Transfer news...

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• Sport
• Football
• Sunderland

[h=1]James McClean becomes Sunderland's 10th summer signing[/h] • 22-year-old winger joins from Derry City for £350,000
• McLean had attracted interest from other English clubs

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• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 August 2011 16.58 BST Article history
  
  
  Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, above, has said James McClean is 'an outstanding young talent'. Photograph: Jed Leicester/Action Images
  
  Sunderland have completed the signing of the Republic of Ireland midfielder James McClean from Derry City on a three-year deal for a fee of £350,000.
  The 22-year-old has been capped by Northern Ireland at Under-21 level and was called up into the senior squad by Nigel Worthington before pulling out and announcing he wished to represent the Republic of Ireland instead.
  The winger, who had also been linked with Peterborough United and Wigan Athletic, becomes Steve Bruce's 10th summer signing.
  Bruce said: "James is an outstanding young talent and has rightly attracted interest from a number of clubs over the summer so we're very pleased that he sees his future at Sunderland."
  
  

 

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[h=1]Carlos Tevez to discover if he is to lose Manchester City captaincy[/h] • Vincent Kompany the likely candidate to replace Tevez
• Joe Hart signs new five-year contract

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• Daniel Taylor
• guardian.co.uk, Monday 8 August 2011 22.45 BST Article history
  
  
  Carlos Tevez will discover this week if he is to remain as captain of Manchester City or not. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
  
  Carlos Tevez will discover this week whether he is to lose the Manchester City captaincy after reluctantly returning to training on Monday to renew his relationship with a club he had hoped would now form part of his past.
  Roberto Mancini is aware there is a strength of feeling among the supporters, as well as in the dressing room, for Vincent Kompany to take over as captain from a man who has made it clear he is in Manchester against his will.
  Mancini regards Kompany as a more deserving candidate and his only reservation is the potential for more problems with Tevez given that there is still the possibility he may be heavily reliant on the Argentinian when the season starts.
  While Tevez has repeatedly stated his desire to leave the club and his dislike of Manchester, describing it as a city where it always rains and "there are only two restaurants", he has discovered there are few clubs with the spending power to sign a 27-year-old for around £45m as well as taking on a £250,000-a-week salary.
  Internazionale have been monitoring the situation closely but, as it stands, do not have the money and that has left Tevez in the difficult position of having to return to Manchester to prepare for the new season and renew his relationship with Mancini after ignoring his telephone calls for virtually the entire summer.
  Tevez, who had been given a three-week break at the end of Copa América, took part in a 20-minute training session – in the rain – before driving off without comment. Carrington was largely deserted otherwise because the players who had taken part in the Community Shield defeat to Manchester United had the day off.
  While Tevez will continue to seek a way out of the club, Joe Hart has described himself as "very privileged" after signing a new contract that will commit the England international goalkeeper to Eastlands for the next five years. "I can't think of myself being anywhere other than City," he said. "When I signed from Shrewsbury it was always my aim to be the No1 here and I was prepared to do anything to achieve that."
  City are now likely to hold more talks with Nigel de Jong after their first round of contract discussions ended with the midfielder rejecting the terms on offer.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain completes £10m move to Arsenal[/h] • Southampton confirm departure for club record fee
• Fee reported to be initial £5m with £5m add-ons

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• David Hytner
• guardian.co.uk, Monday 8 August 2011 14.17 BST Article history
  
  
  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is at Arsenal for a medical ahead of a potential transfer from Southampton. Photograph: Nigel French/Empics Sport
  
  The Southampton winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has completed his transfer to Arsenal after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical, the Championship club have announced. Southampton described the transfer as "one of the biggest deals in Championship history", with Arsenal expected to pay a fee possibly rising to £10m.
  The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, has been under intense pressure from supporters to add to his squad, although the demand has been for established stars who might be capable of firing a Premier League title challenge.
  Oxlade-Chamberlain, who turns 18 next week, is a player of rich potential but he will surely need time for his impact to be felt. He plays on the wing but he can also play through the middle, rather like Theo Walcott, who made a similar transfer from Southampton to Arsenal in 2006.
  Wenger has tracked Oxlade-Chamberlain for some time and, despite interest from elsewhere in the Premier League, he has got his man, with the club set to pay £5m up front and as much again, potentially, in performance-related add-ons. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who did not feature in Southampton's 3-1 win over Leeds United on Saturday, is on record as saying that he feels he is ready to play in the Premier League.
  Wenger, meanwhile, hopes that Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen, who suffered ankle and back injuries respectively in the 2-1 friendly defeat away to Benfica on Saturday, will be fit for the season opener at Newcastle United on Saturday. Van Persie will report for international duty with Holland, ahead of the Wembley friendly against England on Wednesday. Kieran Gibbs's thigh injury, though, is more serious, leaving Arsenal vulnerable at left-back.
  Jack Wilshere, who has an ankle injury, will not play for England and he is a doubt for Newcastle, with Wenger having said last Friday that it was "difficult to set a concrete deadline on his comeback". Walcott is expected to be available for the trip to St James' Park after ankle trouble, as should Samir Nasri, who did not travel to Portugal at the weekend because of a muscular problem.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• Football
• Manchester United

[h=1]Wesley Sneijder admits interest in a move to Manchester United[/h] • Dutch midfielder's Internazionale wages may be an obstacle
• 'There have been unofficial talks; there have been contacts'

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• Andy Hunter
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 August 2011 20.55 BST Article history
  
  
  Internazionale's Wesley Sneijder admits he could be tempted by a summer switch to the Premier League champions, Manchester United. Photograph: PA
  
  Wesley Sneijder has revived the prospect of a move to Manchester United by confirming he is interested in joining the Premier League champions and that "unofficial talks" have taken place over a possible £35m deal.
  The Internazionale playmaker has been linked with Old Trafford all summer but the Italian club's asking price for the 27-year-old, plus his weekly wage in Milan of almost £250,000, have proved problematic for United so far. Sir Alex Ferguson remains interested in the Holland international, however, while Inter are prepared to sell at £35m. Now Sneijder, seen here leaving a hotel in Noordwijk after Holland's trip to Wembley was cancelled, has shown his appetite for the deal in an interview.
  When asked if he was keen on a move to United, Sneijder, who was linked with Manchester City at the weekend before City swiftly dismissed the reports from Italy, replied: "Yes but Manchester United haven't made an official approach yet. There have been unofficial talks, there have been contacts but then there are always contacts. I have contacts with everybody."
  Ferguson has denied making an approach for the former Ajax and Real Madrid midfielder and, without a compromise over his salary, Sneijder admits he may well find himself in Milan after the transfer window closes. He added: "The situation is that I am now an Inter player and chances are that I will still be that come 31 August. There is also a chance I could leave.
  "That isn't really down to me but the club. I think Inter have been very clear: if a good offer comes in, they have to let me go. They don't want to lose me but there is a chance they will let me go. If something crosses my path, I have enough time to make my decision."
  The emergence of Tom Cleverley has provided Ferguson with a possible, cheaper alternative to Sneijder in his quest to replace Paul Scholes but United's interest in the Holland international remains. His international colleague and former team-mate at both Ajax and Real Madrid, Rafael van der Vaart, believes Sneijder would flourish at Old Trafford.
  "Of course he would like to play in England. It's the biggest league in the world," said the Tottenham forward. "He is a good friend of mine and we have contact almost every day. He knows what to expect in the Premier League."
  Van der Vaart, however, insisted he has no great desire for his friend to join him in the Premier League. He added: "I hope not (to play against Sneijder this season) because Man U are going to be stronger. But he's a great player and he would fit in well at Man U."
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• Football
• Manchester United

