May 21, 2008
Juventus are set to clinch a deal for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso next week.
Gazzetta dello Sport says Juventus director Jean-Claude Blanc met with Rafael Benitez yesterday for four hours and that the two clubs have agreed in principal to the transfer.
Juventus have reportedly offered £10 million for the Spain international - £5 million below Liverpool’s valuation - but it is believed a deal will soon be concluded, with Alonso keen to play in Italy.
May 21, 2008
Bolivian ace Marcelo Moreno admits he is flattered by Tottenham’s interest in him.
The Cruziero striker, 20, has been one of the stars of the Copa Libertadores after firing eight goals in just 10 games.
Manchester United have been tracking Moreno but Spurs are the only English team to have made a firm bid.
The North London side’s initial offer was rejected by Cruzeiro last week.
But the hitman, who has been compared to Spurs ace Dimitar Berbatov, still hopes to move to the Premier League.
He revealed: “I was told about the offer made by Tottenham.
“Of course I would like to play in England. But as I said before, I have to like the place where I will be.
“The club has to get to an agreement with my agent and from what I know what has been offered wasn’t enough.”
May 21, 2008
Juande Ramos fears he is being priced out of his bid to sign Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o.
Tottenham’s boss flew to Spain on Monday to open negotiations for the Cameroon striker, 27.
But Barca want £33million for him, while the player’s £6m-a- year wage demands look sure to scupper any deal.
That is more than double the £60,000-a-week paid to current top earners Robbie Keane and Ledley King.
May 21, 2008
Rafa Benitez is after Espanyol’s £6million-rated winger Albert Riera.
Liverpool will try to offload Argie Sebastian Leto as part of the deal.
Spaniard Reira, who was on loan at Manchester City two years ago, is also interesting Blackburn and Spurs.
Benitez said: “Philipp is still young but has great experience from Dortmund and on the international stage with Switzerland.
”He also played in the Champions League during his time with Basel and so is used to top level football.”
The Kop chief also wants Bordeaux skipper Ulrich Rame, 35, as back-up to first choice keeper Pepe Reina.
Benitez hopes to tempt the French runners-up into a straight swap for his current second choice keeper Charles Itandje.
Rame, a former French international, would have to forego Champions League action for a place on the bench at Anfield, but the Reds hope higher wages and a two-year deal will sway him.
May 16, 2008
Real have become increasingly vocal about their desire to land Ronaldo in recent weeks, even going to the extent of insisting that in every interview Madrid players give, they must eulogise the 23-year-old.
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| £100m man: Real are willing to spend big for Ronaldo |
They are now reportedly gearing up to present United with an unprecedented £100 million offer for the player they have set as transfer target number one. Moreover, they would happily sign off £200,000-a-week in wages to Ronaldo, it has emerged.
Madrid president Ramon Calderon might have described the prospect of bringing Ronaldo to the Bernabeu as “almost impossible” on Tuesday, but Ronaldo’s comments last night have triggered a torrent of speculation.
“I am happy here but let’s see what happens after the Champions League final. I am feeling calm here. I’m happy here but in the future I don’t know,” he said.
Ronaldo’s recent comments that he has dreamt of playing in Spain have convinced the club that they have a realistic window of opportunity to sign Ronaldo. Miguel Angel Arroyo, Real’s general director, has now stressed that nothing will be spared to that end.
“If it is not possible for the club to sign, it would not be because of money but for other reasons,” he said.
“Real Madrid have the solvency and the financial liquidity to be able to take on a signing of the magnitude of Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be economically beneficial due to the merchandising that would arise from it.”
The financial returns on a Ronaldo signing is beyond doubt, and Madrid are desperate to have a piece of the pie. Sporting director Predrag Mijatovic recently revealed his plans for the Portugal star to be “the face of the new Real Madrid,” a second-generation David Beckham.
The question that will concern fans is whether United would accept an offer of £100m. Chief executive David Gill has repeatedly stressed that Ronaldo is not for sale at any price, and many would snort at the idea of Ferguson allowing the club to sell a player that has not yet reached his potential.
However, United have a debt that is growing by almost £300,000 every day; the club paid £42m in the past financial year in interest on the debts alone. Conspiracy theorists suggest that the Glazers harbour ambitious plan to clear their debt by 2012, which would involve selling off many star players - although Rio Ferdinand’s recent agreement to a new contract ought to go some way to dispelling that.
