Coach and Player Transfers and Rumours [Archive]

Kaesra

07-15-2009, 05:44 PM

Aston Villa agree £12m fee for Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing

Aston Villa have agreed a fee of around £12m with Middlesbrough for their winger Stewart Downing. Downing is currently recovering from surgery on a fractured bone in his foot, and is unlikely to be ready for competitive football before October at the earliest, but it appears the Villa manager Martin O'Neill is now keen to complete a deal this summer, rather than waiting until January as had previously been suggested.

Downing, for his part, did not relish the prospect of playing Championship football as he looks to press his claim for a place in Fabio Capello's England squad ahead of next summer's World Cup. He had been promised by Middlesbrough's chairman, Steve Gibson, that he could leave if a big club came in at the right price and the Boro manager Gareth Southgate is resigned to losing the player.

Downing was given clearance to start gym work following a visit to a specialist last week and is due to have a pin inserted in his foot, which he fractured during a game against Aston Villa last season, removed during September. His surgeon is said to be "very pleased" with Downing's progress and is confident he will make a full recovery.

Martin O'Neill regards Downing as a partial replacement for Gareth Barry, and is also understood to have expressed an interest in Boro's Tuncay Sanli. Middlesbrough are reportedly demanding a fee of close to £8m for the Turkey international.

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Emmanuel Adebayor on verge of signing for Manchester City

Manchester City are on the verge of completing a deal to sign Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal, the Guardian understands. The two clubs have agreed a fee, believed to be closer to Arsenal's asking price of £25m than City's original offer of £20m, and the striker is in Manchester discussing terms on a five-year contract worth between £150,000-170,000 a week.

Adebayor, who would become the ninth striker on City's books, was identified as a realistic target last week, leading the club to end their interest in Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o. Talks with the Togolese have moved rapidly over the last few days, and though the striker was initially keen on a move to Serie A, it is believed the scale of the salary persuaded him to move north.

City hope the 25-year-old will now be able to take some part in their pre-season tour to South Africa, with Mark Hughes's squad due to fly out tomorrow. Carlos Tevez will be on board after the club confirmed his arrival on a five-year contract.

"Carlos is an international player of the highest class who possesses all the attributes that will help drive this club forward," Mark Hughes, the City manager, said. "He is not only outstanding technically but he is a reliable goalscorer and someone who will contribute fully to the team ethic. He gives us another exciting, attacking dimension. I cannot wait to welcome him to City."

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Sunderland are in negotiations to sign Peter Crouch, says Steve Bruce

The Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has confirmed the club is in talks with Portsmouth over Peter Crouch. Reports today suggest Sunderland have agreed a fee of around £12m with Pompey for the striker after discussions over several weeks.

"He is a player I have admired for a very long time and I suppose a lot of managers do exactly the same thing," said Bruce. "As far as I am aware - and I've just come off the training ground - we are in discussions with the club and that's as far as it is at the moment.

"But the discussions have been going on now for a few weeks. We hope we can try to put something together because he would be the type of player of course that would signal our intention of the way we want to take the football club forward."

Asked directly if a fee had been agreed, Bruce replied: "I don't understand that just yet, but I have just come off the training ground. I haven't been told anything to the contrary. I will be getting back to work in the next couple of hours and we'll see.

"I know discussions at high levels were going on late last night, so we'll see and I'll be able to tell you more in the next 24 hours."

Bruce did confirm Daryl Murphy is in talks with Hull after the two clubs agreed a fee and also revealed that Stoke are close to striking a deal to sign the club captain Dean Whitehead.

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Michael Owen handed coveted No7 shirt by Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has handed Michael Owen the prized Manchester United No7 shirt. The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle United striker will take over Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt and his place in an attacking line-up containing Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

The United youngsters Daniel Welbeck and Federico Macheda will both be given a chance to prove they are worthy of the accolades that have been bestowed on them. "They are both young players – but young players with ability always get a chance here," said Ferguson.

The United manager confirmed he made a bid for Karim Benzema, only to be rebuffed by the Lyon forward, who instead became part of Real Madrid's extraordinary spending spree.

With a world record £80m burning a hole in his pocket following the sale of Ronaldo, United had the funds to compete. But Ferguson refuses to be drawn into a bidding war for any player beyond the level he thinks is acceptable. He has already recruited Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan in addition to Owen.

"There are some amazing numbers being talked about, not all of them realistic," Ferguson said. "It is very difficult to get value now. In a way we benefited through the sale of Cristiano, although that figure was non-negotiable.

"But I feel we have a good squad, which meant there was no need for knee-jerk reactions. We asked about Benzema and we had a value for him. Lyon have done well because they got €42m [£36.3m] but I think we took a sensible view."

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Everton land Jo from Manchester City on season-long loan

Everton have signed the Brazilian striker Jo on a season-long loan from Manchester City. The 22-year-old spent five months on loan at Goodison Park last term, and after a week of discussions the former CSKA Moscow player – an £18m signing for City last summer – will spend the next 12 months with the FA Cup finalists.

Everton were hoping to complete the final paperwork for Jo to play tonight in the club's first pre-season friendly of the summer at Bury. Jo scored five times in 12 appearances for Everton last season, but his future at City was put in doubt by the arrival of Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn last month.

The loan deal was initially agreed last weekend and the player travelled to Scotland with Everton for a training camp this week. Everton's other two summer signings, the midfielder Anton Peterlin and defender Skhodran Mustafi, have received international clearance to feature against Bury.

Everton have also confirmed that they will go to tribunal to agree a compensation package with Leeds for the transfer of 16-year-old Luke Garbutt. The Leeds chairman, Ken Bates, is annoyed by the player's departure from Elland Road and will demand "full compensation".

Everton have held discussions with Leeds and the Premier League following the youngster's switch to Goodison earlier this month. Everton insist they have acted within the rules, but Garbutt will not feature for the club until the issue is resolved.

The Toffees have also been given permission to hold talks with Sheffield United full-back Kyle Naughton after a £4.5m fee was agreed between the clubs. (this transfer is also completed)

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Jermaine Pennant's switch to Real Zaragoza earns him '£80,000 a week'

Jermaine Pennant has highlighted the riches on offer for English players in Spain by agreeing a deal at Real Zaragoza which is worth the equivalent of £80,000 a week.

The winger, who spent the latter half of last season on loan from Liverpool at Portsmouth before he became a free agent at the beginning of the month, chose Zaragoza, who are newly promoted to La Liga, ahead of Atlético Madrid and Espanyol.

The 26-year-old also had an offer on the table from Milan but he believes that the Italian club will re-sign David Beckham and start him on the right side of midfield, which would restrict Pennant's playing opportunities.

It is the detail of Pennant's deal at Zaragoza with regard to taxes that will have some English players and agents salivating. His three-year contract is worth £6.24m net, with the Spanish club effectively paying his taxes. They have been helped to do this by top-bracket tax perks or what has become informally known in Spain as the "Beckham law". In an attempt to encourage overseas businesses to place their leading executives in Spain, the government introduced legislation to cut taxes in the top bracket to 23% for the first five years. Real Madrid, a club synonymous with galáctico signings such as Beckham, then argued successfully that leading overseas footballers ought to enjoy the same privilege.

Zaragoza will pay £9,200 a week in taxes on behalf of Pennant, as they have guaranteed him take-home pay of £40,000 a week. In England, where players tend to be paid gross and, as of April, the tax rate for high earners stands at 50%, Pennant would have needed a salary of £80,000 a week to match what he will now get.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager who signed Pennant as a 15-year-old from Notts County for £2m, has warned that England's 50% tax rate for annual earners of more than £150,000 will prompt foreign players to stay away and those already in the Premier League to consider their futures. Andrey Arshavin, Arsenal's £15m January recruit from Zenit St Petersburg, has been surprised at the UK tax laws.

"If they do not solve the tax issues in England, it's possible that they will see an exodus of stars," the Russia international told Sport Express newspaper in his homeland. "But, in my view, the Premier League is still the best. However, we will find out when we see what happens in the Champions League, of course."

English players are not noted for their willingness to move abroad but the case of Pennant, who has had a free villa and car included in his deal, suggests that might be about to change.

"I wanted to come to Spain and I had offers from important teams in Europe but I joined Real Zaragoza," said Pennant, who has had a £21m release clause written into his contract. "I really want to get started and do well in the league."

Pennant scored three goals during his three-year spell at the Anfield club, having signed from Birmingham City for £6.7m in July 2007.

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Glen Johnson eager for chance to prove Chelsea wrong at Liverpool

There was almost a misty-eyed romanticism to Glen Johnson yesterday as he revealed why Chelsea and Manchester City were not even an after-thought when he elected to join Liverpool. "As soon as I spoke to Rafa and knew what he wanted from me, it was an easy decision to make. I knew in the pit of my stomach I wanted to come here," said Rafael Benítez's £17m capture from Portsmouth. However, there was also a common enemy who united the England defender and the Liverpool manager: Jose Mourinho.

It is no surprise Johnson and Benítez struck an immediate rapport given the grievances they both hold against the former Chelsea and now Internazionale manager. It is a surprise they found time to discuss anything else. But while Mourinho is gone and professionally forgotten as far as the Spaniard is concerned, his influence lingers and arguably still haunts the 24-year-old.

Johnson faced the media for the first time as a Liverpool player yesterday, and a barrage of questions about having a second chance to prove himself among "the big boys". According to the full-back, however, the first chance never materialised.

"It was working out for me at Chelsea until Mourinho turned up," argued Johnson, the first signing of the Roman Abramovich era when he moved for £6m from West Ham United in 2003. "Mourinho had his own plans and wanted to bring in his own players and that's when it started to go downhill for me. I just needed to play but I wasn't given that chance and I didn't really get an explanation from Mourinho either. If you play one game in every four or five then it is impossible to get any form or anything running so I said I wanted to leave." Benítez's decision to invest £17m in the right-back, when the budget is limited at Liverpool, confirms he shares that opinion.

If Gareth Barry is the main aggravation in Benitez's summer so far, although there was no "if" about it when the Liverpool manager accused the Manchester City signing of avarice yesterday, then Johnson is his antidote.

An established England international who opted for Anfield, despite interest from City and the offer of a better salary to return to Stamford Bridge, meets Benítez's requirements for "fine-tuning" this summer. The fact Johnson never sat on the sidelines counting his money at Chelsea or allowed Mourinho's opinion to send his career off course also appealed to the Liverpool manager.

"We knew we had to pay good money because he had good offers," admitted Benítez. "But his desire to be successful here was very important. We don't normally spend big money on defenders but he is a really important player, an offensive defender and an England player. We needed quality, someone with something more to stop the draws we had last season, another player to go forward and be a threat from the back. That was important."

The arrival of Johnson, who becomes the most expensive defender in Liverpool's history, complements Benítez's success in keeping his existing squad together. Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Yossi Benayoun had already signed new deals this summer and yesterday Steven Gerrard joined them, signing up for the next four years.

"It's really good to keep Kuyt, Torres, Agger, Benayoun and Steven. They are the here and now of the club and for the future it is really good," said Benítez. "We have a lot of good players who want to stay, to win and compete. The message has to be the same again this year – to be there, to be contenders and to fight. If we can win trophies it would be fantastic."

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Tottenham sell Didier Zokora to Sevilla

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed to sell Didier Zokora to Sevilla. The 28-year-old leaves White Hart Lane after three years and has signed a four-deal with the La Liga club for an undisclosed fee.

The Ivory Coast international joined Tottenham from St Etienne in July 2006. He made 134 appearances and was part of the League Cup-winning side of 2008.

A statement on the club website said: "We have reached agreement for the transfer of Didier Zokora to Sevilla. We thank Didier for his contribution and wish him every success for the future."

Sevilla say on their website that the deal includes a €30m (£26m) release clause, and he will be presented to media and supporters next week. The Spanish club's sporting director, Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, said Zokora's desire to join them was crucial in sealing the deal.

"Every Sevillista should be happy," he said . "We have to thank the president and the board for the effort they made in this signing. Zokora was our main objective for this season. We managed to close the deal not without significant effort. We hope it will prove worth the pain. We think the player deserves it.

"As soon as he knew about Sevilla's interest, he only gave signs of dedication and gratitude. This is important in these cases because it gives you leeway in the negotiation. We are all really happy today.

"He's a player who works a lot, who runs a lot, physically he's a wonder who covers a lot of the pitch, he's very versatile. He is what we needed to complete the excellent midfield that we already have."

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Kaesra

07-15-2009, 06:25 PM

Plasil transferred to FC Girondins

Czech international midfielder Jaroslav Plasil has been transferred to FC Girondins Bordeaux after the current champions of the French League paid €3m to sign the 27-year-old player, plus €250,000 extra should the French-side qualify for the Champions League group stage, and €250,000 more in case FC Girondins finish among the top-5 of the French Championnat and earn a spot to play in Europe in the 2010/2011 season. Jaroslav Plasil joined the rojillos in 2007 after CA Osasuna paid AS Monaco €2.2m to sign him

Kaesra

07-16-2009, 01:53 AM

Beginnings of an agreement with fullback Maxwell

FC Barcelona and Inter Milan have reached the beginning of an agreement for the transfer of the Brazilian Scherrer Cabelino Maxwell Andrade “Maxwell” for a fee of 4.5 million Euros with an additional 0,5 million in variable payments.

Scherrer Cabelino Maxwell Andrade, better known simply as “Maxwell” is a left back who’s been at Inter for the last three seasons and has been drafted in to cover the position left vacant by Sylvinho’s departure in June.

Suprised it was for such a small fee, good player and barca atleast have a somewhat of a dutch link now. Good to have him and abidal, a defensive and offensive lb.

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Official: Felipe Melo joins Juventus

http://www.juventus.com/site/filesite/news/cover_melo1.jpg

The news is official: Felipe Melo is a Juventus player. The last details of the deal with the player and Fiorentina have been finalised and Felipe Melo is in full effect a Juventus player. The Brazilian midfielder, fresh from winning the Confederations Cup will spend a few more days in Brazil on holiday and will arrive in Turin on the 22nd of July to begin training.

Felipe Melo spoke to Juventus Channel on Tuesday, the day of his medical check-up at the Fornaca Clinic and the Centro di Medicina dello Sport: «I am very happy to have joined Juventus and can’t wait to start working. I believe very much in this team that was reinforced and that can compete with anybody in an attempt to reach all the goals in Italy and in Europe».

Felipe Melo de Carvalho joins a more then ever Brazilian Juventus after the signing of Amauri (last season) and Diego. A central midfielder born in 1983 (in Volta Redonds on the 26th June), he joins Juventus after a good season with Fiorentina and long experiences in Brazil and Spain.
Brought up as a player by Flamengo, before travelling to Europe, Felipe Melo played for two more Brazilian teams: Cruzeiro and Gremio. In 2005 he crossed the ocean to join Maiorca but only spent a few months with the Spanish team. Two seasons with Racing Santander and one with Almeria introduced him to the crowds, In the summer 2008 he was transferred to Fiorentina with which team he made his debut in the Champions League (in the preliminaries) and in the Serie A during the match against Juventus on the first match day. The excellent performances with the viola earned him a call-up to Dunga’s national side of which he soon became a strong point. In February of this year he made his debut (against Italy in London) and in July the satisfaction of winning the Confederations Cup as a protagonist in South Africa.

Juve also seem to be picking them up again after the scandals and losing their players.

Sly

07-16-2009, 09:21 AM

Whatever happened to Nekounam? Will he stay or will he go?

Kaesra

07-16-2009, 10:15 AM

He said he is happy with osa and is ok with staying and at the moment it leans to that, but his limited fee will be very appealing to clubs and Osa might even let him go below that amount and he could get snatched away even late in the the transfer, he has made name for himself in spain, not so much outside spain yet, so I dont know.

I think he has outgrown Osa, that was evident last season wich wasnt even a good season for him but he still managed to become second best goal scorer and if they dont get any good signing they'll be fighting relegation this season too. He might want the repay them for sticking with him trough his injury though ...

Behrooz_C

07-16-2009, 03:42 PM

Manchester City and Real Madrid are buying everybody and spending millions in the process!
The burning question is whether John Terry is crazy enough to join the mob at Citeh! As 'massive' as Citeh are I'd reccommed to JT to stay put.

Anyway, Adebayor passed a medical at Citeh but has asked more time to think about the offer! Rumour has it that Sir Alex is trying to steal him last minute :)

Sly

07-16-2009, 07:01 PM

Well if the club let him go, he should not think about repaying anything. He should just pack his bag and leave. He should be in a club with big boys who are at least on par with him.

Kaesra

07-16-2009, 07:12 PM

JT aint goin nowhere, I try not to post to many City rumours/transfers bc they go after almost anyone. And how many striker do they need ?

Actually they did speak to JT if Im not mistaken, but it would be weird if he left. (They did offer him crazy crazy money though like 200.000 a week or something like that.)

Nekou deserves much better and can manage with a (sub)-top club, he isnt at the highest level yet though, but a relegation fighting team aint his level.

Kaesra

07-17-2009, 04:38 PM

Lucio to Inter

After a trophy-laden five-year spell at Bayern, Brazil captain Lucio is leaving Munich to join Italian champions Inter Milan. On Thursday, the centre-half and the FCB board of directors agreed to cancel the player’s contract ahead of its scheduled expiry on 30 June 2010. The 31-year-old, who will sign a three-year deal with the north Italian club coached by Jose Mourinho, moves for an undisclosed fee.

“The clubs have struck a deal, and the player has agreed terms with Milan,” announced Bayern general manager Uli Hoeneß ahead of the squad’s departure for a summer training camp in Donaueschingen. Lucio is due in Milan for a medical in the next few days, “and if that’s fine, he’ll sign his new contract,” Hoeneß continued.

Kaesra

07-17-2009, 06:47 PM

Swap between Eto'o and Ibrahimovic as good as done, not confirmed by the clubs, altough Inter technical director said the deal was as good as done.

Kaesra

07-18-2009, 12:22 PM

Iran Star Ferydoon Zandi Set For Korea Change?

GOAL - Iran international Ferydoon Zandi could be on his way to South Korea.

A leading K-League club is interested in signing the 30 year-old midfielder who is currently plying his trade for Cypriot club Alki Larnaca.

The new Asian ‘three plus one’ rule means that the experienced German-born star could be signed outside of the usual three-foreigner limit.

Zandi, who has spent the majority of his career in Germany, is thought to be keen on the move.

Since Zandi played in the 2006 World Cup, he has been in and out of the Iran national team.

The former Kaiserslautern player was dropped by Ali Daei during qualification for the 2010 and then recalled to the squad for the final three matches by present coach Afshin Ghotbi.

Kaesra

07-19-2009, 12:31 AM

Emmanuel Adebayor completes move from Arsenal to Manchester City

Emmanuel Adebayor has boldly stated he wants to "make history" at Manchester City after completing his £25m move from Arsenal. Several hundred City fans welcomed the striker at Eastlands after he completed a medical and signed a five-year-deal worth £150,000-a-week, and Adebayor's message to them was one of bullish intent.

City's Arab owners have embarked on a lavish spending spree this summer, and Adebayor is the third forward to join, following the arrivals of Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez. Those signings have created a groundswell of optimism that City could break into the top four this season, and Adebayor immediately tapped into the optimistic buzz.

"It made me feel really welcome and special and I can't wait to play for City's fans and show them what I can do," said Adebayor. "I was born to play football and that is what I want to do. I have come here to make history for this club and those supporters. It is what the chairman and the manager told me that they want too and I can't wait to get started."

The only potential stumbling block over the transfer had been Adebayor's fears that accepting City's huge offer would be poorly received in Togo. However he flew into Manchester for a speedy medical today, before ending his three-year association with Arsenal. Although he failed to find form last season, Adebayor scored 30 goals in the 2007-08 season, a record which was enough to convince City's manager, Mark Hughes, of what he will offer City.

"Emmanuel has been one of the top forwards in the Premier League since he arrived from France and we are delighted he has agreed to come and join us," Hughes said. "Along with the other signings we have made in the last two windows he will greatly enhance our ability to compete with the top sides.

"His arrival is another clear indication that we are determined to augment the players we have here with the best of international talent. He adds vital balance and power to our attack. He has everything a top forward needs. He is versatile, powerful, quick and agile on the ball.

"I am looking forward to working with him as are the rest of the staff. He will definitely add a new dimension to our play. I have been a great admirer for a long time."

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Wenger now eying for chamakh as his replacement, a marocan bordeaux striker, good player too. Huntelaar was in the picture for a while too.

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Barcelona set to sign Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic in swap with Samuel Eto'o

Barcelona have confirmed they have agreed a deal for the Internazionale striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with their own forward, Samuel Eto'o, travelling in the opposite directionl. The conclusion of the deal depends on both agreeing personal terms, according to Barcelona's official website.

The fee involved was not specified, although Spanish media have reported it will be in the region of €40m. Barca's out-of-favour midfielder Aleksandr Hleb could also be heading to Inter on loan as part of the deal.

Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta, has made clear the deal had not yet been completed and the club were still considering other options, including the purchase of Valencia striker David Villa.

"The Ibrahimovic deal is not done and dusted and it would be too early to say which of the two options is the most satisfactory," Laporta said. "In the end we will choose the option that is best for Barca."

Ibrahimovic would be Barcelona's second buy of the close season following the signing of Inter's Brazilian left-back, Maxwell, in a €4.5m deal which could eventually rise to €5m.

LOL Westi just got rid of ronaldinho and now ibra joins, put queresma in there and you have a party :D There must be more players he hates but I dont think he wants them all joining his team :D Ibra performed well in the barca similair ajax system though and is a good striker, who has gotten a better goal scorer than from his earlier years, and the not being important in big games can change also, being around better players will do him well, but the deal isnt 100% completed.

Kaz

07-19-2009, 07:48 AM

Who in their right mind would swap Eto'o for Ibra. :rolleyes:

Kaesra

07-19-2009, 07:09 PM

Who in their right mind would swap Eto'o for Ibra. :rolleyes:

Eto'o maybe didnt want to sign on and his contract ended next summer if Im not mistaken, to be honest I dont get it either and didnt take it seriously at first but it seems like its going to happen. Its taking a big risk and why would they pay 40 million extra, could have also got villa. He doesnt need to be a bad signing though, its more that its a weird one. We will see some nice/impossible goals, its just that eto'o is a bigger goalgetter, last season was ibra first 20 + season or something like that.

Kaesra

07-20-2009, 02:13 AM

apperently some Iranian team contacted the manager of patrick kluivert offering him a contract (as a player), his manager rejected bc kluivert is focusing on his training courses and a internship for a training position at Psv, also his manager was a bit uneasy about bringing players to iran bc of the current situation in iran.

Behrooz_C

07-22-2009, 01:11 PM

Who in their right mind would swap Eto'o for Ibra. :rolleyes:

Not just that, but apparently Barca are also paying 30 million Euro on top!!!!!!!!!! Unless I have misheard this I think everyone at Barca has gone bonkers!

raminIC

07-22-2009, 11:19 PM

good riddance ade

Sly

07-23-2009, 02:26 AM

Who in their right mind would swap Eto'o for Ibra. :rolleyes:

Tell me about it!
I just can not understand it.

They could have just extended Eto'o's contract and have a far better player/striker in him than that overrated landehoor.

But they go as far as paying 45 million on top of that and also giving them Hleb???

I mean are they just out of their minds or somebody just wants to destroy Barca?

This is even far more crazy than Sepahan's acquisition of GN! :eek: :)

Kaesra

07-24-2009, 05:21 PM

Eto'o didnt want to extend his contract Ali and didnt want to go to City either, And he has a personality issue. Rijkaard had problems with him too, but would get him in line in the end always. Pep really didnt want him anymore and Eto'o might have ruined next seasons team chem and caused drama. The thing is Ibra will only keep quiet in the beginning, he himself also has a giant ego. Hleb is a possibility as a 1 year lone, not a final transfer.

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Other news Ajax wants to loan Barca's newly 14 million bought Brazilian striker Keirrison, porto is also interested, hope ajax gets him though.