[h=1]Wesley Sneijder admits interest in a move to Manchester United[/h] • Dutch midfielder's Internazionale wages may be an obstacle
• 'There have been unofficial talks; there have been contacts'

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• Andy Hunter
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 August 2011 20.55 BST Article history
  
  
  Internazionale's Wesley Sneijder admits he could be tempted by a summer switch to the Premier League champions, Manchester United. Photograph: PA
  
  Wesley Sneijder has revived the prospect of a move to Manchester United by confirming he is interested in joining the Premier League champions and that "unofficial talks" have taken place over a possible £35m deal.
  The Internazionale playmaker has been linked with Old Trafford all summer but the Italian club's asking price for the 27-year-old, plus his weekly wage in Milan of almost £250,000, have proved problematic for United so far. Sir Alex Ferguson remains interested in the Holland international, however, while Inter are prepared to sell at £35m. Now Sneijder, seen here leaving a hotel in Noordwijk after Holland's trip to Wembley was cancelled, has shown his appetite for the deal in an interview.
  When asked if he was keen on a move to United, Sneijder, who was linked with Manchester City at the weekend before City swiftly dismissed the reports from Italy, replied: "Yes but Manchester United haven't made an official approach yet. There have been unofficial talks, there have been contacts but then there are always contacts. I have contacts with everybody."
  Ferguson has denied making an approach for the former Ajax and Real Madrid midfielder and, without a compromise over his salary, Sneijder admits he may well find himself in Milan after the transfer window closes. He added: "The situation is that I am now an Inter player and chances are that I will still be that come 31 August. There is also a chance I could leave.
  "That isn't really down to me but the club. I think Inter have been very clear: if a good offer comes in, they have to let me go. They don't want to lose me but there is a chance they will let me go. If something crosses my path, I have enough time to make my decision."
  The emergence of Tom Cleverley has provided Ferguson with a possible, cheaper alternative to Sneijder in his quest to replace Paul Scholes but United's interest in the Holland international remains. His international colleague and former team-mate at both Ajax and Real Madrid, Rafael van der Vaart, believes Sneijder would flourish at Old Trafford.
  "Of course he would like to play in England. It's the biggest league in the world," said the Tottenham forward. "He is a good friend of mine and we have contact almost every day. He knows what to expect in the Premier League."
  Van der Vaart, however, insisted he has no great desire for his friend to join him in the Premier League. He added: "I hope not (to play against Sneijder this season) because Man U are going to be stronger. But he's a great player and he would fit in well at Man U."
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• Football
• Everton

[h=1]Arsenal's pursuit of Phil Jagielka will fail, says Sylvain Distin[/h] • Centre-back 'has not said he wants to go anywhere else'
• Distin admits club would struggle to withstand injury crisis

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• Andy Hunter
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 August 2011 22.30 BST Article history
  
  
  Everton rejected a £12m offer from Arsenal for Phil Jagielka and it would take at least another £8m before David Moyes even considers parting with the player. Photograph: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar
  
  Sylvain Distin believes Arsenal's pursuit of Phil Jagielka is destined to fail as the Everton and England defender has given no indication he wants to swap Goodison Park for The Emirates.
  For the second summer in succession Arsène Wenger has tried to persuade Everton to sell Jagielka, who turns 29 next week, only to meet firm resistance from David Moyes. Despite a lack of funds and no new signings at Goodison, Everton rejected a £12m offer from Arsenal a fortnight ago and it would take at least another £8m before Moyes even considers parting with a player he believes could be a future captain at the club. There has been no further contact between the clubs since the £12m approach and Distin, Jagielka's central defensive partner at Everton, is confident the former Sheffield United captain would be content to remain on Merseyside.
  "Jags is an amazing player, you don't play for your country if you're not," said Distin. "He's still young and still improving. He had some injury problems but seems to be over them now and he is quality. He's got top clubs after him and that's a sign of his quality but there's no sign that he's going. There's no reason to be worried.
  "He's not come out and said he wants to go anywhere, so I guess that means he wants to stay. I don't think any players want to leave here, to be honest. There's no point in saying anything to them about it unless they come out and say they want to go. If he came to me and asked about his future, then I'd tell him what I think, but that has not happened and we are happy he's staying."
  Distin's own long-term future at Everton is currently uncertain having entered the final 12 months of the three-year contract he signed on his £5m arrival from Portsmouth in 2009. Talks have opened on a new deal for the 33-year-old, however, and he is keen to extend his Everton career alongside Jagielka.
  The former Newcastle and Manchester City defender explained: "I want to stay here, I'm happy at Everton and, if I can do so, then fine. If I feel I have to change clubs, then I will do it. I'm quite honest about that. If I don't feel good, then I say so. But I do feel good about being here and, if I can stay, then I will.
  "We have started talks about a new contract and I am encouraged by that at the moment. It's going well, quite positive. This club has one of the best atmospheres in the dressing room and that's very important given the time you spend together. The football's going well, so altogether I think this is the best I've felt at any club."
  Everton's board has come in for increased criticism this summer over the lack of additions to Moyes's squad and, though Distin, right, believes keeping the likes of Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell is more important than new signings, he admits the squad would struggle to withstand an injury crisis. "If you ask anyone if they should improve and get new players, whether it's here, Spurs, Chelsea, Man United or wherever, they will all say the same," said Distin. "The main thing, though, is keeping the big players and that's what we have done. But the next step is obviously to bring others in. We have enough quality in the squad and if we don't get many injuries we should be okay. If we do, of course, things could be a bit different."
  Injury has already diminished Moyes's midfield options for the start of the new season with Mikel Arteta and Seamus Coleman out of the scheduled opener at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland international Coleman is likely to be sidelined for over a month after scans revealed he suffered a torn ankle ligament in a friendly against Villarreal on Friday night. Coleman was taken to hospital after a bad challenge from Carlos Marchena and though X-rays allayed fears of a broken ankle, he is still facing an extended spell out. "He will be visiting a specialist in London later this week for further assessment," said the Everton head physio, Danny Donachie. Arteta has missed Everton's last four pre-season friendlies with a foot injury and is not expected to feature at White Hart Lane.
  
