Archive for July, 2007
Dyer On His Way To Manchester
Sven Goran Eriksson aims to continue the spending at Manchester City, with hopes of signing Kieron Dyer from Newcastle.
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce conceded this week that Dyer might be leaving the club, citing issues concerning his family as the reason.
The injury prone midfielder was set to play in a friendly against Celtic last night, however was pulled out of the squad after Allardyce feared an injury would prevent a move.
“We were just protecting our asset. There is a big value in him so I’m protecting him,” he said.
If the transfer goes through, it is reported City wouldn’t be looking at a mere £4.5 million.
Read More >>Baines To Get Revenge On Liverpool
Leighton Baines rejected the opportunity to play for Roy Keane at newly promoted Sunderland last week, so the rumours have continued to fly over which club he will move to.
The most likely club to have emmerged today are Everton, who according to reports, would suit the young player ‘personally, financially and emotionally.’
However, it is important to note that Baines is a massive Liverpool fan, and was turned away from their youth team as a teenager. “As a local lad I used to watch from The Kop when Robbie Fowler was making his name,” he said. “I started out at Liverpool’s Centre of Excellence and although it was disappointing when nothing came of it.”
The England U-21 star, who has scored a whole host of brilliant goals in his short career so far, has been tipped for great things. Liverpool, who have struggled to bring through top quality talent from their youth system over recent years, may be left to feel regretful if he signs for their rivals.
Read More >>Anelka On His Way To London
Nicolas Anelka has made it well known that he would be interested in a move away from Bolton this summer, if the right club came along. Anelka fancies a move to a “big club” and wants to play Champions League football. He was initially linked with a move to Manchester United, but Sir Alex Ferguson has now turned his attention to Carlos Tevez, saying there is no other striker he will sign.
So no doubt Anelka will be rather disappointed to find out it is West Ham, who escaped relegation on the last day of the season, who are interested in signing him.
Reports today suggest West Ham have offered a staggering £12 million for the striker, with a wage packet of £90,000 a week.
Read More >>Time For Benitez To Finally Prove Himself
Rafa Benitez has been successful in his time as Liverpool manager, winning almost every cup competition going, including the Champions League and FA Cup. However, the one prize the fans and players want the most is the Premiership, something Rafa has failed to compete for in his time with the North West club.
Jose Mourinho of course has an opinion on this, and today voiced this. Mourinho claims that now Liverpool have no excuse not to mount a serious title challenge after their spending spree in the market this summer, on top of the excess of £80 million Benitez had already spent on players.
“The pressure is a bit higher [on Liverpool] because, at this moment, they cannot point at other people,” said Mourinho.
“In other years, they could say: ‘Oh, these guys, they’ve spent a lot of money so they have to win’. This season, they have to talk differently. They have high responsibilities and high expectations.
“In the last three years, it’s been Chelsea and Manchester United in the league, and it’s been a long time since Liverpool won the Premiership. So they really want it.
“I heard something earlier this summer – [Steven] Gerrard, [Jamie] Carragher and [John Arne] Riise saying it has to be this season. That’s normal, and positive. I cannot complain about that. Everybody wants to achieve it.
“We want it too, no problem. But it’s been four years with Benitez and they want the Premiership. They don’t hide it – Benitez, the players, they all speak about winning the title.
“I think winning nothing last season was frustrating for them, but they’ve got a good squad and good players, so they’ll be better.”
Read More >>Liverpool Fall Short To United Again
Liverpool fans will have been left fuming at the close of the 2006/2007 season, when they were left empty handed after their Champions League final defeat, and their arch rivals, Manchester United, were crowned champions of England.
Today, their inferiority complex will not be enhanced with the revelation of their latest new stadium news. Liverpool are set to leave Anfield and move to their new ground, Stanley Park, in 2010.
There had been talk of their new stadium boasting 80,000 seats, eclipsing Old Trafford by some 4,000 seats. However, their new plans revealed today show the ground will only have 60,000 capacity, smaller than Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium as well as Old Trafford.
Liverpool Chief Executive, Rick Parry, has today said, “it has always been the aim of the club, with the backing of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to be world class both on and off the pitch. When they took over, the first thing Tom and George wanted to do was review the stadium both in terms of the design and the capacity.