Behrooz_C

07-25-2009, 10:24 AM

It is rumoured here in England that Man City are offering JT £1,000,000 a month!!!!!!
Yes that's ONE MILLION POUNDS a month!

Let me just declare that if such a thing ever happens I will quit watching English football and will probably even quit this country for a while, for ethical reasons.

Sly

07-25-2009, 12:27 PM

Eto'o didnt want to extend his contract Ali and didnt want to go to City either, And he has a personality issue. Rijkaard had problems with him too, but would get him in line in the end always. Pep really didnt want him anymore and Eto'o might have ruined next seasons team chem and caused drama. The thing is Ibra will only keep quiet in the beginning, he himself also has a giant ego. Hleb is a possibility as a 1 year lone, not a final transfer.

Then why didn't they buy Villa? I mean if they were willing to pay 45 million to swap Eto'o with Zlatan, they could have just bought Villa and let Eto'o go to any team he wanted to. It's not like thay have made money out of him anyways....

Kaesra

07-25-2009, 05:29 PM

That I dont know either :D apperently they did make all the right offers, there was a transfer amount that valencia established bt when barca offered that they still didnt accept, they have a new president that might have been part of the problem.

Also they did make money out of Samuel bc Inter wouldnt have accepted a 45 million offer. To be honest I find this situation weird also, just trying to make sence.

Behrooz that is crazy !!!! Im really doubting if Terry can deny that offer, hope he will but seriously I think almost every player would take that. He is still gonna be rich if he stays at chelsea though, I dont know, damn that is one crazy offer.

Sly

07-26-2009, 12:55 AM

Also they did make money out of Samuel bc Inter wouldnt have accepted a 45 million offer.

They were ripped off you mean! Inter should have even kissed their lucky stars if they could just swap Zlatan with Eto'o. There is no way Zlatan is worth Eto'o + 45 million. If anything, in a normal situation the deal should have been the other way around: Eto'o = Zlatan + 45 million.

As said even Villa would have been better. But I guess Valencia didn't want to contribute to their rivals getting strong? I don't know.

Kaesra

07-26-2009, 01:05 AM

Yeah well, Mourinho also admitted it was a good deal and that Ibra did do good at inter but didnt make the fans love him and the fans wont be broken harted bc of his transfer. He said he was happy getting eto'o,that he might make the fans love him and the deal was just too good to pass. They did have a good mutual relation though and he did wish him best and all.I'm just trying to make sence out of all this. Eto'o was just being annoying and pep wanted him out, its not that Barca are a poor club that suffer from not having money. I dont think Ibra's as bad as some of you guys make him to be, just dont think he's worth 45 millies+eto'o+Hleb, but it aint my money and I dont decide his worth. And I think they probably asked Cruyfs advice on him and maxwell being ex-ajax players and cruijf would know if he fits or not. Dont know if they did ask him though.

Sly

07-26-2009, 12:17 PM

Zlatan is not a bad player. But come on..for a club like Barca or even for Inter/Juventus, he's too overrated. I'm sure you have seen how many goals he scores in big games. Most of his goals are being scored against weak teams. IMO, he's a player at the level of Ajax. A good European player but not world class. That's why I'm just amazed by this transfer.

Kaesra

07-26-2009, 05:33 PM

I'm sorry but then you dont know the level of brilliance of the ajax school, these two clubs are the best compatable and share a big big link being cruijf. Do you watch serie A, have you seen Zlatan play ? How many big games has he played to score in ? I know its true but still. I have seen Ibra play at ajax and juve and inter and he is wordclass but I wouldnt say best striker there is and he isnt a good goalscorer, quantity wise , this was his first season in wich he scored alot. He should work in barca, cause he knows played at ajax, simple as that. Eto'o is the better striker IMO bc he is the better goalscorer, but in some situations Ibra is better. I dont like the transfer seeing the figures, but people hate to much on Ibra, he isnt the best in the world as some may think, so he is overrated by some standards, but some people also underrate him bc of that, he is world class, not top 3 though. Give him a chance, if he fucks up then he fucks up ...

It isnt a good deal for barca, but eto'o might have left them no choice. They lose a big big goal scorer in him, something Ibra isnt but I wont say ibra is bad and maybe the best striker they could get, cause they couldnt get others. Also they have Bojan for the future, he is a goal scorer and he has talent enough to get better than all of them. They also bought a good talent for the future Keirrison ... Dont you worry about barca :D

Kaz

07-27-2009, 09:20 AM

For some reason, I feel this transfer is more for Barca to save face with regards to Real's spending. Like saying "Maham hastim".

Behrooz_C

07-27-2009, 10:01 AM

For some reason, I feel this transfer is more for Barca to save face with regards to Real's spending. Like saying "Maham hastim".

How can this be the case when Eto'o >>>>> Ibrahimovic?

Kaz

07-27-2009, 11:32 AM

How can this be the case when Eto'o >>>>> Ibrahimovic?

I didn't mean to say it makes sense - but simply to throw money around for the sake of it. :chair:

Kaesra

07-28-2009, 12:16 AM

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/7/27/1248719952146/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-001.jpg
Zlatan Ibrahimovic signs five-year deal at Barcelona

Barcelona's new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic poses with his new shirt during his official presentation. Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images

The Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a five-year contract at Barcelona (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/barcelona) in a deal equivalent to a €66m (£57m) transfer from Internazionale (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/internazionale), which includes Samuel Eto'o moving in the opposite direction.
The move was confirmed following a medical this afternoon in which a fracture was found on the striker's left hand but not considered serious enough to prevent the deal going through.
The European champions have paid Inter €46m for Ibrahimovic, who was the highest scorer in Serie A (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/serieafootball) last season and finished with 29 goals in all competitions.
Eto'o, who is valued at €20m, and at 28 is only a year older than the Sweden striker, is the main makeweight in the deal and has agreed a five-year contract at Inter, but the former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb is also on his way to the Italian champions on a season-long loan.
Hleb, who has failed to cement a starting place at Camp Nou since his switch from Arsenal in 2008, is available for Inter to buy at €10m after the loan agreement ends.

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Tottenham get Peter Crouch for £9m

Jermain Defoe has welcomed the chance to reform his successful strike partnership with Peter Crouch after Tottenham concluded a £9m with Portsmouth (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth) for the 6ft 7in striker.Defoe, who formed a prolific pairing with Crouch at Fratton Park before he returned to Spurs in January, is looking forward to being reunited with his England colleague. "If you bring someone like that into the club it is only going to help," Defoe said. "I have always said that Crouchy is a great player and is someone who will score goals. I've played with him for a number of years and love playing with him. We've a lot of fantastic players at the club and I'm sure everyone will look forward to him coming in."
Defoe, who was wrongfully arrested yestertoday and spent several hours in custody erroneously suspected of driving while disqualified, believes Crouch's aerial threat offers a different dimension. "We play a bit differently away from home and bringing Crouchy will help us. Sometimes you get difficult games and teams put you under pressure, you can't play football and you have to go long and more direct. If you look at Crouchy's size and presence, he allows you to do that."
Tottenham sealed a deal for Crouch after day of intense negotiations with Portsmouth. The striker has passed a medical and agreed personal terms and is expected to fly to Beijing to join his new team-mates. Spurs travelled to China this afternoon, where they will play West Ham United on Wednesday in the Asia Cup, without Crouch as they haggled over the price for the England international.
Crouch's arrival almost certainly signals departure of Darren Bent, who is a target for Sunderland and did not fly to China. Bent boarded the flight but disembarked after receiving a phone call.
The fee Spurs will pay for Crouch is significantly less than the £12m which Portsmouth accepted this month from Sunderland. Tottenham, aware of Pompey's precarious finances, had sought to drive down the price.
Although Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, denied on Sunday claims by his Portsmouth counterpart, Paul Hart, that a fee had been agreed, it always looked a matter of when rather than if Crouch would sign.
Portsmouth are still involved in prolonged negotiations with Sulamain al-Fahim regarding the Emirates-based businessman's buyout of the club, a process related to its difficult financial predicament which includes an outstanding loan of at least £30m to the South African bank Standard Bank that needs servicing by August. This explains Redknapp's bullish stance regarding the deal for Crouch, with the manager feeling comfortable enough to describe Portsmouth's proposed £12m fee as too much for a player aged 28.
Sunderland agreed to pay that but once it became clear Crouch had no desire to move to the north-east the club withdrew their offer and so weakened Portsmouth's negotiating position.
Defoe says he could understand if Bent moved away from Tottenham. "Everyone wants to play football," he said. "So you can understand why he wants to go. If he does leave I wish him well."
Redknapp, meanwhile, is hardly enamoured of his team taking a flight to China. "It's not ideal but that's the game we're in now," he said. "Manchester United [have been] in the far east, Chelsea in America. It's a world game, they love their football in China and Hong Kong."
And Redknapp is not overawed by facing Liverpool in the opening fixture of the new season, which begins on 15 August. "Not worried, it's a fantastic game — they have a real chance of winning the title. They lost two games all season, one to us when they battered us really. We look forward to it.

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Manchester City close on Kolo Touré but Joleon Lescott remains elusive

Manchester City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity) are in advanced talks with Arsenal (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/arsenal) over signing Kolo Touré, although their pursuit of Joleon Lescott remains at an impasse, with Everton (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/everton) determined to hold on to the England international and intent on driving their valuation of the player towards the £30m mark. City, who had a £15m bid for Lescott rejected last week, have yet to return with a further offer and would prefer not to do so until the 26-year-old agitates for a move.Whether Lescott is prepared to do that remains to be seen, with the former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender running the risk of leaving Goodison Park under a cloud if he seeks to force the issue. Everton, however, have shown no willingness to negotiate hitherto, prompting City to believe that the only way Lescott can be prised from Merseyside without paying way over the odds is through the player making it known he wishes to move on.
Should Lescott, who cost Everton £5m when he joined from Wolves three years ago, submit a transfer request, City would have some bargaining power and be confident of landing the player. In many ways the situation is similar to the one that City found themselves in when trying to entice John Terry from Chelsea. This time, however, City are more optimistic that the end result will be an England defender accepting rather than rejecting their advances.
Hughes has long admired Lescott and City are understood to have made contact with the player's representatives several months ago to inform them of their interest. Although Lescott made an indifferent start to last season, and was even dropped at one point, he quickly regained his place and finished the campaign strongly. He has often played for Everton at left-back but Hughes is keen to pair him with Touré at the heart of the City defence.
Lescott was identified as a priority signing this summer but the Terry saga meant that the club's energies were channelled elsewhere. With that door now closed, however, City hope that a deal be reached with Everton, particularly as Lescott is understood to be keen on working with Hughes and becoming another piece in what is fast becoming the Premier League (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague)'s most expensive jigsaw.
Touré's move would appear more straightforward, with Arsenal expected to accept a fee in the region of £15m. Hughes picked Touré out in January and his interest in the player resurfaced following Terry's decision to commit his future to Chelsea. Should Touré agree to join, he would be City's first defensive signing in a summer when the club have spent close to £70m on their forward line.
The 28-year-old has been an integral part of the Arsenal side for the past seven years but his form suffered last season, when it also emerged that he had fallen out with William Gallas. Arsène Wenger insisted that Touré and Gallas could continue to perform together on the pitch even if they were not speaking off it, though the Arsenal manager appears to have since accepted that their partnership has run its course and that City's offer is too good to turn down.
Although Wenger has a replacement for Touré in the shape of Thomas Vermaelen, who signed from Ajax for £10m earlier this summer, the Arsenal manager would have little by way of defensive cover and could well seek to strengthen in that department over the coming weeks. He is an admirer of Brede Hangeland at Fulham but the west London club are not looking to sell and it would need a £15m bid to change that stance.

--------------------

John Terry leaves Manchester City with that familiar feeling of rejection

The name of John Terry (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/john-terry) can be added to Kaka and the other category-A footballers who have taken a good, hard look at the Abu Dhabi United Group's "project" at Manchester City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity) and decided they do not want to take part in the process of experimentation after all, regardless of the bags of gold on offer.
The statement from Terry committing himself to Chelsea (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chelsea) represents a deflating setback for City, even if the biggest spenders in English football had picked up enough bad vibes over the past few days to re-establish contact with Arsenal about signing Kolo Touré.
Along with City's already firmly declared interest in Joleon Lescott, having failed with an opening offer of £15m bid for the Everton defender 10 days ago, the negotiations to set a price for Touré will accelerate in the light of Terry's announcement that he is, after all, still "Mr Chelsea" despite several months in which he has openly fluttered his eyelashes in City's direction. No doubt it will not be long before Terry can be seen kissing the badge on his shirt again, and perhaps with even more enthusiasm than usual bearing in mind he will be getting a handsome pay rise from a six-month saga at the end of which the men in power at City could be forgiven now for suspecting was a wonderfully choreographed piece of business – for the player anyway.
Mark Hughes (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/mark-hughes), for one, would be entitled to wonder whether he has been led up the garden path given some of the information he has received since he was first told that Terry apparently wanted, at the very least, to speak to City's billionaire owners.
That was back in January when a variety of messages were strategically sent to the City manager to say that Terry had various "issues" at Stamford Bridge and could be sufficiently tempted by City's immense financial muscle. Terry, it was said, had begun to feel as if he needed a new challenge.
He had been at Chelsea since the age of 12 and was intrigued by what was happening at City and the salaries on offer. Added to that, there were divisions inside Chelsea's dressing room.
Terry, moreover, was said to be alarmed about the frequency with which the club kept changing managers – particularly non-English speaking managers – and the way Roman Abramovich did not seem so free with his spending.
The idea had immediately appealed to Hughes, and understandably so. Here was the England captain, exactly the type of fists-clenched, sleeves-up motivator Hughes wanted to help bring an occasionally rudderless team together and give them more of the winning mentality that Robinho, formerly of Real Madrid, had once complained did not exist at City.
Richard Dunne, the existing captain and centre-half, was having a "bad patch" he later admitted had lasted six months. Micah Richards had, at times, become a danger to his own team. Hughes has regarded the job of bringing in new centre-halves as a priority since his first few months in the job.
It is easy, therefore, to appreciate why the reaction from City is not just of disappointment, but also a sense of being let down.
It is only two Thursdays ago, after all, that Hughes was reassured Terry was not just determined to take City's offer, roughly estimated at £250,000 a week (though possibly even higher), but that he was willing to "do it the hard way" if necessary.
Hughes, an old colleague of Terry's, considered his background informationto be impeccable. Terry has a network of contacts with a foot in both camps, including close friends inside the City dressing room – two former Chelsea team-mates, Wayne Bridge and Shaun Wright-Phillips, as well as the goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock, another former Stamford Bridge colleague with whom he still holidays.
The key question for City now is this: what is Plan B?
Ideally Hughes wanted to partner Terry and Lescott at centre-half, with Richards at right-back and Bridge on the left. It looked like a Champions League back four. Now, at best, it will be a back four of Richards, Touré, Lescott and Bridge – and that does not.
Terry, meanwhile, will get on with the business of being Mr Chelsea. "Me leaving Chelsea was never a possibility," he said.

Good stuff JT.

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Emmanuel Adebayor was 'desperate' not to join Manchester City, claims Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that Manchester City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity)'s latest signing Emmanuel Adebayor was "desperate" to join Manchester United (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchester-united) or Chelsea (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chelsea) instead, and contacted both clubs even after he had agreed his £25m move to Eastlands.
Speaking to The Observer, the Manchester United manager – who also dismissed City as "a small club with a small mentality" – said the striker tried to engineer an alternative move away from Arsenal (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/arsenal) even as the transfer to City was being finalised.
"At the last minute, from what I can gather, either Emmanuel Adebayor or his agent phoned us after they had agreed a deal with City and then did the same with Chelsea. He was desperate to get to either Chelsea or us."
Ferguson, speaking in Malaysia during United's pre-season tour of the Far East, claimed that Adebayor's move, and those of other high-profile players who have joined City this summer, was motivated by money, not ambition: "When someone offers you that kind of money, it's a big attraction to people nowadays. That is the reason they have gone there."
The 25-year-old said that "silverware and trophies" were behind his decision to join Mark Hughes's side, but Ferguson does not think City will challenge, saying signing the likes of Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry may be the sum total of their success this season.
"Do you know what City's biggest triumph is? It's getting those players there. I don't know if they will do anything with them," he said. "It is not easy to get into that top four so the biggest success of all is to just get the players there.
"There will be three teams to beat. Ourselves, Liverpool and Chelsea will be very close together… The one who has the challenge this season is Arsène. He doesn't have the money and how he uses the £25m from Adebayor will be very, very interesting," he said of the Arsenal manager.
Continuing his attack on City, Ferguson also suggested that Hughes has focused too much on attack in his spending spree.
"For all the buying they have done, they still have to pick a team with balance. That won't be easy for Mark. What's he got, 10 strikers? So if he picks a squad to go to Chelsea he has to leave seven behind, or five at least."
One of those strikers is Carlos Tevez, whose move to the blue half of Manchester prompted City to erect a billboard sporting an image of the Argentinian with the message "Welcome to Manchester" – a stunt Ferguson dismissed as typical of the club's mentality.
"It's City isn't it? They are a small club with a small mentality," he said. "All they can talk about is Manchester United, they can't get away from it... They think taking Carlos Tevez away from Manchester United is a triumph. It is poor stuff."

LOL Sr Alex is dishing it out, bit harsh Alex :D

Behrooz_C

07-28-2009, 08:06 AM

I love Alex when he digs in. The thing is City have never missed the chance to demonstrate their inferiority complex and the latest billboard they paid for welcoming Tevez to Manchester is another example of it. They are truely a small club with a small mentality and no amount of money will ever change that.

But on more serious matters, I still can't believe Barca would swap Eto for Ibra AND pay £40 million on top!!!!!!
It's like somone agreeing to swap their 4 bedroom country house with a one bedroom downtown flat AND agreeing to pay you the price of the house on top.

Charity hey? bloody hell.

Kaz

07-28-2009, 03:57 PM

Behrooz_C

07-28-2009, 06:42 PM

Sir Red Nose made himself look like a tart again. He must be worried, because that's when he starts with the jibes. The guy is still 10 years old.

He had a go at Rafa for calling Everton a small club (and that in different context) and here he is talking tripe again.

I don't think he was talking 'tripe'. City have had it coming. They are obsessed with United the way no other club treats its neighbour. City are small-time Charlies and money doesn't buy you class.

Kaesra

07-28-2009, 11:24 PM

Rivals talk "trash" to each other all the time or atleast its accepted. Its part of the game. And the welcome to Manchester was asking for it IMO, but then Sr. Alex leaves no room for tact whatsoever :D

btw behrooz seems like your other team might get knocked for the CL soon, losing away against Sparta Praha 3-1.

Kaesra

07-29-2009, 12:18 AM

Karimi to leave Persepolis

MNA - Ali Karimi is set to leave Persepolis football club after not reaching an agreement with its officials. Karimi to leave Persepolis

“They (Persepolis’ officials) fooled around with me for four weeks. The fans must judge me. I will come back to Persepolis one day to bid farewell,” Karimi said.

It is said that Karimi, who is known as the “wizard of Tehran”, will join Esteel Azin. The 30-year-old midfielder who retired from the national team last month, has played for Bayern Munich and Al-Ahli of Emirates as well.

Kaesra

07-29-2009, 12:22 AM

Aghili eyes Freiburg move

AFC - Sepahan defender Hadi Aghili is expected to join newly promoted Bundesliga side Freiburg, according to local media.

Currently on trial with the German outfit, the 28-year-old has the chance to become the second Team Melli star to play for Freiburg after Fereydoon Zandi (2000>2002).

Aghili made a name for himself with his defending acumen in Sepahan’s run to the AFC Champions League Final in 2007 when they came up short against Japan’s Urawa Reds.

The stopper has been one of the lynchpins of the Esfahan-based side, appearing in more than 100 games since joining Sepahan from Saipa in 2004. He started his career with Tehran greats Piroozi (Persepolis) in 2000.

Sepahan finished fourth in the league this season and Zob Ahan’s runner-up finish and cup victory has ensured a place for them in next year’s AFC Champions League.

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An Iranian defender in Europe would be awesome IMO. I know we are low on strikers, but we cant defend worth shit either, maybe he'd learn something.

Behrooz_C

07-29-2009, 08:17 AM

Kaesra, don't mention it. I was in very very bad mood watching that crap last night. The defence is one massive hole and Ten Kate is in a world of his own with his tactics!
I am confident that PAO can get through to the next round however.

Sly

07-29-2009, 09:13 AM

Kaesra

07-29-2009, 10:57 AM

Another one by The Sr. This time on Real, less called for but he isnt lying.

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Sir Alex Ferguson says unbalanced Real Madrid will struggle

Sir Alex Ferguson has poured scorn on Real Madrid's attempts to buy their way back to the summit of European football and said the Spanish club's summer spending spree has created an unbalanced squad which will struggle to make an impact.

The Manchester United manager said his club would survive the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and that the team to fear in Europe was still Barcelona. He joked Real's squad was so unbalanced he half-expected Ronaldo to be used as a centre-half.

Speaking at the launch of the Audi Cup, a four-team tournament comprising United, Boca Juniors, Bayern Munich and Milan, Ferguson derided Madrid's attempts to muscle their way back into the Champions League, a competition they have not won for seven years. Ferguson cited the fall of Sunderland in 1958 as an example of where money can take you in football. "Sunderland spent so much money that they became known as 'The Bank of England club'," he said. "They didn't win anything and in the end they got themselves relegated.

"I am not saying that Real Madrid will get relegated but they will still have plenty of problems with balance. I do not know how [Madrid coach] Manuel Pellegrini plans to pick his side because it has no balance. I told Ronaldo before he flew out that he will end up playing centre-half because I don't think they have one.

"Barcelona are different because they have grown their squad properly and added one or two players each season. They have a fantastic midfield and they will be once again a threat to everyone taking part in the Champions League."

Three of the four participants in the Audi Cup have been affected by Florentino Pérez's attempt to recreate the galáctico project, whose expensive failure ended his first term as Real's president.

Milan have lost Kaka, Manchester United have seen Ronaldo go while Bayern's president, Franz Beckenbauer, has split the club by stating that Franck Ribéry does not care about Bayern Munich and should be allowed to leave. Ferguson thought that, though they might be damaged by Real, they would survive.

"I think it will be difficult for Milan and Manchester United to replace players of the standard of Ronaldo and Kaka," he said. "But it is in the nature of our club that we cope. The expectation is still there and the drive and ambition will still be there. It will be difficult but we will cope. Ronaldo was fantastic for Manchester United. He is the best player in the world, in my opinion, but it is difficult to hold on to players from abroad for any length of time and we never expected him to stay for more than six years."

Ferguson was joined by Louis van Gaal and Leonardo, the new coaches of Bayern Munich and Milan. Both said it would be difficult for Pellegrini, who excelled in moulding a modestly-assembled collection of players into solid Champions League performers at Villarreal, to deal with the stresses of the Bernabéu. The centre of all this vitriol, Real Madrid, were, somewhat ironically, taking part in a tournament called 'The Peace Cup'.

"They had their experiment with the galácticos and yet at the end of it all they did not win anything," said Leonardo. "You can buy up good talent and create possibilities for yourself but it is not easy to construct a squad and manage players like Kaka, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. You need more than just money to build a team. You need more than talent, you need spirit and we will have to see if Madrid have this spirit."

Kaesra

07-29-2009, 11:02 AM

Arsenal's Kolo Touré to undergo medical at Manchester City

Kolo Touré is scheduled to leave Arsenal's training camp in Austria this evening to fly back to England to complete his move to Manchester City after the two clubs agreed a fee of £14m for the defender.

Touré is expected to fly directly into Manchester to take a medical examination tomorrow and finalise the personal terms of a contract that will see him join the growing band of players at City who earn in excess of £100,000 a week.