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• Football
• Arsenal

[h=1]Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri look close to Arsenal exits[/h] • Barcelona and Manchester City confident of deals
• Both players to miss Saturday's visit to Newcastle

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• Dominic Fifield
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 August 2011 20.58 BST Article history
  
  
  The Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fábregas, left, is on the verge of agreeing a transfer to return to Barcelona. Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP
  
  Barcelona are increasingly confident that they will finally secure the Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fábregas before the weekend as negotiations with the London club over a fee edge closer towards resolution.
  The Spaniard could yet be followed out of Arsenal by Samir Nasri as Manchester City are similarly hopeful of signing the France international, who has entered the final year of his contract, for around £25m. While there will be frustration at the departure of the Frenchman, Arsenal could be forgiven a certain relief at Fábregas's imminent exit with the player's clear desire to return to Camp Nou having provided an unwelcome distraction throughout pre-season.
  Negotiations are ongoing, with Arsenal yet to accept any deal formally. Yet Barça have received encouragement that a package worth an initial €29m (£25.4m) – with a further payment of around €6m (£5.3m) linked to future appearances and honours still under discussion – will now prove sufficient to sign the player. A similarly structured deal had, to all intents and purposes, been on the table for some time, though key to Arsenal's recent shift in stance appears to have been Fábregas's further willingness to re-direct around €5m (£4.4m) from his prospective earnings at the Catalan club directly to his former side.
  That figure would equate to a proportion of his wages over the course of a five‑year contract and would help inflate the overall size of the deal, allowing Arsenal scope to compromise from their initial demands of nearer £40m. Fábregas, who has never formally asked for a transfer but had nevertheless made clear his desire to return to his boyhood club, has cut an isolated figure at Arsenal in pre-season. He was omitted from the squad that travelled to Malaysia and China last month, with Arsene Wenger citing his continued rehabilitation from the hamstring problems which hampered him towards the end of last term, and was ruled out of both the Emirates Cup and last Saturday's friendly at Benfica in Lisbon with Wenger indicating he was "not ready to play".
  While he had been included, alongside Nasri, in the club's Champions League squad for the qualifying tie first leg against Udinese next week, there was never any real likelihood that he would participate given the uncertainty that surrounded his future. Indeed, the player would have been reluctant to jeopardise a potential move to the European champions this summer by becoming cup-tied in the competition.
  Barca's vice-president Josep María Bartomeu and the director Raul Sanllehi had left the club's own pre-season tour of the United States to hold further talks in London last Friday in an effort to speed up what has been a tortuous process - Bartomeu is understood to have returned for further talks on Wednesday - with the Catalans having been relentless in their pursuit of Fabregas for over two years. The player himself had hoped to return to Spain last summer but, having become increasingly unsettled, now appears set to realise that ambition. He was not under serious consideration for Saturday's Premier League fixture at Newcastle with Wenger suggesting his lack of pre-season action had set back his preparations.
  Nasri, too, could have left the club by the time the squad arrive at St James' Park to face Newcastle on Saturday as City prepare to formalise their interest in the player. Wenger had indicated at the beginning of the club's tour of east Asia that his determination to retain his compatriot might extend even to losing him for free under the Bosman ruling next summer rather than selling him to a rival, potentially writing off a fee of up to £25m, though that stance has since mellowed. The midfielder has indicated an unwillingness to sign a new £90,000-a-week contract at the Emirates stadium, aware as he is that he could as much as double that amount at City.
  The sudden influx of transfer monies will enable Wenger to pursue his own attacking targets – there is interest in the Valencia winger Juan Mata and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema – though the Arsenal manager does envisage the teenage Japanese midfielder Ryo Miyaichi playing a significant role in the first-team in the season ahead. The 18-year-old arrived at the club in January but spent six months on loan at Feyenoord while awaiting the relevant clearance to feature in the United Kingdom.
  That was secured on Tuesday when Miyaichi was granted a work permit, with Wenger describing him as "an exceptional talent" when addressing a Football Association panel at Wembley. There is a hope that he will play between 20 and 25 senior games this term.
  Arsenal will also attempt to strengthen their defensive ranks, though the Birmingham City centre-half Scott Dann appears more likely to swap the Championship club for Liverpool than the Londoners. Wenger may therefore return to long-standing targets in Bolton's Gary Cahill and Christopher Samba at Blackburn Rovers as he attempts to add more brawn to his back-line.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=4]Series: Rumour Mill[/h] Previous | Index

[h=1]Football transfer rumours: Wesley Sneijder to Man Utd within 48 hours?[/h] Today's blather is sick o' the high hat

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• Rob Smyth
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 August 2011 09.29 BST Article history
  
  
  Happy talk: Manchester United and Wesley Sneijder join 'third party' for negotiations. Photograph: Pa Wire/PA
  
  Congratulations to Wesley Sneijder, who has signed for Manchester United for the 97th time this summer. The Daily Mirror are reporting that the Internazionale midfielder will seal his latest move to Old Trafford within the next 48 hours. They say that "the two clubs have explored a possible price over the past few weeks through a third party", the old-fangled tactic of actually talking to each other presumably no longer trendy enough.
  All that needs to happen now, as with the other 96 transfers, is for Sneijder and United to agree personal terms, a process whose complexity has been exacerbated by Mrs Sneijder's rumoured refusal to go anywhere that does not have a Miss Selfridge.
  We tried to firm up the story with our Dutch snout Shex, but he mislaid his will to live during Sneijder's 94th transfer to Old Trafford story and is now rocking back and forth in the foetal position, whispering "for the love of all that is holy, Wesley, please put me out of my misery".
  Sneijder was once for sale at football's hippest summer boutique, the Real Madrid Rubbish Dump, and this year Lassana Diarra is similarly available. Real have dropped their asking price from £20m to £15m, which means that north London should soon have a legalised thief in Diarra, one of modern football's most effective pickpockets and playbreakers (we're not stereotyping – look at Darren Fletcher!). For the second time in his career, Harry Redknapp is keen to sign the man who thinks it's a good idea to have "Lass" on the back of a shirt.
  North London ain't big enough for two people with Lass in their name, so, er, Wilson Palacios will be off to Stoke, even though he only meets one of their two entry criteria for players: that they be six foot and a mean sunnabitch. Shaun Wright-Phillips meets neither, but tomorrow's chip paper reckons he could also be on his way to the Britannia Stadium.
  Samir Nasri is close to joining Manchester City, which will please his agent, while Anzhi Makhachkala also want to feast on Arsène Wenger's carcass by signing Andrey Arshavin.
  Arsenal want the Birmingham defender Scott Dann, despite him being a real-life defender. Liverpool are also keen. Bolton are after Tuncay, and Harry Redknapp has been idly fingering his "Incredible Hulk" top trump while looking up the dialling code for Portugal. What could it all mean?
  That's it for today's rumours, a slim crop. This is what happens when you get real news; it reduces the chance of a good, dishonest rumour-monger like the Mill earning a trade by peddling stories we made up in the shower. We hope those rioters are proud.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• Football
• Liverpool

