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Hammers line up McCarthy-Gudjohnsen strike force

West Ham’s battle for Premier League survival is set to be spearheaded by a strike force of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Benni McCarthy.

Former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Gudjohnsen, who is now at Monaco, looks set to join South Africa striker McCarthy at Upton Park after Tottenham admitted defeat in the race to sign the Icelander on loan.

“I like Eidur, but I think he’s going to West Ham,” Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said after his side’s 2-0 win over Fulham on Tuesday evening. “I spoke to his agent today but I’ve left it with chairman.

“I’d take him on loan because he’s a good player and we could play different systems with him.” he added.

Blackburn have agreed to sell McCarthy to the Hammers for a reported fee of 2.25 million pounds and the deal was expected to be wrapped up on Wednesday following a medical and negotiations on the striker’s personal terms.

McCarthy had grown disillusioned with his lack of first-team starts at Blackburn under manager Sam Allardyce and wanted a move to ensure regular football in the run-up to the World Cup finals in his home country in June and July.

He has departed Ewood Park in acrimonious circumstances however after failing to turn up for training sessions this week, conduct which Allardyce branded “unprofessional”.

Allardyce said: “It shows you that the only loyalty a player has got is to himself.

“This is what we deal with today in football, there’s not such a thing as loyalty as there used to be in the older days when I was a player.

“It’s a selfish attitude they have and that’s not just about Benni, that’s all players today. If they want something they do anything to try and get it.”

West Ham are currently hovering just above the relegation zone with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three following Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.

The Hammers had looked on track for a valuable win after taking the lead with a scrappy effort from club captain Matthew Upson seven minutes into the second half.

But former Manchester United trainee Danny Webber came off the bench to claim his first Premier League goal and rescue a point for the Premier League’s bottom side, who remain four points adrift of the side above them, Hull, and five away from safety.

Pompey manager Avram Grant admitted afterwards that the lifting of a Premier League transfer embargo may have come too late to help their survival bid.

Grant is hopeful of landing “three or four” new players by the end of the month but the club’s perilous financial position means he can only take players on loan or on free transfers.

“We’ll try to do our best but we have only four days,” Grant said. “It will be very difficult but we’ll do it because the squad is very short.”

Grant hopes to bring left-sided midfielder Jamie O’Hara back to the club on loan from Tottenham and he played down the possibility of Younes Kaboul and Nadir Belhadj leaving.

“If these players go, I would need to play, and I cannot play!” Grant joked.

Portsmouth are however expected to allow England goalkeeper David James to go to Stoke on loan until the end of the season in a move dictated by the financial pressure currently on the club.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: benni mccarthy, captain Matthew Upson, CHELSEA, club captain, Danny Webber, David James, different systems, eidur gudjohnsen, Ewood Park, goal difference, hammers, Harry Redknapp, HULL, Jamie O'Hara, league survival, london, Manchester, matthew upson, Monaco, personal terms, Portsmouth, premier league, relegation zone, Sam, sam allardyce, strike force, striker, taking the lead, tuesday evening, upton park, west ham, world cup finals

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Villa´s Gardner set to leave for Birmingham

Former England Under-21 international midfielder Craig Gardner is set to join highflying Premier League side Birmingham City from city rivals and League Cup finalists Aston Villa for 3million pounds.

The 23-year-old will sign for Birmingham – who are eighth in the table just a place below Villa – provided he passes a medical and agrees personal terms.

Gardner, who scored twice in 14 appearances for the England Under-21 side, played over 50 times for Villa but because of back and groin injuries has only appeared three times this season.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was delighted to have agreed a fee for Gardner as he is capable of playing at right back as well.

“Craig is a versatile and dynamic player who can perform in a number of positions,” said McLeish, who has stunned observers in making Birmingham contenders for a European place next season and not battling against relegation as many expected them to be.

“Players like that are really worth their weight in gold.”

The Blues had a bid for Gardner turned down on Sunday but returned to Villa with an improved offer.

Gardner will be Birmingham’s second signing during the transfer window and since Carson Yeung took over the club after they signed Spanish midfielder Miguel Marcos Michel for 3million pounds from Sporting Gijon earlier this month.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: AFP, alex mcleish, Birmingham, birmingham city, carson yeung, city rivals, contenders, Craig, craig gardner, dynamic player, England, Gardner, gold, groin injuries, london, midfielder, Miguel Marcos Michel, observers, personal terms, premier league, relegation, sporting gijon, three times

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Vieira set for Manchester City move

Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira confirmed on Thursday he is set to complete a dramatic return to English football by joining Manchester City.

The former Arsenal captain moved closer to the deal when he underwent a medical on Thursday, ahead of a agreement which it is reported will keep him at the Premier League club until the end of the 2010/2011 season.