He will become the second Arsenal player to move from Arsenal to City this summer, following Emmanuel Adebayor for a combined outlay of £39m. In total, City have now made six signings in preparation for the new season, with Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez and Stuart Taylor being added to the club's payroll for a total of £94m. An extensive recruitment programme, overseen by the billionaire Abu Dhabi royal family, has been offset by the departure of 12 players, but Touré's imminent arrival consolidates City's position as the biggest spenders in the Premier League by some distance this summer.

To put it into context, Manchester United have spent around £17m in the same period, despite banking £80m from Real Madrid for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo. Chelsea have spent around £20m whereas Liverpool have made only one major signing, Portsmouth's Glen Johnson, for £18m and Arsenal have made a considerable profit, their one big-money recruit being Thomas Vermalen, Ajax's Belgium international defender, for £10m.

City now hope to take their summer spending well beyond the £100m mark by prising their last remaining target, Joleon Lescott, away from Everton, their interest in the player remaining enthusiastic despite his club steadfastly refusing to offer them any positive signs. Information has reached City that Lescott is determined to go through with the transfer but it is also clear that the process of extracting him from a club of Everton's own ambitions may have some distance to go, and will be considerably more complicated than the negotiations for Touré.

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Rafa Benítez gives Real Madrid ultimatum over Xabi Alonso transfer

Rafael Benítez has told Xabi Alonso that he wants the midfielder's future to be resolved before the weekend as the phoney war between Liverpool and Real Madrid appeared to draw to a close. After weeks in which there has been little real contact between the clubs, the Spaniard is seeking to force Madrid's hand: they must now make an acceptable offer close to his £30m valuation or back off. Alvaro Arbeloa, meanwhile, says he is hopeful of joining Real Madrid "in the next few days".

Alonso flew into Madrid last night en route to San Sebastián in northern Spain after Benítez gave the squad three days off following their pre-season tour of the far east. The squad comes together again on Thursday before travelling to Barcelona to face Espanyol on Sunday and, with the Premier league season just two weeks away, Benítez has told the midfielder that he wants a definitive answer.

Alonso informed Benítez of his desire to leave at the start of the summer but his future now lies in the hands of Madrid: if they do not make a bid that convinces the Liverpool manager, Alonso may be forced to stay. Benítez wants sufficient time to buy a replacement and negotiations with Roma's 25-year-old midfielder Alberto Aquilani are ongoing. Real Madrid are in less of a hurry, however. The Spanish season does not begin until the last weekend of August.

Madrid's opening bid for Alonso, thought to be in the region of €27m (£24m) was rejected by Liverpool who have let it be known that they value the player at closer to €40m (£36m), even though they were willing to sell Alonso for around half that amount last summer. Madrid's technical staff remain extremely keen to bring the midfielder in and pre-season friendlies have once again laid bare that there is a need for a ball-playing central midfielder.

Publicly Madrid have continued to insist that they will not match Benítez's valuation and have hinted at a willingness to walk away. The club's president, Florentino Pérez, described the fee as "detached from reality". There has been little real contact between the clubs for the majority of the summer. All three parties – Liverpool, Madrid and Alonso – have known exactly where they stood but remained distanced by price and have been reluctant to shift their positions. Benítez is now trying to flush Madrid out once and for all by presenting them and Alonso with an ultimatum.

The stalemate over Alonso has also effected the Liverpool full-back Alvaro Arbeloa, because the clubs would prefer him to be part of the same deal. Arbeloa though is confident that his future will be resolved before the weekend and admitted that he and Alonso both want to join the Spanish club – only to hurriedly add: "I am speaking for myself, not Xabi."

"It is true that it's close [to being done]; let's see what happens in the next few days," Arbeloa said. "It seems that everything's going well and that it is close. It might even be wrapped up this week. Everyone knows how things work in football and things always take longer than you'd hope. There are 20 days left until the season starts in England and [Liverpool] would like to have the squad finalised as soon as possible. Let's see if things can be resolved. If everything gets agreed, then no one wants to join Real Madrid more than me. But if we have to wait, we'll wait.

"Let's see if things can be moved forward – for me and for Xabi Alonso. Xabi is my room-mate and we have spoken to Rafa about everything. He knows what the situation is and has told us what he thinks. Madrid's project is very exciting and I think every player would like to be part of it. There is little that we [Arbeloa and Alonso] can do because it is the clubs and the agents that are handling things. It is true that we have a great opportunity … I'm speaking for myself I can't speak for Xabi."

Arbeloa defended Benítez, who has been subject to fierce criticism in the Spanish press for not backing down over Alonso, insisting that he "completely understands" the Liverpool manager's stance. "There are no good guys and bad guys. Sometimes the press wants to make someone out to be the baddie but it's not like that. Everyone looks out for their own interests and Rafa is defending the interests of Liverpool, just as we are defending our interests and Madrid are defending theirs."

Some reports say that the Alonso transfer is a done deal.

Behrooz_C

07-29-2009, 11:06 AM

Well Ferguson has always been an admirer of Barcelona as a football club and the way they do things. On the other hand, he has never liked Real and the way THEY do things. So his statements on this issue are understandable.

Kaesra

07-29-2009, 11:36 AM

Liverpool today confirmed they have reached agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Alvaro Arbeloa to the La Liga side.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "We have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for the transfer of the player, subject to him completing a medical."

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Only Chelsea has been able to keep their players together, not alot of new signings but with Zhirkov, Turnbull and Sturridge there is even more width wich is needed with a chelsea that has the worst luck ever. Also wanna see if the new trainer is a good match, italians mostly dont do well outside Italy, but Chelsea does have a good italian link and seem to be somewhat of an exeption.

Pool also contenders IMO cause some might have left, but with Jonhsen they have signed a very good right back and Benitez will probably try to invest in a couple of new players.

I think Manu have gotten weaker, but its foolish to count them out completly, they still have a good squad and valencia and owen might suprise.

Arsenal still needs an experienced Defensive Midd + an Attacker I think (Attacker might not be needed, but I would think its better to have one extra) With arsenal its mostly (lack of) width and experience that makes them come short of actually challenging the title , like every year, but if they can keep their squad fit and win the small matches ...

Behrooz_C

07-29-2009, 02:01 PM

What do you consider an Owen surprise?
I am prepared to bet right now that he will get over 20 goals in all competitions next season.

Kaz

07-29-2009, 04:16 PM

What do you consider an Owen surprise?
I am prepared to bet right now that he will get over 20 goals in all competitions next season.

I think you're feeling a bit too hopeful there Behrooz jan ;).

Kaesra jan, I think Chelsea and Liverpool are the front-runners as the squads stand.

Behrooz_C

07-29-2009, 05:36 PM

Kaz, I am prepared to bet on that. I say Owen will score more than 20 goals i all competitions next season. What do you wanna bet :)

Kaz

07-29-2009, 06:56 PM

Kaz, I am prepared to bet on that. I say Owen will score more than 20 goals i all competitions next season. What do you wanna bet :)

Done. How about a book or a DVD? Hey, actually, I would like this. What's your poison?

Kaesra

07-29-2009, 08:14 PM

LOL @ the bet and Kaz' request.

I also think Pool and Chelsea are the biggest two, bt really behrooz you cant say owen's a sure thing, I think it can go either way, injuries happen and they happen to him alot. He cant promise not to get injured or anything. The only uncertainty we have at the moment is how our coach is gonna fit with our team.

Kaesra

07-29-2009, 08:48 PM

£14m Kolo Touré leaves Arsenal to join Manchester City's revolution

Kolo Touré has completed his transfer from Arsenal to Manchester City after signing a four-year deal with the Eastlands club, for a fee believed to be in the region of £14m.

Touré's move, which will put him among the ranks of players at City earning more than £100,000 a week, is the second piece of business the two clubs have done this summer, following Emmanuel Adebayor's arrival earlier this month.

"I am delighted to welcome Kolo to Manchester City," said the manager Mark Hughes this afternoon. "It is no secret that we have been looking to strengthen our defence, and in Kolo I feel we have recruited a world class player. He brings a wealth of Premier League experience from his seven seasons with Arsenal.

"Kolo has been a central figure in a very strong Arsenal team for many years, and I have been an admirer of him for a long time. He is strong, quick, reads the game well and will be an influential figure in the dressing room."

The deal is City's sixth of the close-season following the captures of Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez and Stuart Taylor, while Everton's Joleon Lescott remains a target. Among the players likely to leave the club as part of the overhaul is Bulgarian forward Valeri Bojinov, who is in talks to join promoted Serie A side Parma on a season-long loan.

Arsenal's manager Arsène Wenger has played down the impact of losing Touré. "We have seven centre-backs, and I am in the position where I have to play some in midfield. Of course, Kolo is a very good player – we will see what will happen in the next 24 hours."

So far this summer, Wenger has made only one signing, the central defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax.

---------------

Alvaro Arbeloa passes medical ahead of £3.5m move to Real Madrid

Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa has passed his medical with Real Madrid, the Spanish club have confirmed.

Arbeloa successfully completed various medical tests at the Hospital Sanitas La Moraleja in Madrid today as the 26-year-old defender put the finishing touches on his £3.5m move from Liverpool.

Madrid's medical chief, Carlos Diez, told his club's website: "He has undergone a standard examination and the results of all the tests are very satisfactory. He is delighted to be able to play for Real Madrid, which has been his lifelong dream. He's looking forward to joining his team-mates."

After leaving the hospital, Arbeloa travelled to the club's Bernabéu stadium to sign his five-year contract with Madrid. The Spain international, who was part of last summer's successful Euro 2008-winning squad, was on Madrid's books as a youngster before moving to Deportivo La Coruña in 2006, and then on to Liverpool six months later.

Arbeloa becomes Madrid's seventh signing of the summer after Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Negredo and Esteban Granero.

The Argentina centre-back Ezequiel Garay is also a new face at the club, although he was signed from Racing Santander last summer before immediately being loaned back to the Cantabrian side.

-----------

Frank Beckenbauer admits Bayern could sell Franck Ribéry – for £81m

The Bayern Munich president, Franz Beckenbauer, has set the midfielder Franck Ribéry's price tag at around €94m (£81m), again raising speculation about the Frenchman's possible transfer to Real Madrid.

"All this noise is not necessary," Beckenbauer said of the rumours surrounding Ribéry. "Especially not when you have a new coach coming into the team, who wants to prepare it in a calm way and not having to deal with the Ribéry issue every day.

"But should Bayern just give Ribéry away? We naturally want what the market demands and if Cristiano Ronaldo is worth €94 million then Ribéry is worth a similar amount. And if this is not being offered then he will just have to stay with us as he has a contract until 2011."

The Bayern bosses Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have maintained the club's policy is not to sell the 26-year-old, whom they say is fully committed to playing in the Bundesliga this season.

"Just like in the board game Monopoly, Mayfair is not for sale, if you own it," Hoeness said last week.

Ribéry has been out injured for the past two weeks and will not take part in a mini-tournament today and tomorrow between Bayern, Boca Juniors, Milan and Manchester United. He could also miss the start of the season on 7 August.

Sly

07-29-2009, 09:43 PM

I told Ronaldo before he flew out that he will end up playing centre-half because I don't think they have one.

Then who the h*ll is Kaka?

Kaesra

07-29-2009, 09:49 PM

He means defender Ali jan. Its still not completly true considering they bought Albiol, but its clear what he's trying to say. And there is also a big comparison between City and Real, only real isnt a "small" club, both are jokes though.
-------------------
Karimi joins Steel Azin

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8802/Images/jpg/A0660/A0660124.jpg
MNA - Iranian iconic player Ali Karimi who was expected to extend his contract with Persepoilis football club, joined Steel Azin on Wednesday instead.

Behrooz_C

07-30-2009, 08:27 AM

Done. How about a book or a DVD? Hey, actually, I would like this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Legends-Cricket-Box-Set-DVD/dp/B001B8NPP2). What's your poison?

Yep, you are on. Legends of Cricket it is!
My poison is Gordon's Gin but that's not suitable for a sporting bet! I'll have a think what I want :)

BTW, the third test starts shortly. Rain is predicted for most of it. COME ON ENGLAND :)

Kaz

07-30-2009, 04:17 PM

Yep, you are on. Legends of Cricket it is!
My poison is Gordon's Gin but that's not suitable for a sporting bet! I'll have a think what I want :)

BTW, the third test starts shortly. Rain is predicted for most of it. COME ON ENGLAND :)

If I were English I'd be praying for rain too. :p

Behrooz_C

07-30-2009, 04:28 PM

^^^funny enough the life of an English cricket fan involves a lot of praying that it rains in far away places like Sri Lanka and Lahore :)

But this time there is that winning feeling in the air, so rain please go away and let play resume. I miss sitting in my office and montoring the score from time to time.

Kaesra

07-30-2009, 05:43 PM

Arsène Wenger says Arsenal do not need new signings

Arsène Wenger claims his Arsenal squad are "strong enough" without any more new signings but he insists there is cash available for transfers. Arsenal, who are reportedly preparing a pay-as-you-play offer for their former captain Patrick Vieira, are £30m up on their transfer deals so far this summer, having made just one signing, the defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax, and sold both Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

"I feel we are strong enough but if we can add then we will do it," said Wenger on Arsenal's official website. "In England people think that all the problems can be sorted out by buying players. I believe the biggest target is to work hard in training, improve what we can improve and have confidence in the players that we have.

"If we need to add then we will. We have money available so for us it is now [important] to spend it in the right way when we do it or if we do it."

Midfielder Tomas Rosicky has picked up a minor injury since making his comeback earlier this month after nearly 18 months out. The Czech Republic international has not played in Arsenal's last three pre-season matches, including a 1-0 victory last night over Hannover 96 in Germany.

Arsenal said today that Rosicky picked up a "minor problem" in the Barnet friendly on 18 July. It is not clear if Rosicky will be available for the Emirates Cup pre-season tournament this weekend. Wenger's had highlighted the 28-year-old as a key attacking option in the wake of Adebayor's departure and Samir Nasri's broken leg, which will rule him out for up to three months.

Arsenal have refused to comment on the reports about Vieira, who is keen to leave Internazionale. But the former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said on his TalkSport radio show: "I'm hearing Vieira, pay-as-you-play, back at Arsenal. That's what I'm hearing, and that's what I'm hoping."

-----

Luca Toni the target for West Ham's worried Gianfranco Zola

West Ham United's determination to strengthen their attack by signing Bayern Munich's Luca Toni and Eidur Gudjohnsen of Barcelona increased as Luis Boa Morte suffered cruciate damage which could rule him out until the new year.

Boa Morte sustained the injury to his right knee during West Ham's 1-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League Asia Cup in Beijing yesterday. The club's chief executive, Scott Duxbury, and technical director, Gianluca Nani, had already decided to remain in Europe to pursue Toni and Gudjohnsen.

Boa Morte's fate leaves West Ham with only two senior forwards in Carlton Cole and the injured Dean Ashton, whose future is still unclear. Despite reports linking Stoke City with the 25-year-old there has been no official approach for the striker - who has a long-term ankle injury. The wearing of his No9 shirt by Junior Stanislas in China was because competition rules state all players must be numbered from 1 to 23, rather than a definitive sign of Ashton's imminent departure.

Duxbury and Nani decided to travel to two destinations in Europe rather than to Beijing, suggesting negotiations for Gudjohnsen or Toni or both may have reached an advanced stage. Gianfranco Zola is keen to sign an experienced striker with international pedigree as he seeks to improve on last season's ninth-place finish.

The club was downbeat over Boa Morte, who suffered the injury in what appeared an innocuous challenge with Benoît Assou-Ekotto. "Luis Boa Morte could be out until 2010 after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee," a statement said. "Boa Morte will undergo further tests to determine whether or not he will require surgery when the swelling on his injured knee goes down."

Zola was visibly upset. "It is a big blow for me," he said. "He is an important player both on the pitch and off the pitch."

---------

Elano completes move to Galatasaray from Manchester City

Elano has completed a move from Manchester City to the Turkish side Galatasaray. The Brazil midfielder had fallen out of favour with the City manager Mark Hughes, though he still scored eight goals in 42 appearances last season.

"Everyone at Manchester City would like to thank Elano for his services and wish him the very best of luck for the future with both his new club and with Brazil," read a statement on Manchester City's official website. The statement made no mention of a fee.

Elano had joined City from Shakhtar Donetsk prior to the 2007-08 season, and quickly became a popular figure among fans after a string of impressive performances. His form tailed off, however, and after replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson as the club's manager, Hughes soon lost patience with the midfielder's inconsistency.

In all Elano scored 18 goals in 80 appearances for City. He remains a regular member of the Brazil squad.

----------

Xabi Alonso submits transfer request at Liverpool, according to reports

Xabi Alonso has opened the door to a potential move to Real Madrid by submitting a formal transfer request at Liverpool, according to reports. Real have made no secret of their interest in buying Alonso this summer, but until now the midfielder had refused to show his own hand.

According to the Liverpool Echo, however, he has now submitted a formal written request. Rafael Benítez has always insisted that he is keen to hold on to Alonso, and held talks with the midfielder during the club's pre-season tour of Asia, but may now be forced to sell.

The Madrid club had an initial offer of £24m rejected earlier this summer, but are now expected to return with an improved bid that is closer to Liverpool's £30m valuation. Such a fee would represent a significant profit on a player who cost Liverpool £10.7m when they signed him from Real Sociedad in 2004.

Yesterday Liverpool confirmed the £3.5m departure of full-back Alvaro Arbeloa to Madrid, and they expect the delayed £4m move of Andrea Dossena to Napoli to be concluded by the weekend. So far Benítez has spent £17.5m on England defender Glen Johnson, with much of that fee being wiped out by the cash Portsmouth still owed Liverpool from the purchase of Peter Crouch.

Benítez has raised around £8m from the sales of Arbeloa, Sebastian Leto, Jack Hobbs and Paul Anderson. If he can acquire £28m from any Alonso sale he will have £36m to spend on the transfer market, with the Dossena fee still to be added.

--------

Rumours

As The Mill knows only too well you should never go back. Even though sometimes it might seem like the easiest thing in the world, and maybe the only way to make things better again just to turn right around, pretend you weren't actually getting off at that station anyway and try to sneak back up on to the platform before the overly aggressive men in intimidating purple nylon prison screw outfits spot that you're actually only carrying a child's zone one travelcard from 1986 and start making you fill in one of those humiliating forms. Take it from The Mill: it never works. For one thing they usually spot you and start saying things like "sir" and "excuse me sir" and "sir please come out from inside the broken, smelly Photo-Me booth".

Not that this is the kind of situation the aged and increasingly meandering Patrick Vieira would ever find himself in. Which perhaps explains today's EXCLUSIVE story in the Sun that claims Vieira is "lined up for a shock Gunners return". In return for a trifling cut in his enormous wages Vieira and his surprisingly small head will get the chance to stroll about looking quite convincing in early August, get some kind of thigh-knack or foot-wang, disappear for most of the year, and then quietly slip off to The Dallas Cargo Shorts.

The Mirror also has the Sun's exclusive, except this time they have Ian Wright sensationally claiming the whole thing on his radio show. Sensational news indeed. Who knew Wright had a radio show?

Elsewhere in the Sun Kevin Keegan could be all set to bounce about in a padded anorak punching the air and talking about "this massive club" and "these wonderful people up here" as he plots an entirely sensible return to Newcastle United, but only if some Gulf state maniac agrees to pour the GDP of a small Central American nation over the whole thing and Kev gets to choose whether they have Abbey Crunch or fig rolls in the boardroom.

Gianfranco Zola is "stepping up his bid to sign a new striker" after West Ham failed to get a single shot on target during their tour of China, including during training and games of late night rice-wine-fuelled hotel corridor murderball. Zola has offered £8m for Internazionale's Mario Balotelli, described as "a fiery outcast", like Satan, or Guy Fawkes. "He is extroverted and knows his attitude can upset people," says someone or other. The Mill can't see any potential problems at all. Eidur Gudjohnsen is also "still on Zola's radar", a small hand-held device that he conceals within his padded sports coat and which can occasionally be heard beeping while he's on the bus.

Obafemi Martins, 43, is back-flipping his way to Wolfsburg. Phil Brown has delicately scissored his nose hair, slicked down his eyebrows in the mirror, drenched himself in Paco Rabanne Eau De Paco Rabanne gentleman's toilet spray and announced that only "a ridiculous bid" will tempt him into selling Michael Turner – before feverishly scanning his emails every five minutes for anything with "ridiculous bid" in the subject line. And David Moyes is "chasing" the 18-year-old Stockport centre-half Josh Thompson, who wants him to stop now because he's scared and it's not funny anymore.

In the Daily Mail Martin O'Neill is "monitoring" Robbie Keane using a selection of small machines on trolleys. Rafael Benítez wants the surprisingly effective scurrying clogger Lee Cattermole to replace Xabi Alonso, who can finally stop burbling on about Real Madrid and instead just join them for £30m. Cattermole will cost £12m, won't really ever get a game despite looking quite good in the cups and will end up being shipped out in a swap deal for some ineffective flavour-of-the-month left-sided midfielder.

Alexander Hleb is being forced to join Stuttgart after just a single season running on to the pitch in suit when Barcelona win a trophy. For some reason this means Inter have to sign Deco, after just a single season occasionally yawning on television in the stands at Chelsea. And in snooty, opinionated Frenchman news Laurent Blanc has again said Marouane Chamakh can't go to Sunderland because they're too crap.

The Times has the news Everton have turned down a £19m offer for Joleon "please Don't Take My Man" Lescott. David Moyes wants £30m for the quite-good-but-slightly-behind-Matthew-Upson-when-it-comes-to-England defender.

Tuttosport via Goal.com has ageing one-time world class multi-millionaire David Trezeguet being told by Juventus he can go anywhere except ageing one-time world class multi-millionaire rest home Milan. According to something called Tuttomercatoweb the increasingly bouffant and parched-looking Jose Mourinho has insisted at least four players are snipped from his bloated squad of complacent South Americans who invariably look freaked out and much too slow when they turn up in November somewhere like the Emirates or Anfield. And Napoli have received "no offers" for the Argentinian Old Testament character Ezequiel Lavezzi, who was recently afflicted with boils and lives in a tent in the desert.

Finally, Elano will shortly be scoring a single spectacular goal in August for Galatasaray, before getting dropped, whingeing in the press, growing his hair, and still somehow managing to play for Brazil – who must surely have millions of better midfielders playing in places like Ukraine and Morocco – the whole time.

Kaz

07-30-2009, 07:19 PM

Kaesra

07-31-2009, 10:09 PM

Fans will see us playing a slightly different style of football this season

Sir Alex Ferguson intends to change Manchester United's tactics following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. The manager believes he needs to readjust his team's approach if they are to replicate the Portugal winger's scoring feats, and has called on his players to get a century of goals next season, when they will aim for a fourth successive Premier League title and a second Champions League success in three years.

Ferguson said: "Obviously Cristiano is a big loss in terms of the goals he gave us. But we will just have to find the goals from somewhere else and our tactics will adjust accordingly. Fans will see us playing a slightly different style of football this season."

Ferguson is now using Wayne Rooney as a central striker – rather than playing him out wide – alongside Michael Owen or Dimitar Berbatov. Beyond those three main strikers, Ferguson is demanding an increased yield from midfield.

"Usually you look to score about 100 goals in all competitions, so we are aiming for that again," he said. "If we are going to win the league again or do well in Europe we certainly need players to step up. Going back a few years, we could always guarantee goals from Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, who always pitched in with about 10 a season.

"Those goals from midfield have dried up a little in recent years, so we have to address that. I will be looking to Park [Ji-sung], Nani, [Luis Antonio] Valencia – even [Danny]Welbeck and [Federico] Macheda – to contribute 40 goals between them.

"The defenders will contribute a few from set-pieces too."

Kaesra

08-02-2009, 09:00 AM

'Untransferable' Daniele De Rossi plays down speculation of Arsenal move

The Roma midfieleder Daniele De Rossi says he is unaware of Arsenal's reported interest, adding that he has no plans to leave the club he joined as a youth player.

The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to the Emirates, alongside a surprise return to the club for Patrick Viera, but De Rossi insists he would rather stay in Rome unless the club decide to sell him.