[h=1]Sunderland should welcome back Jordan Henderson, says Kenny Dalglish[/h] • Liverpool manager says Henderson should not be heckled
• Luis Suárez has returned to training following Copa América

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• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 August 2011 20.56 BST Article history
  
  
  Jordan Henderson could make his Liverpool debut against his former club Sunderland on Saturday. Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
  
  The Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, insists Sunderland fans should not give Jordan Henderson a rough ride in Liverpool's opening Premier League fixture this weekend. The midfielder left the Black Cats for Liverpool this summer and Dalglish says his former club have to be "philosophical" about the move.
  "Jordan is one they've lost," Dalglish told the Liverpool Echo. "He's a good player who they would have been understandably reluctant to let go. But sometimes as a manager you've got to be philosophical and say if a player wants to go we should let him leave. I don't think [Sunderland fans] will have any animosity towards Jordan. Sunderland will be a difficult fixture. There's been a major turnaround of players there over the summer.
  "We'll need to do a bit of revision and see which players Steve has brought in and let go. Their team will be very different to the one we faced back in March."
  Luis Suárez has returned to training after being given an extended break following Uruguay's involvement in the Copa América and is in contention for the starting line-up on Saturday.
  Suárez could partner Andy Carroll, who Dalglish says has recovered from the injury that affected him last season. "Andy's injury meant he was only able to train at 100% on rare occasions last season. He even played in some games when we knew he wasn't going to be at his best. Now he is fully over that knock and has been able to do a lot more on the training field in pre-season. That's showed in the games he has played over the last few weeks. He's fitter and scoring some goals."
  The Sunderland left-back George McCartney has agreed a season-long loan deal with his former club West Ham United. The 30-year-old spent two years with the Hammers between 2006 and 2008 with spells at Sunderland either side of that. McCartney made 71 appearances for West Ham during that time, and is happy to become Sam Allardyce's sixth summer signing at Upton Park.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Fernando Torres of Chelsea suffers concussion in Spain defeat by Italy[/h] • Striker plays 14 minutes of match in Bari
• Alberto Aquilani's late goal gives Italy victory

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• Andy Martin
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 August 2011 23.47 BST Article history
  
  
  Fernando Torres played only 14 minutes of Spain's friendly defeat by Italy in Bari. Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images
  
  The Chelsea and Spain striker Fernando Torres was injured and substituted in the first half of a friendly against Italy in Bari on Wednesday night, where a late goal from the Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani gave Italy a 2-1 win over the world champions. It was reported later that Torres, who was on the pitch for 14 minutes, had suffered mild concussion and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
  Riccardo Montolivo gave Italy the lead after 11 minutes before the visitors lost Torres and Gerard Piqué to injury. Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso levelled from the penalty spot after Giorgio Chiellini had fouled Torres's replacement, Fernando Llorente. The game seemed to be heading for a draw until Aquilani struck from 20 yards out as time was running out.
  Germany won 3-2 at home to Brazil, with all five goals coming in the final half-hour in Stuttgart. Bastian Schweinsteiger gave the hosts the lead with a 61st‑minute penalty following Lúcio's foul on Toni Kroos before Mario Götze made it 2-0 with a close‑range finish six minutes later.
  Brazil's Dani Alves was then brought down in the box by Philip Lahm and the Milan forward Robinho reduced the deficit from the spot. Andre Schurrle scored his third goal in his sixth international match to extend Germany's lead, with the in-demand youngster Neymar scoring a last-minute second for Brazil.
  A strong France team were held to a 1-1 draw by Chile in Montpellier, despite taking the lead, through Loïc Rémy, after 20 minutes. France then continued to create chances but it was Chile who found an equaliser when Barcelona's Alexis Sánchez crossed for the striker Nicolas Cordova to level the match with 13 minutes remaining.
  The match also featured Samir Nasri, who is not expected to feature in Arsenal's opening Premier League fixture this weekend, if it goes ahead, as his future at the club remains uncertain.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• Football
• Tottenham Hotspur

[h=1]Tottenham face tough task to land Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente[/h] • Basque club unwilling to accept offer under €36m
• Spurs may take another look at Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi

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• Dominic Fifield and Stuart James
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 August 2011 22.01 BST Article history
  
  
  Spurs have long admired Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente but are unwilling to break the bank to sign the Spain international. Photograph: Miguel Tona/EPA
  
  Tottenham Hotspur face an uphill task if they are to sign the Spain forward Fernando Llorente from Athletic Bilbao, with his club unwilling to accept an offer that does not trigger the €36m (£31.6m) buy-out clause in his contract.
  The Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is anxious to reinforce his attacking options after seeing Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko register just 18 league goals between them for the club last season.
  Llorente, who scored 19 goals in 2010-11 to help propel Athletic into a sixth-place finish and the Europa League, has been a long-time target for Spurs, whose interest was intensified once Mirko Vucinic moved from Roma to Juventus last month. Preliminary talks took place with Bilbao last weekend, although the Basque club said they would be reluctant sellers of their most prized asset. Presidential elections were held over the summer with Fernando Garcia Macua duly replaced by Josu Urrutia and the new incumbent understandably keen not to start his tenure at the club by selling Llorente, such an iconic player, who is contracted to the club until 2013.
  That may force Spurs to make a move for Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi, with Redknapp keen to bring in a forward before allowing any of his current options to depart. Keane has yet to attract interest, but Stoke City have made a formal offer for Crouch and team-mate Wilson Palacios, though major obstacles still need to be hurdled before either deal could be completed.
  A fee of around £8m has been agreed for Palacios, 27, though the midfielder's wage demands may yet prove to be out of Stoke's reach. The club have yet to hold talks with Crouch, 30, with the salary potentially on offer over what would have to be a four-year contract likely to prove a similar stumbling block.
  The Stoke chairman, Peter Coates, said he was awaiting a response from Spurs over what amounts to a £20m offer for both players. "We've made our last bid," said Coates. "The ball is in their court. We shall not be negotiating from where we are. The last conversation I had with Spurs, we had not agreed anything. We'll see what happens, but we haven't got any further."Tottenham, who have held talks with Real Madrid over the possible signing of Lassana Diarra, could yet raise further money by selling their former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas to Fulham, where he would be reunited with the former Spurs manager Martin Jol.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Newcastle's José Enrique set for Liverpool move after clubs agree fee[/h] • Full-back to undergo medical ahead of £6m transfer
• 25-year-old signed for Newcastle in August 2007

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• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 August 2011 11.56 BST Article history
  
