..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Everton dismiss United's double bid

Everton have rejected a £28 million joint bid from Manchester United for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines.United have offered £16 million for 25-year-old Fellaini just over a fortnight after a £23.5 million buyout clause expired, sources told ESPN.

The Premier League champions also attempted to include Baines, 28, in their bid for a further £12 million -- having had an identical offer for the England left-back rejected in late June.Everton manager Roberto Martinez confirmed last Thursday that Fellaini’s buy-out clause expired on July 31.

He said then: “Marouane had a buy-out clause where it was very straightforward. If someone met that valuation, the club had no say. That finished on July 31 so you can imagine during that period everyone was a bit expectant about what would happen. Once that date went, you just focus on working for the next season.”

Chairman Bill Kenwright has warned David Moyes off returning to Goodison Park to try to sign his former players. Moyes left Everton after 11 years in charge at the end of last season to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as United’s manager.

And after appointing Martinez in early June -- before Fellaini’s escape clause expired -- Kenwright said: “I’ve not said to David [Moyes]: ‘David, come on.’ I’ve said exactly the opposite. I’ve said to David: ‘We all know the situation at Everton. We all know there’s a player who’s got an escape clause, but the others are not for sale.’

“I’m as in love with this football squad as any Evertonian out there. They are this club and we don’t want them to go.”Everton signed Belgium international Fellaini for £15 million from Standard Liege in 2008, and is under contract until the summer of 2016.

Baines, signed from Wigan for £6 million in August 2007, has a deal that runs until 2015, although Martinez is looking to extend it.Meanwhile, Everton’s manager is pushing to sign midfielder Gareth Barry on loan, but is only likely to get him if Manchester City agree to subsidise the 32-year-old’s salary, which is reported to be around £90,000 a week.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

meh wadeth hariyana patak nahaanith 1ka Fellaini & Baines ta £28 million bid 1ka madi mata hithenne

 

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Everton have rejected a £28million bid from Manchester United for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines.

United manager David Moyes previously worked at Everton and is very familiar with England left-back Baines and Belgium midfielder Fellaini.

 

[unicornx]

Niyama talent 1ka machan hoda future 1kak thiyanawa

aith ahala

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal finally make a move in the transfer market but bid for Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye is rejected

Arsenal have finally a made a decisive move in the transfer market with a £10million bid for Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye – but the Magpies have rejected the offer.

Furious Gunners fans vented their anger at manager Arsene Wenger’s failure to add to his squad over the summer following Saturday’s disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.Wenger, whose only signing to date during the window is young French forward Yaya Sanogo on a free, has assured supporters he is working hard behind the scenes to bring in fresh faces and is hoping Cabaye will be the first of several late additions.

The Frenchman, 27, has impressed for the Magpies since moving to Tyneside from Lille in 2011.He had been linked with a move to Tottenham and PSG earlier in the summer but Wenger is the first to table a firm bid.

However, Newcastle are reluctant to sell Cabaye, who is expected to play at Manchester City tonight, and have turned down the offer.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal la Cabaye £10million bid 1ka improve kala nam ganna bari wena 1kak naha.

 

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meh wadeth hariyana patak nahaanith 1ka Fellaini & Baines tabid 1ka madi mata hithenne

ow

Arsenal la Cabaye £10million bid 1ka improve kala nam ganna bari wena 1kak naha.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United: Pellegrini off to a flyer against shambolic Magpie

Manchester City ran out easy winners over 10-man Newcastle United on Monday night, as Manuel Pellegrini's side recorded a resounding 4-0 win to send them top of the Premier League table.


First-half goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero gave City an early lead, before Magpies centre-back Steven Taylor was given a straight red card for hitting out at the diminutive Argentine goalscorer just before the break.

The home side's dominance continued in the second period, with Yaya Toure marking his 100th Premier League appearance by curling a free kick past Tim Krul just after the restart, and substitute Samir Nasri completed the scoring with 15 minutes remaining.

Fernandinho, who arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk in the close-season, was handed a competitive City debut along with Spain international Jesus Navas. But Alvaro Negredo, who joined with Navas from Sevilla, was only named among the substitutes.

Newcastle were without loan signing Loic Remy due to a calf injury, but perhaps of more interest to the St James' Park faithful was the omission of Arsenal target Yohan Cabaye, with manager Alan Pardew confirming the club had received a bid in the build-up to the game for the 27-year-old midfielder.

City started the game with plenty of intent and the early pressure led to the breakthrough in just the sixth minute.

Silva played in Edin Dzeko to the left-hand side of the penalty area and his low cross was deflected straight into the path of the Spaniard, continuing his run into the box, who headed past the wrong-footed Krul.