"Arsenal? I have never heard anything," said De Rossi. "Roma have declared me untransferable, I want to stay only here. Things would change if they wanted to offload me but they have always wanted me.

"I was on holiday, I read certain figures and even I didn't know if it could be true, I told myself 'maybe this time they will really sell me'," he added. "But the club always came out and declared that I was not for sale and that really pleased me. It's the only thing I want."

Alberto Aquilani has also been linked with a move to the Premier League, with reports suggesting Liverpool are close to signing the midfielder. De Rossi believes it would be a good move for his team-mate despite the effect it might have on the Roma squad.

"I don't know the details and I don't know if the deal is real," he said. "If it's as it's written in the papers, we will lose a great player. His many injuries have maybe meant that he's been forgotten about a bit, but I am sure that if he leaves we will regret it.

"He's a footballer with exceptional skill and above all he grew up in Roma's academy and has a love for this shirt that you cannot buy," continued De Rossi. "But if you think about his career I think it would be a good opportunity, he would grow a lot by being close to the best midfielder in the world – Steven Gerrard."

I only want these guys at chelsea, if its not chelsea, then please let them stay at Roma.

--------------------

Are we addicted to Peter Crouch?

With his move to Spurs, the tall man with a good touch became the most expensive English striker in transfer fees. Is he worth it?

The transfer window has now been open for two months, burbling away in the background like the ambient whisper of some high-end water feature in the lobby of a very modern office building, only one producing the sound of people shouting and lying and gloating, rather than the soothing babble of a gently moving stream. This week the window reached one of its more reliable annual anchor points as Peter Crouch was sold (this time to Spurs) for a large fee (this time £9m). In the past it has been easy to laugh at Crouch in a friendly kind of way, to luxuriate in phrases like "beanpole hitman" and "gangling goal-ace". But the fact is that Crouch appears to be having not simply the last laugh, but all the laughs here.

I used to watch him play at QPR. His nickname was Rodney, although people in the crowd would shout "go on Rodney" with real conviction, as though that was actually his name, rather than a reference to the bloke off Only Fools and Horses who went on to make disappointing sitcoms where he seemed to be taking himself seriously as a proper actor rather than just being gangly and cross. At the time it seemed unlikely Crouch would gross more in transfer fees than Michael Owen, Thierry Henry, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Didier Drogba. But as of this week he is the most expensive English striker ever, at a running total of £35m. He has at least six more windows left in him. Where will this mania end? And what does it all mean?

First, I think it means we love Crouch. Footballers bring different things out of you. John Terry looks like the kind of person you'd like to go on a violently self-destructive stag weekend with, the kind where you're perpetually on the verge of being beaten up in some provincial super-club called Zeus or Volcano. Kolo Touré seems like the kind of person it might be nice to take a long country walk with. With Crouch, you'd want him along for the ride if you were buying a large piece of second-hand furniture. He could just hang around in the background, looking alert and quietly sceptical, and then maybe you'd go for lunch in a pizza restaurant.

If Crouch remains an oddly reassuring figure, perhaps this is related to the fact that he still looks like the kind of tall, thin boy in corduroy trousers everybody played football with at school – a slightly over-emotional tall, thin boy who would occasionally burst into tears or give someone a dead leg and then run away. Perhaps this explains that lurking sense that we're still waiting for the best of Crouch, still waiting for him to fill out and grow a bumfluff moustache. This makes no sense. Crouch is 28. He's not going to fill out. But still we wait.

Mainly, though, with Crouch people like to talk about how he "gives you an option". That's what he gives you, an option. But there is also danger in Crouch and his option. We hear warnings that you might look for that option too often. That in fact he might not be an option, but a compulsion. And maybe we are addicted to Crouch, drawn to the lurking notion, embodied within his extreme height, of a gloriously direct kind of English football. At which point it's customary to refer to Crouch's Paradox, the fact – which is still a surprise after these years – that he actually has a very delicate touch for such a big man. But that's another story altogether.

Posted by Barney Ronay The guardian

--------------------
Milan rebuff £6.5m Chelsea bid for Andrea Pirlo
Chelsea's offer for the Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo – believed to be around £6.5m plus striker Claudio Pizarro – is too low to consider, Milan's chief executive Adriano Galliani has insisted.

"At this price Pirlo is not for sale," said Galliani, before adding that Milan were renewing their interest in the Real Madrid forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, speaking after their 2-2 draw at Reading, denied involvement in active negotiations, but his stance could reflect the fact that Pirlo may have to hand in a transfer request to enable the move. Reports in England and Italy have stated that he is ready to do so.

Ancelotti said he only wanted to focus on his existing squad ahead of next Sunday's Community Shield meeting with Manchester United. "Pirlo is at the moment a Milan player so there is no news. I am interested in my players. I cannot use Pirlo in the next game so I do not want to think of him."

Dont know about him, normally italians dont do well outside Italy, Chelsea has been an exeption in the past but still ...

Kaz

08-02-2009, 04:21 PM

"he would grow a lot by being close to the best midfielder in the world – Steven Gerrard."

I've always liked De Rossi :D.

Kaesra

08-04-2009, 04:36 AM

Mahdavikia plays no role anymore

MNA - Eintracht Frankfurt officials are not interested in Iranian Mehdi Mahdavikia and placed him among substitutes in the warm-up match on Thursday.

According to Bild Magazine, this is the maximum penalty for the small-sized Iranian.

While Eintracht professionals were playing in one game, Mahdavikia was sent in another game alongside the amateurs.

It is clear that the 32-year-old has no longer a role in the club.

The 32-year-old midfielder said, “I am fit and I will be in better shape."

----------------

Freiburg sends Aghily home

MNA - Sepahan defender Hadi Aghily has come back to Isfahan after he could not satisfy Freiburg football coach.

The 28-year-old Iranian national team defender, who had traveled to Germany to take part in the club’s tests, was sent home after the first day of his trial with Bundesliga SC Freiburg.

Freiburg coach Robin Dutt was not impressed by the Sepahan man and is hoping to find a new defensive player.

Aghily played in FIFA Club World Cup in 2007 and has capped 32 times for Iran.

---------

Iranian woman futsaller linked to Spanish team

MNA - Behnaz Khayyat may be the first Iranian woman futsal player who plays abroad.

The Tejaratkhaneh Hormozgan keeper has been linked to a Spanish futsal club. The name of the team has not been mentioned.

“There is no limit to transfer Iranian women futsal players to foreign countries but they have to be allowed to play with full hijab. I don’t think there is any problem because she is a keeper and they have to play with full cover,” Farideh Shojaei, the vice-president of Iran’s Football Federation said on Sunday.

Kaesra

08-05-2009, 03:22 AM

Nikola Kalinic and Franco Di Santo arrive to boost Blackburn's attacking options

Blackburn Rovers last night improved their attacking options following the departure of Roque Santa Cruz with the double signing of the Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic from Hajduk Split and Franco Di Santo on loan from Chelsea until January.

The Croatian club announced that a deal has been agreed to sell 21-year-old Kalinic, who had also been a target for Portsmouth, to the Lancashire club for a fee of up to £12m, while Di Santo was deemed surplus to the immediate requirements of Chelsea's manager, Carlo Ancelotti.

Di Santo, the 20-year-old Argentina youth international, has struggled to make an impression at Chelsea since his £3m move from the Chilean club Audax Italiano 18 months ago and, although he has appeared 16 times as a substitute, he has yet to score. Di Santo and Kalinic will compete at Ewood Park with Benni McCarthy, El-Hadji Diouf and Jason Roberts.

Ancelotti remains in the market for a marquee signing and is hopeful of closing a deal for the playmaker Andrea Pirlo from his former club Milan, although it is expected he will have to pay in excess of £15m. Chelsea also have an interest in Bayern Munich's forward Franck Ribéry.

Michael Mancienne, the England Under-21 defender, will be offered a four-year contract but he could be loaned out if Chelsea were to end the summer with sufficient cover at the back. Wolverhampton, for whom Mancienne played last season, would be interested in taking him on another loan. Chelsea said they want to hold on to the midfielder Joe Cole, in the face of interest from Tottenham.

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Rafael Benítez rewarded with £30m as Xabi Alonso seals Madrid move

Rafael Benítez secured a bittersweet victory over Real Madrid tonight when the Spanish club met his £30m demand for Xabi Alonso and took their summer spending spree through the £200m barrier.

Alonso will undergo a medical in the Spanish capital tomorrow after Real finally relented over an asking price that Benítez had steadfastly refused to lower all summer. The 27-year-old is expected to sign a four-year contract at the Bernabéu worth £3.8m a year after tax, a package that was agreed in principle between Real and Alonso several months ago and prompted the Spain international to tell Benítez that he wished to end a successful five-year stay on Merseyside.

Liverpool had previously rejected a £25m offer from Real for their popular midfielder, who was Benítez's first signing at Anfield in a £10.7m move from Real Sociedad in 2004, with the manager adamant that only a fee of £30m would trigger a deal. Liverpool's new managing director, Christian Purslow, reiterated there would be no compromise on the fee in a meeting with Real's executive director general, Jose Angel Sanchez, at a meeting in Barcelona on Sunday.

Two days later, while Alonso was training with Liverpool at Melwood this afternoon, Real returned with the full asking price and the midfielder was withdrawn from a scheduled pre-season trip to Oslo and travelled instead to Madrid.

Alonso's impending departure represents a major setback for Liverpool supporters, who voted the Spaniard second to Steven Gerrard in man of the match awards last season, and also for Benítez ahead of a season that brings expectations of the club's first league title for 20 years. The disappointment for the manager, however, will be offset by an injection of £30m into his transfer budget and the fact he has enticed an extra £12m out of Real for a player he tried to sell to Juventus for £18m only 12 months ago.

Benítez's attempt to sell Alonso against his wishes last summer, to finance a deal for the then Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry, broke a previously close relationship between the manager and player. Alonso subsequently described their relationship as "professional" and, as his desire to leave for Real confirms, was hurt by his manager's actions, although he responded by producing arguably the best form of his Liverpool career last season.

Alonso's impressive reaction to the events of last summer, coupled with the need for proven Premier League talent ahead of a title challenge, prompted Benítez to revise his view on the midfielder. But he has been aware of the player's determination to leave for several months and knew Real's improved spending power under Florentino Pérez could transform his transfer budget.

With £30m banked for Alonso, Liverpool are now expected to make an £18m offer for the Roma midfielder, Alberto Aquilani. The Italian international is under contract at the Stadio Olimpico until 2013 but is believed to be receptive to a lucrative move to Anfield. The Valencia forward David Silva is another long-standing target of the Liverpool manager, who has spent £17m on Glen Johnson this summer but also recouped almost £5m from the sales of Alvaro Arbeloa and Sebastián Leto to Real and Panathinaikos respectively. The defender Andrea Dossena is also expected to leave Anfield.

The Alonso deal is the first major transfer Benítez has overseen since signing a new contract that granted him greater authority on such matters last season. While Real's offer represents a reward for the manager's hardball stance, the agreement is also a success for Alonso, who resolved to leave Anfield this summer and handed in a transfer request last week to pressure Real into concluding a deal.

Furthermore, his arrival in Spain indicates that Manuel Pellegrini and Jorge Valdano, Real's coach and director general, succeeded in persuading Pérez that while Alonso may not sell as many shirts as £80m Cristiano Ronaldo or £56m Kaka, his playmaking skills are "fundamental" to the president's latest gálactico project.

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It seems Aquillani is gonna be his replacement as Roma stated they wanted to sell one of their big guys this season, its likely he'll leave to pool for 20 million pounds or so. And I doubt they will be weakened by it much if it doesnt make them stronger. Aquillani is a very good player if fit.

And it seems you were right about Pana Behrooz, one round to go.

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Kaesra

08-06-2009, 11:12 AM

Aston Villa complete signing of Fabian Delph from Leeds for 'up to £8m'

Aston Villa have completed the signing of the Leeds United midfielder Fabian Delph for a fee which could rise to £8m. Villa's manager, Martin O'Neill, has been chasing the 19-year-old for several weeks and the two sides yesterday agreed a fee for the player. Villa will pay an initial £6m, with add-ons dependent on the player's development.

Leeds rejected rival bids from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur for Delph, having settled on terms with the Midlands club and the teenager has passed a medical and agreed personal terms. Delph made his England Under-21 debut last year and signed a new four-year contract at Elland Road in September as a reward for his good form.

Delph revealed that the club's reputation as a proving ground for young English talent, coupled with O'Neill's track record, made committing to Villa an easy decision.

He told AVTV: "There are a lot of young English players here, an absolutely superb manager and this is the club I've chose to play for so hopefully I can do well. I'm absolutely delighted. It's a big step up but I'm looking forward to it."

"I've managed to get the move here and I'm going to work my hardest and hopefully the gaffer will give me the opportunity to play. I've been to look at the ground and it's absolutely unreal. It's mind blowing. If I get the chance to play in it and do well I'll be really chuffed with myself."

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Darren Bent completes £10m Sunderland move

Sunderland have completed the signing of striker Darren Bent from Tottenham for a club record fee of £10m.

The transfer has dragged on for more than a week, resulting in growing frustration for the player and Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager.

"He's everything I want," said Bruce of the 25-year-old who has signed a four-year contract at the Stadium of Light.

Earlier in the week Bent criticised Spurs chairman Daniel Levy for his handling of the protracted transfer but later apologised.

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Kaesra

08-06-2009, 11:17 AM

Xabi Alonso completes move to Real Madrid after passing medical

Xabi Alonso has completed his transfer to Real Madrid from Liverpool after passing a medical. Alonso went directly from the medical to the Santiago Bernabéu to begin training with his new team-mates and the coach Manuel Pellegrini.

"We put him through the required protocol with special attention given to his locomotor function due to the ankle surgery he had," said Dr Carlos Diez, the head of Madrid's medical team.

"We are satisified with the results as he is completely asymptomatic. He is in perfect health and despite his past operations has no lingering side-effects."

Real paid Liverpool £30m to make Alonso their eighth signing since Florentino Pérez returned to the club presidency in June. Their total outlay this summer has now reached €254m (£215m), though the club's director general Jorge Valdano said today that Alonso would be their final signing of the current transfer window.

Liverpool had previously rejected a £25m offer from Real for Alonso, and are expected to use part of the money they received to fund an £18m bid for the Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani. The Italian international is under contract at the Stadio Olimpico until 2013 but is believed to be receptive to a lucrative move to Anfield.

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Xabi Alonso unveiled by Real Madrid and delighted to be there

Xabi Alonso was presented as a Real Madrid player tonight after signing a five-year contract at the Bernabéu. The Basque midfielder joins Madrid from Liverpool for £30m and was unveiled at the stadium this evening.

The 27-year-old Spain international arrived in the capital early after a fee was agreed between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Alonso then completed a medical and met his new team-mates for training in the afternoon.

The midfielder is Madrid's eighth summer signing, taking the club's spending to more than £220m in two months. The Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, has brought in Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Raúl Albiol, Esteban Granero, Alvaro Arbeloa, Alvaro Negredo and Karim Benzema as he attempts to build a team of galácticos capable of challenging Barcelona's treble winners.

"It's a very happy day for me," said Alonso. "It's an important step in my career to come to a club like Real Madrid. I'm very happy to be part of this club and I was very excited for this day to arrive. It's the best opportunity for me to develop as a footballer."

The transfer takes Alonso back to Spain after five years in England. The former Real Sociedad player admitted he had decided before the end of the season the time was right to move on. "I am very grateful to Liverpool fans, they were very warm during my five years," he said. "It will be really difficult to match their appreciation. I really enjoyed those five years. But a few months ago I took that decision as I thought it was the right moment to find a fresh challenge, to look for a new club. That's when Real Madrid came along. Luckily a deal has been done and I'm very happy.

"It is a personal challenge I felt is necessary for my football career. I felt it was right, so I looked for a change, for a new experience and, when Madrid came in, that's when I decided to come back to Spain."

The transfer was one of the most protracted deals of the summer but Alonso claims he always believed he would be at the Bernabéu before the start of the season. "I didn't have all the cards in my hand but I was confident. A while back I became determined to leave. The end result was what I wished for, here I am and I am very happy."

Reports suggest Alonso's relationship with the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez, disintegrated after he professed his desire to leave. However, Alonso says he has nothing but respect for his former manager.

"I have repeated over and over again that the relationship was a professional one, of mutual respect, a normal one between coach and player," he said. "I respect him and thank him for the opportunity he gave me.

"The goodbyes were quite brief, everything happened very quickly and I didn't have time to say goodbye properly. I want to return to say goodbye to my team-mates and Rafa. As everything was very quick I hardly had time so as soon as I can I will say goodbye as I should have done.

"I want to thank them for everything they gave me but now I am starting a new stage in my career. I'm very excited. Five years is a big deal in a club like Liverpool. I learnt a great deal, had a great experience, played in the Champions League every year and won one. I'm arriving at Madrid more mature and with more experience."

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Real Madrid will sign no more players after Xabi Alonso, says Jorge Valdano

The Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano says his club will make no more signings in the current transfer window once the deal for Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is completed. After Alonso's signing, Madrid will have spent €254m (£215m) on eight players since Florentino Pérez returned to the club presidency in June.

"The main aim was to complete the squad and there will now be no more signings," Valdano told the radio station Cadena SER. Alonso was due to take a medical on Wednesday before joining other signings including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.

Madrid bought Ronaldo from Manchester United for a world-record fee of £80m, Kaka from Milan for £59m and Benzema from Lyon for £30m. The club's other newcomers are the Valencia central defender Raúl Albiol, the Liverpool right-back Alvaro Arbeloa, the Almería striker Alvaro Negredo and the Getafe midfielder Esteban Granero. A ninth new Madrid player is the defender Ezequiel Garay, who was signed a year ago but spent last season loaned back to Racing Santander.

"We had to do something unusual because it was necessary to complete the squad in various positions," said Valdano. "Florentino has stayed true to his word and he has done so in a big way. No fan can reproach him for what he has done."

Valdano said Real would now seek to recoup some expenditure by offloading several players before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. So far, the club has raised a reported €15m (£12.7m) through the sales of Javier Saviola and Javi García to Benfica and Daniel Parejo to Getafe. Also expected to leave are the Dutch trio of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder, although Valdano said yesterday that the new coach Manuel Pellegrini was keen to keep Sneijder.

Valdano also ruled out following up a previous attempt to sign the Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribéry, saying: "Bayern decided not to sell and so we stood aside and withdrew."

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Liverpool sign Alberto Aquilani for £20m to fill Xabi Alonso's berth

Rafael Benítez instantly filled the hole left by Xabi Alonso at Liverpool yesterday when he agreed a £20m fee with Roma for their midfield playmaker Alberto Aquilani.

As soon as Alonso signed a four‑year contract worth £3.8m a year after tax with Real Madrid then Liverpool announced they had struck a deal for his replacement. Aquilani has agreed a five-year contract worth £85,000 a week, with the move dependent on a medical on Merseyside tomorrow.

The 25-year-old has been hampered by injury at Roma and made his last appearance for the club in their Champions League defeat by Arsenal in March. A gifted, attack-minded midfielder, Aquilani made only 14 appearances in Serie A last season and is still recovering from an operation on his right ankle in May. He is not expected to be fit for the start of the new Premier League season, which begins for Liverpool at White Hart Lane on 16 August, and Benítez will have to be convinced of the Italian's fitness to complete the transfer.

"Alberto is a very good player and I'm delighted we've reached agreement with Roma for his transfer," said Benítez. "Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League. He has long been recognised as a top-class talent in Italy, captaining his country at both Under-19 and Under-21 levels before establishing himself in the senior national side."

Liverpool opened talks with Roma about Aquilani several weeks ago in readiness for Alonso's anticipated move to the Bernabéu and finalised a fee as soon as Real completed their £30m deal. Benítez said he had hoped to keep his compatriot even after Alonso announced he wished to leave Anfield in May, but granted his wish once Real met the £30m asking price.

"We would have liked to have kept him but as soon as he told us that he wanted to leave we started working, looking for players and trying to do the best deal for the club," Benítez said. "It has been too long, since May, that he told us he wanted to leave and after the official transfer request we were working very hard. The first idea was to keep him, and the second one was to find the best price and the best replacement for us."

Financial pressures at Roma have forced the club to sell the Italian international, who rejected moves to Arsenal and Chelsea as a teenager to play for his boyhood club. Aquilani made his first team debut at 18 under the then Giallorossi manager Fabio Capello, made his Italy debut in 2006 and played for them at Euro 2008.

Benítez's next move is likely to be for a central defender, with cover required for Sami Hyypia who has joined Bayer Leverkusen and with both Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger nursing hamstring and back injuries respectively. Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin is a possible target for the Liverpool manager, as is Michael Turner, but Hull's valuation of the defender far exceeds what Benítez is prepared to pay.

Pool didnt get any weaker with this Xabi-Aquiliani swap, stronger offensively, weaker defensively.

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Also Huntelaar will transfer to Ac Milan soon for about 15 million euros and Real would have to pay Ajax 7 Million if Real do well in the Cl but I given their Cl record they are pretty safe.

Kaesra

08-06-2009, 05:20 PM

'Mahdavikia might join Steel Azin in 3 days'

PTV - Iran's soccer club Steel Azin's co-owner, Hossein Hedayati, has said Eintracht Frankfurt Iranian defender Mehdi Mahdavikia might join his team.

"I have personally talked with the valued, fine Iranian player (Mahdavikia) for a few minutes; we will hire him if he is interested," Hedayati said in an interview with Fars news agency on Thursday.

On Tuesday of this week, Mahdavikia's agent Mahmoud Reza Fazeli had told goal.com that Mahdavikia would not join the Tehran-based Steel Azin, as none of the club's officials talked to Fazeli about the offer.

"I am unaware of Mahdavikia's agent's remarks and I'm not expected to talk to him. I find it easier to negotiate with Mahdavikia himself," Hedayati added.

"I didn't talk with any agents about Ali Karimi, but you saw how he joined Steel Azin. Both Mahdavikia and Karimi have the same agent," he further explained.

The Iranian superstar Ali Karimi, 30, officially joined Steel Azin last Wednesday after he failed to reach an agreement with his former club, Persepolis, because of a difference of opinion with the club's chief executive, Abbas Ansarifard.

According to Hedayati, the result of his negotiations with 32-year-old Mahdavikia will be clear in three days' time.

Mahdavikia, who played 111 times for Iran and scored 13 goals, announced his retirement from the Iranian national soccer squad after it failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Several foreign media outlets had claimed that Mahdavikia and three other Iranian players -- Ali Karimi, Hossein Ka'abi, and Vahid Hashemian -- were banned for life for supporting the failed presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi by wearing green wristbands in the World Cup qualifier against South Korea in Seoul on June 17.

The Iranian football Federation's Vice President Mehdi Taj, however, said that the country's top soccer players bade farewell to the national team of their own volition.

Steel Azin was promoted to Iran's Premier League (IPL) after standing in the first position in last season's Azadegan League (1st Division).

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Mahdavikia not to join Steel Azin: agent

PTV - Eintracht Frankfurt defender Mehdi Mahdavikia is not going to join the Iranian Football Club Steel Azin, his agent has said.

“I was shocked when i heard Mahdavikia has joined Steel Azin,” said Mahdavikia's agent Mahmoud Reza Fazeli in an interview with goal.com on Tuesday.

“This is not true. I strongly deny any offers or talks because neither (the club's co-owner) Mr. (Hossein) Hedayati nor (the technical manager) Mr. Heshmat Mohajerani talked to me regarding the matter,” he added.

“I had a telephone conversation with the executive chairman of Eintracht Frankfurt (Heribert Bruchhagen) today and he underlined that Mahdavikia trains well and with motivation and he wasn't on the last match list due to the coach's personal decision,” he explained.

According to Fazeli, the German club is not using Mahdavikia in order to cut the club's expenses, as the former Iranian skipper is among the club's three most expensive players.

“I emphasize that Mahdavikia will never join an Iranian soccer club this year,” he concluded.