  
  José Enrique is set to leave Newcastle for Liverpool. Photograph: Action Images
  
  The Newcastle United full-back José Enrique is expected to undergo a medical at Liverpool after the two clubs agreed a fee believed to be close to £6m.
  Enrique, 25, who joined Newcastle for £6.3m from Villarreal in August 2007, emerged from a difficult start to his career on Tyneside to prove himself a capable Premier League player.
  Dalglish has been looking to strengthen the left side of his defence ever since taking over from Roy Hodgson in January. He allowed Paul Konchesky, a Hodgson signing last summer, to leave on loan and, with Fábio Aurélio injured, employed the right-back Glen Johnson in that position for the remainder of the season.
  The Argentina international Emiliano Insúa returned from a season-long loan at Galatasaray to rejoin the squad for training last month but his future is uncertain as 17-year-old reserve-team defender Jack Robinson showed at the end of the previous campaign he was capable of filling in.
  The signing of Enrique would provide Liverpool with a more balanced and attacking left side following the recruitment of the England winger Stewart Downing from Aston Villa.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Premier League preview No17: Tottenham Hotspur[/h] Harry Redknapp's squad contains real quality but as always the manager will feel he has to add to it to finish in the top four

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• • David Hytner
  • guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 August 2011 08.01 BST Article history
  Link to this video Guardian writers' prediction 6th (This is not David Hytner's prediction, but the average of our writers' tips)
  Last season's position 5th
  Odds against winning the title 50-1
  When the Champions League aria played and Tottenham Hotspur carried the fight to the Milan giants and Real Madrid, it was tempting to wonder whether things could get any better for the north London club. The heady European adventure of last season, which represented the first time since 1961-62 that Spurs had graced the continent's elite competition, was reward for 2009-10, when Harry Redknapp, finally and memorably, sated the board's demand for a top‑four finish.
  The Champions League ties, though, helped to buy credit and deflect attention from a Premier League campaign that never quite ignited. The blight on it, and the big difference to the previous season, was the number of points that were tossed away at home. Supporters wonder what might have been if draws against Sunderland, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Blackpool, for example, had been turned into wins, never mind the defeat against Wigan Athletic. Tottenham finished in fifth place, six points behind Arsenal.
  This time out, as Redknapp himself might admit, the Europa League is a curious consolation and the manager's challenge is to prove that if the club can never better the Champions League quarter-final finish of last April, they can at least return to such exalted levels. The danger, however, which is preying on the manager's mind, is that they could slip further away.
  Redknapp is notorious for playing down his team's chances, for attempting to create an atmosphere where there is as little expectation on them as possible, but he truly believes that Liverpool's spending has given them the initiative. And that is before he considers the top four from last season, into which Manchester City have propelled themselves on the back of Abu Dhabi's petrodollars. Once again, Arsenal feel like Tottenham's most realistic target.
  It has been a summer of impasse, with the market so far defeating Redknapp. He has signed only one senior player – the 40-year-old goalkeeper Brad Friedel on a free transfer from Aston Villa who, incidentally, has not traded regular starting football for a place on the Tottenham bench.
  Redknapp is desperate to add proven quality, with the priority remaining a world-class centre-forward who might permit him the option of playing 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. The problem, though, is that such players come with huge wages and Tottenham are simply not in the position to pay them. The ceiling is around £75,000-a-week and the chairman Daniel Levy refuses to play fast and loose with the club's financial future, particularly as White Hart Lane holds only 36,000.
  It has not stopped Redknapp from getting frustrated. The Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool can each offer six-figure weekly wage packets for the right player. "You're looking to be a top-four team and it's difficult; we can't pay the wages that those clubs pay, basically," Redknapp said. "We were interested in Sergio Agüero but he wanted £250,000-a-week. We were only £220,000 short."
  Redknapp released Jonathan Woodgate, who has joined Stoke City, and loaned out Kyle Naughton and Bongani Khumalo but he must trim his bloated squad further in order to comply with the Premier League's 25-man limit. Virtually every Tottenham player has his price, albeit a very large one – Levy refuses to accept a loss. He is demanding a huge loan fee, for example, for David Bentley, who still has three years to run on his contract.
  The irony behind Redknapp's wage-related grumbles is that the club's many unwanted squad players are on deals that make them too expensive for potential buyers in the Premier League or the Championship. He must sell before he buys, and he is struggling to sell. Moreover, he is struggling to find players who represent an improvement on what he already has and who also fit into the wage structure.
  Luka Modric's future has been the major issue of the summer and it seems pivotal to Tottenham's prospects. The midfielder, whose performances over the duration of last season eclipsed those of even Gareth Bale, has been chased by Chelsea, who are able to offer him an eye-watering wage increase and Champions League football. At the start of the summer, Modric made it clear that he wanted the move.
  Levy, though, has maintained that he is going nowhere and that his case will be different to those of Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov who, after much wrangling, were sold to Manchester United. Levy would argue that the circumstances in those instances were different. Carrick had two years to run on his Tottenham contract in 2006 and had made it plain that he would not sign another one.
  With Berbatov, if he had been made to stay in the summer of 2008 there was the fear that he would invoke the Webster ruling the following summer and buy out the remainder of his contract to force the transfer that he wanted, at a cut-price. There was also the worry that he would effectively down tools during the season.
  Modric is under contract until 2016 and he is routinely commended for his professionalism. At the time of writing, the situation feels so delicate that a gentle breeze could tip it.
  Redknapp intends to play his younger players in the Europa League – watch out for Kyle Walker at right-back and Danny Rose at left-back, although the former could push Vedran Corluka for the regular berth. And with Europe not expected to be too great a distraction, the manager will hope that a clear and energetic focus on the Premier League will pay dividends.
  No club in England are linked to a greater number of players than Tottenham – the N17 rumour mill is a force of nature – and, if it were up to Redknapp, you suspect he would sign them all. But the existing squad contains genuine quality – think William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, however frustrating he can be, at times – and, with a statement signing up front, Tottenham should at least finish with more points than last season.
  It would be nice for Redknapp if he could field the same central defensive partnership from one week to the next. Keeping Modric would be nicer.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Premier League preview No17: Tottenham Hotspur[/h] Harry Redknapp's squad contains real quality but as always the manager will feel he has to add to it to finish in the top four

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• Comments (225)