Newcastle thought they had found a quick response when Hatem Ben Arfa jinked his way to the edge of the area before playing a sublime through-ball to Yoan Gouffran who fired beyond the reach of Joe Hart. Gouffran's celebrations, though, were curtailed by the offside flag.

City then had a huge shout for a penalty when Dzeko's perfectly weighted pass was collected by Toure deep in the box. He appeared to be tripped by Mathieu Debuchy but referee Andre Marriner waved away the protests.

In the 22nd minute, City did deservedly double their lead. Vincent Kompany supplied Dzeko and he showed great vision to play a nonchalant back-heel straight into Aguero's path. The Argentina international drove at Taylor onto his favoured right foot before firing expertly across Krul into the far corner.

Aguero then had a legitimate claim for a penalty when Taylor appeared to handle his strike in the box, but Marriner was unmoved. It was only a brief reprise for the Newcastle defender, though, whose evening was brought to a premature end moments later when he was shown a straight red card for striking the back of Aguero's head with his arm.

City picked up where they left off in the second half and Dzeko was again thwarted by Krul, who produced a superb athletic save to keep out the Bosnian's point-blank header.

But the third arrived in the 50th minute. Aguero won a free kick left of centre of the goal and Toure curled his effort into the top corner and past the despairing dive of Krul.

The one sour note for City came with 20 minutes remaining when captain Kompany was replaced by Javi Garcia after the centre-back had injured himself sliding for a challenge on Sammy Ameobi.

But it did not impact on City's fluency in attack and Nasri made it four when he pounced on a loose ball in the 75th minute before coolly slotting beyond Krul.

Negredo came on to replace Silva with 10 minutes remaining and had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside, but it made no difference as City secured three comfortable points.

 

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'I'm sorry for this s***' - Adler apologises for Hoffenheim thrashing

Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler has apologised to fans after their 5-1 thrashing at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Roberto Firmino struck twice as the visitors ran riot in the second half at HSV-Arena just a week after Thorsten Fink's side shipped three goals at Schalke, and Adler admits the team's performance was "an absolute disaster.""To our fans, I'm sorry if they have to pay money for this s***," the 28-year-old told Bild.

"It was an absolute disaster, a disastrous performance from anyone who was involved."I understand the displeasure of the fans. We need to score in the next game at [Hertha] Berlin."

Fink was similarly scathing in his assessment of his side's defending, and called on the players to earn back the supporters' respect."We got out in the first few minutes just fine and made it 1-1 at a psychologically-opportune time," he said.

"But it annoys me that we have fallen apart again. Our defence was very, very, very bad. That was a textbook case of how not to do it.

"We don't need to gloss over anything, but still look forward, and get back the support of the fans. The objectives of the season have not changed."

 

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Bale price ‘too high’, says Raul

Al-Sadd forward Raul Gonzalez feels the price tag for Gareth Bale is "too high" for Real Madrid to continue their pursuit.

Los Blancos have long been pursuing the Tottenham star this summer, with reports suggesting a bid of €120 million would be required to prise the Welshman away from White Hart Lane.

CLub legend Raul, however, believes such a figure is too great, even for a player of the 24-year-old's talents.

“[Bale] is a wonderful player,” he told the Al-Sadd official website.

“I understand the Real Madrid board is working hard to assemble the best team possible.

“But the price is too high.”

Raul also backed Carlo Ancelotti to make a real fight of the Liga title race this season after the club finished 15 points adrift of arch-rivals Barcelona in 2012-13.

“Jose Mourinho did a very good job with the team, but Carlo Ancelotti is one of the best coaches in the world," said the 36-year-old.

“Barcelona has great players, so the two teams will push each other to the limits this year.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Isla agent denies ‘only Inter’ claims

Mauricio Isla's agent Claudio Vagheggi has denied that the midfielder is only interested in joining Inter, claiming he could yet remain at Juventus.

The 25-year-old revealed last month that he was considering a switch to San Siro after a frustrating season with the Serie A champions, in which he made just 16 appearances.

Reports have emerged to suggest the Chile international is eager to move to Walter Mazzarri'sside, but Vegheggi has denied the suggestions and made it clear his client could yet opt to stay in Turin.

“I should point out that he has never said he just wants to play for Inter as reported in the past days,” he revealed to Tuttomercatoweb.

“Isla just wants to be important for the team which he plays for, and wants to be considered for the value he has.

"Obviously, both Juventus Inter reflect an excellent opportunity for my client, but we have no preferences or refusals regarding clubs.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pardew slams Arsenal’s ‘disrespectful’ Cabaye bid

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has hit out at Arsenal following their bid for midfielder Yohan Cabaye labelling it “disrespectful”.

