Football Gossip

Thierry Henry must be banned from playing in the 2010 World Cup

2009-11-19T23:34:00.000-08:00

Irish ask Fifa for France replay

2009-11-19T23:33:00.000-08:00

The FAI asks Fifa for the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off against France to be replayed following Thierry Henry's handball.

Chelsea are told Sergio Aguero will cost them £50m

2009-11-19T13:58:00.001-08:00

Chelsea will have to smash the British transfer record by more than 50 per cent if they are to land Atletico Madrid ace Sergio Aguero in January.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti and the Chelsea hierarchy baulked at Madrid’s £50million valuation for the young Argentine last summer especially with his wage demands of £200,000 per week.

But while Chelsea hope to take advantage of Atletico’s financial meltdown and shocking start to the season by landing the striker for £40m, the Spanish side are determined to stick to their initial asking price.

Atletico are confident they can get that sum next summer, with a host of bidders more likely to be interested in signing a player who is ineligible for the rest of this season’s Champions League.

But it would require Chelsea to smash the £32.5m mark set by Manchester City when they took Robinho out of the Stamford Bridge outfit’s clutches on deadline day in September 2008.

Ancelotti has persuaded the Chelsea hierarchy to dig deep in January ahead of the likely imposition of the two transfer window punishment imposed by FIFA over the Gael Kakuta affair which has been put on holding pending the club’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

At this stage, Chelsea are monitoring a list of potential targets, including Aguero, with the need for reinforcements intensified by the loss of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou for the African Cup of Nations.

Ancelotti had better news yesterday with both Ashley Cole and skipper John Terry taking part in a full training session at the club’s Cobham base.

Both England defenders are hopeful of being ruled fit to play against Wolves on Saturday, with Cole recovering from a depressed fracture of the tibia and Terry having damaged his Achilles on England duty in Doha.

Chelsea are definitely without Frank Lampard and Jose Bosingwa, while the club is awaiting today’s planned Cobham return of Michael Ballack and Drogba to discover if they could be ready to play Mick McCarthy’s men.

Birmingham plot £1.5m for West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans

2009-11-19T13:56:00.000-08:00

wing reports from his St Andrews scouts.

The 22-year-old has impressed for the Baggies this season and earned his first international cap for the Scots last month.

Meanwhile Blues winger Gary McSheffrey is on a mission to save his career at City - just three months after being told he could leave.

McSheffrey, 25, was slapped on the transfer list by McLeish but has appeared as a substitute in three of the last four matches.

Sheffield United, Coventry and Ipswich have all enquired about taking the £4m star on loan but he is determined to stay at St Andrews.

He said: "I want to play more but it's a better situation than I was in back in August when they were looking to offload me.

"I still feel I have a lot to offer. It's getting that chance. Things can change so I'm sure if I started doing the business then maybe I wouldn't be up for sale.

"I haven't had a chat with the manager, I've just put my head down and worked hard."

Rio out until New Year

2009-11-19T13:55:00.001-08:00

RIO FERDINAND will not play for Manchester United again this year.

The England centre-back has been told he needs another six weeks of rest and physio work before his back will be strong enough for Premier League football.

Ferdinand, 31, had been playing with back problems since last season - leading to a calf injury this term.

After a series of poor displays he decided to get the problem sorted out for good.

Rio had hoped to be back by the start of December. But by the time he plays again, he will have missed at least 15 matches.

United's medical staff have been baffled by his constant injury problems.

One theory being looked into now is that he might need his hip realigned.

If the hip is slightly out it will lead to strain on other parts of the body, including his back.

Ferdinand's last game for United came in the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on October 25 when he was out-run and out-muscled by Fernando Torres for the opening goal.

At least there was good news for United boss Alex Ferguson about Ferdinand's defensive partner Nemanja Vidic.

Vidic is ready to start against Everton on Saturday after coming through Serbia's 1-0 win over South Korea unscathed.

Vidic missed United's 1-0 defeat by Chelsea 11 days ago with a calf injury but played 60 minutes of yesterday's international at Craven Cottage.

United's Korean midfielder Park Ji Sung also played an hour as he continues his recovery from a knee problem.

Robinho tells Manchester City team-mates: I want to play for Barcelona

2009-11-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

Robinho has told his Manchester City team-mates he wants to play for Barcelona.

Roque Santa Cruz has revealed that Robinho has been telling everyone in the dressing room that he hopes to move to the Nou Camp.

"Of course he talks to us about it," Santa Cruz told Catalunya Radio. "And the players are cracking jokes about it in the dressing room.

"In the English papers there's a lot of interest about Barca and Robinho is also not hiding his desire to play for them one day. But I guess we'll see."

