..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Reds close on Allen deal

Reds close on Allen deal

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed his interest in Allen earlier this week as he looks to rebuild the squad at Anfield.

As revealed by Sky Sports earlier this week, Liverpool were preparing a bid for Allen and both clubs are thought to be in advanced talks as they look to thrash out a dealAllen, who is away with Team GB at the Olympics, is thought to be keen on a move to Liverpool to be reunited with Rodgers.

Swansea are reluctant to lose the midfield schemer, but know they will not be able to resist a big-money offer for Allen.Allen is thought to have a release clause in his contract and Liverpool are believed to be ready to match the £15million fee to land the Wales international.

Swansea are already looking at possible replacements for Allen with Spanish midfielder Michu poised to make the switch to the Liberty Stadium.Rodgers is keen to get a move for Allen wrapped up as soon as possible as he looks to add the midfielder to the signing of Fabio Borini.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Trip into unknown for Reds

Trip into unknown for Reds

Liverpool will face either FK Renova from Macedonia or FC Gomel of Belarus in the Europa League third qualifying round.

Belarus outfit Gomel lead Macedonian side FK Renova 2-0 from their first leg and will be hoping to maintain their advantage in the second leg to set up a glamour tie with Liverpool.

The Reds qualified for the Europa League after winning last season's Carling Cup.The matches are scheduled to be played on August 2nd and 9th with the second leg expected to be at Anfield.Dundee United have been handed a tricky tie against Russian side Dynamo Moscow as they look to reach the group stages of the Europa League.

St Johnstone have been handed an incentive to overcome their first-leg defeat to Eskesehirspor with the winners handed a tie with French giants Marseille.Irish side St Patrick's Athletic could also face a well-known European club in the third qualifying round.

A tie against Hannover is on offer for the winner of the second round match between St Pat's and Siroki Brijeg of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the scores level at 1-1 following the first leg.

Fellow Irish outfit Sligo Rovers will have to overcome a 3-1 first leg defeat to Slovakian side Spartak Trnava to advance to a tie with Steaua Bucharest.Northern Ireland side Portadown were drawn opposite last year's beaten finalists Athletic Bilbao.

However, they are unlikely to meet the Spanish side due to a 6-0 defeat against Slaven Belupo of Croatia in their second qualifying round first leg on Thursday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bids made for Van Persie

Bids made for Van Persie

Robin van Persie is set to be absent from Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia amid reports that the Gunners have received offers for the wantaway striker.

Van Persie, 28, revealed this month that he does not intend to sign a new contract with Arsenal, with his current deal due to expire in the summer of 2013.

The Netherlands international said his ambitions were not matched by the Gunners, and interest in signing him has subsequently increased.

The BBC suggested on Friday that Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus have made offers in the region of £15 million for Van Persie, although Arsenal want a fee nearer £30 million. The Guardian, meanwhile, claims United have failed with their first bid.

Arsene Wenger and his players are due to travel to Asia for a tour that begins against a Malaysia XI next Tuesday. Van Persie, though, will not be among those making the trip, according to reports.Wenger has so far signed forwards Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud after his side finished third in the Premier League last season, with Van Persie scoring 30 of their goals.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool owner: No pressure on Rodgers to reach Champions League

Liverpool owner John Henry has insisted that there is no pressure on new manager Brendan Rodgers to get the club back into the Champions League this season.



The Reds sacked Kenny Dalglish following an eighth-place finish in the previous Premier League campaign, despite winning the League Cup and reaching the final of the FA Cup.
But, Henry has insisted that there are no demands from him or the board for Rodgers to reach the top four this season following a three-year absence.

He told the Liverpool Echo: “We don't want to put any pressure on Brendan by saying you have got to make the Champions League this year. Of course he wants to make the Champions League, we all do and so does every team in the Premier League.

“I thought it was realistic last season but we were so far off that pace. At this point we're just trying to get things stabilized - that should be one of our goals.”

Henry is delighted from what he has seen from Rodgers so far and the American feels the club is in a good place to push on under the tenure of the former Swansea boss.

He continued: “Brendan has a very structured approach and he plays the kind of football that we think Liverpool fans will love to see.

“You can see why he was appointed. He's an inspirational figure. He's very charismatic, he's smart, he knows what he wants to accomplish and he's determined to accomplish it.

“Everything I have heard so far in the way of feedback about him has been very positive.”
The 62-year-old took control of Liverpool in October 2010, his first foray into football, and has admitted that he was unsure what to expect at the beginning.