The Gunners are understood to have had a £10 million bid for the France international rejected on Monday, part of a triple transfer swoop that also includes moves for Geoffrey Kondogbia and Atsuto Uchida.

However, Pardew was angered by the timing of the bid, coming as his side were preparing for their opening Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Cabaye was expected to play in the game and travelled to Manchester, before subsequently going home and being left out of the squad, which Pardew felt had an impact on his team's performance as they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

“We’ve prepared for three days with the lad [Cabaye], and then to have his head turned by this bid from Arsenal, on the eve of the game, is just disrespectful,” Pardew told Sky Sports after the game.

“Why they couldn’t wait I don’t know. I don’t think the result would have been the same.”

Newcastle were also forced to play over half of the game with 10 men following Steven Taylor’s sending off and Pardew admitted he had deserved his red card.

“I just thought it was a silly action I can’t really defend him if I’m honest,” he said.

“I know he’s a proper fellow and he wouldn’t mean to be malicious and I can’t give you a better answer than that.”

Despite the emphatic defeat Pardew insisted he was not too worried by his side's performance but warned his team would need to improve for Saturday's home game against West Ham.

“I don’t think we have too much to be concerned about tonight, in terms of the team we have to put a team out that’s a lot more offensive [against West Ham],” he added.

“I feel this is one of 38 games so it's important that we try and win the two home games we have coming up.”

 

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Dzeko hails Pellegrini following Newcastle rout

Edin Dzeko has lauded the impact of new Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and says the Chilean has given him the confidence boost he needs.

The Bosnia international was used only sparingly by former boss Roberto Mancini last season, mainly reduced to a role off the bench, although he was the club's top scorer in the league.

Dzeko looked in fine form in City's resounding 4-0 win over Newcastle, even if he did not get on the scoresheet himself, and has credited Pellegrini with showing faith in his abilities.

“The manager brings something different to us, he gives me confidence and that’s what I needed,” the 27-year-old told Sky Sports after the match.

“I think we played a fantastic match, what the manager expects from us. We played the first game at home and we wanted to show the fans what we’re capable of.

“We could have scored a few more but we are happy with the score. I wanted so badly to score but we won three points and the next games are coming and I’m ready.”

Yaya Toure struck a stunning free kick just after the restart to send the home side 3-0 up, and, after City spent big in the summer to secure four high-profile new recruits, believes the club can challenge for multiple honours.

“We played very well. Full credit to all the team, we worked very hard,” the Ivory Coast international said.

“[We have brought in] amazing, quality players, I think this kind of player will help the squad.

“The aim of the club this year is to do fantastic things in the Premier League and the Champions League, and I hope this year is going to be a good year for us.”

 

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Villa: I'll celebrate scoring against Barcelona

David Villa has claimed he will likely celebrate any goal he should score for Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona.

The Liga champions take on the Rojiblancos for the first piece of Spanish silverware this season on Wednesday, and Villa - who moved from Camp Nou to Vicente Calderon this summer - insists he will put all friendship aside when he faces his former team-mates.

“I have many friends and fond memories of my three years there,” he told reporters. “But when we start the game, they are my rivals.

“Hopefully I can help my team. I have always celebrated my goals. Out of respect, however, the exuberance of the celebration is different if you face an opponent that you love.”

Villa acknowledges that Gerardo Martino's side will be the heavy favourites for the clash, especially following their resounding 7-0 win over Levante on Sunday, but the 31-year-old remains determined to upset the odds.

“We have many chances to win, but for that we have to do everything perfect," he continued.

“We can make no mistakes: defend very well, try to keep the ball away from them as long as possible, because we know that they suffer when they lose the ball, and then take our opportunities to hurt them in attack.

“If you have to look for a favorite, it is Barcelona. We have to fight against that. When the match starts, we all have the same chance to win.

“Just look at the statistics of recent years and the way they have started the league. We must seek our options and how we can hurt them. Lifting this title is very important to us.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rodgers hails Sturridge attitude

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has praised Daniel Sturridge's mental strength in ensuring he was fit for the start of the season.

Sturridge struck the only goal of the game in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Stoke City at Anfield as Liverpool began the Premier League campaign with an encouraging performance.

An ankle injury sustained while on international duty with England back in May had threatened to leave the striker unavailable to Rodgers for the opening month of the season.

The 23-year-old, though, battled back to full fitness ahead of schedule and Rodgers thinks the January signing from Chelsea is in excellent shape due to his commitment and attitude.

"I think the biggest credit you can give him is that in all the time he was off, he never put on any weight whatsoever," said Rodgers.

"His body fat remained the same as when he was playing, which shows you how hard he was working.

"And I have to give credit to the medical team, because they've got to make sacrifices as well.

"Daniel was keen to get himself right, so he was ready to fire at the beginning of the season.