Fazeli's remarks come after Iranian news agencies had reported that Mahdavikia is in talks with the Tehran-based club Steel Azin to sign a one-year contract.

Mahdavikia, who played 111 times for Iran and scored 13 goals, announced his retirement from the Iranian national soccer squad which failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

A number of foreign media outlets claimed that Mahdavikia and three other Iranian players -- Ali Karimi, Hossein Ka'abi, and Vahid Hashemian -- were banned for life over showing 'a display of political support' for the failed presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi by wearing green wristbands in the World Cup qualifier against South Korea. (this isnt true apparently bc kaabi has been called up for int. friendlies.)

But according to the Iranian football Federation's Vice President Mehdi Taj, the top players bade farewell to the national team of their own volition.

raminIC

08-06-2009, 05:59 PM

i have no idea what were going to do this season without Kolo. :( :(

Kaesra

08-07-2009, 09:09 AM

Well Arsenal as is is too weak to even make an attempt for the title, wenger said he is trying to get two players, a defender and an attacker, personnaly I think you also need a defensive midd, vieira comes to mind. He also said he didnt expect much until 26 till 31st of august as that is the bussiest time in the transfer window.

Arsenal miss width and experience, its not like they dont have quality, the buying young players is fine and dandy and mixed with Arsene makes for an appealing playing style, but it wont win any titles or you'd need alot of luck.

Also Rosicky is out again for another 6 weeks, last time he played was in Jan 2008 ...

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Apperently Aquilani didnt want to transfer to Pool, being a true Roman, but it seems the tranfer was forced bc of Roma's financial situation, wich is sad.

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Milan agree £12.8m deal with Real Madrid for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Milan have agreed a deal with Real Madrid to make the Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar their first major signing of the close season. Huntelaar, who has become surplus to requirements at Real following their huge summer spending spree, will move to San Siro on a four-year contract.

"The Dutch footballer will undergo medical checks tomorrow after which he will sign a contract that will bind him to the club until 30 June 2013," read a statement on Milan's website.

The Italian giants have agreed to pay Real €15m (£12.8m) for the forward, who only joined the La Liga club in January for an initial fee of €20m after a prolific stint at Ajax. The 26-year-old is no longer needed at the Bernabéu following the arrival of Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká.

News of Huntelaar's departure to Italy will come as a disappointment to the Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, who had made public his desire to sign the player.

Spurs are the second London club to be left frustrated by Milan in the space of 24 hours after Andrea Pirlo yesterday confirmed he would be staying with the Rossoneri and not joining Chelsea.

Only a medical left for him to make it official, in v.bastens legacy huntelaar could do well, not as well though. And the italians arent as stupid as Real, they care for goals not how they are made, especially with a guy like pipo Inzaghi. Milan has been a bit of a fall down club though, especially with buying ronaldinho and selling Kaka, they also claim they arent that well financially either. But Leonardo could make some magic ... They need rejuvenation.

raminIC

08-07-2009, 05:10 PM

Kaesra our DM (Song) was one of our best players last season. I don't agree that we need a DM. What we need are solid defenders. If i was wenger, i would buy two defenders, and maybe a striker, but thats it.

Kaz

08-07-2009, 10:09 PM

Aquilani agrees contract for 5 years: AQUILANI AGREES CONTRACT (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N165347090807-1933.htm)

Kaesra

08-07-2009, 10:18 PM

raminIC

08-10-2009, 07:27 PM

Yeah forgot about song, your right especially later on in the season he made a very good impression. Like I said there is quality but is there width, I think you have back-ups but all are youngsters. Experience is also important in this game.

You dont mean 2 central Defenders though do you ? I mean he bought Vermaelen already.

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Yeah Kaz, he didnt want to do though :)

i meant two includeing Varmaelen.

I think that as far as the DM position goes, were good. Diaby can fit that role as can eboue and denilson.

What we were obviously lacking in last season was good backups in defense. I'm very sad to see toure go as he will be very hard to replace.

Kaesra

08-11-2009, 03:25 PM

Rahman Rezaei joins Qatar’s Al-Ahli

MNA - Former Iran defender Rahman Rezaei joined Al-Ahli of Qatar on a one-year contract.
“Rezaei will travel to Doha to finalize his deal soon. They reached an agreement last night,” Mohammad Zamani his agent said.

The 34-year old defender was a member of Persepolis football team last year. He has played for Italian sides Perugia, Messina and Livorno as well.

Rezaei capped 56 times for Iran and scored three goals.

Sly

08-12-2009, 08:11 AM

Thanks man!

I hope he stays there and makes money and never gets near TM!

Kaesra

08-12-2009, 11:29 PM

Cattermole to sunderland

Sunderland have completed the signing of Lee Cattermole. The midfielder will join up with former Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce following the £6m deal.

The Black Cats have agreed a four-year deal for the holding midfielder, who leaves Wigan little more than a year after he joined the Latics from Middlesbrough in a £3.5m move. He made 33 league appearances last season, scoring one goal.

"Lee has everything that I like in a player so I'm delighted to have brought him to Sunderland," Bruce told the Sunderland website. "He is a terrific footballer. He is young, strong and has a real passion for the game that I'm sure our supporters will love.

"As a north-east lad, he understands what it means to represent a club in this region and will bring some real bite to our side. Lee is a great addition and will strengthen us through the spine of the team while creating real competition across midfield."

Cattermole will go straight into the squad for Sunderland's Premier League opener against Bolton on Saturday. The 21-year-old is Bruce's fourth signing of the summer – joining strikers Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent, and fellow midfielder Lorik Cana.

The Wigan manager Roberto Martínez admitted his disappointment at losing the services of the England Under-21 international. "The fee is a good one," said Martínez. "It is far more than the club paid for him last year and the third highest in Wigan Athletic history. The initial offer from Sunderland was unacceptable as we said at the time, but they have now matched our valuation.

"The speculation about Lee has refused to go away over the last few weeks and this has been very unsettling for him and for our players. It became clear over the past days having spoken to Lee that he wanted to leave and it is very disruptive to the group when a player is clearly unhappy.

"My No1 priority has to be the good of the club and it left me with a decision to make, I therefore agreed to the move for the good of the players we have at the club and who want to remain with us and help us progress to the next level."

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Football transfer rumours: Sol Campbell back to Arsenal?

The Mill does not wish to suggest that Cesc Fábregas and Theo Walcott wake up every morning with someone they don't remember meeting and immediately resume trying to quaff multi-coloured cocktails while vomiting off a balcony. No, all we mean when we say that Arsenal sometimes resembles an Ibiza holiday camp is that there are very few people there over the age of 30.

Arsène Wenger, of course, recently made the mistake of hinting he might seek to change that reality by allowing Patrick Vieira to return to the Emirates to act as some kind of inspirational dressing-room ornament. Wenger was never likely to follow through on that hint, of course, what with Vieira's displays over the last two years having been about as impressive as those of a chilly streaker, but it was enough to allow hacks to begin peddling all sorts of improbable spiel, viz today's claims that Arsenal are to enrich their options in the centre of defence by signing ... Sol Campbell.

That would be a retrograde step and no mistake. In truth, Wenger is much more keen on Borussia Dortmund's Neven Subotic, who, being 14 years younger than Campbell, is much more what Wenger is all about. Normally the fact that Everton are also eyeing up the Serbian would not worry an Arsenal manager, but the possibility that David Moyes could be prepared to present Dortmund with most of the £25m he'll get from Manchester City for Joleon Lescott is said to be annoying Wenger to such an extent that he is preparing another one of those outbursts in which he calls for the rules of football to be radically overhauled so as to conform better with whatever suits Arsenal at a given time.

Speaking of Arsenal, they have absolutely nothing to do with the next snippet, which concerns Aston Villa's attempt to relieve Blackburn of their best player. And Martin O'Neill is not alone, for Harry Redknapp and even Roberto Martínez have also ordered minions to do up a batch of bunting and "Welcome Stephen Warnock" banners. Villa's rise from their summer slumber will continue as they also make moves for Tuncay Sanli and the centre-back John Mensah, whom Lyon have also offered to Portsmouth.

Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, is coming to terms with yet more evidence that his pull in Italy is not as strong as he might have thought. After Andrea Pirlo's people told him to push off, the Chelsea manager has been snubbed by Roma's Daniele De Rossi. Far from consoling himself with the fact that Chelsea don't actually need any more midfielders, Ancelotti will now turn his attention to Erik Huseklepp. At least the Norwegian's wage demands won't be an obstacle – and his bowel movements will be regular – for apparently the 25-year-old only plays for bran. Elsewhere, Martin Petro ... oh hold on, it seems there's been a misunderstanding: when we thought we were reading some reassuring information for Ancelotti concerning Erik Huseklepp, we were in fact reading a bit of patronisation of a little Norwegian club, so that last line should have read "... the 25-year-old only plays for Brann".

Right then, word is Martin Petrov reckons his bottom is, so to speak, above Manchester City's bench. So the Bulgarian winger, who'd be a fine signing for someone, wants that someone to come get him pronto. Harry Redknapp is on his bike.

Not only do Bayern Munich continue to resist Chelsea's attempts to wangle Franck Ribéry out of them, but now they've turned the table on the London club by demanding they cough up José Bosingwa. Chelsea are about to call their bluff, however, take the £15m they've offered and add it to the Ribéry Liberation Fund. Then Roman Abramovich will make Bayern's bosses an offer they can't refuse.

Finally, Villa have been mentioned so little in relation to transfers this summer that it only seems fair we end with another datum about them. Er, Wesley Sneijder has rejected them. He's off to Milan instead.

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Aston Villa plan bid for Tottenham's David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas

Martin O'Neill has reignited his interest in Tottenham Hotspur's Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley and is exploring the possibility of bringing both players to Villa Park. The Aston Villa manager, whose squad remains one of the smallest in the Premier League, is keen to made further additions over the coming weeks and it is understood that fresh talks have been held with a view to trying to prise Jenas and Bentley from White Hart Lane.

No offer has been tabled but Villa are believed to have sounded out the likely cost of the two midfielders. Spurs are eager to offload Bentley, who endured a miserable first season at the club after joining from Blackburn Rovers last summer, while Jenas's future is unclear. The indications are that Tottenham could be willing to do business for the pair, although, as yet, not at a price that Villa would be prepared to pay.

Tottenham would certainly be more willing to negotiate were Ashley Young to be included in any deal but O'Neill will not countenance that. The Villa manager has already lost two of his most influential players since the end of last season, with Martin Laursen retiring and Garth Barry joining Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Tottenham hope Jonathan Woodgate will not prove a long-term injury absentee after he underwent what was described as a "clean-up" operation on his troublesome groin . The central defender had hernia surgery at the end of last season and he has played no part in the club's pre-season, as he has struggled with inflammation in the area.

He went to the United States recently to see a specialist about the problem and Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, said that the club were weighing up how best to confront it. Eventually, it was decided that the operation was the correct course of action. Tottenham have been reluctant to discuss when Woodgate might play again and although the player has enjoyed good fitness since his transfer from Middlesbrough to White Hart Lane in January 2008, he has a history of serious injury, most notably a back problem that wrecked his time at Real Madrid.

Woodgate, like the club captain Ledley King, has a special training regime that sometimes sees him sit out sessions. This has counted against him in his efforts to impress Fabio Capello and win a place in the England squad.

Redknapp was already preparing to kick off the season against Liverpool at White Hart Lane on Sunday without Woodgate but now he knows that he may be without him for some weeks. With no sort of pre‑season, Woodgate will have to play catch-up in his fitness.

Redknapp will also be without another of his centre-halves, Michael Dawson, who has an achilles injury and is likely to be out for two weeks and so Redknapp is expected to give Sébastien Bassong, his new signing from Newcastle United, his debut alongside King. Bassong does not have to serve a suspension for Tottenham for the red card that he received at the end of last season on duty for Newcastle.

King has barely trained lately but Redknapp pointed out that was not unusual. Bassong and King played together in the victory over Olympiakos last weekend.

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Football transfer rumours: David Beckham to Chelsea?

Winston Bogarde was a martyr. Selflessly he braved scorn and ridicule as he sought to warn clubs of the folly of flinging contracts worth tens of thousands of pounds a week at anyone who can kick a ball from A to B while leafing through a catalogue of fat-knotted ties and commenting "they're all different class, to be fair". Did clubs pay heed? Does Chris Baird defecate in the woods?

Imagine if another much scorned and ridiculed Chelsea defender, John Terry, were also a martyr? This thought occurred to the Mill while watching Terry not step up to take a penalty in the Community Shield shoot-out. Now the Mill does not for one moment believe Terry deliberately missed the penalty he infamously shanked in the Champions League shoot-out in Moscow in 2008, but imagine if he had done? Imagine if he had reasoned that if Chelsea triumphed Roman Abramovich's craving for reflected glory would be sated and the inadequate Russian would therefore stop diverting money into his London ego-inflator? Just think of all the poor souls who would have missed out on pay packets heavier than Slayer if that had happened. Poor old Luiz Felipe Scolari might never have had the opportunity to take a multi-million pound pay-off after just a few months of failure, the unfortunate Daniel Sturridge would have still been eking out an existence amid all that deprivation of Manchester City and hapless Franck Ribéry would not find himself being talked about today as the target of a £40m swoop from Chelsea.

Mind you, the winger's club, Bayern Munich, insist he's worth almost double that figure and Abramovich isn't quite desperate enough to pay that amount. Happily, Carlo Ancelotti has concocted a plan that may not be as cunning but is at least cheaper – forget about explosive French winger Ribéry and instead concentrate on luring fading showbiz star David Beckham!

If there's one manager in England who would like to hook up with Beckham even more than Ancelotti would, and probably even more than Sven-Goran Eriksson would, it's got to be Phil Brown. Alas, it looks like the most glamorous face the Hull-raiser will be seen with belongs to want-away Reading workhorse Stephen Hunt.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are still being linked with the same two men with whom they've been associated all summer – Fulham's Brede Hangeland and Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh. Word today, however, is that Arséne Wenger has finally plucked up the courage to talk to Roy Hodgson about the Norwegian centre back and has raised his offer for Chamakh to £8m, which is still far below the £15m Bordeaux seek, thus ensuring there is little chance of any deal being done before the final day of this transfer window at the earliest.

Things move much faster up at Liverpool, where, following squints at Michael Turner and Ryan Shawcross, Rafa Benítez continues to trawl through the depths of the Premier League in search of little-heralded gems. The latest to take his fancy is Portsmouth's Niko Kranjcar, whom he's confident of landing for £7m.

That seems quite 'a modest fee'. And that, indeed, is a term you will doubtless see in headlines everywhere if Wolves gazump both Portsmouth and Bolton for the signature of former Marseille midfielder Modeste M'Bami – even though the player is currently without a club so no fee will, in fact, be payable. Other than to his agent, perhaps.

Kaesra

08-13-2009, 02:25 PM

Football transfer rumours: Manchester United target new goalkeeper?

Here we are. Just two days to go until some real, actual football happens. Real football where people actually kick a ball around and score goals rather than simply concocting extended fictions, half-truths, lies and entire tabloid news stories based around n neatly punning headline. But still the Mill stays true to its course, like Sid James and Hattie Jacques serving a seven-course lunch and making small talk about the polo season even as Bernard Bresslaw's vicious Burpa artillery causes great chunks of the British consulate's marble ceiling to crash down into the soup course, and Charles Hawtrey gets covered in plaster dust as just he sips at his glass of stage claret which is actually a triple vodka-Ribena. Bring it on. Bring on your real, actual football. The Mill refuses to be deflected from its mongering. This is simply the Mill's way.

So in the Sun this morning Alex Ferguson is keen to sign yet another inadequate and oddly jumpy goalkeeper who can be talked up excitedly before chucking a couple in against minor Premier League opposition, flapping in the Carling Cup and eventually being sold to Panathinaikos. This time it's 23-year-old FC Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer, who, if past form is anything to go by, wears flappy tracksuit bottoms and has a wild look in his eye.

Arsène Wenger has finally given up on poor old unhappy Marouane Chamakh, who looks a bit like a Cristiano Ronaldo, but with a greasy mullet. Arsenal fans "face a nail-biting wait until Tuesday to see if Cesc Fábregas joins Barcelona", which will probably involve ingesting most of their toenails too, given that Tuesday is currently five days away.

Meanwhile, Alvaro Negredo of Real Madrid wants to join Hull. "Alvaro likes the team and is keen to play for them in the Premier League," says his sweating, squint-eyed, halitosis-ridden Mr 10%.

In the Mirror, Chelsea have agreed a £4m deal with Kosice for 20-year-old Serbian striker Nemanja Matic, who frankly sounds a bit so-so, a bit Franco Di Santo, a bit Scott Sinclair. Moustachioed Argentinian defender Renato Civelli plans to "rekindle" his move to Blackburn Rovers. But Michel Salgado, 56, won't be joining him.

Middlesborough hope to sell ambling Brazilian goalscoring machine Afonso Alves. "A number of clubs are closing in on the Brazilian misfit striker", many armed with sticks, blowpipes and rudimentary wooden spears. Qatar is being mentioned. And Roy Hodgson and David Moyes will "battle it out" for Boro's Gary O'Neill using sharpened golfing umbrellas, before switching to a high-speed kick-boxing duel after Moyes is hurled though a plate glass window, then a gripping knife-fight balanced high on the exposed top floor of a half built office building, before Moyes is eventually hurled over the edge just as it looks like he's finally got Hodgson where he wants him, but pauses fatally to say something pointless and gloating, allowing himself to be stabbed in the ankle by Hodgson's trusty jungle boot knife before plummeting to his death looking sad and resigned and somehow no longer evil but tragic and lost.

The Daily Star has 'Arry Redknapp "on the Moses trail", which is either: a) a seven-day Sinai Ramada luxury coach tour of top Old Testament attractions featuring daily buffet lunch and early evening steel band Dead Sea Disco please bring Moses Trail identification to claim free Burning Bush cocktail and plate of Nazareth Nachos with house speciality Onan Guacamole; or b) an attempt to sign Crystal Palace striker Victor Moses, available for £5m.

Also in the Star, Portsmouth are favourites to lure former Middlesbrough disappointment turned strangely cold-eyed and sinister TV pundit Bolo Zenden out of his hot tub. "Hull, Blackburn and Portsmouth have expressed an interest and I am in talks with all those clubs," he said, holding three sets of talks simultaneously using a wheelie chair that spins round quickly.

In the Times, Michael Mancienne still thinks he's actually going to play for Chelsea and has signed a new deal but also gone out on loan to Wolves. The Daily Mail believes Fulham are on the verge of signing vast, immobile, bull-necked garden statue Mark Viduka. A move to Portsmouth has "collapsed" presumably after Viduka briefly sat down on it.

On Goal.com, Bernd Schuster has told German television that Real Madrid still want to sign cheeky, loveable Bayern Munich scruff Franck Ribéry and will be back with "a mammoth bid" this week. As will Chelsea. And Nadir Belhadj has told Le Buteur magazine, France's leading churned dairy spreads quarterly, that he might fancy a move to Spurs to join up with old mucker and Fagin-like gangmaster 'Arry Redknapp.

Kaesra

08-13-2009, 11:00 PM

Khalatbari and his trial with 1Fc Koln

http://www.ksta.de/ks/images/mdsBild/1247646947930l.jpg http://www.persianleague.com/images/stories/khalatbari-cologne.jpg

http://www.ksta.de/ks/images/mdsBild/1247646947934l.jpg http://www.ksta.de/ks/images/mdsBild/1247646947936l.jpg

source;
http://www.ksta.de/html/artikel/1248965025194.shtml

1.Fc Koln is looking for reinforcement and is now Coach Soldo is testing an iranian national team player who came with the highest recommendations. Another portuguese player, Janik Djalo, is under discussion

COLOGNE - After morning training Mohammad Khalatbari already hinted his speed early. The little man with the curly hair and white football shoes disappeared in the lockerroom fastest of all the players. Meanwhile, the FC Koln players signed their names on posters and jerseys patiently for the awaiting fans. For Khalatbari to be there would have had little sense anyway, because he isn't on the Fc Koln team to see posters and FC jerseys with his name, there are none of them yet. If everything goes well, that situation could soon change, because the 25 year old iranian will atleast spend 1 week as a test player for the 1st team and might be the wanted reinforcement for the wing.

FC zob Ahan Esfahan tend not to belong to the clubs that get alot of european scout attention, so there khalatbari had been able to play football relatively unnoticed and has been introduced to the national team. This 1.69 meter midfielder, he recommended him to me coach soldo said. Ofcourse one cant tell that much from the first training but we will see in a week or two whether this player can help us, says coach Soldo. Khalatbari is a player for the offensive midfield, in his first training he played a central role, but wil be also be an alternative to the sluggish koln flanks. He is said to be quick and a strong dribbler

Sly

08-15-2009, 12:21 AM

Cool...

Hope it goes well for him there. Although if they decide to sign him, I'm affraid he could become the next Karimi since his style definitly doesn't suit the german style.

Kaesra

08-18-2009, 07:14 PM

Chelsea sign Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of the Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic from the Slovakian club MFK Kosice.

The 21-year-old, who has two caps for Serbia, has agreed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Kosice president Blazej Podolak confirmed earlier today the transfer fee for Matic was €1.75m (£1.5m).

The 6ft 4in midfielder joins his compatriot Branislav Ivanovic at Stamford Bridge. He told the club's website: "I know a lot about Chelsea, I have been following them. I play together with Branislav in the national team and have spoken to him about Chelsea."

He added: "I am a solid midfielder, I have a lot to offer and for sure to progress and I will show everyone why I am at Chelsea. I am a central midfielder and I know I am not well known but I have physical power and I am quite a technical, left-footed player." Matic also revealed that he had a trial at Middlesbrough in January.

Kosice announced Matic's departure for the Premier League this morning. Podolak said on their website: "The success was down to the fact that the money does not come in instalments, but immediately."

Heading out of Stamford Bridge, though, is Claudio Pizarro, who has been re-signed by Werder Bremen. The Peruvian has returned to the Weserstadion after enjoying a successful loan spell there last term.

Pizarro, who also spent two years at Bremen earlier in his career, helped them win the DFB Pokal and reach the final of the Uefa Cup. Bremen ended in a disappointing 10th place in the league, but Pizarro impressed with 17 goals.

Pizarro joined Chelsea in the summer of 2007 on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.

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Damien Duff joins Fulham on three-year deal

Fulham have completed the signing of Damien Duff from Newcastle United for a fee of £2.5m. The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international has signed for three years.

Duff joined Newcastle from Chelsea during the summer of 2006, and went on to play 86 times, scoring six goals, the last of which came in the opening match of the Championship season at West Bromwich Albion.

"I am happy that my move to Fulham has been completed and look forward to joining in with the rest of the squad's training programme immediately in preparation for two important home matches this week," said Duff, who made his breakthrough at Blackburn Rovers.

"Fulham had a fantastic season last year and I know that having spoken to the manager [Roy Hodgson] in recent days that the club's ambitions remain high and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead."

The west London club finished seventh last season, qualifying for Europe, and opened the new Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth.

"I am delighted to add a player of Damien Duff's calibre to our squad, and welcome the further midfield options he provides us with," said Hodgson.

"I have known Damien for over a decade since he broke into the first team at Blackburn when I was manager, so I am fully aware of his qualities and I am looking forward to working with him again."

Fulham are also hopeful of completing a deal for the South Africa midfielder Kagiso Dikgacoi, once a work permit has been rubber stamped.

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Football transfer rumours: Aguero to Chelsea before 7.45pm tomorrow?

Can Jack Bauer stop Chelsea from meeting Sergio Aguero's £50m get-out clause at Atletico Madrid in the next 24 hours?

