rollover history-link" id="history-link-byline" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/16/corinthians-40m-bid-carlos-tevez#history-link-box">Article history</a></li></li><div id="article-wrapper" data-global-auto-refresh-switch="on"> 
         
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                            <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2011/7/16/1310771870597/Carlos-Tevez-007.jpg" alt="Carlos Tevez" height="276" width="460"> 
                                 <div class="caption">Carlos Tevez is keen to join his former 
club Corinthians, who have tabled a new £40m bid for the Manchester City 
striker. Photograph: AP</div> 
                                    </div> 
     
<div id="article-body-blocks"> 
     <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/corinthians" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Corinthians">Corinthians</a> have made an improved offer of £40m for the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Manchester City">Manchester City</a> striker <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/carlos-tevez" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Carlos Tevez">Carlos Tevez</a> in the hope of concluding a deal before the Brazilian club's self-imposed deadline of Sunday night.City 
have been asking for £50m and turned down a £35m bid from Corinthians 
last week. Although the Premier League club have indicated a willingness 
to compromise, the suggestion before the latest offer was lodged was 
that £40m would not be enough to conclude a deal.Corinthians have 
described their latest bid as a final attempt to sign Tevez and City 
will have to be swift in deciding whether to do business with them 
because the Brazilian <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/transfer-window" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Transfer window">transfer window</a> closes on Wednesday.So 
far no clubs in Europe have made a formal offer for the Argentina 
striker, who is desperate to leave Eastlands, although Real Madrid 
retain a keen interest.City will not countenance a loan deal – 
similar to the one that allowed Robinho to join Santos in 2010 – for 
Tevez, who has indicated that his preference is to rejoin Corinthians, 
where he played before moving to England.Selling Tevez to a Brazilian club would avoid him playing for one of City's competitors in the Champions League.Sheikh 
Mansour, the City owner, is content to retain the unsettled Tevez at 
the club for another season if his valuation of the 27-year-old is not 
met but he is mindful that Roberto Mancini, the manager, would prefer to 
sell Tevez.Andrés Sanchez, the Corinthians president, claimed on 
Friday that Juventus had entered the race to sign Tevez by lodging a 
£45m bid, although that was denied by City. The South American side have 
increased their offer despite saying last week that they would not go 
above £35m and Tevez, the Premier League's highest-paid player on 
£250,000 a week, appears willing to accept a cut to his wages to return 
there.If Tevez leaves, City are likely to move for another 
Argentinian striker, Sergio Agüero, who has suggested that he would like 
to leave Atlético Madrid for Eastlands. The 23-year-old is viewed by 
Mancini, the City manager, as the best replacement for Tevez, although 
the club will have to meet his release clause of £38m.Agüero told 
the Argentinian station Radio La Red: "I have made clear in my 
statement that I do not see myself at Atlético. I will seek the best for 
me, I know that my representatives are working and for now I don't want 
to think about it. I will do something after the Copa América, when I 
am able to think calmly."But if I said I saw myself at Atlético, 
I'd be lying. I'd prefer to play in Spain or England – those are the two 
best countries. I have given everything for the shirt and I have had a 
lot of fun but as far as my future is concerned, don't bet on anything."Beyond 
Agüero, José Mourinho, the Real manager, is thought to favour a 
permanent move for Emmanuel Adebayor, who spent five months on loan at 
the Bernabéu from City last season, and is unsettled at the club.Shay 
Given is one player who appears certain to leave Eastlands. The Irish 
goalkeeper is closing in on a move to Aston Villa after he failed to 
make a single Premier League appearance last season. Shaun 
Wright-Phillips, the City winger, is also reportedly interesting Alex 
McLeish, the Villa manager.Yaya Touré, meanwhile, stated that 
City expect to win the Premier League next season. The midfielder told 
the club's website: "The new season will be very, very hard and we need 
to improve, because this season the club will play in the Champions 
League [for the first time]. We expect to stay in the top four of the 
Premier League and we expect to win the Premier League because now we 
are coming with more confidence, the players know each other better. I 
think this year will be fantastic for us."Touré, who scored the 
winning goals in the semi-final and final of the FA Cup, expects his 
brother, Kolo, to make a successful return to playing action after his 
six-month suspension for failing a drugs test. He said: "Kolo's well. 
He's in New York with the family. We hope September will come quickly 
and we hope to help the club win something again next year." 
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</div></ul></div>

Mzee Wa Rubisi · Jul 16, 2011

[h=2]Liverpool Track Madrid Star Higuain[/h] Posted on 15. Jul, 2011 by Elliott Binks in Rumours
96Share

Liverpool are believed to be keeping tabs on Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuaín, according to Footybunker.com.
The reds, who are yet to make a marquee signing as such this season, are in need of another striker to provide strength in depth in the forward positions.
Additionally, with the new money being injected into the club since FSG took control, the Liverpool faithful are expecting a big-summer signing to consolidate their fight for the top four in the Premier League next season.
Higuaín himself may find that he is forced out of Madrid, with Jose Mourinho believed to be interesting in signing front men Carlos Tevez and Neymar.
Liverpool are believed to have to place a bid of around £25 million in order to secure the signature of the striker, but if theres anything the club isnt short of at the moment it is money.
Kopsource rating: 54% (Kopsource ratings explained)
Source credibility:25% Player rating:80% Player potential:75% Value for money:65% Likelihood:25%
There is no doubt about it that Gonzalo Higuain is a quality player and that he would offer the team something different as we try to re-establish ourselves as a top English team once again. Signing the Argentinian would also, no doubt, be a fantastic statement of intent in terms of what we have to offer to possible other signings and will certainly make our rivals take notice.
However, the fact that at the moment Liverpool have bigger fish to fry makes us pretty sure that this transfer is unlikely. Signing a new left-back, centre-back and possibly another winger is probably what is being prioritised by Dalglish and Comolli.
With Carroll and Suarez we already have sufficient fire-power up front, especially with many youngsters hoping to impress the boss during the coming season.
Also, this transfer rumour hasnt been widely reported by other media outlets other than Footybunker.com, so it would be naive to take the rumour full truthfully.

Transfer news...

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