• 
• • David Hytner
  • guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 August 2011 08.01 BST Article history
  Link to this video Guardian writers' prediction 6th (This is not David Hytner's prediction, but the average of our writers' tips)
  Last season's position 5th
  Odds against winning the title 50-1
  When the Champions League aria played and Tottenham Hotspur carried the fight to the Milan giants and Real Madrid, it was tempting to wonder whether things could get any better for the north London club. The heady European adventure of last season, which represented the first time since 1961-62 that Spurs had graced the continent's elite competition, was reward for 2009-10, when Harry Redknapp, finally and memorably, sated the board's demand for a top‑four finish.
  The Champions League ties, though, helped to buy credit and deflect attention from a Premier League campaign that never quite ignited. The blight on it, and the big difference to the previous season, was the number of points that were tossed away at home. Supporters wonder what might have been if draws against Sunderland, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Blackpool, for example, had been turned into wins, never mind the defeat against Wigan Athletic. Tottenham finished in fifth place, six points behind Arsenal.
  This time out, as Redknapp himself might admit, the Europa League is a curious consolation and the manager's challenge is to prove that if the club can never better the Champions League quarter-final finish of last April, they can at least return to such exalted levels. The danger, however, which is preying on the manager's mind, is that they could slip further away.
  Redknapp is notorious for playing down his team's chances, for attempting to create an atmosphere where there is as little expectation on them as possible, but he truly believes that Liverpool's spending has given them the initiative. And that is before he considers the top four from last season, into which Manchester City have propelled themselves on the back of Abu Dhabi's petrodollars. Once again, Arsenal feel like Tottenham's most realistic target.
  It has been a summer of impasse, with the market so far defeating Redknapp. He has signed only one senior player – the 40-year-old goalkeeper Brad Friedel on a free transfer from Aston Villa who, incidentally, has not traded regular starting football for a place on the Tottenham bench.
  Redknapp is desperate to add proven quality, with the priority remaining a world-class centre-forward who might permit him the option of playing 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. The problem, though, is that such players come with huge wages and Tottenham are simply not in the position to pay them. The ceiling is around £75,000-a-week and the chairman Daniel Levy refuses to play fast and loose with the club's financial future, particularly as White Hart Lane holds only 36,000.
  It has not stopped Redknapp from getting frustrated. The Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool can each offer six-figure weekly wage packets for the right player. "You're looking to be a top-four team and it's difficult; we can't pay the wages that those clubs pay, basically," Redknapp said. "We were interested in Sergio Agüero but he wanted £250,000-a-week. We were only £220,000 short."
  Redknapp released Jonathan Woodgate, who has joined Stoke City, and loaned out Kyle Naughton and Bongani Khumalo but he must trim his bloated squad further in order to comply with the Premier League's 25-man limit. Virtually every Tottenham player has his price, albeit a very large one – Levy refuses to accept a loss. He is demanding a huge loan fee, for example, for David Bentley, who still has three years to run on his contract.
  The irony behind Redknapp's wage-related grumbles is that the club's many unwanted squad players are on deals that make them too expensive for potential buyers in the Premier League or the Championship. He must sell before he buys, and he is struggling to sell. Moreover, he is struggling to find players who represent an improvement on what he already has and who also fit into the wage structure.
  Luka Modric's future has been the major issue of the summer and it seems pivotal to Tottenham's prospects. The midfielder, whose performances over the duration of last season eclipsed those of even Gareth Bale, has been chased by Chelsea, who are able to offer him an eye-watering wage increase and Champions League football. At the start of the summer, Modric made it clear that he wanted the move.
  Levy, though, has maintained that he is going nowhere and that his case will be different to those of Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov who, after much wrangling, were sold to Manchester United. Levy would argue that the circumstances in those instances were different. Carrick had two years to run on his Tottenham contract in 2006 and had made it plain that he would not sign another one.
  With Berbatov, if he had been made to stay in the summer of 2008 there was the fear that he would invoke the Webster ruling the following summer and buy out the remainder of his contract to force the transfer that he wanted, at a cut-price. There was also the worry that he would effectively down tools during the season.
  Modric is under contract until 2016 and he is routinely commended for his professionalism. At the time of writing, the situation feels so delicate that a gentle breeze could tip it.
  Redknapp intends to play his younger players in the Europa League – watch out for Kyle Walker at right-back and Danny Rose at left-back, although the former could push Vedran Corluka for the regular berth. And with Europe not expected to be too great a distraction, the manager will hope that a clear and energetic focus on the Premier League will pay dividends.
  No club in England are linked to a greater number of players than Tottenham – the N17 rumour mill is a force of nature – and, if it were up to Redknapp, you suspect he would sign them all. But the existing squad contains genuine quality – think William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, however frustrating he can be, at times – and, with a statement signing up front, Tottenham should at least finish with more points than last season.
  It would be nice for Redknapp if he could field the same central defensive partnership from one week to the next. Keeping Modric would be nicer.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Thursday's papers[/h] Published 09:11 11/08/11 By Football Spy

• 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...-Leon-Thursday-newspapers-article783923.html#

The summer transfer window is hotting up as the new season draws ever closer. Keep on top of all the latest news, rumours and gossip from the printed press and the web here.
And don't forget you can use your football knowledge to win hard cash by playing our Fantasy Football game You The Manager. There are 2,800 ways to win - and if you sign up NOW then your first team is on us .
Transfer stories from today's Daily Mirror
Barca think Fabregas is theirs after new bid

Eto'o agrees eye-watering £300,000 a week deal
It's Tottenham or the Toon for Benayoun
Barton in talks over £60k a week move
Stoke make 'final bid' for Spurs pair
Bolton plan £4million raid on Liverpool
Wigan splash the cash to land SWP
Spurs plot £35m bid for Porto striker (Report)
Wigan ready to swoop for French starlet
QPR snap up new former Ipswich keeper
Blackburn close in on Jones replacement
Arshavin insists he is not heading back to Russia
McCartney wings it back to West Ham
Wigan eye Odemwingie to replace Rodallega
Clubs queue up for Caribbean boy wonder
Boro braced for Bates bid
Forest: Ish Miller - will you let him go?
Riggott returns home to Derby
Bates 'blocks Leeds' move for Mendy'
Today's transfer stories from other papers and websites
Tottenham may make a new bid for Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi as Athletic Bilbao are refusing to do a deal for Fernando Llorente. (The Guardian)
Meanwhile Spurs have had an initial offer for Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra rejected. The Spanish side value the French international at £15.8million. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal are set to go head-to-head with Tottenham for £13.75m Twente striker Bryan Ruiz. (Daily Mail)
If Samuel Eto'o clinches a move to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, Inter Milan will swoop for Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez. (talkSPORT)
Zenit St Petersburg are ready to make Joey Barton a lucrative offer to leave Newcastle. The Russian outfit are willing to hand him a deal worth £68,000 a week. (Daily Mail)
Newcastle are considering a move for Bayer Leverkusen striker Eren Derdiyok . (Daily Mail)
Meanwhile, Stoke are interested in Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez . (Daily Mail)
Manchester City are lining up a deal for 17-year-old Argentine midfielder Eugenio Isnaldo after taking him on trial from Newell's Old Boys. (Daily Mail)

Chelsea last night stepped up their pursuit of Brazilian strike ace Neymar . Blues coach Roberto di Matteo watched the 19-year-old play for his country against Germany in Stuttgart. (The Sun)
Manchester City are ready to sign Italian winger Alessio Cerci if they fail to land Arsenal's Samir Nasri. Serie A Fiorentina want £5million for the former Roma wideman. (The Sun)
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has confirmed he wants Niko Kranjcar as his eleventh summer signing. (The Sun)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is already lining up a replacement for Barcelona-bound Cesc Fabregas as he weighs up a £12m bid for Russian prodigy Alan Dzagoev . Arsenal scouts saw him play for CSKA Moscow against Zenit St Petersburg recently and were at Russia's friendly with Serbia last night. (Daily Star)
Everton, Aston Villa and Fulham are in a three-way battle for Real Madrid winger Pedro Leon , who has been told he can leave the Bernabeu. (The Sun)
QPR and Wolves have approached former West Ham midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger. (The Times)

​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Spanish league's players to go on strike[/h] Published 17:41 11/08/11 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...tive-bargaining-agreement-article784138.html#

The Spanish professional footballers' union announced today that players from the Primera and Segunda Divisions will go on strike for the start of the 2011-12 season.
The strike is set to take place during the opening two rounds of the new season unless the players' union (AFE) and Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) reach a new collective bargaining agreement, AFE president Luis Manuel Rubiales said today.
The AFE want a guaranteed fund to protect players' wages in the event of their clubs being declared insolvent.
"The footballers are united and have said enough is enough. The AFE and all the players from the Primera and Segunda Division have taken the unanimous and firm decision to call a strike for the first and second week of the season. There will be no league until a new collective agreement is signed," said Rubiales.