According to today's Sun, Chelsea have "just 24 hours to meet Sergio Aguero's £50m get-out clause at Atletico Madrid". In a storyline that couldn't be more tense and exciting if it featured Jack Bauer scooping out Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon's eyeballs with a teaspoon in the toilet of RyanAir flight FR 5994 from London-Stansted to the Spanish capital, in split-screen with a running digital clock, the club have been made aware that if they want to sign the Argentinian international, they'll need to up their £42m bid or else. Or else what? Or else the man they call Kun will be selected to face Panathinaikos in tomorrow night's Champions League qualifier, rendering him cup-tied for the competition this season.

With Carlo Ancelotti having already missed out on Franck Ribéry and Kaka, the pressure is on Chelsea to secure a marquee signing, it says here, or at least to stop those evil terrorists with connections to the American government from conspiring to steal nerve gas in order to protect US oil interests in Asia. Whatever about Chelsea being up against it, spare a thought for Barcelona deal-maker Txiki Begiristain, who still fancies his chances of making Cesc Fàbregas a Barça player before Arsenal's Champions League qualifier kicks off against Celtic tonight. When that goes pear-shaped, he'll pursue Liverpool winger Alberto Riera instead.

In a plotline that's comparatively Midsomer Murders-esque, Hull City's ambitious plans to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo appear to be fading, as newly-promoted La Liga side Real Zaragoza have also expressed an interest in securing his scrawl and he wants to live in Spain/doesn't want to live in Hull.

Having got engaged to a northern lass and bought himself a lavish country pile in Northumberland, Sol Campbell is ready to take a 50% pay-cut and play out his dotage with Newcastle United. We say a 50% pay-cut, but considering he's earning nothing as a free agent at the moment, £15,000-per-week is considerably better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Should Campbell move to Newcastle, he'll set a chain reaction in motion that would result in Newcastle's England Under-21 defender Steven Taylor heading for Everton, thus freeing up David Moyes to ship You Know Who out to You Know Where for £20m and the moon on a stick.

Having posed some difficult questions in his Observer column last Sunday, Portsmouth and England goalkeeper David James could be the next big name to find himself taken off the payroll at Fratton Park, with talk of a move to Tottenham Hotspur being mooted. Despite constant assurances from Sulaiman al-Fahim that his proposed £60m takeover is very much on track, the Rumour Mill suspects that an extra couple of chins and a propensity for wearing open-necked shirts in the director's box aren't the only things the Arab tycoon might have in common with Mike Ashley when it comes to the smooth running of football clubs. Only time will tell, or maybe Danny Shittu will spill the beans – the Bolton centre-half has been told he's surplus to requirements at the Reebok Stadium and could become that rarest of beasts: one of this summer's Portsmouth acquisitions.

With Jermaine Jenas having been edged out of the picture at Spurs with the arrival of Wilson Palacios and David Bentley having dirtied his already well-stained bib with that late-night prang involving his Porsche and a lamp-post last week, Martin O'Neill may be ready to offer both midfielders fresh starts at Villa Park. Tottenham's French defender Dorian Dervite is also looking for a move from White Hart Lane to his native France, having benefitted so wonderfully from Harry Redknapp's fabled man-management skills that the Rumour Mill didn't actually know he was a Spurs player.

According to the Daily Mail, Gianfranco Zola has "rubber-stamped" the sale of centre-back James Collins to Stoke City for £5m, prompting his secretary to run into his office to see what the loud bang was. Zola hopes to use the money to help fund the purchase of Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh now that Arsenal don't want him.

That green dot hovering into view and causing Everton manager David Moyes's "radar" to beep like one of those trollies that carry the lame and the halt around airports is Wigan Athletic midfielder Olivier Kapo, according to the Daily Mail. But with Kapo anxious to secure a return to France and suits from Saint-Etienne, Nice and Toulouse all waving their cheque-books, Moyes is unlikely to get his man on this occasion.

Elsewhere in Lancashire, Wigan boss Roberto Martínez has found a basket among the rushes beside the bank of the River Douglas containing no babies, but a note from Neil Warnock saying he can have Crystal Palace's England U-19 striker Victor Moses for £2m plus another £2m based on appearances. Should the deal go through, you'll be able to calculate exactly how many appearances by totting up the number of times Moses ends up playing for Wigan, then adding one.

Didi Hamann has politely declined an offer from Sven-Goran Eriksson to become a player-coach at Notts County, saying he'd prefer to stay in the Premier League, but County fans can take heart from the news that Mark Robins,

boss of their likely promotion rivals Rotherham United, is being strongly linked with the vacant manager's job at his old club Norwich City. Meanwhile at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster Rovers suits are lining up a £500,000 bid to one-time Everton, Arsenal and England tyro Francis Jeffers from Sheffield Wednesday. He scored against Australia, don't you know? The Sheilaroos certainly don't like to talk about it.

Kaesra

08-18-2009, 07:14 PM

Kaesra

08-19-2009, 02:33 AM

Liverpool make £1.5m move for AEK Athens defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos

Greece defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos has claimed he is set for a move to Liverpool from AEK Athens - however his club say there is no agreement in place.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has been in the market for a centre-back after Sami Hyypia departed the club in the summer, and that search has been intensified following injuries to Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger which mean youngster Daniel Ayala may partner Jamie Carragher for tonight's visit of Stoke.

Liverpool are thought to have bid £1.5m for the 30-year-old former Rangers player and Kyrgiakos has confirmed that contact has been made.

"I would like to inform the fans of AEK that on Monday night I received an offer from Liverpool, an offer which I have accepted," he said on his personal website.

"I understand this has come at the worst possible time ahead of the crucial games for qualification to the Europa League, but the fact that I will play for Liverpool is like a qualification in itself for me. I have taken my final decision which was accepted by the president and the coach."

AEK have denied that a deal is in place. "At this moment there is no final agreement between AEK and Liverpool FC," a club statement said.

raminIC

08-19-2009, 05:12 AM

Liverpool make £1.5m move for AEK Athens defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos
.

i'm praying for the day that this man joines an IPL team just to hear Adel pernounce his name.

"Az samteh raast, Kiri ya Kos hamleh mikoneh" :Ban-Cha:

Behrooz_C

08-19-2009, 08:08 AM

LOL, yes funny name but not uncommon in Greece.

Great move for Soti but it's debatable how many games he will get at Pool.

Kaesra

08-19-2009, 05:30 PM

Almost everything in Greece has kir ya kos in it, this guys parents just couldnt choose I guess and nikos and kostas are one of the most populair firstnames in greece

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Míchel Salgado signs for Blackburn

The versatile Spanish full-back Míchel Salgado has joined Blackburn on a two-year deal after passing a medical.

Capped 53 times, Salgado had his Real Madrid contract cancelled by mutual consent earlier this month after a decade of service. West Ham were also understood to have shown interest, but the 33-year-old has opted for Ewood Park.

During his time at the Bernabéu, the 33-year-old helped the club to two European Cup triumphs and four league titles. Blackburn are now waiting for international clearance before Salgado can make his debut. He is heading back to Madrid next week to say goodbye at a match arranged in his honour against Rosenborg on Monday.

Blackburn's manager, Sam Allardyce, had a history of revitalising veterans while in charge of Bolton, including Jay-Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff, Fernando Hierro and Iván Campo.

Sly

08-19-2009, 10:48 PM

Any news on how it went with Khalatbari?

Kaesra

08-19-2009, 11:09 PM

Any news on how it went with Khalatbari?

Irna says they let him go after 2 days of training, dont know if its reliable but its probable.

According to Marca, Oladi has a trial with Ziganda's Xeres, Ziganda is the ex-osa coach who brought Nekou.

Sly

08-19-2009, 11:25 PM

If Irna says that, then it's credible.
I wonder why. He's the only one we have (perhaps together with Gholamreza Rezaei) who are at top level.

and Oladi?? What can I say..... Who the h*ll do these guys have as advisors?? I mean sure we don't have the pool of talent of afew years ago anymore, but wasn't there a better player to choose for a trial? I mean a guy like Oladi is doing trial in Spain while Mob'ali, Rezaei, Haajsafi and many other more deserving players are in IPL. uh well.... I do hope it goes well for him anyways.

Kaesra

08-19-2009, 11:30 PM

Mobali really deserves it and I think Italy and Spain fit him perfectly, Mobali has been getting screwed for not having the right connection or better for having connections that try to keep him from being succesful for a while now, maybe Ziganda will talk to Nekou again and Nekou will advise one of our young players or atleast mobali.

Kaesra

08-20-2009, 08:38 PM

Fulham to sign West Brom's Jonathan Greening on loan

Fulham are set to complete the signing of West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jonathan Greening on a season-long loan. The south-west London club have confirmed that a deal has been agreed subject to a medical.

Fulham had three bids for Greening rejected during the summer but the player, who had handed in a transfer request, was left out of West Brom's victory away at Peterborough on Tuesday.

Greening will now spend the season on loan at Craven Cottage with a view to a permanent move. The 30-year-old former Albion captain cited a desire to play in the Premier League as his reason for wanting to leave.

Greening joined West Brom for £1.25m from Middlesbrough five years ago and captained the side to promotion in 2007-08. He began his career at York before being scouted by Manchester United and then sold to Middlesbrough for £2m in 2001 after failing to break into the first team at Old Trafford.

West Brom remain reluctant to sell the player but admit they have been unable to persuade him to stay. The West Brom chairman, Jeremy Peace, told the club's website: "We have made strenuous efforts all summer to persuade Jonathan to sign a new long-term contract and in fact held more talks with him as recently as this week.

"As always, Jonathan has been a model professional ever since Fulham first lodged their interest a month ago. We have stressed all along that we are not under any financial pressure to sell our best players and that no one would leave unless it is on our terms. The board and coaching staff firmly believe this is the right deal for the club and we wish Jonathan all the best at Fulham."

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Joleon Lescott left out of Everton squad because of 'poor attitude'
David Moyes has confirmed that Joleon Lescott has been dropped from the Everton squad to face Sigma Olomouc in the Europa League tomorrow.

"Joleon's attitude has not been right these past days; he has disappointed me and he has disappointed his team-mates. He is not in the right frame of mind," said Moyes.

The defender has been consistently linked with a move to Manchester City and recently handed in a transfer request, which was rejected by Moyes. The manager refused to comment when asked if Lescott had been training alone before Everton face the Czech side at Goodison Park.

The club have turned down bids of £15m and £18m in recent weeks from Manchester City for the 27-year-old and Moyes is thought be seeking a £30m transfer fee for the player, though he remains reluctant to sell him at all.

"People can read what they like into this. But I have said all along I don't want to sell him. But it is a bit like Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United, there is always a price," said Moyes.

"At this moment no club has made us an offer for the player that we want to accept. I hope this will all be sorted out, after the [transfer] deadline," he added.

The Everton manager has also criticised the handling of the saga, accusing City's manager, Mark Hughes, of attempting to destabilise the Merseyside club with their "disgusting" pursuit of the player.

Kaesra

08-21-2009, 07:09 PM

Only Lionel Messi can replace Cristiano Ronaldo at United, says Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard has highlighted Manchester United's vulnerability following the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. The Chelsea midfielder believes that Lionel Messi is "the only player" who could have replaced the Portuguese but it would have been virtually impossible for United to buy the winger from Barcelona.

United lost 1-0 at newly promoted Burnley on Wednesday night and the reigning Premier League champions had won by that same narrow margin against Birmingham City at Old Trafford three days earlier. Sir Alex Ferguson's side have been laboured in these matches and Lampard feels that they have no one with the mercurial talent of Ronaldo. "Lionel Messi is probably the only player who would do it," he said.

Lampard also drew a comparison with Chelsea, who have full points from their opening two matches. "It's one of our big pluses this year that we didn't lose a big player," he observed.

Michael Carrick had a penalty saved at Turf Moor that could have given United an equaliser and it was inevitable that people speculated on what would have happened if the Portuguese was still in charge of those duties. "Ronaldo would probably have scored it," said Lampard.

The England midfielder remembers the impact Ronaldo regularly had during the bulk of his six-year spell at Old Trafford. "You'd put on the telly," he said, "and see that he'd scored and they had won 1-0 or 2-0. And he had his free-kicks, which were very special."

Lampard insisted that he was not shocked by United's defeat to Burnley. "We all know how hard these games are early in the season," he stressed. "You don't want to play the team who have just come up because they fly out of the blocks to try and get the points in the bag. It wasn't completely unexpected. I thought it might be a difficult game. It's good for us because we've now got a little bit of a lead over United and Liverpool. It's nice to have your nose in front."

Lampard appreciates, too, that Ferguson cannot even attempt to find a successor to Ronaldo. "I don't think he'll look to replace him," said the Stamford Bridge player. "He'll look to make the team strong as a whole because that's all the only thing they can do."

Frank Lampard was speaking at an event at Wembley to mark the participation of over one million children in the FA Tesco Skills Programme since its inception in 2007

Kaesra

08-21-2009, 10:34 PM

Oladi played today in the Sevilla - Xerez friendly (ended 2-1), he was involvel in the xerez goal wich was caused after a pass from him. I think they'll sign him, Xerez is a small club, they showed some interest in him by playing him, Ziganda knows Iranian players and I think Oladi might be transfer free, dont know for sure though. I think Mobali just needs a european transfer, hope Ziganda catches on, if he also gets Oladi then we have alot to thank Ziganda for.

Sly

08-23-2009, 01:39 AM

I've searched a lot of video on the highlights of that game but with no luck! :(

Good for Oladi. Bad for Ziganda if he signs him. J/K :)
I hope it goes well for him.

Kaesra

08-23-2009, 02:32 AM

Highlights Trofeo Antonio Puerta.

YouTube - Sevilla F.C. 2 - 1 Xerez C.D. (Trofeo Antonio Puerta)

Kaesra

08-23-2009, 10:59 PM

Manchester City and Everton agree £22m fee for Joelon Lescott

Manchester City confirmed tonight that they have reached an agreement with Everton to buy Joleon Lescott. The £22m move is subject to the England defender agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

Lescott has been a long-time target of City's manager, Mark Hughes, and handed in a transfer request to force through a move after Everton's manager, David Moyes, had refused to sell him.

He was left out of Everton's 1–0 defeat at Burnley today, having been omitted from the midweek Europa League tie against Sigma Olomouc because of what Moyes referred to as a "bad attitude".

Moyes has criticised City over their pursuit of Lescott, although Hughes has said on more than one occasion that he believes he and his club have done nothing wrong.

A statement on City's website said: "Manchester City can confirm that agreement has been reached with Everton for the transfer of Joleon Lescott. The move is subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical."

Lescott joins a lengthy list of expensive signings at City this summer, following Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Kolo Touré, Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz.

Sly

08-23-2009, 11:23 PM

Baba Kasra jan, damet joosh!
How do you find these videos?

Good pass by Oladi.
Thanks again! :)

Kaesra

08-23-2009, 11:49 PM

:Google:

:thanks:, I agree this one was a bit harder to find, but I searched for Trofeo Antonio Puerta.

Kaesra

08-24-2009, 03:59 AM

Oladi Scored and gave a assist today in Xerez 4-0 Recreativo friendly, Shojaei scored one and might have assisted one I think in the Osa 4-2 Deportivo friendly. I'll add videos later if I can find them, I think we'll hear from Oladi's transfer soon. Ziganda needs to get more Iranians :D , Jabbari/Mobali, a youngster would be great but is unlikely for a relegation team. Seriously look at 1 bad Wc 06 did for us,Nekou got in the spotlight and now 3 iranians in La liga, imagine what a good 06 or even 2o1o might have done :( Or rather yet dont imagine it, its kinda sad.

Anyway it seems like Oladi will be our new TM striker, I mean if he plays in La liga week after week, we can pull Shojaei back a line or have him as more of a supporting striker role or just on the right. Maybe La Liga can smarten Oladi up.

raminIC

08-24-2009, 06:46 PM

Here is the goal and assist
YouTube - Mehrdad Oladi Goal Assist in Xerez Vs Recreativo De Huelva

Kaesra

08-24-2009, 08:07 PM

Thanks Ramin.

raminIC

08-25-2009, 01:02 AM

no problem

Kaesra

08-26-2009, 09:29 AM

Harry Redknapp publicly declares interest in every player. Ever. (http://crabfootball.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/harry-redknapp-publicly-declares-interest-in-every-player-ever/)

http://www.crabfootball.com/Redknapp_press.gif
Following injury to keeper Heurelho Gomes Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has publicly declared his interest in every player in the world during a marathon 27 hour press conference on Monday night that left four journalists in critical condition and two dead.

Redknapp, former manager of bankrupt Portsmouth, who literally don’t have two brass pennies to rub together, stated that:-
“Our squad is looking a little thin, we’re down to the bare bones – especially in Midfield. I keep saying to the Chairman that if we want to compete with the big boys we’re going have to get the facking cheque book out. Are there players out there who catch my eye? Course there are you nonce! My squad is thinner than Kate Moss after crash landing in the desert. Like a bleedin’ twiglet!”

The Tottenham supremo then outlined ambitious plans to reinforce his defence, midfield, forward line, back room staff and to purchase an industrial strength bench the size of the Titanic which would stretch half of the White Hart Lane pitch.

“We’re quite interested in Klass Jans Huntlear, Ashley Young, Wesley Snejider, David James, Rafael Van Der Varrt, Patrick Vieira, Cristiano Ronaldo, John Terry, Carlos Tevez, Kaka, Ryan Shawcross, Nani, Gilberto – not the waster we ‘ave – the ather one, that Benzema geezer, anyone who West Ham want, Victor Valdes, anyone in the Championship who is good on Football Manager, Clint Dempsey…..”

“It got dull pretty quickly,” stated David Hampton, writer for the Observer, “at first we all chuckled but after 16 minutes we realised he was deadly serious. There was a dead look behind his eyes. He just kept reading out names one after the other in a consistent, monotonous voice, like a horrid, lopsided metronome foretelling our doom, only stopping to catch his breath and to say ‘but obviously this is between us lads’ and then surreptitiously winking at us, although he might not have been winking, it’s hard to tell sometimes….”

Things went from bad to worse for the beleaguered journalists, as Redknapp showed no signs of stopping, continuing to name every player in Premiership, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and all four Swedish divisions.
“Something seemed to go wrong in the fifth hour,” explained acclaimed sports correspondent Matty Lister, representing the Daily Mail, “suddenly he started dropping Ashley Young’s name in after every third player or so, as if he was hypnotising us to believe he’d leave Aston Villa for them, it was too much for two guys from the Evening Standard, they fell to the floor and started shaking, they later died of a brain hemorrhage…..”
It was then that the news hounds realised they had to act, texting, emailing, skype-ing and tweet-ing desperately for help as more of their number perished in this senseless act of excess.

It was only after police officers attempted to talk Redknapp down that things got worse. As trained negotiators failed to convince Redknapp that Ashley Young wouldn’t leave Villa for a team that finished lower than them.
“He just kept saying Ashley Young over and over and over again,” said Detective Inspector Roberts of the Flying Squad, “eventually he stopped but then said he wanted Everton’s Mikel Arteta and Glen Johnson. We knew at this point he would not be reasoned with so we responded with rubber bullets, which unfortunately bounced off his rubber face, so we used stun guns on him instead…… “

“It smelt of burning plastic.” Said David Hampton.
This is fictional. Obviously. Copyright 2009 Crab Football. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

---------------

Summarizing Epl transfers that have been made and might be made.
http://iraniancorner.net/showthread.php?t=2128

Kaz

08-26-2009, 10:54 AM

So City finally get their man.

Kaesra

08-26-2009, 11:44 PM

According to La Gazetta, Real has reached an agreement with Inter over Wesley Sneijder for about 15 million euros, lol, he signs a 5 year contract and will earn a 4 million a year.

Sly

08-27-2009, 04:36 AM

So which one is Oladi's goal and assist? It's hard to see him in the video.

Oladi Scored and gave a assist today in Xerez 4-0 Recreativo friendly, Shojaei scored one and might have assisted one I think in the Osa 4-2 Deportivo friendly. I'll add videos later if I can find them, I think we'll hear from Oladi's transfer soon. Ziganda needs to get more Iranians :D , Jabbari/Mobali, a youngster would be great but is unlikely for a relegation team. Seriously look at 1 bad Wc 06 did for us,Nekou got in the spotlight and now 3 iranians in La liga, imagine what a good 06 or even 2o1o might have done :( Or rather yet dont imagine it, its kinda sad.

Anyway it seems like Oladi will be our new TM striker, I mean if he plays in La liga week after week, we can pull Shojaei back a line or have him as more of a supporting striker role or just on the right. Maybe La Liga can smarten Oladi up.
Well, I also think he will be signing for them soon. Ziganda seems to have gotten a fettish for Iranians. But let's face it...anyone who gets to have a player like Nekounam, specially with that price that he got him for, would be hugely interested in Iranian players. I just wished Ziganda had a better advisor to introduce the right players to him. A wrong player will make him stop to think twice.

Oladi will definitely become our future striker if he signs with the club. However, both him and Shojaei are too short to become our strikers upfront. I still think Shojaei should rather play as the central attacking midfielder and to be honest I prefer Gholamreza Rezaei over Oladi upfront but uh well...

As for the WC2006.... IMO, that was all we had to offer. Our best players were getting seniors or had injury problems. But imagine what would have happened if we had qualified to the WC2002. We had the right coach and the right players. We had young and in form Karimi, Mahdavikia, Khaziravi, Nikbakht, etc. Daei was still in form and our back line was great with Rezaei, Golmohammadi and Peyrovani, all in their top forms.

man I bet most of our players would have gone to Europe with 2-3 of them to the top clubs. Karimi and Khaziravi would definitly be 2 of them. and I guess Hamburg would have gotten a lot of offers for Mahdavikia.

With that team, we had to give up the WC for the damn Saudies to lose to Germany with 8-0. That's just too sad. :(

Sly

08-27-2009, 05:59 AM

BTW, here is Shojaei's goal and assist against Deportivo!

What a goal by Shojaei. If that was Deportivo's A-team, I'm very impressed!

YouTube - Masoud Shojaei Goal & Assist for Osasuna vs Deportivo la CoruÃ±a [Friendly]

Kaesra

08-27-2009, 06:50 PM

Kaesra

08-27-2009, 10:15 PM

Sylvain Distin heads to Everton from Portsmouth

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club%20Home/2008/12/31/1230747244899/Sylvain-Distin-001.jpg

Everton (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/everton) have agreed a deal to sign the defender Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth), subject to a medical taking place this afternoon. It will be the club's first signing since the £22m windfall following the sale of Joleon Lescott to Mancester City, and Distin will be effectively a like-for-like replacement.
The fee involved has not been disclosed, but 31-year-old Distin has agreed a three-year contract. The Everton chief executive, Robert Elstone, said: "After Sylvain made it clear his preferred destination was Goodison, the chairman moved quickly to finalise the deal - and Sylvain is now on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical."

[B]Bayern Munich closing in on Arjen Robben

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club%20Home/2009/2/24/1235468743189/Arjen-Robben-001.jpg Arjen Robben may be on the verge of joining Bayern Munich. Photograph: Riccardo de Luca/AP

Bayern Munich (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/bayernmunich) have reached an agreement with Real Madrid (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/realmadrid) for the transfer of the Dutch winger Arjen Robben. The former Chelsea player will undergo a medical in the morning before signing a four-year contract.
Bayern's general manager Uli Hoeness confirmed that a fee, reported to be in the region of €25m, has been agreed between the two clubs and only a few minor details needed to be ironed out in the morning.
"He is on the way to Munich," said Hoeness. "It is right that we are interested in signing Arjen Robben. We have already reached an agreement with Real. He is one of the best attacking midfielders around in Europe and he has always been the player we wanted."
Robben could be included in Louis van Gaal's squad to face Wolfsburg at the weekend and may make an immediate debut. "It is theoretically possible that he will play on Saturday," Hoeness said. "Our intention is for him to play on the right wing with (Franck) Ribery on the left, making our team even more attractive."
Robben may not be the last new arrival at Bayern in the final few days of the transfer window (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/transfer-window) as the club react to their worst start to a Bundesliga (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/bundesligafootball) season in 43 years. They have not won any of their first three matches this season and are already five points adrift of the league leaders.