However, Henry now feels confident of his handling of the club and what the future could hold.
“We know more now than we did when we bought the club,” Henry added.

“We didn't know a lot at the start. We have had something like 20 months to study and learn and this is really the direction we want to go in.“We are working on a long term program and we are fully committed to this program. It will be the kind of football we want to play.

“This year what we're really concentrating on is to make sure we're ready for the first league game. That's our number one goal. We have a lot of work to do to instill a new system.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea must cough up 10 million pounds for Moses, insists Wigan owner Whelan

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has warned Chelsea that they must pay 10 million pounds to secure the signature of Victor Moses.

Roberto Di Matteo has admitted his interest in the Nigerian attacker, who signed from Crystal Palace for an estimated 2.5 million pounds in January 2010, and has reportedly offered a player-plus-cash deal to exchange for the player.

However, Whelan has asserted that he is only interested in a straight cash deal for the 21-year-old with a loan deal for Chelsea youngster Josh McEachran thought to be in the offing.

“They need to pay the brass up front - we don't want any part-exchange deals they have offered,” Whelan told ESPN.

“Victor is one of the most exciting young talents around, so little wonder Chelsea want him, but if they want him they are going to have to pay the price.

“We are not interested in picking up one of their players on loan or in part exchange.
“They know the price for Moses. We are looking to reach 10 million pounds.

“If that means 8 million pounds cash and some add-ons, that fine, as the lad knows that we want him to stay but that we won't stand in his way either.”

Wigan has previously succeeded in selling its star players to bigger clubs for hefty profit, with Antonio Valencia and Wilson Palacios making moves to Manchester United and Tottenham respectively in the past.

And Whelan has confirmed that the club is braced for a similar situation with Moses.

He continued: “I don't like standing in the way of a young player who can make the jump to one of Europe's great clubs and play well for them, I would just wish him all the best.
“But really we don't want him to go, he will be worth 15 million pounds or 20 million pounds after a few months with a club like Chelsea.

“He has a year left on his contract, we have offered him a new one, but we can understand why he would want to play for Chelsea, although I must say there are other clubs sniffing around too.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Modric tells Villas-Boas he wants Real Madrid move

Luka Modric is desperate to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, and has told manager Andre Villas-Boas that he wants to join Real Madrid ahead of the 2012-13 campaign, AS and Marca report.

The Croatia international is continually being linked with a move to the Liga champions, but both sides have so far been unable to reach an agreement over a transfer fee.

Modric has no intention to stay at Spurs, though, and has reportedly informed Villas-Boas that he has set his sights on a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 26-year-old returned to Spurs on Thursday after an extended holiday following his participation at Euro 2012, and was expected to take part in a training session with his fellow internationals.

However, according to reports, rather than joining his teammates on the training pitch, Modric visited Villas-Boas to tell the former Chelsea manager of his desire to depart White Hart Lane, while adding that he is "psychologically not ready" to train.

The meeting between the Croatian and Villas-Boas is believed to have lasted for an estimated 30 minutes, before the former Dinamo Zagreb star left the Spurs training facilities again.

Modric is hopeful that the deal will be completed before Tottenham heads off to the USA for a preseason tour, but Villas-Boas intend to take the playmaker with them to the States along with the rest of the squad.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Leighton Baines in Man United sights as Fergie confirms left-back hunt

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The decision comes after Ferguson opted against promoting youngsters Robbie Brady and Tyler Blackett to the first-team squad, after handing them an opportunity to become Patrice Evra's deputy during pre-season. ​

United are desperate to add some competition for Evra, who played 47 times last season, and was largely unchallenged for a position in the team.However, Ferguson hopes that will change next season following Fabio's loan move to QPR, and the decision to allow Ezekiel Fryers to join Tottenham. ​

'Left-back is an area which we're paying attention to in that sense that Patrice, in the last five years, has played an average of 45 to 50 games,' said Fergie. 'Patrice will be all right. He's shown he has a resilience about him and has a great attitude to playing, but he is 31 next month.' ​

United are in the process of drawing up a short-list of possible options, but Everton and England international Baines is already expected to be top, given the club's long-term admiration of the player.

Baines is valued at £12 million by Everton, who have been made aware of United's interest, but it's thought that Ferguson would only be willing to spend around £8 million to bring the 27-year-old to Old Trafford.

United are chasing up to three new players before the close of the window, with Arsenal's Robin van Persie and Sao Paulo's Lucas Moura both subject of bids in recent weeks.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Persie pulls out of Arsenal tour to force Manchester City move

Robin van Persie has pulled out of Arsenal’s tour of Asia to try and force through a move to Manchester City.