Barca want to sign Robinho on loan in January, even though Mark Hughes has repeatedly said his £32.5million British record signing will not be leaving Eastlands this season.

Santa Cruz claims the former Real Madrid star could be a success with Barcelona if he did return to La Liga.

"It wouldn't be difficult," said the Paraguayan. "To add a talent like Robinho to the quality of players they have would give a different air to Barca because he's got great ability and is a player who pleases crowds because of the way he plays.

"A player that good wouldn't have any problems being part of that side."

CARLOS TEVEZ LEARNS ENGLISH WATCHING CORONATION STREET

2009-11-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

MANCHESTER City star Carlos Tevez is finally learning English by watching Corrie.

The Argentine striker, 25, has been blasted for not being able to speak English despite arriving in the UK in 2006.

But Tevez says Corrie has been helping him learn.

He said: “I do like it. I don’t understand some things but it seems very good.”

Chelsea on verge of signing Sergio Agüero for £40m from Atlético Madrid

2009-11-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

The 21-year-old Atlético Madrid striker is close to agreeing terms with Chelsea who had inquired about his availability during the summer.

At that time Agüero had demanded a salary of more than £6 million-a-year which would have made him Chelsea's highest paid player – which the club balked at – but it is hoped he will now compromise on his wages

Chelsea will meet his agent Bruno Satin, who is head of the football division of IMG, one of the world's biggest sports agencies, on Monday to hopefully agree a deal after Atlético finally sanctioned Agüero's sale earlier this week.

The Spanish club are still hoping to receive more than £50 million for Agüero but, it's understood, are now more willing to compromise on the transfer fee if a deal can be done.

Nevertheless, a transfer of £40 million would represent a Premier League record, smashing the £32.5 million paid last year by Manchester City for Robinho, and would also be a restatement of Chelsea's intent, having not spent hugely under owner Roman Abramovich over the past three years.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has targeted Agüero as one of his major signings during the January transfer window. The club have been given permission to buy and sell after the Fifa-imposed transfer ban, following the Gaël Kakuta affair, was frozen pending an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Agüero scored two spectacular goals during the recent 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the Champions League. After the match Ancelotti joked that he would like to sign the exciting striker but it appears he was deadly earnest.

A meeting took place earlier this week with Chelsea discussing their strategy as to how they could acquire Agüero. Satin has also been demanding a hefty agent's fee – thought to be as much as £5 million – for the deal to go through but, again, he may be willing to compromise.

If Chelsea sign Agüero, as all parties now expect, it will represent something of a coup especially as it was thought they may struggle to acquire big-name players in January.

Indeed Chelsea may follow up the deal with a move for Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, who would command a similar fee and who is also greatly admired by Ancelotti.

The deal for Agüero is sensitive for Atlético, who have struggled this season. The striker is their main asset and also a huge fans' favourite and the club's board has been concerned about alienating supporters.

Satin is in Brazil at the moment, having also travelled to Argentina, to try to clinch a number of deals to sign players who could replace Agüero in the fans' affection.

Such is Chelsea's determination to secure the deal they may, eventually, be willing to go beyond the apparent ceiling of £40 million that was set to sign Agüero.

They are acutely aware that if their CAS appeal fails, they cannot make another signing for some time. Even so Agüero will not be eligible for Chelsea in the Champions League this season, having already played for Atlético.

If Agüero does sign it will cast some doubt on the first-team future of Nicolas Anelka, with Ancelotti set to partner the Argentine with Didier Drogba in a preferred two-man attack.

Chelsea also remain keen on Benfica's Angel Di Maria, but deem the fee demanded for him too high, and Everton's Jack Rodwell.

Who is Sergio Agüero?

Born: Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo at Quilmes, Argentina, on June 2, 1988. Joined Independiente as schoolboy and at 15 years and 35 days beat Diego Maradona’s record as youngest player to make debut in Argentinian top flight.

May, 2006: Joined Atlético Madrid for £16 million and has scored 45 goals in 122 appearances.

Engaged to Maradona’s daughter, Giannina, with whom he has a son.

Breaking Gossip

2009-11-18T10:18:00.000-08:00

Napoli play down speculation linking midfielder Marek Hamsik with a £25m move to Chelsea. (Press Association 10:47GMT)

Wayne Rooney Set To Move

2009-11-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

Man Utd ace player Wayne Rooney may be making the move from Manchester United to AC Millan a spokesman has heard. In a speech he said "I just need a change. Staying at the same club all your life wont get you anywhere , It's time to move on."
Hopefully he will stay at United Alex said. But its entirely upto Rooney. He may not want to move as he has just had his kid and it is too much messing about with the kid.