This is the immensely impressive result of their deliberations. We’re creating a stadium that not only the club and supporters can be proud of, but something the whole city can be proud of. Liverpool as a city is on the move and deserves world-class developments like this.”
Read More >>West Ham To Replace Injured Player With Injured Player
It was announced yesterday that West Ham signing, Julien Flaubert, has been ruled out for six months. In an attempt to replace the midfielder, the Hammers are reportedly interested in signing injury prone Kieron Dyer.
Dyer found some some form after returning from his latest injury last season. He scored after 30 minutes against Arsenal in his first start for seven months.
However, Dyer has spent much of his career out injured, and his potential move is unlikely to fill West Ham fans with much hope.
Dyer famously was involved in a punch up with team mate Lee Bowyer in the middle of a match. Bowyer moved to West Ham shortly afterwards, and this move could see the two players again on the same team.
Read More >>Liverpool’s Latest Transfer: £7 mill Juve Defender
Since Sir Alex Ferguson has clearly stated that he will not sell Gabriel Heinze to Liverpool, Rafa Benitez has now opened up the search for another full back.
Reports in Italy today state that Benitez has been following Juventus left back Giorgio Chiellini. The Italy U-21 captain has been valued at £7 million, with Liverpool’s previous £5 million bid being rejected. Last season Chiellini extended his current contract until 2011, with ambitions of staying the club for life, however it has been reported that Juventus would be prepared to sell for the right price.
Read More >>Evra Reveals United Insecurities
Patrice Evra, who made the PFA Team of the Season 2007-2007, has today confessed he knows he will have to work hard to keep his place in the first team.
His impressive displays last season forced previous furst choice full back, Gabriel Heinze, on to the bench. Evra, who cost a mere 5.5 million pounds, proved value for money for Sir Alex Ferguson last season, but believes he still has a long way to go.
“I’m not the first choice,” Evra said. “I’m just a player for Manchester United.
“I did well last season and my job this season is just to confirm that. After that I look forward.
“Football is quick and you don’t know. Gaby maybe is back and Mikael I thought he played very well.
“I say when you do not give your best, the boss will take you on the bench.
“Nobody, in every game, is sure to play the game.
“I will just give my best to confirm last year. I don’t want people to say ‘maybe he is lucky or maybe it is an accident’.”
Read More >>Robben Wants Real Move
Spanish champions, Real Madrid, have been linked to Chelsea winger, Arjen Robben, for some time. This season, their efforts appear to be more consistant than ever, and show determination to land the Dutch player’s signature before the end of the summer.
Real Madrid president, Calderon, has today admitted he will not give up trying to sign the player, even if he has to be more patient, as Robben has indicated he is interested in the move.
“The player has already signalled his interest, but there is no agreement with Chelsea,” Calderon said.
“It’s a negotiation that will continue over the following days or weeks, and if the situation is right economically, he is a player who could join us.”
Read More >>Latest Tevez Blow For United
The transfer saga which has delevoped over Carlos Tevez’s planned move to Manchester United has taken a new twist today.
It has been announced that an arrest order has been issued for Kia Joorabchian, the representative responsible for Tevez’s affairs.
A federal judge in Brazil has charged Joorabchian, amongst others, with money-laundering and being part of a criminal gang, for the role he played in the relationship between Media Sports Investment (MSI) and Corinthians, the Brazilian club he first took Tevez to, before bringing him to England.
Federal attornies have spoken out about the arrest order, saying “the (MSI) transactions are carried out with the use of numerous offshore accounts which have the single and well-known intention of distancing the investor and the illicit origin of the resources from their final destination, in this case the purchase and sale of (football) players.”
Whilst the implications of this might be felt by Manchester United, it will certainly raise the hopes of Sheffield United, who feel they were wrongly relegated from the Premiership last season, after West Ham were fined £5.5 million, but not docked any points over the deals for Tevez and Liverpool’s Mascherano.
The deal is already more messy than Sir Alex Ferguson would like, and this latest news is not going to please the manager, who is determined to sign the striker in order to win his tenth English league title.
Read More >>
