18/07/09: Transfer Rumors

July 18, 2009

‘Liverpool will intensify their efforts to sign Valencia striker David Villa.’ – The Times

‘Portsmouth striker Peter Couch will decide over the weekend whether to join Sunderland or Fulham as both clubs have bid £12m for the England international.’ – Daily Star

‘Pompey may also allow full-back Sylvain Distin leave the club, with Aston Villa poised to bid about £3m.’ – The Independent

‘Liverpool could get Dutch International Wesley Sneijder, if Alonso transfer to Real Madrid does take place.’ – L’Equippe

‘Meanwhile, Liverpool FC Steven Gerrard has said that he does not see Xabi Alonso at Liverpool next season ‘ – Marca

‘Manchester City’s hopes of completing a deal for Emmanuel Adebayor are in the balance as the Arsenal striker is keen on a move to Chelsea.’ – The Times

‘FC Dynamo Kyiv’s Pape Diakhate is one transfer target Bordeaux have not given up, according to the player’ – L’Equippe

‘Arsenal want Blaise Matuidi and could soon make an offer to St-Etienne, who could ask for 10M to 12M Euros.’ – Le Parisien

‘Manchester City are set to make an improved offer for Everton defender Joleon Lescott after having a £15m bid rejected.’ – The Times

‘Everton would be considering West Ham’s Matthew Upson as a replacement for Lescott, should he leave Goodison Park.’ – The Times

‘Hull are ready to offer Newcastle £3m over three years to sign midfielder Joey Barton.’ – The Sun

‘Sunderland have made an enquiry about Tottenham defender Alan Hutton.’ – The Times

‘And Spurs could sell another defender, Pascal Chimbonda, to Blackburn.’ -The Times

‘AS Nancy Lorraine are in contact with Bordeaux for a possible swoop of it’s three players Ayité Floyd, Sheikh Diabaté and Florian Marange’ – L’Equippe

‘Aston Villa have made Leeds a ‘take it or leave it’ offer of £4m plus add-ons for midfielder Fabian Delph.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Tottenham are also ready to join the bidding for Delph.’ – Daily Express

‘Meanwhile, Spurs have been given until the start of next week to agree a fee with Real Madrid for striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar.’ – Daily Express

‘Stoke midfielder Seyi Olifinjana is in talks to join French club Monaco.’ – Daily Star

‘Lorik Cana could be in the Bundesliga next year with Werder Bremen and Hamburg both keeping an eye for the player. Shakhtar Donetsk and Fenerbahce are also interested.’ – Le Parisien.

‘Wigan are hopeful of signing Espanyol centre-back Roman Golobart on a free transfer.’ – The Sun

‘Portsmouth boss Paul Hart is giving a trial to Zimbabwe left-back Onismor Bhasera.’ – Daily Star

‘Wolves are optimistic they can beat Celtic and Wigan to the signature of Hamilton midfielder James McCarthy.’ – Daily Star.

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Alan Hutton, Alonso, aston villa, blaise matuidi, Bordeaux, Bremen, Bundesliga, CHELSEA, daily express, daily mirror, DAVID VILLA, dutch international, dynamo kyiv, emmanuel adebayor, England, england international, English Premier League, Eredivisie, Fabian Delph, florian marange, Floyd, fulham, Goodison Park, Hamburg, Hamilton, james mccarthy, Jan Huntelaar, joey barton, l equippe, LA Liga, le parisien, LEEDS, LigaBwin, Ligue 1, Liverpool, liverpool fc, M Euros, MADRID, manchester city, matthew upson, Monaco, Nancy, nancy lorraine, NEWCASTLE, Pascal Chimbonda, paul hart, Peter Couch, Portsmouth, real madrid, Serie A, st etienne, Steven Gerrard, Sunderland, target, Valencia, Wesley Sneijder, west ham, xabi alonso, Zimbabwe

Ronaldinho ready to lead Milan to glory

July 18, 2009

AC Milan playmaker Ronaldinho has insisted he is ready to fill the boots left by departed Brazilian compatriot Kaka during the coming season.

Ronaldinho will begin his second season in Italy with memories of a disappointing first campaign fresh in his mind but with Kaka having moved on to Real Madrid, he knows there will be added responsability on him this time around.

Having begun well during his first season at Milan, Ronaldinho fell out of favour with former coach Carlo Ancelotti over the second half of the campaign as the now-Chelsea boss preferred an attacking triumvirate comprising Kaka, Pato and Filippo Inzaghi.