We will find the full info another day. :)

Bruce turns up the Wheater

2009-11-17T09:06:00.001-08:00

TEVE BRUCE has launched a £5million bid for David Wheater.

And the Sunderland boss looks set to seal an initial January loan deal for the Middlesbrough centre-back.

Bruce will then piece together a £4m move for Wheater, 22, rising a further £1m on incentives.

The former Manchester United defender wants the highly-rated star after losing faith in his own £8m defender Anton Ferdinand.

Ferdinand has been relegated to the Sunderland bench for their last two games. Wheater is in the Championship after Boro's relegation last season.

And he is eager to get back to the Premier League to catch England boss Fabio Capello's eye.

Boro are eighth and the recent sacking of boss Gareth Southgate has unsettled Wheater.

BLUES VILLA TARGET

2009-11-17T08:40:00.001-08:00

CHELSEA have targeted Spanish pair David Villa and Sergio Ramos in a £50m double deal.

The Blues have been chasing Valencia striker Villa for more than a year without any luck.

But new boss Carlo Ancelotti also wants to snap up Real Madrid defender Ramos, who can play at right-back or in central defence.

The news comes as Chelsea skipper John Terry has warned that the club will spend big in January, because it could be
their last chance for 18 months.

The Premier League leaders have been given a reprieve from their ban on signing new talent.

Earlier this month the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended a transfer ban imposed on the Blues while they wait to rule on a dispute over the signing of French youngster Gael Kakuta.

Another player on Ancelotti’s radar is young Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell, who is also being chased by Manchester United.

ROBIN VAN PERSIE has flown to Serbia for crackpot medical treatment

2009-11-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

The Arsenal striker, who feared he could be out for the rest of the season, has now been told he could be back within SIXWEEKS.

But Sun doctor Carol Cooper last night warned the wacky treatment will probably be a waste of time.

Van Persie said: "I am going to receive treatment from a female doctor. She is vague about her methods but I know she first massages you for a long time with placenta fluid. I'm going to give it a try.

"It can't do any harm and if it helps it helps.

"I have been in contact with Arsenal's chief physio about it. The club has allowed me to have this treatment done."

Van Persie, injured playing for Holland against Italy on Saturday, added: "It appears from the scan that my ankle ligament is almost entirely torn off at the point where Giorgio Chiellini caught me. However, I know it was not intentional."

The Sun's Dr Cooper said: "A placenta contains a number of proteins but it's completely unproven.

"The placenta has probably come from a large animal such as a horse.

"I'm not sure whether the treatment will make much of a difference."

Van Persie, 26, will report to boss Arsene Wenger again on Thursday when he sees Arsenal's medical staff.

Rafael Benitez: sell Fernando Torres and I will quit Liverpool

2009-11-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

Rafael Benítez reassured Liverpool supporters last night that he would never sanction the sale of Fernando Torres to pay part of the club’s debt.

Asked whether an offer of £100 million or more would tempt Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to sell their superstar striker, the Liverpool manager smiled and said: "It won’t happen. I’d quit."

In a wide-ranging interview with The Times — his first with a British national newspaper — Benítez strenuously defended his record in the transfer market, but admitted that he had taken gambles and made mistakes.

He explained why Alberto Aquilani is a bargain buy, spoke with pride about the transformation he has overseen at Liverpool and talked of his desire to leave a winning legacy at the club.

The former Valencia manager believes that he has overseen huge changes since arriving at Anfield in 2004. "There is a massive difference between five years ago and now," Benítez said. "The name of the club round the world is at the same level as it was in the 1980s. It’s a fantastic achievement. Everybody talks about Liverpool in a good way. And we will get better."

More worrying for Liverpool is that while Benítez underlines his commitment at every opportunity — "I want to leave a winning legacy," he said — Real Madrid may come calling.

The second galáctico era is stalling and Manuel Pellegrini, the Real coach, may be on his way out. Real made a huge offer to Benítez at the beginning of the year — their third — and sources in Madrid say they are preparing another. For the moment, though, Benítez is concentrating on one team.

The Spaniard, 49, signed a new five-year contract in February but has been under pressure this season after a poor start. Liverpool have suffered five defeats in 12 Barclays Premier League matches and are on the verge of elimination from the Champions League. To make matters worse, Torres and Steven Gerrard have suffered groin problems and Aquilani, their big summer signing, has been sidelined through injury, only making his league debut eight days ago.

"People are worried," Benítez said. "But the team will improve. When we have key players on the pitch we are as good as anyone. We have proved this in the past."