Kaesra

08-28-2009, 11:27 AM

Pascal Chimbonda completes move from Tottenham to Blackburn Rovers

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2008/07/23/ChimbondaAFPCarlDeSouza1.jpg Pascal Chimbonda has been signed to replace Stephen Warnock at Blackburn. Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Blackburn have completed the signing of Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda on a two-year contract. The 30-year-old Frenchman has been brought in as a direct replacement for left-back Stephen Warnock, who has moved to Aston Villa (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/27/richard-dunne-manchester-city-aston-villa-transfer) for a fee believed to be around £7m.
Manager Sam Allardyce (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/sam-allardyce) lined up the former Wigan and Sunderland defender when Villa first approached Rovers about Warnock but wanted the transfers to occur simultaneously.
"We've got the deal done. We've got an experienced player who is desperate to play football again, having missed it at Spurs," said Allardyce. "The experience of the player, the adaptability of the player in a number of positions and his past record means we will have a good player on our hands and will not miss Warnock too much. We all know his favourite position is right-back. We are well covered there, but he can play centre-back and left-back."
The Frenchman is unlikely to play in his preferred position because Allardyce has already signed Lars Jacobsen and Michel Salgado this summer. Chris Samba and Gael Givet are the only two fit centre-backs, captain Ryan Nelsen currently sidelined with a knee injury - while 21-year-old Martin Olsson is the only recognised left-back, although Givet has also played there.
Despite Allardyce continuing to be linked with other players, he insists this is his last transfer before the window closes on Tuesday after reluctantly letting Warnock go.
"It is like most things today. You don't want them to leave, but once it is all done and dusted there is very little you can do about it," he said. "When the player does not want to stay you try to maximise for the club the best possible deal and then move on. It is disappointing and is not something I expected. But that is the way it is in this bizarre transfer window (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/transfer-window)."

----------------------------
Stoke sign Robert Huth from Middlesbrough and line up Tuncay

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/8/27/1251408800130/Robert-Huth-001.jpg Robert Huth has joined Stoke City from Middlesbrough in a deal worth an initial £5m. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

Stoke City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/stokecity) have signed Robert Huth for an initial £5m rising to what would be a club-record £6m, and are on the verge of agreeing a similar deal for his Middlesbrough (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/middlesbrough) team-mate Tuncay Sanli. Both players travelled to the Potteries yesterday for talks with the manager, Tony Pulis.
Stoke are optimistic that Tuncay will follow in Huth's footsteps, despite suggestions that the Turkey striker was stalling in the hope that fresh interest might emerge from elsewhere.
Tuncay, who earns around £60,000 a week at Middlesbrough, has attracted interest from Stuttgart and Cologne but is desperate to remain in England.
The 27-year-old, who joined Middlesbrough on a free transfer from Fenerbahce, is expected to become the highest-paid player in Stoke's history. If his deal goes through, Boro will move for the Derby centre-forward Rob Hulse.

-----------------------
Sulaiman al-Fahim's Portsmouth takeover 'completed' but not signed off

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/8/27/1251407033873/Sulaiman-Al-Fahim-001.jpg Sulaiman Al-Fahim says he has completed his Portsmouth takeover but the Premier League has not yet signed it off. Photograph: Frances Leader/Action Images

Sulaiman al-Fahim today stated that he has completed a deal to buy Portsmouth (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth) but the Premier League (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague) will not sign off his takeover until it is satisfied with the sources of his finance.
Questions have been raised over the Emirates-based businessman's money after a long summer of negotiations, but Fahim said through a spokesman: "Sulaiman al-Fahim's purchase of Portsmouth football club has been undertaken through a combination of his own cash and finance raised through Al-Fahim Asia Associates."
The league has requested documentation to back this up and can employ forensic accountants if it deems that necessary. That is standard practice before it signs off a takeover. Fahim, who says he is unlikely to hold a media briefing before Manchester City's visit to Fratton Park on Sunday, struck a deal with Portsmouth's owner, Alexandre Gaydamak, after the club's chief executive, Peter Storrie, had seemed likely to complete his own takeover.
Storrie's disappointment caused him to voice his emotion publicly, which is thought to have disappointed Fahim. According to Storrie, though, the new owner wants him to remain at the club.
"Sulaiman wants me to stay so I will see what he has to say, and his group has to say, over the weekend," he said. "I don't want to quit. To be quite frank I have put seven years' hard work into this club and the last 12 months have been most draining of my life keeping this club afloat, and I am quite proud of what I have done to keep it alive. I don't think many people could have done that and I would not like to see that go to waste. I would like to stay and continue, and I have been working on players for the last few days."
Among those deals appears to be the departure of Sylvain Distin, for £5.5m to Everton. The 31-year-old Frenchman was due to have a medical tonight before signing a three-year deal. "After Sylvain made it clear his preferred destination was Goodison, the chairman moved quickly to finalise the deal," Everton chief executive Robert Elstone said. "Sylvain is now on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical."
Tommy Smith, meanwhile, has joined from Watford (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/watford). The 29-year-old striker cost about £2m and may be joined by Watford's central defender Mike Williamson, who has requested a transfer, with that deal being negotiated today .
Portsmouth have made an offer to Tottenham Hotspur to take the midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng on loan and have also tried to sign Jamie O'Hara, another midfielder, from White Hart Lane although they could not be confident of completing that deal. The midfielder Michael Brown is expected to sign from Wigan Athletic in time to play against City.

-------------

[B]Football transfer rumours: Sulley Muntari to Tottenham?

With the transfer window (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/transfer-window) clock counting down relentlessly like the digital timer on a bomb made from an Astrolite-like bi-component explosive in a particularly rubbish Michael Bay movie, it's small wonder assorted football managers are getting edgy. Standing nearby with sweat trickling down his forehead and Draper Expert 190mm Knipex wire cutter in hand is 'Arry Redknapp, who is agonising over whether to cut the metaphorical red wire or the blue one in order to buy more time to negotiate the purchase of Sulley Muntari from Internazionale. According to the Sun, the Tottenham manager is willing to use Jermaine Jenas as "bait", and will construct a giant mousetrap with a spring-loaded bar, instruct his midfielder to sit on the trip where the cheese normally goes, carefully place it in the car-park of the San Siro and wait ...
With Robert Huth and Tuncay on the verge of joining Stoke City for Middlesbrough for a combined fee of £11m if they haven't done so already, Tony Pulis's trolley dash around the north-east is showing no sign of abating. The Stoke manager is currently sweeping the aisle marked "Sunderland players", and having had a £10m bid for Kenwyne Jones laughed out the gate, he's now considering offering £2.5m for Danny Collins instead. In other news, Pulis has appointed Peter Reid to his coaching staff and the former Sunderland manager, who has packed in his job managing Thailand, has moved quickly to fuel speculation that he might be after Pulis's job by emphatically denying he is after Pulis's job. Meanwhile back at Middlesbrough, Gareth Southgate hopes to get his hands on some of the notes from the wad generated by the sale of Huth and Tuncay, so he can buy himself sumfink nice. The names of Derby striker Rob Hulse, Sheffield United defender Matt Kilgallon and free agent Danny Webber all feature prominently on his wish-list.
Having become the latest Premier League manager to not sign Sylvain Distain from Portsmouth, Sunderland's Steve Bruce has fixed Hull City's Michael Turner with his slightly rheumy gaze and may try to tempt Phil Brown to part with him in exchange for Nyron Nosworthy, Daryl Murphy and £6m in used tenners. At Goodison Park, Everton's David Moyes has taken up the Distain baton and will become the latest manager to almost sign the French defender before deciding on somebody else at the last minute.
If Barry Moat is successful in his attempt to buy Newcastle, the Sun reports that he'll kidnap Alan Shearer from the Match Of The Day studio, place him in charge of the club and give him enough readies to try to re-sign in-form Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra for the Magpies. Apparently too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League, Chopra has got off to a flyer this season with eight goals in six games, so it's difficult to imagine even a selling club like Cardiff letting him go.
With Roy Keane having gone off on one at a local newspaper reporter a couple of days ago for filling his newspaper's back pages with apparently baseless transfer speculation, today's Mill definitely won't be mentioning the £1m bid Burnley have made for Ipswich Town midfielder Owen Garvan, or Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock's apparent man-crush on Jonathan Stead, the striker who seems to be as unwanted by Keano at Ipswich Town as he was at Sunderland.
And if you happen to encounter Roy Hodgson creeping through the woods, dressed in camouflage gear, waving a shotgun around and occasionally blowing on a duck-caller, it may be because, according to the Mirror, he's "hunting" £2m-rated Slovakia striker Jan Novak, who currently plays his football at home in Kosice. Meanwhile back at White Hart Lane, where today's Rumours began, Harry Redknapp still has important decisions to make. The red wire or the blue wire? Or should he simply ignore both and make a big cash offer for Le Harve midfielder Kevin Anin instead?

--------------

Stephen Warnock signs on as Villa agree fee with City for Dunne

Stephen Warnock was introduced to the Aston Villa (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/aston-villa) crowd tonight after he completed a move to the midlands from Blackburn Rovers. Warnock underwent a medical and agreed personal terms on a four-year deal at Villa earlier today and was in the crowd for the match against Rapid Vienna.
Warnock made 87 appearances in two years at Ewood Park since moving from Liverpool. He earned his one England cap to date as a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago during the summer of 2008.
The Villa manager Martin O'Neill has been searching to strengthen his back four after the former captain Martin Laursen was forced to retire through injury. His numbers were further reduced after he agreed to off-load central defender Zat Knight to Bolton.
Villa also announced that they have agreed a fee of £6m with Manchester City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity) for Richard Dunne and said that they defender is now discussing personal terms.
Dunne was signed by Manchester City in 2000 for £3m and has become a stalwart at the club. He was made captain in 2006 by Stuart Pearce. However, the Ireland international has found himself surplus to requirements as City have boosted their defence recently with the acquisition of Joleon Lescott from Everton.
Dunne made 343 appearances for City, and played every minute of the 2006-07 season for the club.

--------------------------

Both Sneijders transfer to inter and Robbens Transfer to Bayern is finilised, Rafael VDV will probably leave pretty soon too, dont know for wich club but wouldnt be expensive, around 10 million wich for a player like him is nothing.

Kaesra

08-28-2009, 11:49 AM

Rory Delap – Hero of Great Britain (http://crabfootball.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/rory-delap-taliban-killer/)

http://crabfootball.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/5084633.jpg?w=199&h=300

The people of Britain were stunned today after it was revealed that former Stoke and Southampton player Rory Delap had left the glitz and glamour of the Premier League to serve his country in Afghanistan – News which has literally shocked the Premier League to its very core and sent a timely morale boast to our boys and girls on the front line.

“Rory has been a massive hit with the lads,” said Lt Col Giles Monce of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, “we’re short staffed, under resourced, Ridgback vehicles remain scarce and we still don’t have enough road side bomb detectors but Rory’s infectious personality has been a massive hit. The fact he’s willing to dig in and do his bit for Queen and Country is an inspiration to us all. If he wasn’t so ugly I’d kiss him.”

So The Crab would take it that his selfless act of bravery has made him a popular character?

“Well yes,” said Lt Col Monce, “but the real reason for his timely call up for international duty is the we haven’t had any fully functioning rocket launchers for, like 6 months now….so he’s a bit handy.”
Handy would of course be the understatement of the century as prominent Clerics in the Helmand Region have put a fatwa on Rory’s head, such is the potency of his attacks.

http://crabfootball.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/delap_longthrow1.jpg?w=400&h=538
Fire in the hole!

“Operation One Trick Pony has been a massive success,” confirmed our source, “Rory’s ability to indiscriminately lob rockets towards opposition targets from 60 yards has been a master-stroke, it’s completely taken the enemy by surprise. He killed 10 senior commanders and four camels in his first week, they’re running scared of Rocket Rory!”

However there are some who have moved to pour cold water on these claims, Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, told the BBC only last Thursday:-

“We have heard rumours of the big eared infidel! Of the death he brings from the skies! I confess that he was highly effective at first however we managed to obtain a VHS of Stoke vs Blackburn from last season. It wasn’t pretty but it was informative. Now we employ two lanky guards in the mold of Christopher Samba by our bases to watch for these devastating throws and packing the foyer with as many bodies as possible. Mwhahahaha! Now Delap is impotent. Durka durka!”

http://crabfootball.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/stoke_flag.jpg?w=320&h=249
Demonstrations: Burning Stoke City Flag

Tomorrow’s edition of The Sun will have a full pull out poster of Rory Delap. Make sure you get your copy and show your support for our boys. Go Rory!

This is fictional. Obviously. Copyright 2009 Crab Football. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Kaesra

08-29-2009, 09:55 PM

Andriy Shevchenko leaves Chelsea to return to Dynamo Kyiv

Andriy Shevchenko's ineffective and anti-climatic career at Chelsea came to an end last night after the Ukrainian forward signed a two-year deal at his former club Dynamo Kyiv, with Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti's blessing, after mustering nine league goals during his time at the Premier League club. The 33-year-old, who cost a then English record £30m when he signed from Milan in 2006, is to be presented at a press conference in Kiev today and has been appointed Dynamo's new captain. After talks with the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, Shevchenko, right, has been released from the remaining 11 months of his £121,000-a-week contract at Stamford Bridge having accepted he would play a limited part in the first team following amicable talks with Ancelotti. 'Roman Abramovich and everyone at Chelsea have been very kind to me,' the striker said. Dominic Fifield

Kaesra

08-30-2009, 10:05 PM

Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga set to follow Sylvain Distin into Everton

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/8/28/1251485919003/Johnny-Heitinga-001.jpg

Everton have continued their late spending spree by agreeing a £5.7m deal for the Atlético Madrid defender, Johnny Heitinga, as Sylvain Distin announced his arrival at Goodison Park yesterday by admitting he fears for the future of his former club, Portsmouth.

Distin, whom David Moyes expects to be joined by Heitinga plus two other arrivals before Tuesday's transfer deadline, is in line for an immediate debut against Wigan Athletic tomorrow having joined Everton on a three-year contract for £5m. The 31-year-old's departure continues an exodus of senior players from Fratton Park and with Sulaiman al-Fahim's protracted takeover yet to be ratified by the Premier League, the defender believes he may well have abandoned a sinking ship.

"I am not going to lie, I fear for the club because financially it is not safe and they don't have enough players and that is one of the reasons that I left," admitted Distin, who submitted a transfer request at Portsmouth this week. "I have been waiting and waiting and waiting [for a takeover] but nothing happened, and that is the worst thing, that nothing has happened. I don't have 10 years left of my career and I want to enjoy it and to compete, so that is why I chose Everton.

"I don't know what is going to happen there. Everybody is worried – the staff, the fans and the players – that is normal. It is strange if they were not. It is a difficult situation to start a season like that. I know people just want players to think about football and don't get upset or affected by what happens to the club, but that is impossible. We are human beings, not robots, and if you don't feel good or reassured you find it difficult to perform. That is real life."

Distin accepts this season's difficulties have come as no surprise to Portsmouth but could have been avoided had a takeover occurred earlier this summer. He added: "We knew we would lose eight or nine players at the end of their contract so we knew they would have to sign a lot of players to keep at the same level, but we didn't expect the situation to drag on this long. We expected it but I didn't fear that it would go that bad."

The former Manchester City and Paris St-Germain defender also confessed that, with only 12 months remaining on his Portsmouth contract, Everton may have paid over the odds in their need to replace Joleon Lescott. "In the past seven years I have missed something like 15 league games so I have a good record and my age is not a problem," he added. "If you ask me though, it was a bit high, or maybe Everton think I am a great player!"

The Holland international Heitinga, who can operate at right-back, central defence or as a defensive midfielder, is discussing personal terms with Everton after Atlético accepted a €6.5m (£5.7m)offer for the 25-year-old. Moyes is also seeking a central midfielder, although a loan deal for Valencia's Ever Banega has hit complications, while a right-winger, possibly David Bentley, is also on the Everton manager's wish-list. The £9m signing Diniyar Bilyaletdinov could be included in the squad to face Wigan tomorrow should the Russian international receive a visa to enter the UK in time.

Sly

08-31-2009, 12:45 AM

Thanks for the vid Sly, after Ramin posted the oladi one I was to lazy to look for this one.

I think your right about WC 02, but I really dont think we gave everything we had/could have brought in WC 06, we had more potential had close games, all despite playing with 10/9 players, atleast more players could have been brought in the picture besides Ando and Nekou

You're welcome.
Well, hadn't Rahman Rezaei made that terrible mistake against Mexico, we could have gone places. But then again, with Iran you never know what else could have gone wrong. :rolleyes:

Kaesra

09-01-2009, 12:16 AM

-Gudjonhson signs for As Monaco, Barca can receive upto 2 million euros depending on sporting achievements

-Grosso leaves to Juve, Lyon receives 2 million and it can rise to 3 million depening on sporting achievements

-Lobont gets loaned by As Roma, they have an option to buy him next season

-Kaka's brother Digao gets loaned by Lecce from Milan.

-Barca buys Shaktar's 22 year old Ukrainian Defender for 25 million Euro and he signs for 5 seasons.

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Portsmouth sign Tal Ben Haim and capture Benfica midfielder on loan

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/8/31/1251755105771/Tal-Ben-Haim-001.jpg The Israel defender Tal Ben Haim has signed for Portsmouth from Manchester City. Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Portsmouth (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth) have signed the former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim from Manchester City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity) and are also interested in re-signing Benjani Mwaruwari from Eastlands but face competition from Blackburn Rovers (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blackburn) and Fulham (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/fulham) for the striker.
Ben Haim's arrival comes after Sylvain Distin left Fratton Park for Everton. The Israel international has been out of favour at City and last season spent time on loan at Sunderland. Portsmouth also retain an interest in the Watford defender Mike Williamson.
Paul Hart's squad is also set to be bolstered by the midfielder Hassan Yebda, after Benfica said they had agreed to loan the Frenchman to Fratton Park.
There could be further arrivals, with the former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder Boudewijn Zenden in talks with Portsmouth and Blackburn over a free transfer.
Zenden, 33, is a free agent after his contract at Marseille expired this summer and had been linked with a move to Hull City, but they failed to agree personal terms with the former Dutch international. "There are other teams interested but my main preference is to move to England," confirmed Zenden. "I am in Holland at the minute but once everything is agreed, I am ready to get on the first flight to England."

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David Moyes' double transfer plan is held up

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David Moyes, the Everton (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/everton) manager, faces a fraught final day in the transfer window (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/transfer-window) after his attempts to bring both Johnny Heitinga and Ever Banega to Goodison Park hit complications.
Everton have agreed a £5.7m fee with Atlético Madrid (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/atleticomadrid) for Heitinga, the Holland international whose ability to operate at right-back and in central defence would answer Moyes's defensive needs following the departure of Joleon Lescott to Manchester City. Personal terms with the 25-year-old, however, have not been resolved despite negotiations opening between the respective parties on Friday, although Everton are hopeful of concluding a deal ahead of tomorrow's 5pm deadline.
Moyes's hopes of reinforcing Everton's central midfield with Banega, meanwhile, have been held up due to Valencia (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/valencia)'s reluctance to allow the Argentinian to leave on a season-long loan deal. Everton believed they had a deal in place for the 21-year-old last week only for the Spanish club to demand a permanent transfer for their £15m signing from Boca Juniors. Stuttgart are also interested in the combative midfielder and Moyes may be forced to look elsewhere at the 11th hour should Valencia's stance continue.

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Charles Itandje leaves Liverpool on loan

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/8/31/1251727720513/Charles-Itandje-Liverpool-001.jpg Charles Itandje, who is moving on loan to the Greek side Kavala FC, has made just seven appearances in two years at Liverpool. Photograph: Barry Coombs/PA

Liverpool (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool) have confirmed the departure of their French goalkeeper Charles Itandje on loan to the Greek side Kavala FC.
Itandje, who arrived at Anfield from RC Lens two years ago, has made seven first-team appearances.
The 26-year-old's loan deal with the newly promoted Greek Super League club lasts until the end of June next year.
Itandje angered Liverpool's management and fans alike when he was caught by television cameras laughing (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/19/liverpool-hillsborough-kenny-dalglish-itandje)during a service to mark the Hillsborough disaster's 20th anniversary.
The player, who was subsequently suspended for 14 days and fined two weeks' wages, insisted that reactions were "overboard".

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Sunderland complete capture of Michael Turner from Hull

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Sunderland (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/sunderland) have completed the signing of Michael Turner from Hull City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/hullcity) on a four-year deal for £12m. Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, has made no secret of his desire to improve his defence and Turner has impressed since Hull's promotion to the Premier League (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague) in 2008.
George McCartney is poised to swap Sunderland for Hull as part of the deal which will take Turner from the KC Stadium to the Stadium of the Light. Steve Bruce hopes to replace the Northern Ireland left back with Wigan's Maynor Figueroa.
Sunderland's manager is close to losing another left back or centre half in Danny Collins who appears near to sealing a move to Stoke. Collins, Sunderland's player of the year for the last two seasons, had a touchline row with Bruce during the recent home win against Blackburn Rovers.
Turner, who joined Hull from Brentford for just £350,000 in July 2006, becomes Bruce's seventh summer signing, for a price believed to be in the region of £12m. After Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Stoke City, Bruce had spoken of the need for his team to defend better from set-pieces and Turner's aerial prowess should help them achieve that aim.
"I believe that Michael is one of the country's premier central defenders," said Bruce. "I have been looking to add size and strength to the back line and Michael fits the bill perfectly in that respect, as well as being an excellent technical footballer.
"His aerial ability provides us with another dimension at set-pieces at either end of the field, and I am delighted that he has chosen to buy into what we are trying to achieve here at Sunderland.
"He has developed immeasurably as a player whilst with Hull - I am extremely confident he will continue that progress with Sunderland and go on to be a big success."
Turner made 146 appearances for Hull and was voted the club's player of the year twice in the last two years. He played every minute of the club's first season in the Premier League last year and was vital in their successful attempt to stay in the division.

Kaesra

09-01-2009, 03:20 PM

Luciano Spalletti resigns as coach of Roma

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The Roma (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/roma) coach Luciano Spalletti has left the club after four years in charge, according to reports in Italy. "I have given my resignation and the club have accepted it," the ANSA news agency reported him as saying this morning.
The 50-year-old Spalletti met club executives after Sunday's 3-1 home defeat to Juventus, the club's second loss this season. He had survived a dismal start to the 2008-9 campaign but came into the new season walking a fine line after the team's sixth-place finish which was not good enough to reach the Champions League.
Italian media has reported that Roma president Rosella Sensi has already met with the former Juventus and Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri about filling the vacant role.
Roma fans were already disappointed following the club's failure to strengthen the attacking options in the squad following the sale of Alberto Aquilani to Liverpool for £20m. Defenders Nicolas Burdisso from Internazionale and Marco Motta from Udinese were the most significant buys. Injuries in the pre-season have also hindered Roma with Simone Perrotta, Juan and Cicinho all still recovering from muscular problems.
The new season got off on the wrong foot with a 3-2 defeat at Genoa followed by Sunday's defeat to Juventus. Roma will next travel to Siena on 13 September.

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Liverpool encouraged by Alberto Aquilani's progress

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Liverpool (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool)'s Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani is on schedule to return to full fitness. Aquilani was signed from Roma for £20m on 9 August, while still recovering from ankle surgery.
It was thought he would be out for a further six to eight weeks but after a scan to assess his recovery rate, Liverpool have been encouraged by the results.
Rafael Benítez (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/rafael-benitez), Liverpool's manager, has also been encouraged by the news that Fabio Aurelio, the Brazilian full-back, could be fit for the club's next match at home to Burnley on 12 September.
"Alberto is improving," Benítez said. "We were talking before about six to eight weeks and after a few weeks his ankle is much better, but he will need time. He's working in the swimming pool and in the gym, and working with the physios, but he's not jogging yet.
"We cannot put a date on things and it's important to just see how he progresses. We are checking on him regularly and he had a scan in the past week which showed he is much better. It's just a case of keeping an eye on him every day."
Aurelio, who damaged a knee during the summer, has returned to training.
"Fabio is back training and playing football," said Benítez. "After the end of the international break I don't think he will have any problems and he will be able to be involved in normal training sessions and be in the squad. Daniel Agger is walking again after his back operation and Nabil El Zhar's knee injury is also improving, so that's also very positive."

