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Everton Transfer News and Rumours, Thursday 30 September
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Everton Looking At Belgian Striker Vossen
Everton and Aston Villa are both keeping tabs on Belgian striker Jelle Vossen. The 21-year-old has hit 13 goals in nine games this season for his club Racing Genk after rejoining them from Cercle Bruges during the summer. Genk are said to rate Vossen at £5 million.
Everton Take US Teenager On Trial
Everton are hoping to sign American striker Omar Salgado.
The 17-year-old has been with Mexican side Chivas but is on the look-out for a new club after leaving the Guadalajara side earlier this summer and has been handed a two-week trial at Goodison Park by boss David Moyes.
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Sunderland Transfer News and Rumours, Thursday 30 September
Sunderland Looking At Czech Midfield Duo
Sunderland are said to be looking at Czech midfielders Jan Polak and Jaroslav Plasil.
Twenty-nine year old Polak has over 50 caps for his country and almost left his Belgian club Anderlecht for Turkish side Galatasaray in the summer but signed a one year contract extension with the Belgian side which would keep him at the club until 2012, while Plasil is a left-sided player currently at Bordeaux.
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Wolves News, Thursday 30 September
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van Damme Missing Belgium
Wolves defender Jelle van Damme could be on his way out of Molyneux after claiming he can’t settle in England. The former Southampton man is said to be homesick just three months after arriving from Belgian side Anderlecht.
“My adjustment is difficult, not sporting but socially,” van Damme told a Belgian newspaper. “My wife is still in Belgium and is expecting our second child in November. Even if they would be here, I miss the life I had in Belgium.”
Van Damme added that he would always consider Anderlecht as his club but Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck has played down reports linking the defender with a return to the club claiming that Wolves would not be ready to take a loss on the player so soon after he joined them.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Thursday 30 September
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Villa Keep An Eye On £5m Vossen
Aston Villa and Everton are both keeping tabs on Belgian striker Jelle Vossen. The 21-year-old has hit 13 goals in nine games this season for his club Racing Genk after rejoining them from Cercle Bruges during the summer. Genk are said to rate Vossen at £5 million.
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News, Thursday 30 September
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Bolton Told To Pay £5m For Barton
Bolton Wanderers have been told they will have to pay £5 million for Preston teenager Adam Barton.
Bolton are one of a number of Premier League clubs tracking the midfielder but Preston boss Darren Ferguson has slapped a £5 million price tag on Barton, who recently turned down the opportunity to play for Northern Ireland as he wants to play for England.
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Liverpool Transfer News and Rumours, Thursday 30 September
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Liverpool Eye Up Birsa
Liverpool are said to be keen on Auxerre’s Slovenian midfielder Valter Birsa.
The 24-year-old reaches the end of his contract with the French side in June and could be available for as little as £2 million in the January transfer window.
Serie A side Napoli are also said to be interested in Birsa, who impressed during Slovenia’s World Cup campaign earlier this year. “It is normal that as professional football player I want to improve,” Birsa told the French press this week. “I do my work and if it turns out to be slightly interesting it will be in hands of the club.”
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Manchester City Transfer Rumours, Thursday 30 September
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City Set To Sign Assulin
Manchester City look set to sign former Barcelona midfielder Gai Assulin.
The teenager was hailed as ‘the new Lionel Messi’ when he made his debt for the Catalan club at the age of just 16, but has been plagued by injuries over the past couple of season and left Barca during the summer when his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
Blackburn Rovers were said to be interested in taking him on but Assulin decided to wait for a bigger club.
City took Assulin on trial over the summer and while he impressed during his spell at Eastlands he was still carrying an injury which prevented the club from making him an offer. However, Assulin is now clear of any injuries and can sign for City straight away as he is a free agent.
He will not be able to play in the Premier League until January as he is not part of City’s 25-man squad but is eligible to play in the Carling Cup.
City Interested In Spanish Defender
Reports from Spain are linking Manchester City with Sporting Gijon defender Jose Angel.
The 20-year-old has already represented his country at under-21 level despite not being a first-team regular at the La Liga side but Sporting are said to have put a price tag of £15 million on the player.
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Manchester United News, Thursday 30 September
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Rooney Aims To Play This Weekend
Wayne Rooney aims to play for Manchester United this weekend. That’s the surprising news from the United camp as Rooney aims to get his season back on track.