"It's a lamentable situation. The footballers don't want more money, we want contracts to be fulfilled and that the players are treated equally whoever they play for."
Responding to today's announcement, the LFP said in a statement: "The decision to call a strike at a time when fundamental steps were being made is incomprehensible to the LFP."
The new Primera Division season is scheduled to begin on the weekend of August 20th, with champions Barcelona away to Malaga and Real Madrid at home to Athletic Bilbao.

​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Boring football's a turn-off for Berbatov[/h] Published 16:32 11/08/11 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...tch-on-TV-if-it-is-boring-article784125.html#

Dimitar Berbatov has no interest in being involved in a "boring" game.
Manchester United's £30.75million record signing was limited to the last couple of minutes in his side's thrilling Community Shield win over Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
It might not have been what the 30-year-old was hoping for after putting the shattering disappointment of not even making Sir Alex Ferguson's bench for last May's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona behind him to commit his future to the Red Devils.
However, at least he played some part in what has been suggested was the best Community Shield encounter ever.

United's astounding comeback from two goals down at the break to win through Nani's injury-time effort certainly fulfilled Berbatov's view of the beautiful game.
"I'm always ready to entertain," he told MUTV.
"It's because when I watch a game, I don't want to see people falling asleep during it.
"If I watch a game, if it's boring for me, it doesn't matter if it's Real Madrid, Barcelona or some other big club playing, I just switch off the TV. I don't like boring games, I want entertainment - and that's what the fans want as well.
"That's what we try to give them and I can only speak about myself and try to give entertainment to everybody."
The Bulgarian expressed very similar sentiments during United's pre-season tour of North America, since when there has still been plenty of speculation about his future.
Paris St Germain are amongst those clubs said to be interested, although it does seem that Berbatov will only be offloaded if Ferguson succeeds in getting a big-name signing, of which Wesley Sneijder seems the most obvious.
Although clearly not a similar player to Berbatov in either position or approach, Sneijder would offer the flexibility that Ferguson needed in order to sanction such a significant departure.
It is by no means certain that either will happen.
Indeed, in the wake of Sunday's triumph many United fans have argued that further reinforcements will just reduce the first-team opportunities of youngsters such as Tom Cleverley who produced such an exceptional display at the weekend.
Certainly, Portugal winger Nani is thrilled about what lies ahead for Ferguson and his team.
Like Berbatov, he endured a dismal Champions League final evening, failing to make Ferguson's starting line-up, then giving away possession to provide Barcelona with their killer third goal when he did come on.
However, the 24-year-old evidently can see a bigger picture.
"I am very well there," he told RTPN. "It is the best club in the world. I want to stay there and work well.
"It's good to know that big clubs are interested in me but, right now, I'm very satisfied with my club and I want to continue with them."

​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Arsenal admit defeat in battle to keep Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri[/h] • Arsène Wenger sanctions £60m sale of midfielders
• Club to make bids for Juan Mata and Jadson

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• David Hytner
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 August 2011 22.30 BST Article history
  
  
  Following the sale of Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri, Arsenal plan to make a bid to sign Valencia's Juan Mata. Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images
  
  Arsène Wenger has conceded defeat in his fight to keep Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri at Arsenal and he has told the club's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, to finalise their transfers to Barcelona and Manchester City as quickly as possible so that he can begin to pick up the pieces from two destabilising sagas.
  The manager hopes to push through a deal for the Valencia winger Juan Mata and he has opened talks with Shakhtar Donetsk over the possibility of taking the attacking midfielder Jadson to the Emirates Stadium. He also has an interest in Marseille's Mathieu Valbuena and Lille's Eden Hazard.
  Wenger has long realised, in private, that it would be extremely difficult to keep Fábregas from Barcelona's clutches for the third summer in succession, despite him being under contract at Arsenal until 2015, and it has been a case of attempting to extract the best possible fee from the European champions. The parties are finally set to announce agreement at €40m (£35m), with Arsenal having pushed successfully for the full sum up front.
  Wenger confirmed that the transfer was finally afoot when he was asked whether the captain's future would be determined by the start of the Premier League season – Arsenal kick-off at Newcastle United on Saturday. "That is completely the truth," Wenger said. "We hope it will be sorted out very quickly one way or the other. We'll know very quickly."
  Nasri's departure, though, feels a little more shocking, despite the fact that he has entered the final 12 months of his contract. Wenger was supremely confident in February that the midfielder would agree to fresh terms, which would have made him one of the highest paid players in the club's history, only for a stand-off to ensue.
  Four weeks ago Wenger categorically ruled out Nasri's sale, stating that he would rather lose him as a Bosman free agent and write off a £20m-plus fee in order to keep him for one more season. Yet Nasri's head has been turned by the riches on offer at City, together with the prospect of trophies, which he feels is greater than at Arsenal and, from being relaxed about whether he stayed or went, his determination to depart has hardened.
  There remains a difference between City and Arsenal in terms of Nasri's valuation but it is expected to be ironed out and the transfer completed before City entertain Swansea City on Monday night. Arsenal expect to bank £25m from the deal while Nasri could earn as much as £180,000 a week at his new employers.
  The writing looked on the wall for Nasri's Arsenal career when he did not travel to Lisbon for last Saturday's friendly against Benfica, with Wenger citing a "muscular injury", only for him to fly to Montpellier on Monday and declare himself available for France's game against Chile on Wednesday. He started and played for 65 minutes.
  "The Nasri situation is stable," Wenger said, which felt like an odd choice of word. "Again it is very difficult to speak about possible transfers but we are in a situation where we have to make decisions one way or the other. Ideally you want it to be sorted out before the season starts."
  At the beginning of the tour of east Asia Wenger appeared to put reputations on the line when he declared Arsenal could not be considered a "big club" if they sold Nasri and Fábregas this summer – "because a big club holds on to its big players and gives a message to all the other big clubs that they cannot come in and take them away from you," he said.
  Those words have a haunting quality as Wenger begins the salvage operation. Mata, the 23-year-old Spain winger, who can also play as a No10, has been tracked by Arsenal for some weeks and Wenger hopes the expiry of his €25m buy-out clause does not mean Valencia, who want to keep him, price him out of a move. With Mata keen to join, that is not expected to happen.
  Jadson is a Brazil international, who played at the Copa América, but he might encounter problems in securing a UK work permit, having failed to appear in the requisite number of matches for his country over the past two years. He played for Shakhtar against Arsenal in the Champions League last season. Wenger, who is set to name Robin van Persie as the club's new captain, will be without Jack Wilshere at Newcastle because of an ankle injury.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Manchester United say Wesley Sneijder will not join the club[/h] • Inter midfielder's move to Old Trafford now unlikely
• Confusion remains about on-off transfer saga