But with Kaka gone and Brazil compatriot Leonardo the new coach, Ronaldinho believes his time has come to shine once again and try to reproduce the form he showed at Barcelona when earning world player of the year awards in 2004 and 2005.

“I’ve naturally become the leader of this group, day after day,” he told the Saturday edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, insisting though that he does not feel any added responsibility.

“I feel something much more important: faith, from my team-mates, the club, the atmosphere.

“Responsibility is just a consequence and that’s a pleasure and not a concern in any way.

“Last year I started well and then things took a down turn because I got injured and Ancelotti stopped playing me.

“This time I want to have a great season, from the first game to the last.

“Aims develop, a bit like Milan. Last year our aim was to qualify for the Champions League, now we want to win it.”

And as the 28-year-old tries to recapture his Barcelona form, he insists he has a good chance as he is also nearing his Barcelona weight, an issue that has been a source of criticism against the former Paris St Germain player these last two seasons due to an expanding waist-line.

“I feel good, I’m very committed, I’m motivated. I’ve lost a few kilos and I’m close to my fight-weight at Barcelona,” he said.

“And with respects to last season I’m more adapted to life in Italy, the language, the way of life, friendships. I feel happy here.”

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, added responsibility, Barcelona, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, compatriot, filippo inzaghi, first game, gazzetta dello sport, Germain, good chance, Italy, kaka, la gazzetta dello, la gazzetta dello sport, leonardo, Milan, PARIS, paris st germain, pato, playmaker, real madrid, responsability, ROME, ronaldinho, second season, Serie A, team mates, triumvirate, waist line

Del Piero extends with Juventus

July 18, 2009

Alessandro del Piero has signed a new contract with Italian giants Juventus. The forward should now remain in Turin for another two seasons.

Del Piero’s contract was set to expire at the end of next season, but the two parties agreed to add one more year.

The 34-year-old has been at Juventus since 1993, and is currently one of the club’s icons with 432 appearances and 188 goals.

With Juventus, Del Piero won five Serie A titles and the 1995-1996 UEFA Champions League.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Alessandro Del Piero, Champions, Del Piero, giants, jonathan, juventus, juventus del piero, League, new contract, season, Serie A, turin, two seasons, uefa, UEFA Champions League

Ibrahimovic edges closer to Barca move

July 17, 2009

Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks to be headed to Barcelona after Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti admitted he was in talks with the Spaniards about the Swede.

Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o could be heading in the opposite direction while Brazil full-back Maxwell and Belarus winger Alexander Hleb could also switch between the two.

“We’ve finalised a transfer for Maxwell and now we’re trying to do likewise for Hleb,” Moratti told Sky Sport 24.

“Obviously we spoke about other things because they were interested in knowing something about Ibrahimovic and talking about Eto’o — two players of the same level — to see if it would be possible to do something with these two players.”

Moratti also confirmed reports in both the Spanish and Italian press that the swap would include hefty compensation for the Italians.

“Eto’o is not worth as much as Ibrahimovic but there is a big offer there,” he added.

Spanish dailies AS and Marca, as well as Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, said the deal would be worth 40 million euros (56.5 million dollars) to Inter.

Spanish radio station Cadena SER added that the transfer could be nailed down in the coming 72 hours following talks on Thursday in Milan between Barca president Joan Laporta and Moratti.

Laporta told Spanish media late on Friday that he had reached an “agreement in principle” with Inter to sign Ibrahimovic and send Eto’o to the Italian side.

The deal depends on Barcelona reaching an agreement with Ibrahimovic and Inter reaching a deal with Eto’o over the terms of their contract, he added.

Laporta said any deal to loan Hleb to Barcelona would not be related to this deal. Barcelona is still interested in signing David Villa from Spanish side Valencia even if it succeeds in signing Ibrahimovic, he added.

Ibrahimovic, who has been with Inter since 2004, is considered one of the best strikers in European football but has hinted on several occasions that he was ready for a move to Spain from Italy while Barca have long made it clear they want to be shot of Eto’o.

Maxwell, meanwhile, fell out of favour with Inter boss Jose Mourinho last season and was replaced in the starting line-up by teenager Davide Santon.