The striker was left behind as United travelled to Valencia for their Champions League match after manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggested he would be out for three weeks. There was also the suggestion that Ferguson was giving Rooney some time off to sort out his private life which has been in the media spotlight recently.
Rooney expects to return to training today after scans showed that his ankle problem only requires short spells of rest rather than any surgery. He is said to be desperate to get back to form and doesn’t want to spend time on the sidelines.
Ferguson Hails Hernandez Strike
Meanwhile, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed Javier Hernandez after the Mexican’s 85th-minute strike clinched all three points in their victory over Valencia last night.
“When he took his chance it was like he was shelling peas,” said Ferguson. “It was so natural to him. He’s a natural finisher and he showed that tonight.
“The form of Berbatov has delayed Javier’s appearances and, of course, playing Wayne and Berba is a natural choice at the start of the season; it’s meant Chicharito hasn’t had a lot football.
“He’s young, but he’s gaining a lot of strength in the gymnasium by building up his physique because he needs to work on that.”
Hernandez himself was delighted with the goal. “I’m so happy about the goal. I always used to watch the Champions League when I was back home in Mexico.
“It’s one of the most important tournaments in the world so I was always keeping up with it. It’s a dream come true for me, but the result is the biggest thing for us.”
The win maintains United’s unbeaten record in their opening Champions League games and they share first place in their group with Rangers who beat Turkish side Buraspor 1-0.
United Maintain Interest In Danish Keeper
Manchester United are still interested in Aalesund goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.
The Reds kept an eye on Lindegaard this summer as he played in the Norwegian League but are set to face competition for the 26-year-old Dane, principally from Inter Milan whose boss Rafa Benitez is also keen on Lindegaard.
Aalesund are ready to listen to offers for their keeper, who they signed from Danish side Odense in 2009 and who made his debut for the Danish national side earlier this month.
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Aston Villa Transfer Rumours, Wednesday 29 September
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Houllier To Make Decision Over Trio
New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier will decide in the next three months whether to let Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell and John Carew leave the club during the next transfer window or to keep them until the end of the season.
All three are out of contract next summer and can speak to foreign clubs in January.
Both Reo-Coker and Sidwell played in Villa’s 2-1 win over Wolves on Sunday while Carew has an impressive scoring record of 52 goals in 127 games since Houllier sold him while manager of Lyon in 2007.
All three are out of contract in the summer so Houllier can expect to receive nominal transfer fees for the players but the three each earn over £50,000 a week the new boss’s reasoning for selling them would be to get them off Villa’s wage bill.
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Everton Transfer News and Rumours, Wednesday 29 September
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Juventus are in contention to sign Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar. The 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is free to talk to foreign clubs from 1 January.
It is thought the Italian giants could well make a bid during the winter transfer window rather than until the summer even though they could sign the South African on a Bosman free transfer at the end of the season.
Spurs are also interested in Pienaar who has yet to sign Everton’s offer of a new deal said to be worth £55,000 a week.
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Chelsea News, Wednesday 29 September
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Terry Admits Taking Foot Off The Pedal
Chelsea skipper John Terry admits that his side took it easy during the second half of last night’s Champions League victory over Marseille. The Blues ran into a two-goal first half lead but failed to add to their tally and ran out easy 2-0 winners, but Terry, who scored the opening goal, admitted “We managed to save a bit of energy, but we would have liked to get the third.
“It was disappointing losing our previous games and that’s unusual for us, so to come here and put on a good show was important.”
Nicolas Anelka added a penalty after Terry’s seventh-minute opener and Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with the way his side bounced back after two successive defeats:
“We analysed the two defeats and prepared well and now the defeats are forgotten.
“We played well in the first half and found it more difficult after the break but we still put pressure on and could have scored more.”
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Newcastle United Transfer News, Wednesday 29 September
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Newcastle Sign French Teenager
Newcastle United have signed French teenager Yven Moyo on a four-year contract.
The 18-year-old appeared in the Toon’s reserve team game with Wolves on Monday night and has signed on a free. Moyo was without a club having rejected the offer of a training contract with French side Sochaux.
Ajax, Bordeaux and Manchester United were all said to be interested in the winger.