• • reddit this

• Daniel Taylor
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 August 2011 23.02 BST Article history
  
  
  The Internazionale midfielder, Wesley Sneijder, is now unlikely to sign for Manchester United. Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images
  
  Manchester United have said they do not expect Wesley Sneijder to join the club from Internazionale before the end of the transfer window. Although the Premier League champions did not want to go on the record, the official stance from Old Trafford is that the deal is not going to happen. The information comes from boardroom level, with the chief executive, David Gill, giving his approval for it to be known that United are not actively trying to sign the Dutchman.
  That position can feasibly change – Sneijder could, in theory, drastically lower his salary requirements and Inter may offer him at a reduced fee – but this is to be regarded as unlikely, according to United. If that remains the case, it threatens to be a significant setback to Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of building a team with realistic aspirations of closing the gap on Barcelona over the next few years.
  Ferguson has spent £50m this summer on Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea but regarded the signing of a top-quality central midfielder as a priority. The manager has missed out on Samir Nasri of Arsenal while another target, Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric, favours a move to Chelsea. Nasri's talks with Manchester City are at an advanced stage although time may be running out for their hope that the transfer can be finalised in time for him to make his debut at home to Swansea City on Monday.
  Sneijder has said there have been "unofficial talks" with United and there remains an element of confusion about the exact order of events leading to Thursday's development. United first notified journalists at the start of the team's pre-season tour to the United States that Sneijder did not feature in their plans. They are now reiterating that this is the case.
  Yet in between Gill admitted there had been contact with Inter. He qualified that by saying "we didn't progress that one", but stressed the situation could change before the end of the window. "The important point is that you never know. I've been around in football long enough to know things change quickly."
  Sneijder has been told he can leave San Siro – Inter offered him to Manchester City a few weeks ago – and Ferguson privately admitted during the US tour that the club were heavily embroiled in the process of trying to negotiate a deal and that a contract offer had been made. Yet Gill has told colleagues something entirely different, saying it was ruled out some time ago. The two accounts do not match and, as yet, there is no clear explanation.
  The latest briefing from Old Trafford is, however, emphatic and, at boardroom level, United rarely offer guidance on transfers unless their position is clear. No reason has been offered, but it could simply be that the cost of Sneijder is beyond United's financial means – at least, as things stand.
  The Holland midfielder likes the idea of moving to Old Trafford but it would mean a huge investment on United's part, possibly breaking the club-record £30.75m they paid Tottenham for Dimitar Berbatov in 2008. Sneijder would command a salary of around £12m a year and, perhaps crucially, he fits outside the club policy of not spending huge transfer fees on players who are aged 26 and above.
  The club made an exception for Berbatov, who was 27 when he signed, but Gill described that at the time as "the last of its kind". Sneijder was 27 in June, meaning his resale value would sharply depreciate towards the end of a four- or five-year contract.
  That still leaves several unanswered questions, such as why United would have explored the possibilities of signing him in the first place if they had no intention of breaking this policy. Ferguson supported the introduction of the age restrictions but, in this case, he has clearly been willing to make an exception at a time when Barcelona are bringing in Cesc Fábregas and Manchester City are close to establishing themselves, once again, as the biggest transfer-window spenders in English football.
  United were the first club to bid for Nasri this summer but Arsenal made it clear they would not entertain the idea of doing business with the champions. Arsenal's position has been different with City and a deal in the region of £23m is close to being finalised. The player has agreed personal terms, with reports in France stating it will be a five-year contract with a weekly salary of £160,000.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Tom Werner says Liverpool will keep investing but backs finance rules[/h] • Liverpool chairman wants to restore 'lustre' to club
• Financial fair play essential for 'competitiveness'

• • reddit this

• Andy Hunter
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 12 August 2011 00.08 BST Article history
  
  
  Tom Werner praised Kenny Dalglish's charisma and leadership qualities at Liverpool. Photograph: Tom Jenkins
  
  Tom Werner, the Liverpool chairman, has said Fenway Sports Group will continue to invest in restoring "the lustre" of the club but that Uefa's financial fair play rules must be enforced to enhance the competitiveness of the Premier League.
  Liverpool are close to taking their summer spending to £54m with the £6m purchase of José Enrique from Newcastle United and, having paid £57.8m for Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez in January, FSG has sanctioned the biggest spending spree in the club's history. Not surprisingly John W Henry, the club's principal owner, has admitted it would be a major disappointment should Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League this season. Werner has refused to set defined targets but said FSG's investment in the club is far from over.
  "I don't want to promise so much," the Liverpool chairman said. "I know John has said we're going to be top four and Kenny [Dalglish] says well why can't we win. But we just want to move forward – we want to be better this year than last year and just keep going on the right track."
  Werner added: "I think the most important thing, and it may seem obvious, is put on a quality product for your fans. These are people who spend their hard earned pounds to come to see the club, and we've got supporters all around the world, who expect a quality product, and so it's been our goal to try to improve our position on the pitch and to try and create an environment for players to say they want to play in Liverpool, and to bring some of the lustre that all the fans know back to the club."
  Liverpool's chairman has echoed Henry's view on financial fair play, however. The club's principal owner recently backed Arsène Wenger's suspicion of Manchester City's £400m naming-rights deal with Etihad Airways, tweeting: "A club's best player has to be worth at least 10% of your naming rights. Mr Wenger says boldly what everyone thinks."
  Werner said: "I hope there's some teeth in it because I think it's healthy for the sport. It will make the sport more competitive. Part of our assumption when we came in last year was that financial fair play was coming into existence and that we'd hope it would have some teeth. It will make the performance on the pitch more competitive."
  In an interview with LFC TV, entitled "Tom Werner: Up Close and Personal", which airs on Friday at 7.30pm, the club chairman also backed Dalglish to continue his dramatic overhaul of the team's performances this season.
  Werner added: "I can't think of somebody who embodies the relentlessness and the drive and the attitude of excellence better than Kenny. Obviously we knew of him before we met him. I think he is a natural leader; I've had the privilege to watch him as he trains the men at Melwood. And I just think he's so charismatic and I think he's been able to instil a sense of purpose into the club; and when he says something, I think people listen."