Sources have told Goal.com that the Dutch striker has refused to travel on the club’s three-match trip to Malaysia and China, which begins on Saturday afternoon when the club flies to Kuala Lumpur for the first leg of the tour.

Van Persie has raised the stakes as he goes head-to-head with Arsenal in his battle to quit the club.

Manager Arsene Wenger is believed to have reluctantly accepted Van Persie’s position and the 28-year-old will remain at London Colney next week to train with the club’s academy and reserve players and the more established men who will be left behind to recover from injury such as Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Frimpong.

But, as revealed by Goal.com on Tuesday, it is understood that Arsenal will stick to its guns and play hardball with Van Persie by refusing to grant the Dutchman a simple exit out of the club this summer.

Sources have said that Manchester City is in pole position to sign Van Persie and that a lucrative package is in place to take the reigning PFA Player of the Year to Etihad Stadium.

Despite Van Persie reiterating his stance that he wants to quit Arsenal before the transfer window closes and effectively going on strike, the club is ready to stick to its strategy of holding him to his contract, which expires in 11 months.

The north Londoners have calculated the striker will have less chance of being awarded a lucrative, four-year contract next year from one of his suitors because of his age – he turns 30 in August 2013 - and checkered injury history.

Van Persie and his representatives have calculated that they will force Arsenal into a sale by pushing even harder for a transfer than the likes of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.

The Dutchman delivered a bombshell with the statement via his own website on July 4, which effectively said he wanted to leave because he disagreed with Wenger and the board of directors "in many aspects … on the way Arsenal should move forward".

He also announced that he would not extend his contract before it expires next June.

Van Persie has risked tarnishing his legacy with Arsenal fans following his remarkable performances in the 2011-2012 season, when he scored 37 goals and inspired the team to third in the Premier League after a disastrous start to the campaign.

Arsenal flies to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, for its three-match pre-season tour of Asia, which also takes in Beijing and Hong Kong, with the Gunners set to play Manchester City at Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium on July 27.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter signs Gaby Mudingayi on loan from Bologna

Inter has confirmed on its official website that it has completed the transfer of Gaby Mudingayi from Bologna on a one-year loan deal with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.

The Nerazzurri was eager to add some more depth to its midfield, and head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has now gotten the reinforcements he was after.

Mudingayi started his professional career at Union Saint-Gilloise, and also wore represented Gent, Torino and Lazio before joining Bologna in the summer of 2008.

The Belgium international, who was born in Kinshasa, now part of the Democtratic Republic of Congo, became a key player at Dall'Ara, making over 100 competitive appearances for the Serie A side.

The 30-year-old has already joined his new teammates, and took part in Inter's Friday morning training session.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus to make 25 million euro offer for Jovetic

Juventus is preparing an improved 25 million euro offer for Stevan Jovetic, Goal.com has learned, after seeing its initial bid for the Fiorentina attacker rejected.

The Serie A champions are keen to strengthen their attack ahead of the 2012-13 campaign, and have earmarked the 22-year-old Jovetic as the perfect addition.

They were hopeful that a 13 million euro bid plus Alessandro Matri and Michele Pazienza would be enough to convince Fiorentina to let go of its star player, but the Viola has told Juventus it is not interested in a player-exchange deal having set a 30 million euro asking price.

The Old Lady, therefore, has made the decision to improve its bid for the forward and it is now ready to pay 25 million euros for the former Partizan Belgrade youngster.

AC Milan has also made an enquiry about Jovetic's availability, but it seems unlikely that the Rossoneri can match Juve's offer for the Montenegro international due to the financial uncertainty at the club.

If the move to Turin materializes, Jovetic would be Juventus' fifth high-profile signing of the summer transfer window following the arrivals of Sebastian Giovinco, Lucio, Mauricio Isla and Kwadwo Asamoah.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Palermo signs Paulo Dybala on four-year deal

Palermo has announced the signing of Paulo Dybala from Instituto for an undisclosed fee.

Rosanero president Maurizio Zamparini revealed back in April that a deal had been agreed in principle for the forward to join his team ahead of the 2012-13 season, but negotiations have finally been brought to a close.

The 18-year-old, is considered one of South American football's brightest young talents, having recently earned comparisons with Manchester City star and Argentine compatriot Sergio Aguero.

He netted 17 times in 40 appearances for the Primera B Division side, who secured a playoff spot in the division but failed to overcome San Lorenzo, and will now continue his career in Sicily.