Signing Aquilani for £17 million from Roma to replace Xabi Alonso was great business, he insisted. "We can only buy one or two big, £20 million players a year," Benítez said. "If we want to have money available, then we have to sell some players. We have to sell expensive and buy as cheaply as possible.

"Aquilani fit would be £20-30 million. We checked with doctors and they said he would be out one, maybe two months. We have lost some time, but I signed the player for five years, not five weeks. We needed to take the risk."

What will not happen, though, Benítez insisted, is the departure of Torres.

Even with the club’s debts at £245 million, he laughed off the prospect of having to sell him. "I’m confident it will never happen," he said. "If it did, I’d resign."

The relative lack of cash at the club has made risk-taking essential for Liverpool and Benítez admits to making mistakes in the market.

"When we have spent big, normally it’s been very good business," he said. "Torres, Mascherano, Reina, Alonso. Keane is a good player but we had to sell him because he was not playing at the level we knew he could play. Ryan [Babel] was signed for the future and we are waiting for his improvement. He has to be more consistent.

"With the fringe players, we needed to take a gamble on Bosmans and one, two million-pound players. Some of these players have not been good enough for us. It is a risk you have to accept when there is not too much money about."

When Aquilani arrived, Alonso, a crowd favourite, left. In a bitter parting, there were suggestions that the relationship between Benítez and Alonso — who was sold for £20 million profit — had broken down. The manager dismissed the theory.

"He put in a transfer request," Benítez said. "We had a professional and good relationship. Some people say the manager must put his arm around the player’s shoulder. I don’t know too many managers who do this. Some managers here in England don’t even see the training sessions. How can you put your arm around the shoulders of the players if you are not there?"

Benítez’s relationships with the co-owners and Rick Parry, the former chief executive, have sometimes been frosty, but the manager is quick to praise Christian Purslow, Parry’s successor. "Since Christian’s first day I know I’ve had his support, inside and outside the club," he said.

Manager and chief executive may face a difficult transfer window, with the priority being to lower the wage bill. Three or four players may head out of the Anfield exit door, with none of the cash heading back to Benítez, but there will be no civil war behind the scenes. "We are progressing," he said. "I’m happy and want to do the best for this club."

Spurs eye outcast Foster

2009-11-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

SPURS are lining up a £6million New Year bid for England keeper Ben Foster.

The Manchester United star admits he may have to quit Old Trafford after slipping to No 3 in the pecking order.

And Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is in the market for a new keeper after Carlo Cudicini was seriously injured in a bike accident last week.

Foster fears he will not be in England's World Cup squad next year unless he is playing regular first-team football in the Premier League.

Foster, 26, was picked to start Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Brazil. But he admitted: "It's very disheartening not even being on the bench at United.

"I'm third choice for United yet playing for my country. It's a weird one and I'll see what happens."

Foster is reluctant to give up on his United dream.

However, after four years on the Old Trafford books, he fears he will never be Alex Ferguson's first choice.

He spent two years on loan with Watford immediately after signing from Stoke City in a £1million deal.

He then missed another year with a cruciate ligament injury.

But now he believes he needs regular Premier League football and would welcome the chance to establish himself at White Hart Lane.

Cudicini is unlikely to play again this season after fracturing both wrists and his pelvis last Thursday.

Now Redknapp is looking to sign an established goalkeeper to put pressure on unpredictable Brazilian Heurelho Gomes as Spurs bid to qualify for a Champions League place next season.

£60M CESC BATTLE

2009-11-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

REAL Madrid and Barcelona are ready to spark a £60m bidding war for Cesc Fabregas.

The Spanish giants have both made the Arsenal skipper their No.1 target for next season and are ready to go toe to toe.

Spanish and European champions Barca face elections for a new president next summer and all the candidates will
promise to sign Fabregas.

The midfielder was born and bred in Catalonia and has often talked about returning to his roots with Barcelona.

If current president Joan Laporta gets ousted, he could sign Fabregas as a parting gift.

Meanwhile prospective candidate Sandro Rosell, who was Laporta’s right-hand man, has already made contact with
Fabregas’ advisers to detail his plans for signing the 22-year-old.

This in-house battle at Barca alone will drive up the price, but the situation is complicated even more by Madrid’s interest.

President Florentino Perez is desperate to stop Barca from ‘repatriating’ one of their former youth stars from Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger does not want to lose his key player and skipper, but knows the only way to keep him is by winning a major trophy.

It will also depend on cash flow at the Emirates next summer and whether the club has been taken over by Stan Kroenke.

Fabregas said: ‘‘I am ignoring any talk about my future. I live day to day and my dream is to win the Premier League with Arsenal this season.’’