That led to the Brazilian publically stating he wanted to leave, while Hleb failed to make an impact in Catalonia following a transfer from Arsenal a year ago.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: alexander hleb, barca, Barcelona, belarus, cadena ser, cameroon, dailies, DAVID VILLA, inter milan, italian press, italian side, Italy, joan laporta, jose mourinho, LA Liga, maxwell, Milan, move to spain, president massimo moratti, ROME, Samuel, samuel eto o, Serie A, Sky Sport, Spain, spaniards, spanish media, spanish radio station, spanish side, Valencia, winger, zlatan ibrahimovic

Milan need to up Fabiano offer, says agent

July 17, 2009

AC Milan will have to make an improved offer for Brazil forward Luis Fabiano if they are to prise him away from Sevilla, the player’s agent said on Thursday.

Speaking to Radio Onda Zero, Jose Fuentes, said the only thing blocking a move for the Confederations Cup top goalscorer was Milan’s reluctance to up their offer.

“Right now it’s Milan who need to take a step forward for Luis Fabiano, we’re waiting, we’ll see if it’s possible to close out this deal,” Fuentes said.

“It’s Milan who have to move, fly to Seville and increase their offer.”

Fuentes said he understood Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido’s demand that the Italians stump up 20 million euros for the 28-year-old, although Milan don’t want to pay more than 14 million euros.

“I understand him (Del Nido) and I understand that 14 million euros is not the transfer value of a Brazilian international striker because Luis Fabiano is worth 20 million euros,” added Fuentes.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, brazil, confederations cup, del nido, fly, italians, Jose, jose fuentes, Jose Maria, LA Liga, Luis, luis fabiano, Milan, onda, radio, reluctance, ROME, Serie A, SEVILLA, seville, striker, top goalscorer, transfer, Zero

Lucio switch to Inter ´not done´

July 16, 2009

Bayern Munich’s Brazilian international defender Lucio’s proposed move to Serie A champions Inter Milan has not been completed, the Italians said on Thursday.

Inter’s transfer consultant Gabriele Oriali rebuked an earlier claim from the German club and was later confirmed by club president Massimo Moratti.

“Nothing is signed regarding Lucio’s transfer, there’s nothing official,” Moratti told Inter’s official website.

However he did admit that any such deal for the centre-back could spell the end in Inter’s interest in Chelsea pair Ricardo Carvalho and Deco.

“From what I know there’s nothing agreed. Would the signing of Lucio mean we abandon a deal for Deco and Carvalho?” he said.

“I think it’s sufficiently clear that we can’t sign 40 players.”

Moratti’s words confirmed what Oriali had already stated.

“We’re negotiating but we don’t yet have an agreement,” Oriali told Italian news agency Ansa before adding: “Although it could be finalised in a matter of days.”

Bayern had earlier asserted that an agreement had been reached.

“Lucio is moving immediately to Inter Milan,” said club president Uli Hoeness, adding that the hugely experienced defender was set to sign a three-year contract with the Italian outfit.

The fee involved has not been revealed but is believed to be around 10 milion euros (14 million dollars), German sports media said.

The 31-year-old captained Brazil to the Confederations Cup title in South Africa earlier this month.

Lucio’s departure could herald several more departures from the south German club, Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal suggested.

“I have always said I work with 22 players and three juniors. It is very important for the players to have the chance of taking part in matches and that sometimes does not happen when the team is too big, it is not good for motivation,” the Dutchman said.

Bayern’s first-team squad currently comprises 27 players, so the implication would be that up to five could go before the start of the season.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ansa, Bayern, bayern munich, brazil, Bundesliga, CHELSEA, club president, confederations cup, departures, dutchman, gabriele oriali, german club, german sports, implication, inter milan, italian news agency, italian outfit, italians, louis van gaal, lucio, Milan, milion, president massimo moratti, ricardo carvalho, ROME, Serie A, South Africa, south German, sports media

Bayern´s Lucio heads for Inter Milan

July 16, 2009

Bayern Munich’s Brazilian international defender Lucio is heading for Serie A champions Inter Milan, the German club announced on Thursday.

“Lucio is moving immediately to Inter Milan,” said club president Uli Hoeness, adding that the hugely experienced defender was set to sign a three-year contract with the Italian outfit.

Lucio captained Brazil to the Confederations Cup title in South Africa earlier this month.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, brazil, Bundesliga, club president, confederations cup, Cup, german club, Hoeness, Inter, inter milan, italian outfit, lucio, Milan, Munich, Serie A, South Africa, uli

Felipe Melo leaves Fiorentina for Juventus

July 16, 2009

Brazilian Felipe Melo has signed a deal with Italian giants Juventus, penning a five-year contract with the Turin outfit.