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Arsenal News, Wednesday 29 September
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Wenger Affirms Belief In Fabianski
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said he has always believed in goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski after the Pole inspired the Gunners to a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade in Serbia last night. The 25-year-old pulled off a string of impressive saves including one from a last-minute penalty as Arsenal maintained a 100% start to their Champions League campaign.
“I have always believed in him, and I am still confident he will turn out to be a great goalkeeper. I’ve always said that, but you have to keep confident in him and he needs games like that.
“The Fabianski we saw tonight was the keeper we see in training and he had a faultless game. I knew a performance like that was in him, we just had to get it out of him.
“But that penalty save will lift his confidence and hopefully it will do him the world of good.”
Fabianski’s performance will come as a boost to Wenger whose goalkeeping problems were cast into the spotlight after Manuel Almunia’s errors against West Brom at the weekend.
“It was important to win straight away after our deep disappointment against West Brom,” said Wenger who was pleased that his side can go into Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with Chelsea in good heart.
“It puts us in a good position confidence-wise – it’s a big game, but we can go there with desire and belief restored.
“Overall, especially in the first half, I thought we looked very dangerous and Jack Wilshere, Arshavin and Chamakh were a constant threat. And once we went 2-1 in front, I felt we always looked comfortable.”
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Manchester United News, Wednesday 29 September
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Rooney Out For Three Weeks
Wayne Rooney looks set to miss England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro next month after being ordered to rest for three weeks.
The Manchester United striker was substituted after picking up an ankle injury against Bolton on Sunday and has been ordered to rest by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, speculation continues that Rooney is being given time off to address issues in his private life, especially after Ferguson refused to be drawn on the nature of the injury. “What do you want me to say?” the manager said after being asked about Rooney’s ankle. “Do you want me to describe every ligament? Christ.”
Rooney will miss tonight’s Champions League group stage game with Valencia, United’s Premier League games with Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion and England’s game with Montenegro on 12 October.
Ferdinand Stands As United Fly
Meanwhile, United defender Rio Ferdinand protected his back during the two-hour flight to Valencia by standing up for the whole of the journey, according to The Sun.
Ferdinand was out of action for over three months while he recovered from the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, but his back – which has caused him to miss 61 out of United’s last 103 games – is still causing him trouble and the defender needs a booster seat to ensure his back is aligned properly.
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Tottenham News: Spurs Hit By Euro Injury Crisis
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Bassong Is Only Fit Centre Half for Twente Clash
Sebastien Bassong is the only fit centre-back named in Tottenham’s Champions League squad to face Dutch champions FC Twente at White Hart Lane tomorrow night.
Jonathan Woodgate is a long-term casualty whose season may already be over while Michael Dawson still has around a month to go before he recovers from an ankle injury.
Younes Kaboul and William Gallas are also on the sidelines, while there are doubts over the condition of Vedran Corluka. However, Ledley King is expected to start tomorrow’s game while goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is also expected to be back in contention. Left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto has also shaken off a knee knock and is expected to start.
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has called upon his players to maintain their Premier League focus after tomorrow’s game. A 4-0 win over Young Boys to qualify for the Champions League was followed by a home defeat by Wigan and Redknapp says that it difficult to get players motivated for games after midweek European matches.
“The biggest problem you have is getting the players up for the Premier League games after the Champions League,” said Redknapp. “You have to juggle your team and it’s difficult to keep continuity.
“I spoke to Gianfranco Zola who said that when Chelsea first qualified for the tournament, it was something fantastic and new. In the early days, they found it difficult getting up again for the bread and butter games.
“They have come to terms with it now, though, and it’s something we need to make sure we do. We have to get ourselves up for another tough game against Aston Villa on Saturday.”
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Manchester United News: Ferdinand and Vidic Set To Start
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First-Choice Defensive Pairing Set To Make Season Debut
Manchester United are set to start Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in central defence in tomorrow night’s Champions League game with Valencia.
The central defensive partnership will start this season for the first time as United look to bounce back after a disappointing goalless draw with Rangers in their opening European game.
Ferdinand has made just two appearances since recovering from the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup but both those appearances have been while Vidic has been rested, however United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is now ready to put faith in his first-choice central defensive pairing for tomorrow’s game at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium.
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Blackburn Rovers Transfer Rumours, Tuesday 28 September
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Blackburn Set To Sign ‘New Viera’
Blackburn Rovers look set to sign former Middlesbrough midfielder Herold Goulon.