"For a bit of time it was touch and go, but once we saw his progress and how he was working, he was back probably three weeks earlier than what we anticipated, purely because of his attitude.

"I always believe he's got a goal in him.

"That's why we took him here. As long as he's on the field, he can end up being one of the top goalscorers in this league."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter only playing at '60 per cent' potential - Mazzarri

Walter Mazzarri believes Inter are still playing at only "60 per cent" of their potential despite a resounding victory last weekend.

The Nerazzurri secured a resounding 4-0 win over Serie B side Cittadella on Sunday in Mazzarri's first official game in charge, but the former Napoli boss has urged his side to continue to improve ahead of the new Serie A season.

“[On Sunday] we saw 60 per cent of how we can perform, although in the end we created a lot and remained focused,” he told Inter Channel.

“Looking at the result now it all seems easy, but that’s not the way it went. Cittadella were well organised and closed down space. When the time is right I want to see faster play from us.

“I was looking for us to keep a clean sheet and show improvement when defending.

“We played as a team too, almost never resorting to individual play. This is a young team with room for improvement. We need to grow individually and collectively.”

Inter open the season at home to Genoa this weekend, but Mazzarri has warned his side to take nothing for granted against the relegation candidates.

“In these games in August you can’t take anything for granted and yesterday you saw four out of five Serie A teams get knocked out of the cup," said the 51-year-old.

“We’re on the right path but there’s still a lot of work ahead of us.”

 

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'Prison has changed me' - Breno

Former Bayern Munich defender Breno admits he has "changed as a person" during his time in prison.

The 23-year-old was sentenced to three years and nine months in 2012 after being found guilty of aggravated arson following a fire at his rented Munich villa the previous year.

The Brazilian has been offered a post to work for five hours a day with the Bayern Under-23 side and he admits he is indebted to the club for the opportunity following his spell away from the game.

“My time in prison was hard for me and I am pleased that Bayern have given me this opportunity. he told a press conference. “Thanks to Bayern, I’m fine.

“I have changed as a person. I learned a lot in prison. My wife and my kids were behind me the whole time. I’ve thought a lot about God, and without God there’s not much."

Breno originally signed with the club in 2007 as a 17-year-old, but injuries curtailed his early career in Germany before he was sent to prison last year.

“We have a mandate to integrate these people back to life,” sporting director Matthias Sammer said, while president Uli Hoeness added: "Breno is a member of the big Bayern family, who once had problems.Now there is a glimmer of hope and we want to give it to him."

 

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'My contract can wait' - Allegri focused on AC Milan clash with PSV

AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has refused to discuss his contract renewal as his side prepare for their Champions League playoff clash with PSV.

The 46-year-old secured a place in the qualifying stages of Europe's premier competition on the final day of last season, prompting the club to retain his services as head coach for the 2013-14 campaign.

With his long-term future at San Siro still uncertain, Allegri has stressed his sole focus is on progressing past their Dutch opponents to the Champions League group stage, and not on negotiating a new deal.

"Today, we do not talk about my contract renewal," he told a press conference.

"We're focused on the two games against PSV because there is a big difference between playing in the Champions League and the Europa League. We must do everything possible to get through the round."

Milan enjoyed a strong second half to the previous season after initially struggling for form in Serie A and on the continent, and Allegri admits the summer departures of the likes of Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a telling effect on his side.

"Last year's squad was totally dismembered. However, we have improved and we will try to go through against PSV and then hope to play a good Champions League and remain at the top in the league," he continued.

"PSV play well technically, they have good players and a good collective. We have to be very aggressive and take advantage of our quality, especially going forward.

"[Kevin-Prince]Boateng, [Mario] Balotelli and [Stephan] El Shaarawy will be the strikers tomorrow against PSV. [Andrea] Petagna and [M'Baye] Niang will be on the bench."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Gourcuff could leave Lyon, says Aulas

Lyon playmaker Yoann Gourcuff could leave the Ligue 1 side this summer after the club's president Jean-Michel Aulas admitted "anything is possible".

Premier League side Arsenal are believed to be admirers of the 27-year-old, with reports tipping the club to make a bid before the end of the summer transfer window.

And though Aulas still believes the midfielder will remain at Stade Gerland, he has refused to rule out Gourcuff leaving the club.

Posting on his personal Twitter account, Aulas said: “I do not think Gourcuff will move to Arsenal, but in football anything is possible.”

The France international has made a blistering start to the season, scoring twice in two games to help Lyon to the summit of the Ligue 1 table.

Meanwhile, Aulas also suggested that Newcastle United target Bafetimbi Gomis will sign a new contract with les Gones.

"At the moment he reflects over a one-year extension with the possibility of release next year."