The 26-year-old makes the move from Serie A rivals Fiorentina for a fee of 20.5 million Euros. The deal also includes winger Marco Marchionni.

Melo, a defensive midfielder, moved to Europe to join Mallorca in 2005. Since, he played for Racing de Santander and Almeria before trying his luck at Fiorentina in 2008.

The player also helped Brazil to their second consecutive Confederations Cup trophy in South Africa last month.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: 5 million, almeria, brazil, confederations cup, cup trophy, defensive midfielder, Europe, felipe melo, fiorentina, giants, Jonathan Roorda, marco marchionni, racing de santander, rivals, santander, Serie A, South Africa, turin, winger

Palacio set to join Genoa

July 16, 2009

Argentina international Rodrigo Palacio is set to join Genoa. The Italian club and his current side Boca Juniors reportedly agreed terms.

Italian media claim that both clubs came to an agreement concerning a transfer of the 27-year-old, who is expected to sign a contract for four years.

The striker, born in Bahia Blanca, began his career at Huracan de Tres Arroyos in 2002 and since played for Banfield and Boca Juniors, spending for years at the latter. At the Buenos Aires outfit, he scored 153 goals in 126 appearances.

Palacio earned his first cap in 2005 and formed part of the Argentinian team that reached the quarter finals at the 2006 World Cup.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Argentina, Bahia, bahia blanca, banfield, Blanca, Boca, boca juniors, BUENOS AIRES, first cap, huracan, huracan de tres arroyos, italian club, italian media, Jonathan Roorda, Juniors, latter, outfit, part, quarter finals, Rodrigo Palacio, roorda, Serie A, spending, striker, World, World Cup

Ibrahimovic and Melo hold key to Italian pride

July 15, 2009

It may seem unlikely but a Brazilian and a Swede hold the key to Italy’s Serie A’s sense of self-esteem and well-being.

Italian football, on a high with the 2006 world title, has been getting used to knocks in recent years and they have been aplenty, both on and off the pitch.

Not so long ago, Serie A was the strongest league in Europe; now it is almost a secondary league.

But while results on the pitch took a downturn, the lure of Serie A did not — until now.

Which is why Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo and Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic could salvage the country’s collective pride.

Melo is reportedly a target for Arsenal while Ibrahimovic has been coveted by Chelsea.

“I am aware that Chelsea want to sign me and, of course, it is very flattering. They are one of the biggest teams in Europe and the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world,” said Ibrahimovic.

“Money is not the most important thing. I will base my decision on what’s good for me, what suits me. It is about asking: will I still be able to be special in the league that I am going to, to the team that I am going to?

“Are my qualities right for the Premier League or not?”

There are other players who could be mentioned such as Sevilla’s Brazil striker Luis Fabiano, but it is Fiorentina’s Melo and Inter Milan’s Ibrahimovic more than anyone else who could help shunt Italy back towards the top of the world football tree.

Melo is also wanted by Juventus while Inter want desperately to hold onto Ibrahimovic.

With AC Milan having lost their best player Kaka to Real Madrid, and with no Italian team having reached even the last eight of the Champions League last season, Italian football is on the verge of a crisis of confidence.

Serie A teams can no longer compete financially with the moneybags in Spain and England and on last year’s evidence, they’re not able to do so on the pitch either.

Fiorentina crashed out of the Champions League group stages while Inter, Milan and Juve all lost to English opposition in the next round.

Now, if Arsenal were to beat Juve to Melo’s signature and if Chelsea can force Inter into selling Ibrahimovic, Italy would find itself in the unenviable position of becoming a virtual feeder league for England and Spain.

Kaka has already gone and alongside the Swede, he was rumoured to be one of the top two earners in Italy.

He was Milan’s undoubted star and Ibrahimovic’s position at Inter is identical. For two of the country’s three biggest clubs to lose their best player in the same transfer window would be a devastating blow.

Milan have just scooped 67 million euros from Real for Kaka but claim they can’t afford to splash out more than 14 million euros of that to bring Luis Fabiano from Spain.

It is all a far cry from the days when Napoli could sign Diego Maradona from Barcelona in 1984.

Or when the greatest talent in England, Paul Gascoigne, left Tottenham to join mid-table Lazio in 1992.

Back in those days, Italy was dominant in Europe. From 1989 to 1998 nine out of 10 Champions League finals featured an Italian team and the country virtually owned the UEFA Cup.

ROME (AFP)