Fans will hope that Sir Alex Ferguson acts as a Hadrian’s wall to the Spanish transfer campaign. Madrid’s Gabriel Heinze, a good friend of Ronaldo’s since their time together at Old Trafford, has confirmed that the bond between manager and winger would be Real’s biggest challenge.
“I would sign him, but I think it’s impossible,” he said.
“He’s going through a glorious spell at Manchester and Ferguson was the one who found him and who got him to the top level. While Ferguson’s there, there’s little chance of signing him.”
May 16, 2008
The Barcelona player Yaya Toure, brother of Arsenal’s Kolo, has admitted that he would love the opportunity to play alongside his brother at the Emirates. “I am aware of the interest from the Premier League,” he said. “It would be great to play in a big team with my brother.”
Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has revealed he is on the brink of signing a new four-year deal with the club.
Arsene Wenger has said that he hopes to make a new signing within a few weeks. “I know what I want and I am very confident,” he said. “I hope to turn that around in the next two or three weeks. But the fans should be re-assured by what they see.” One of the first signings could be Lyon’s 21-year-old Hatem Ben Arfa, who has just been voted Young Player of the Year in France. Wenger could also look to another Frenchman, Lilian Thuram, to boost his defence.
He said of rumours linking him to the Emirates: “It is true that we have spoken about Arsenal, but we will see how it is going to happen. Today I am at Lyon. We will see what tomorrow is made of. I try to give my maximum and to give everything when I am on the pitch.”
Wenger will make strengthening his defence a priority this summer, and has apparently been offered Barcelona skipper Carlos Puyol. The Spanish club would want Cesc Fabregas in return, but Fabregas has recently reassured fans that he will stay at the club.
Alexander Hleb’s departure from the club has apparently and quickly progressed from a mere rumour to something inevitable as the midfielder is reported to be on the verge of joining Inter, with the player’s agent stating that Wenger can’t stop him. The midfielder joined Arsenal in July 2005 from Stuttgart for £11.2 million. “Alexander is preparing to make one of the most important moves of his life. He is leaving Arsenal even though they want to offer him a new long-term contract and better conditions,” Nikolai Shpilevski is quoted as saying in the Belarus press.
May 16, 2008
Ricardo Carvalho has admitted that he is unsure whether he will still be at Stamford Bridge next season, although he reminded press that he still has a contract with the club.
Andriy Shevchenko’s future at Chelsea has been under speculation for months, with a return to AC Milan seen as his most likely option. It now appears that Turkish outfit Fenerbache are interested in the Ukrainian.
Chelsea are considering revisiting their pursuit of Micah Richards. Jose Mourinho came close to signing Manchester City’s England defender 16 months ago for £18 million before the deal was vetoed by owner Roman Abramovich. Richards has been unsettled by the likely departure of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson but would cost at least £20 million.
In a summer spending spree that would eclipse all before it, Chelsea are also willing to part with £79 million on just three players: Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid for £25 million, £27 million on bringing Frank Ribery from Bayern Munich and £27 million on VFB Stuttgart’s Mario Gomez.
Speculation over Didier Drogba’s future has once again increased as Chelsea have been linked with a number of strikers in recent days. Drogba has been linked to a three-year deal with AC Milan to serve under Jose Mourinho if he replaces Carlo Ancelotti next season, while fans will be worried to hear that “a very big European club” is willing to splash £32 million on Petr Cech, according to the goalkeeper, who is attempting to negotiate a pay rise on his current £50,000-a-week contract.
May 12, 2008
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has authorised manager Avram Grant to make an £80 million bid for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, according to reports.
The News of the World suggests that the Barca board are split on whether to sell or not, considering the huge amount of money on offer.
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| Record: The wages on offer by Chelsea could lure Lionel Messi from Barcelona to Stamford Bridge |
Should Messi move to Stamford Bridge it will shatter the current world transfer record of £46.5m that Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Abramovich is adamant that Chelsea must start playing attractive, attacking football and was rumoured to have lined up a swoop for Ronaldinho, before the Brazilian’s sudden dip in form.
Messi, however, has shone for Barcelona, and even outplayed Cristiano Ronaldo during his club’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United.
A source close to the proposed deal is quoted as saying: “Roman is convinced Messi could change the whole face of Chelsea and is willing to spend what it takes to get him.
“He has always wanted that type of player. Under Jose Mourinho he accepted the football because it was bringing in the trophies, but he got bored.
“Grant wants to change things but explained it takes time and a lot of money to alter the style. Now is the time for Roman to finance that change.
“Chelsea are attractive because of the wages on offer, and they are in the Champions League final.”
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