“I wanted to go to the World Cup and I need match play,” Vieria told French sports channel Infosport of his decision to leave the Italian champions.

“It’s over, after a year at Turin and three and a half years at Milan,” he said. “I have aims and I can’t achieve them by staying at Inter where I’m not in favour with the coach.

“What’s important for me is to go to Manchester City, to show the coach (Roberto Mancini) that I’m the same as the time when he was at Inter. All that will help me to get into the France team.”

Vieira was reported to have flown into England on Thursday, having played his last match for Inter Milan – the club where City manager Roberto Mancini was previously in charge – against Chievo on Wednesday.

Barring any last minute problems, such as fitness test issues or personal terms, France great Vieira could be confirmed as a City player as early as later on Thursday, although City could hold over any announcement until Friday.

The 33-year-old midfielder would add defensive resilience to a City side often criticised for letting in too many goals under former boss Mark Hughes.

Vieira’s arrival would represent Mancini’s first signing since he replaced Hughes three weeks ago and be the latest high-profile purchase by City, who this week announced that a huge annual loss of 92.8 million pounds would be effectively wiped out by their wealthy Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour.

Vieira has had a shaky past three seasons at Inter Milan and, now on the fringes of the France team, he is desperate for first team football to boost his chances of featuring in Raymond Domenech’s squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa later this year.

Inter manager Jose Mourinho, who won the Premier League title with Chelsea, said on Wednesday he believed Vieira was about to return to England.

“He hasn’t said a word to anybody but he has mentioned the English Premier League,” Mourinho said.

Mancini was Vieira’s first coach at Inter after the player arrived in Milan following a season with Italian rivals Juventus.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: abu dhabi, CHELSEA, chievo, CITY, english football, fitness test, France, france team, infosport, inter milan, italian champions, jose mourinho, last match, Mark Hughes, Milan, patrick vieira, personal terms, premier league, raymond domenech, roberto mancini, South Africa, sports channel, team football, test issues, turin, vieria

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Sevilla land Sampdoria’s Stankevicius

Sevilla has signed a new full back. Sampdoria defender Marius Stankevicius will arrive on a loan deal until the end of the season, at which point Sevilla will assess whether or not to exercise an option to buy.

Stankevicius is expected to hold talks with Sevilla over personal terms today. He will serve as a direct replacement for Sergio Sanchez, who has stepped down for the remainder of the season after a heart complaint was detected.

Stankevicius leaves Italy after nine years. The Lithuanian international, who can play at both flanks, joined Brescia in 2001 and played there before moving to Sampdoria in 2008. He made 44 league appearances in one and a half season for the Blucerchiati.

In the first half of the season he was a regular starter for Samp.

Tags: flanks, heart, Italy, league appearances, lithuanian, loan deal, Marius Stankevicius, nine years, personal terms, remainder, Sergio Sanchez, SEVILLA

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Dunne deal for Aston Villa

Aston Villa finally completed the signing of Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne from Manchester City on Wednesday.

Villa were unable to announce the Dunne deal before the transfer window closed on Tuesday as the Premier League asked for more time to ratify the paperwork which only came through at the last minute.

But Martin O’Neill’s team were always confident Dunne would become their player after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

The Football Association were also satisfied with the documents presented by Villa and Premier League on Wedneday allowed the deal to go through after the window shut.

“City said farewell to one of the club?s most resolute and enduring defenders in Republic of Ireland star Richard Dunne, who has signed for Aston Villa,” a statement on Manchester City’s website confirmed.

“The player’s departure, confirmed on Wednesday after the Football Association checked the paperwork, signals the end of an era and Richard goes to the Midlands with the best wishes and gratitude of everyone at Manchester City.”

Dunne, who cost Villa a reported six million pound (6.8 million euros) becomes O’Neill’s second defensive signing after Wales international James Collins signed from West Ham for five million pounds (5.8 million euros) on Tuesday.

O’Neill had been desperate to bolster his back four after skipper Martin Laursen retired and Zat Knight was sold to Bolton.

Dunne’s nine-year stay at City was in doubt after the club signed Kolo Toure from Arsenal and then Joleon Lescott from Everton.

“It would have been difficult for Dunney to stay given his standing at the club and I understand that,” City boss Mark Hughes said.

“I wasn’t going to stand in his way. I could have tried to stop him going and said I wanted him as a squad player but out of respect for what he has done for City I wasn’t going to do that.”

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, Birmingham, birmingham england, CITY, city boss, dunne deal, dunney, England, everton, football association, James Collins, manchester city, Mark Hughes, Martin Laursen, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, Midlands, personal terms, premier league, republic of ireland, Richard, richard dunne, skipper, Toure, Wales, wedneday, west ham, zat knight

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Spurs sign Kranjcar

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of midfielder Niko Kranjcar from Portsmouth.