The 22-year-old, who is a free agent having been without a club since being released by Le Mans during the summer, was hailed as ‘the new Patrick Viera’ while at Lyon and joined Middlesbrough in 2006. However, the youngster failed to make a first-team appearance for Boro and was sold to Le Mans on the last day of the transfer window at the start of 2009.
Goulon then made 37 appearances for Le Mans but turned down the offer of a new contract this summer in the hope of making a return to a Premier League side.
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is said to be keen to sign the player even though he wouldn’t be able to play league games for Blackburn until January as he has not been included in the club’s 25-man squad. Clubs are unable to add to that squad list until the transfer window re-opens.
Tottenham News, Tuesday 28 September
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Redknapp Happy With Van Der Vaart
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is hoping his new Dutch signing Rafael van de Vaart will shoot Tottenham to Champions League glory this season.
The £8 million transfer-deadline day signing from Real Madrid has impressed in his early performances from Spurs and Redknapp is looking for more of the same from the Dutchman as Spurs take on FC Twente in the Champions League tomorrow night:
“He looks like a top player, real class. He’s always on the move and always looking for the ball,” said Redknapp.
“He can receive the ball when it’s tight and use his body to shield it, and if he’s marked he can still receive the ball – that’s a fantastic ability to have. He sees a pass, has a great left foot – he’s a real quality player.
“He wasn’t playing at Real Madrid so he came here not really having played any games. He’s done well to come in and play the games he’s played in such a short space of time.”
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Manchester United News, Tuesday 28 September
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‘United Can Beat Valencia Without Rooney’ – Fletcher
Manchester United can still beat Valencia without Wayne Rooney. That’s the view of United midfielder Darren Fletcher.
England star Rooney has been left behind after picking up an ankle in United’s 2-2 draw at Bolton on Sunday, but Fletcher reckons United have enough to pick up three points at the Mestalla despite the absence of the talismanic Rooney.
“It is going to be a difficult match,” said midfielder Fletcher. “People might say it is not the same Valencia because they have lost Villa and Silva. But as we have seen at Manchester United, when you lose good players others step up to the mark and take on more responsibility. They have had a fantastic start.
“We have picked up experience of playing in Europe and we have confidence. We know how to cope with the travel and the different styles of play. Against Spanish sides, keeping the ball is key; if you give the ball away cheaply, you might not see it for a few minutes and they will punish you.”
However, Rooney’s loss of form has coincided with a purple patch for Dimitar Berbatov, United’s leading goalscorer this season, while Michael Owen, ostensibly the fourth choice striker at Old Trafford, came off the bench at Bolton to score with his first touch of the ball. Berbatov is expected to start against Valencia while Owen will also be pushing for a place in the starting line-up
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Arsenal News, Tuesday 28 September
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that morale in the camp is very low following their shock 3-2 home defeat by West Brom on Saturday.
Despite a victory over Spurs in the Carling Cup last week the Gunners were floored by the Baggies at the Emirates on Saturday and Wenger admits that his players need picking up ahead of their Champions League clash with Partizan Belgrade in Serbia this evening.
“The mood is still very low, but it is difficult to compare it with other disappointments,” Wenger said yesterday. “We have not yet discovered the measurement of lowness for a football team.”
However, whilst still upset about Saturday’s result Wenger was happy with the effort his players put in:
“Physically, what we did on Saturday was tremendous,” he said. “The highest this season in sprints and the distance we ran. You cannot say the players lacked effort, but we lacked sharpness and the quality of work was not there.”
Errors by Manuel Almunia contributed to at least one of the goals and highlighted Arsenal’s problems between the sticks. Wojciech Szczesny’s assertion last week that he was unhappy at not being given the chance to play and his suggestion he may leave the club if he isn’t given the opportunity of first-team football can’t have helped matters either.
However, Almuina won’t play against Partizan because of an injury.
“He did his right elbow in making the penalty. We checked him at half-time and he had some pain but said he could go on, so I decided to play him on.”
Polish keeper Lukasz Fabianski will start in Belgrade tonight. Cesc Fabregas missed the West Brom game and won’t play against Partizan but Jack Wilshere, Denilson and possibily Kieran Gibbs are all in line for a recall.
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