However, according to Palermo's official website, formalities are due to be completed in the coming weeks, while Dybala is currently undergoing a medical.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Emanuelson: A new AC Milan will be born

Urby Emanuelson has stressed that the departures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva will not affect AC Milan's ambitions to fight for silverware.

The Dutchman has admitted that the duo's exit is a blow for the Rossoneri, but remains confident that adequate replacements will be brought in before the 2012-13 season kicks off.

"It is difficult to digest Ibra and Thiago leaving, but now a new Milan will be born," Emanuelson was quoted as saying on the official Milan website.

"This team must always play to win even without them. The club will think about bringing in new players."

The former Ajax star then went on to discuss his personal ambitions, and stressed that he is determined to make an impact at the San Siro side.

"I want to do well here at Milan, that is what I am working towards."

Emanuelson made 30 Serie A appearances in 2011-12, scoring twice in the process.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rodgers pleased with Liverpool adjustment to new playing style

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers remains satisfied with the work of his new side so far during preseason preparations.

Appointed in the summer to replace the outgoing Kenny Dalglish, Rodgers has talked about the need for the players to buy into his methods and ethos on the training ground if the club is to be successful, and he is happy that his new squad has taken this message on board.

"In terms of a lot of the pressing work we've done, they've showed up really well, and that's important in what we want to do," Rodgers told reporters. "We've talked about the importance of possession and I've seen great ­improvements in a couple of weeks.

"Their understanding and management of the game will improve as time goes on, but the most important thing for now is the ­physical ­condition and that's looking very good.

"The tactical work will really kick in when the whole group is together, but we've already seen a lot of improvement."

Liverpool kicks off its preseason tour of the United States against Toronto FC on July 21 before taking on both Roma and Tottenham.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher denies retirement rumors

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher moved to deny reports linking him with an early retirement from the game due to a long-standing illness.

The 28-year-old midfielder suffers from ulcerative colitis, a chronic bowel condition, and featured only 10 times for the first-team last season, his final appearance coming against Benfica back in November. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had hinted that retirement could become a very real possibility but Fletcher was keen to set the record straight.

"It's not really an option, I just want to keep playing," Fletcher told reporters. "I know someday I will be back. I'm only 28 years old and to talk of retirement, I'm not really thinking about that. I want to give myself every opportunity to get back.

"I've not started training yet but I'm just listening to the doctors and just taking my time really.

"It's so difficult to talk about because it was such an unexpected illness. I just have to take each day as it comes and at the moment I feel like I'm capable of coming back, then I'll try and come back."

After being pipped by bitter local rivals Manchester City to the Premier League title last season, Fletcher is adamant that the league remains the club's main focus going into the new campaign.

"We feel the same every season, just try and win the league," he insisted. "Champions League maybe. We'll try and win every cup we go in but the main priority is the league. Obviously after Man City won the league it gives us extra incentive to win it back."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United targets Sahin as frustrations grow over Lucas Moura pursuit

Manchester United has turned its attentions to Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin after growing increasingly frustrated in its pursuit of Lucas Moura.

Goal.com understands that the Old Trafford outfit is looking at alternative options to the Sao Paulo youngster, who has been valued at close to 38.3 million euros (30m pounds) by his club, and has highlighted Sahin as a potentially cheaper target after being made aware of his availability from the Spanish capital.

The Turkey international is surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu after joining the club from Borussia Dortmund last summer in a move that has so far been blighted by injuries and inconsistent form.

Jose Mourinho is keen to offer Sahin a full preseason in order to impress at the Liga giant, but Madrid would be open to considering an offer.

Bayern Munich and Galatasaray have been linked with Sahin in recent weeks. Tottenham made enquiries over bringing him to White Hart Lane as part of Luka Modric's expected move to the Spanish champion, but was rebuffed by the 23-year-old.

The midfielder made clear his intention to stay with the Spanish giant in May, claiming: "I have the desire to succeed here and want to prove my worth at Madrid. I'm living the dream at this club."

However, with the likely arrival of Modric set to push Sahin further down Mourinho's midfield pecking order, United's ability to offer him greater first-team opportunities could see the Turkish star reconsider his options.

Any deal to sign Sahin would cost around 25.5m euros (20m pounds), but the Premier League champion has not ruled out taking the playmaker on a season-long loan deal to keep within its limited summer transfer budget.

Recent United signing Shinji Kagawa played alongside Sahin at Dortmund two seasons ago and has offered his endorsement of the Madrid man, whose arrival could also potentially provide strong commercial benefits due to the Red Devils' sponsorship links with Turkish Airlines.