A statement released by the club read, ‘We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Portsmouth for the transfer of Niko Kranjcar to the Club, following the player successfully completing a medical examination and agreeing personal terms.’

Kranjcar who began his career with Dinamo Zagreb, joined Zagreb’s biggest rivals Hajduk Split, in 2005 over a disagreement with the management, helping them lift the league title the following year.

Following a string of impressive performances for the Croatian national team, Portsmouth signed the creative midfielder for £3.5million in August 2006.

A switch also sees Redknapp reunited with the player, as he was in charge at Fratton Park when Pompey signed the midfielder for £3.5million in 2006.

The Spurs boss said, ‘I’m really delighted. I signed Niko from Portsmouth. He’s a fantastic player.’

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: boss, croatian national team, disagreement, Fratton Park, impressive performances, medical examination, Niko, Niko Kranjcar, personal terms, pompey, Portsmouth, premier league, rivals, split, spurs, tottenham hotspur, Zagreb

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Villa agree fee for West Ham defender Collins

Aston Villa are set to sign West Ham defender James Collins after agreeing a fee for the Wales international on Tuesday.

Collins has arrived at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground to discuss personal terms and must also complete a medical to seal his move before the transfer window shuts at 1600GMT.

“Villa have agreed a fee with West Ham United for defender James Collins,” a statement on the club’s website confirmed.

It is believed that Villa are paying around five million pounds for Collins, who has also attracted interest from Stoke.

Villa’s confidence in the deal going ahead is such that they have named Collins in their squad for Tuesday’s home reserve game against West Ham.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: AFP, aston villa, Birmingham, birmingham england, bodymoor heath, confidence, England, Heath, James Collins, personal terms, reserve game, Wales, west ham, west ham united

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City defender Dunne set for Villa switch

Manchester City revealed on Thursday that they have agreed to sell Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne to Aston Villa.

Dunne has been told he can leave City after boss Mark Hughes signed centre-backs Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott to take his place.

The 29-year-old is now negotiating with Villa over personal terms and is expected to seal his move in the next few days.

“City can confirm that the club has agreed a fee with Aston Villa for defender Richard Dunne and the 29-year-old skipper is travelling to the Midlands to discuss personal terms for a move to Villa Park,” a statement on City’s website announced.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, boss, CITY, city defender, England, few days, Manchester, manchester city, manchester england, Mark Hughes, Midlands, personal terms, republic of ireland, richard dunne, skipper, Toure, villa park

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Chile defender set for Baggies move

West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo revealed on Tuesday he is set to complete his sixth signing of the summer with the arrival of versatile Chile international Gonzalo Jara for 1.4 million pounds (2.3 million dollars).

The Colo Colo defender, who is 24 on Saturday, has agreed personal terms with the Championship side and signed a three-year contract with an option for a further year but is waiting for international clearance.

Di Matteo said: “Gonzalo is an exciting, quick, technical and aggressive player.

“He’s a Chilean international and a versatile player which gives me good options, he is still young and has a strong desire to achieve.”

West Brom were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season along with Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

LONDON, (AFP)

Tags: afp chile, colo colo, Di Matteo, Gonzalo, good options, international clearance, london, Matteo, middlesbrough, million dollars, NEWCASTLE, personal terms, premier league, roberto di matteo, strong desire, versatile player, west brom

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Wigan closing in on Vallecano duo

Premier League side Wigan Athletic have been in talks with Segunda Division side Rayo Vallecano for the signing of duo Antonio Amaya and Mohamed Diame.

And it now seems that the Latics, after holding talks with the Segunda Division side and now a fee for the pair have been struck.

With discussions over personal terms being done, three-year contracts are said to be on the table.

Manager Roberto Martinez is hopeful of landing defender Amaya and midfielder Diame as he believes they would both add much to his side for the new Premier League season.

He told the Wigan Evening Post: “We are quite close to agreeing everything, and the main thing now is thrashing out the personal terms.

“Hopefully that will be done quite soon and they will be excellent signings for the future.

“I’ve followed their progress and development for a long time, and they will bring something different to our squad.

“I’m happy with the way the squad is developing, there’s a tremendous work ethic and a fantastic spirit in the camp.

“I’m very excited about the challenge ahead and the players are very focused and ready for that challenge.

“I’ve got huge confidence in the quality of the squad, we have a good core of players and we are getting stronger every day.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: antonio amaya, confidence, contracts, latics, long time, Manager Roberto Martinez, mohamed, personal terms, premier league, roberto martinez, spirit, wigan evening post

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