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Kaesra

09-01-2009, 07:57 PM

Claudio Ranieri set to be unveiled at Roma as Luciano Spalletti resigns

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Claudio Ranieri is expected to be unveiled as the new coach of Roma (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/roma) tomorrow. The former Juventus and Chelsea manager will replace Luciano Spalletti, who resigned earlier today.
The Rome-born Ranieri is set to sign a two-year deal with the Eternal City outfit and will take charge for the first time at Siena on September 13.
"An agreement has been reached," said Ranieri's agent, Mattia Grassani, to the Italian media. "Ranieri will sign a two-year contract with Roma tomorrow before being unveiled to the media."
Ranieri started his playing career at Roma and is delighted to have been offered the chance to guide the Giallorossi. "This is a great satisfaction for me," he said. "This is a dream come true as I follow a professional journey that began many years ago. I am honoured and convinced I will be able to do and give the best for Roma."
Roma lie at the foot of the Serie A (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/serieafootball) standings after starting the new season with back-to-back defeats. They lost 3-2 at Genoa before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Juve on Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico. Spalletti resigned this morning after holding talks with club president Rosella Sensi.
Under Spalletti, Roma won two Coppa Italia titles (2007, 2008) and an Italian Supercup (2008), as well as finishing runners-up three times in Serie A behind champions Inter. However, Roma fans were left frustrated with the club's failure to make any big-name signings over the summer. Defenders Nicolas Burdisso from Inter Milan and Marco Motta from Udinese were the team's most notable arrivals.

Niko Kranjcar joins Tottenham from Portsmouth

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Harry Redknapp left it late as he signed Portsmouth (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth)'s Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar just as the transfer window (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/transfer-window) closed.
The 25-year-old will provide cover for injured playmaker Luka Modric and can also operate for boss Harry Redknapp across the midfield.
"We have reached agreement with Portsmouth for the transfer of Niko Kranjcar to the club," read a statement from Spurs.
Early in the day Portsmouth signed Tal Ben Haim, Hassan Yebda and Mike Williamson (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/01/tal-ben-haim-joins-portsmouth).

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Everton (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/everton) have completed the signing of the Holland international Johnny Heitinga from Atlético Madrid (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/atleticomadrid) for £6m.
Heitinga's move had been brought into question following disagreement over personal terms.
The defender is believed to have been signed as a replacement for Joleon Lescott, who left for Manchester City last week.
Heitinga featured in three of Holland's matches at the 2006 World Cup.

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Transfer window: deadline-day deals

Hassan Yebda – Benfica (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/benfica) to Portsmouth (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth) (season-long loan)
Tal Ben-Haim – Manchester City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity) to Portsmouth (undisclosed fee)
Eidur Gudjohnsen – Barcelona (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/barcelona) to Monaco (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/monaco) (undisclosed fee)
Radanfah Abu Bakr – Caledonia AIA Fire to Swansea (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/swansea) (undisclosed fee)
Danny Collins – Sunderland to Stoke City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/01/stoke-city-sign-danny-collins) (£2.75m)
Dmytro Chygrynskiy – Shakhtar Donetsk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/shakhtardonetsk) to Barcelona (£22.1m)
Miguel Torres – Real Madrid (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/realmadrid) to Getafe (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/getafe) (undisclosed fee)
Henrique – Barcelona to Racing Santander (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/racingsantander) (season-long loan)
Darren O'Dea – Celtic to Reading (six-month loan) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/01/darren-o-dea-reading-loan)
Xisco – Newcastle to Racing Santander (season-long loan)
Kerlon – Internazionale to Ajax (season-long loan)
Leigh Bromby – Sheffield United to Leeds United (undisclosed fee)
Ben Watson – Wigan to QPR (six-month loan)
Richard Dunne – Manchester City to Aston Villa (£6m) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/01/aston-villa-sign-richard-dunne)
Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards – Sunderland to Ipswich (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/01/roy-keane-signs-sunderland-duo) (combined fee could rise to £3.95m)
Jerome Rothen – Paris St Germain to Rangers (season-long loan) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/01/rangers-sign-jerome-rothen)
Ivan Klasnic – Nantes to Bolton Wanderers (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/boltonwanderers) (season-long loan)
Zheng Zhi – To Celtic (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/celtic) (unattached)
Johnny Heitinga – Atlético Madrid to Everton (£6m) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/01/everton-sign-johnny-heitinga)
Ibrahima Sonko – Stoke City to Hull City (season-long loan) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/01/hull-city-sign-ibrahima-sonko)
James Collins – West Ham to Aston Villa (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/aston-villa) (£5m)
Mike Williamson – Watford to Portsmouth (£3m)
Niko Kranjcar – Portsmouth to Tottenham (undisclosed fee)
Teemu Tainio – Sunderland (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/sunderland) to Birmingham City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/birminghamcityfc) (season-long loan)
David Nugent – Portsmouth to Burnley (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/burnley) (six-month loan)
David Elm – Kalmar to Fulham (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/fulham) (undisclosed fee)
Radanfah Abu Bakr – To Swansea (unattached)
David Carney – Sheffield United to FC Twente (undisclosed)
Borja Valero – West Brom to Real Mallorca (loan)
Adam Barton – Preston to Crawley (loan)
Dominic Collins – Preston to Crawley (loan)
Alvaro Saborio – FC Sion to Bristol City (loan)
Evander Sno – Ajax to Bristol City (loan)
Claude Davis – To Crystal Palace (unattached)
Hameur Bouazza – To Blackpool (unattached)
Jack Wilson – Hibs to Doncaster (free)

Kaesra

09-01-2009, 07:59 PM

Arsenal (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/arsenal)

In: Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax, £10m), Damián Martínez (Independiente, £1.2m)
Out: Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity), £25m), Kolo Touré (Manchester City, £14m), Abu Ogogo (Dagenham & Redbridge, free), Rene Steer (Oldham Athletic, free), Amaury Bischoff (released), Rui Fonte (released), Paul Rodgers (released), James Dunne (released), Vincent van den Berg (released), Anton Blackwood (released), Havard Nordtveit (Nuremberg, loan), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Blackpool, loan), Jay Simpson (QPR, loan)
Aston Villa (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/aston-villa)

In: Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough, £12m), Habib Beye (Newcastle, £3m), Fabian Delph (undisclosed), Andy Marshall (free), Stephen Warnock (Blackburn, undisclosed)
Out: Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £12m), Stuart Taylor (Manchester City, free), Zat Knight (Bolton Wanderers (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/boltonwanderers), £4m), Martin Laursen (retired)
Birmingham City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/birminghamcityfc)

In: Christian Benítez (Santos Laguna, £7.7m), Scott Dann (Coventry City, £3.5m), Joe Hart (Manchester City, loan), Lee Bowyer (West Ham United (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/westhamunited), free), Roger Johnson (Cardiff City, £5m), Barry Ferguson (Rangers, £1.5m), Giovanny Espinoza (Barcelona Sporting Club, free), Stephen Carr (unattached, free), James O'Shea (Galway United, nominal), Gregory Vignal (Lens, loan)
Out: Stephen Kelly (Fulham (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/fulham), free), Krystian Pearce (Peterborough, loan), Robin Shroot (Burton, loan), James McPike (Kettering, free), Michael McKerr (Oldham, free), Semih Aydilek (released), Radhi Jaidi (released), Mehdi Nafti (released), Artur Krysiak (released)
Blackburn Rovers (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blackburn)

In: Lars Jacobsen (Everton (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/everton), free), Steven N'Zonzi (Amiens, undisclosed), Gaël Givet (Marseille, £3.5m), Nikos Giannakopoulos (Asteras, £5,000), Elrio van Heerden (Bruges, free), Franco Di Santo (Chelsea (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chelsea), loan), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split, £12m), Michel Selgado (Real Madrid, free), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham, £2m)
Out: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City, £17.5m), Matt Derbyshire (Olympiakos, £3m), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth), free), Dean Winnard (Accrington, free), Andreas Arestidou (Shrewsbury, free), Jamie Clarke (Lincoln, free), Tony Kane (Carlisle, free), Keith Treacy (Sheffield United, loan), Tugay Kerimoglu (retired), Andre Ooijer (released), Bjorn Bussmann (1860 Munich, nominal), Paul Gallagher (Leicester, £1m), Alex Marrow (Oldham Athletic, loan), Nick Blackman (Oldham Athletic, loan), Gavin Gunning (Tranmere, loan), Alan Judge (Plymouth, loan), Mark Bunn (Sheffield United, loan), Brian Hodge (released), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa, undisclosed)
Bolton Wanderers

In: Zat Knight (Aston Villa, £4m), Sam Ricketts (Hull City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/hullcity), undisclosed), Sean Davis (Portsmouth, free), Paul Robinson (West Brom, loan)
Out: Blerim Dzemaili (Torino, undisclosed), James Sinclair (released), Robert Sissons (released), Nathan Woolfe (released), Ariza Makakula (Benfica, loan ended)
Burnley (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/burnley)

In: Tyrone Mears (Derby, £500,000), Steven Fletcher (Hibs, £3m), David Edgar (Newcastle, undisclosed), Richard Eckersley (Manchester Utd, undisclosed), Brian Easton (Hamilton, £350,000), Andre Bikey (Reading, £1.8m), Fernando Guerrero (Independiente del Valle, loan)
Out: Alan Mahon (Tranmere, free), Steve Jones (Walsall, free), Gavor Kiraly (released), Alex MacDonald (released)
Chelsea

In: Daniel Sturridge (Manchester City, fee to be determined by a tribunal), Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow, £18m), Ross Turnbull (Middlesbrough, free), Nemanja Matic (MFK Kosice, £1.5m)
Out: Franco Di Santo (Blackburn Rovers, loan), Jimmy Smith (Leyton Orient, free), Ben Sahar (Espanyol, £1m), Frank Nouble (West Ham, nominal), Ryan Bertrand (Reading, loan), Tom Taiwo (Carlisle, loan), Lee Sawyer (Southend, loan), Michael Mancienne (Wolves, loan), Scott Sinclair (Wigan, loan), Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen, undisclosed), Morten Nielsen (AZ Alkmaar, nominal), Shaun Cummings (West Brom, loan), Sergio Tejera (Mallorca, nominal), Jack Cork (Coventry, loan)
Everton

In: Jô (Manchester City, loan), Anton Peterlin (Ventura County Fusion, signed), Cody Arnoux (Carolina Dynamo, signed), Shkodran Nustafi (Hamburg, undisclosed), Luke Garbutt (Leeds, subject to compensation), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow, undisclosed), Sylvain Distin (Portsmouth, undisclosed)
Out: Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn, free), Nuno Valente (released), Andy van der Meyde (released), John Paul Kissock (released), John Ruddy (Motherwell, loan), Tom McCready (Hibs, nominal), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City, undisclosed), Lukas Jutkiewicz (Motherwell, loan)
Fulham

In: Stephen Kelly (Birmingham, free), Bjorn Helge Riise (Lillestrom, undisclosed), Kagiso Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows, undisclosed – subject to work permit approval), Damien Duff (Newcastle, £2.5m), Jonathan Greening (West Brom, loan), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows, undisclosed)
Out: Moritz Volz (released), Julian Gray (released), Troy Brown (Ipswich, free), Olivier Dacourt (Internazionale, end of loan)
Hull City

In: Steven Mouyokolo (Boulogne, undisclosed), Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke, £3m), Jozy Altidore (Villarreal, loan), Stephen Hunt (Reading, £3m), Kamel Ghilas (Celta Vigo, £2m), Paul McShane (Sunderland (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/sunderland), undisclosed)
Out: Sam Ricketts (Bolton, undisclosed), Wayne Brown (Leicester, free), Matt Plummer (Darlington, free), Dean Windass (Darlington, free), James Bennett (Darlington, free), John Welsh (Tranmere, free), Ryan France (Sheffield United, free), Tom Woodhead (released), Michael Bridges (released), Joe Lamplough (released), Michael Turner (Sunderland, undisclosed)
Liverpool (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool)

In: Glen Johnson (Portsmouth, £18m), Alberto Aquilani (Roma, £20m), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (AEK Athens, £1.5), Aaron King (Rushden and Diamonds, nominal), Chris Mavinga (PSG, undisclosed)
Out: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, £30m) Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid, £3.5m), Sebastien Leto (Panathinaikos, £1.3m), Paul Anderson (Nottingham Forest, £250,000), Sami Hyypia (Bayer Leverkusen, free), Jermaine Pennant (Espanyol, free), Jack Hobbs (Leicester, free), Astrit Ajdarevic (Leicester, free), Shane O'Connor (Ipswich, free), Ryan Flynn (Falkirk, loan), Dean Bouzanis (Wrexham, loan), Adam Hammill (Barnsley, undisclosed)
Manchester City

In: Carlos Tevez (unattached, £25m), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, £25m), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn, £17m), Kolo Touré (Arsenal, £14m), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, £12m), Stuart Taylor (Aston Villa, free), Nils Zander (Shalke 04, undisclosed), Joleon Lescott (Everton, undisclosed)
Out: Elano (Galatasaray, undisclosed), Ched Evans (Sheff Utd, £3m), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea, undisclosed), Jô (Everton, loan), Felipe Caicedo (Sporting Lisbon, loan), Joe Hart (Birmingham, loan), Shaleum Logan (Tranmere, loan), Darius Vassell (Ankaragucu, free), Dietmar Hamann (released), Michael Ball (released), Danny Mills (released), Richard Martin (released), Angelos Tsiaklis (released), Kasper Schmeichel (Notts County, undisclosed), Valeri Bojinov (Parma, loan), Gelson Fernandes (Saint-Étienne, £2m), Leandro Berti Glauber (released)
Manchester United (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchester-united)

In: Antonio Valencia (Wigan, £16m), Michael Owen (Newcastle, free), Gabriel Obertan (Bordeaux, undisclosed), Mame Biram Diouf (Molde, undisclosed)
Out: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, £80m), Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland, £3.5m), Carlos Tevez (loan ended), Manucho (Real Valladolid, undisclosed), Lee Martin (Ipswich, undisclosed), Richard Eckersley (Burnley, undisclosed), Rodrigo Possebon (Braga, loan)
Portsmouth

In: Steve Finnan (Espanyol, free), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn, free), Antti Niemi (free), Frederic Piquionne (Lyon, loan), Anthony Vanden Borre (Genoa, loan), Tommy Smith (Watford, undisclosed), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Tottenham, £4m), Michael Brown (Wigan, undisclosed), Aruna Dindane (Lens, loan), Jamie O'Hara (Tottenham, loan), Hassan Yebda (Benfica, loan)
Out: Glen Johnson (Liverpool, £18m), Peter Crouch (Tottenham, £9m), Sean Davis (Bolton, free), Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo (Standard Liège, free), Andre Blackman (Bristol City, free), Noe Pamarot (released), Jerome Thomas (released), Lauren (released), Djimi Traoré (released), Glen Little (released), Martin Cranie (Coventry, undisclosed), Sol Campbell (released), Sylvain Distin (Everton, undisclosed)
Stoke City (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/stokecity)

In: Matt Lund (Crewe, nominal), Ben Marshall (Crewe, nominal), Dean Whitehead (Sunderland, initial £3m), Robert Huth (Middlesbrough, £5m), Tuncay (Middlesbrough, £5m), Diego Arismendi (Club Nacional, £2.9m), Danny Collins (Sunderland, £2.75m)
Out: Ben Marshall (Northampton, loan), Vincent Pericard (released), Marc Grocott (released), Jimmy Phillips (released), Tom Thorley (released)
Sunderland

In: Lee Cattermole (Wigan Athletic (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wiganathletic), £6m), Darren Bent (Tottenham Hotspur (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/tottenham-hotspur), £10m), Lorik Cana (Marseille, £5m), Fraizer Campbell (Manchester United, £3.5m), Paulo da Silva (Toluca, free), John Mensah (Lyon, loan), Michael Turner (Hull, undisclosed)
Out: Michael Chopra (Cardiff, £4m), Dean Whitehead (Stoke City, £3m), Greg Halford (Wolves, £2m), Nick Colgan (Grimsby, free), Peter Hartley (Hartlepool, Free), Arnau Riera (released), David Connolly (released), Dwight Yorke (released), Darren Ward (released), Djibril Cisse (Marseille, loan ended), Calum Davenport (West Ham, loan ended), Ben-Haim (Manchester City, loan ended), Anthony Stokes (Hibs, undisclosed), Nile McArdle (released), Paul McShane (Hull, undisclosed), Danny Collins (Stoke, £2.75m)
Tottenham Hotspur

In: Peter Crouch (Portsmouth, £9m), Sébastien Bassong (Newcastle United, £8m), Kyle Naughton (Sheff Utd, undisclosed), Kyle Walker (Sheff Utd, undisclosed), Anton Blackwood (unattached)
Out: Darren Bent (Sunderland, £10m), Didier Zokora (Seville, £8.5m), Chris Gunter (Nottm Forest, £1.75m), Gilberto (released), David Button (Crewe, loan), Adel Taarabt (QPR, loan), Ben Alnwick (Norwich, loan), Troy Archibald-Henville (Exeter, loan), Jacques Maghoma (Burton, loan), Kyle Walker (Sheffield United, loan), Jake Livermore (Derby, loan), John Obika (Yeovil, loan), Andros Townsend (Leyton Orient, loan), Ricardo Rocha (released), Simon Dawkins (released), Kyle Fraser-Allen (released), Cian Hughton (released), Danny Hutchins (released), David Hutton (released), Takura Mtandari (released), Saulo AsaJile (released), Mark Clare (released), James Dalton (released), Ajet Shehu (released), Pascal Chimbonda (Blackburn, £2m), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth, £4m), Jamie O'Hara (Portsmouth, loan)
West Ham United

In: Herita Illunga (Toulouse, £2.75m), Luis Jiménez (Internazionale, loan), Frank Nouble (Chelsea, tribunal), Fabio Daprelà (Grasshopper, undisclosed), Peter Kurucz (Ujpest, undisclosed), Jack Lampe (Harlow, undisclosed), Robert Kovac (Spartak Moscow, £1.8m), Alessandro Diamanti (Livorno, undisclosed), Manuel Da Costa (Fiorentina, undisclosed)
Out: Lee Bowyer (Birmingham City, free), Kyle Reid (Sheffield United, free), Joe Widdowson (Grimsby Town, free), Freddie Sears (Crystal Palace, loan), Diego Tristán (released), Walter López (released), Jimmy Walker (released), Tony Stokes (released), Lucas Neill (released), David Di Michale (Torino, loan ended), Jan Lastuvka (Shakhtar Donetsk, loan ended), Savio Nsereko (Fiorentina, undisclosed)
Wigan Athletic

In: Jason Scotland (Swansea, £2m); Jordi Gómez (Espanyol, £1.7m); James McCarthy (Hamilton, undisclosed); Hendry Thomas (Deportivo Olimpia, free), Scott Sinclair (Chelsea, loan), Mohamed Diame (Rayo Vallecano, undisclosed), Antonio Amaya (Rayo Vallecano, subject to international clearance).
Out: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United, £16m); Lee Cattermole (Sunderland, £6m) Lewis Montrose (Wycombe, free); Amir Zaki (Zamalek, loan ended), Mido (Middlesbrough, loan ended), Antoine Sibierski (released); Henri Camara (released)
Wolverhampton Wanderers (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wolves)

In: Ronald Zubar (Marseille, £1.5m), Greg Halford (Sunderland, £2m), Nenad Milijas (Red Star, £2.7m), Marcus Hahnemann (Reading, free), Andrew Surman (Southampton, £1.2m), Kevin Doyle (Reading, £6.5m), Ronald Zubar (Marseilles, £2.7m), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea, loan), Segundo Castillo (Red Star Belgrade, loan), Stefan Maierhofer (Rapid Vienna, undisclosed)
Out: Lewis Gobern (MK Dons, free), Darren Potter (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed), Stephen Gleeson (MK Dons, undisclosed), Elliott Bennett (Brighton, undisclosed), George Friend (Millwall, loan), Jason Shackell (Doncaster, loan)

Kaesra

09-02-2009, 08:18 PM

Record spending turns to record profit for Premier League's top four

As the transfer window shut with a whimper rather than a bang, it emerged that England's four Champions League representatives had made their biggest ever net profit on summer transfer dealings. English football's new financial realities, at least outside the City of Manchester Stadium, were illustrated by figures showing that the Big Four closed the book on their summer dealings £75.3m in the black, according to accountants KPMG, as compared to a net outlay of £45.2m a year ago. Even if the world record £80m paid by Real Madrid to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo is subtracted from the total, the four traditionally biggest spenders were left only marginally in the red as all pulled in their belts for a variety of reasons.

Despite the outlay of Manchester City, who topped the spending table with a net figure of £98m as the Abu Dhabi owners attempt to break into the top four, the net spending of Premier League clubs was down to £81m from £210m a year ago. Overall, clubs in the top three tiers of English football recorded a net outlay of just more than £6.5m, down from £167.5m in the 2008 summer transfer window.

The proposed new 50% top rate of income tax and the weakness of the pound against the euro have been cited as reasons for the lack of big signings from overseas this summer, while others have blamed the impact of Real Madrid's spending spree. Last month, Deloitte Sports Business Group calculated that the true cost of an overseas player to English clubs was up to 70% higher than to their Spanish counterparts.

"I don't buy into the idea that it's the credit crunch that is curtailing the spending of the Big Four, but the fact they are no longer able to attract the top European stars for some reason," said Geoff Mesher, head of the forensic sports industry team at KPMG. "The tax rate and the euro-pound exchange rate may well have had an effect. European players are less attracted if they are going to be paid in pounds."

Despite widespread speculation that Roman Abramovich, their owner, had vowed to make a "marquee signing", Chelsea's biggest deal of the summer remained the £18m paid to CSKA Moscow for Yuri Zhirkov. That still made the Stamford Bridge club the only one of last season's top four to appear in the top half of a spending table compiled by KPMG, with Manchester United and Arsenal recording a profit and Liverpool a deficit of only £2.7m. Doubts have been cast over Liverpool's spending power since their American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, agreed a refinancing package last month that involves repaying £60m of £290m debt over the next 12 months.

Manchester City aside, those spending the most during the current window were clubs such as Sunderland, Birmingham and Wolves, gambling in order to retain or consolidate their Premier League status. Sunderland and Birmingham have the next highest net outlays, of £19.2m and £18.6m, respectively. "This level of investment in the current economic climate reflects the financial pressure on clubs to avoid relegation and their willingness to speculate to achieve this goal," Mesher said. "Whilst relegated clubs will receive substantial parachute payments this is no match for the lucrative television and prize money on offer in the Premier League."

KPMG's figures reveal a decrease in transfer fees paid to overseas clubs, giving further credence to the theory that English clubs are finding it harder to attract talent from overseas. Of the total Premier League spend, 35% was paid to non-English teams, down from 47% in the 2008 summer window. Of the £156m investment in players from non-English teams, 5% went to the Spanish league compared with 35% of the £222m sent overseas in 2008. Conversely, around 85% of transfer funds received by Premier League clubs from overseas came from La Liga, and in particular from Real Madrid.

Separate figures from Deloitte , also published tonight, showed that overall spend by Premier League clubs had declined by 10% compared to the same period in 2008. Yet the relatively strong spending power of clubs throughout the top division, chiefly thanks to the way TV money is distributed, meant that the spending by Premier League clubs, £460.4m, again exceeded that in other European leagues, albeit not by as much as in previous seasons. Spending by Real Madrid and Barcelona boosted summer 2009 transfer spending by clubs in Spain's top division to around £400m, while Italy's Serie A clubs spent around £350m. Clubs in the top divisions of each of France and Germany spent around £200m.