Meanwhile, the Premier League runner-up is still keeping tabs on Lucas, but is fearful of being priced out of the race to sign the Brazilian wonderkid, as was exclusively revealed by Goal.com last week.

The Sao Paulo teenager is currently in Britain ahead of the Olympic football tournament next week, and should make an appearance against Team GB in a warm-up match at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on Friday evening.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United Unveil 2012/13 Away Kit!

Manchester United Unveil 2012/13 Away Kit!

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[charitha chandi]

mona oi tho football gana danne?????? HAZARD and MARIN hodai????????? eeya oi u monunda, david vila,xavi ne oi players la..tho boru daanne nathiwa hitapan

1.ado Football walata kalin katha keranna igana ganin pakata andinna lasthi wenna nathuwa, umaba scurvy wenna hadanwada
2.umaba villa gana hondata dannawa kiyala "vila" kiyala type karapu vediyanma tharanwa

3.mama EK awrudu 4k hetiya, gu kalath na , adagena nannath na..! umabata gamek ona num EK nathuwa wena wediyakata waran, mata methan chaw keranna ona na methana inna honda EK members la tikak..! echcharaiii..!

 

[Nimeshaya]

David Villa Cannot Wait To Get Back On The Pitch

Villa has been sidelined for six months with a broken tibia that he sustained in the World Club Cup last December. The Spain international believes he is close to being ready for pre-season training as his side look to wrestle the Liga title back of rivals(Real Madrid)

“This is the summer I have most desire for the holidays to end and to be able to go to work already. It is also the summer I have enjoyed least.
“I have passed a check-up with the Barcelona doctors and I am desperate to return to normal training with my team-mates, not training separately.”
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Villa was also full of praise for his national colleagues after they retained the European Championship trophy in style at Poland and Ukraine.

“We have to be proud of this team,” he added. “You can play better or worse but this team always shows face. They are the only ones that have been capable of winning three consecutive major titles.”
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[Wolverine GTR]

Giggs reveals pride at captaining Team GB in loss to Brazil

Ryan Giggs revealed he was "very proud" to captain Team GB, the first since 1972, in the 2-0 friendly loss to pre-tournament favorite Brazil. Despite an underwhelming performance against a strong Brazil side, the 38-year-old was delighted to wear the captain's armband against Mano Menezes' men.

"Obviously [I'm] very proud," Giggs told the BBC. "It was a good game to be involved in, obviously against Brazil. It's always special when you play against Brazil, but to captain and be involved was great."

A Sandro header and a Neymar penalty condemned Team GB to a 2-0 defeat in what was its first official game under manager Stuart Pearce. And with just under a week to go before Pearce's squad kicks off its Olympic 2012 campaign against Senegal, Giggs believes the team will be ready in time and can only get better from here on in.

"It was great preparation for us," the midfielder said. "We knew it was going to be tough. They're probably ahead of us fitness-wise.

"You can't really kill them running every day like what we normally do in a preseason. But equally you need to get some sort of a base fitness, so it's been tricky balancing the two but this game will have brought us on again and we've got another six days or so to get ready for Senegal.

"We've only been together nearly two weeks. We're definitely getting better and we'll improve as the tournament goes on so it was a good benchmark for us today."

Team GB was outclassed for much of the game against Brazil but the Welshman feels that the younger players in the squad would have learned from the experience and have the quality to impact on the tournament.

"We've learned that we've got a lot of talent in the dressing room," he said. "Everyone is comfortable on the ball and we will get better. I've seen that in training, I've seen the quality in training and we've seen in parts tonight.

"It's always disappointing to lose a game but we'll take the positives from it."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Spurs boss Villas-Boas plays down interest in 'special' Hulk

Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas has moved to play down speculation linking the club with a move for Hulk, while at the same admitting that he enjoys a "good relationship" with the in-demand Porto forward.

The Portuguese coach paid his former charge a visit at Brazil's Olympic Games base in St Albans ahead of their friendly with Team GB, immediately sparking speculation that he was sounding out the 25-year-old attacker about a move to White Hart Lane.

Villas-Boas insists that he was doing nothing of the sort, but he did express his admiration for the Selecao star.

"Hulk is a very special player for me," the former Chelsea coach told Terra. "We had a very good year together in Porto and we have a good relationship - that I do not deny.

"But we have just been talking, nothing more."

Villas-Boas, who replaced Harry Redknapp as Spurs boss earlier in the summer, led Porto to a treble during his one season at the Dragao, in 2010-11.