Borussia Dortmund star to choose future in Summer

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Jan 16, 2014

Manchester United manager David Moyes is ready to give up on Juventus duo Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal this month, and is now turning his attentions to Napoli star Marek Hamsik.

Moyes, who has been in Italy over the last few days watching games, is in deserpate need to strengthen his midfield, and after failing to sign his main targets in the Summer, he is now keen to make a big-signing this month in order to stamp his mark on the club.

After holding talks with Juventus’ transfer negotiator, it was made clear to Moyes that Pogba and Vidal will not be leaving, so the Scot is now turning to Napoli in order to try and sign their creative midfielder.

It is reported that Napoli want around £25million for the 26-year-old.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Pochettino’s future in doubt.

By

Ben Reardon

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Jan 16, 2014

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino’s future as Southampton boss appears to be in serious doubt, following the resignation of Chairman Nicola Cortese on Wednesday.

Cortese’s resignation had been accepted and that their owner Katharina Liebherr had taken on the role of non-executive chairman, with the search having begun for a new chief executive officer.

Reports have suggested Cortese actually tendered his resignation earlier this season in the autumn and there was talk of the 45-year-old Italian considering his position back in May.

The Argentine manager, who was appointed under Cortese in the January of 2013, also stated that he would leave the South Coast side, if Cortese left his position of Chairman.

”I would not understand staying in this role if Nicola was not here.

”I have great respect as well for Southampton, the club and the supporters, but Nicola has been the one that has placed his trust and faith in me.

”We are on the same wavelength about the club and the future of the club so it really would not make any sense if I was at this club and he was not.”

Pochettino has impressed during his time on the South Coast, bringing free flowing attacking football to St Mary’s, as Southampton enjoyed a superb start to the Barclays Premier League campaign.

Saints supporters will now be worried that the likes of Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, James Ward Prowse, Jay Rodriguez and Ricky Lambert will all be temped away from Southampton in the next few weeks, following the turmoil on the South Coast.

Liebherr said in the statement on Wednesday: ”It is business as usual and we will ensure that the manager, team and staff at the club have all the help and support they need.”

She also said Cortese’s resignation had been accepted “with great regret”, that he had “done a wonderful job” and that Southampton “very much wanted him to stay.”

Saints full back Luke Shaw, a reported target for a number of major Premier League clubs, gave his reaction to Cortese’s departure in a message on Twitter, writing: ”Gutted with that news, but would just like to thank Nicola Cortese for everything he has done for me and the club! All the best to him!”

Cortese took over the club in 2009, with the club in Administration, and strugglimg in League One, and oversaw back to back promotions, with the Saints becoming a stable Premier League side under Pochettino.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Arsenal stars are begging Wenger for a striker!

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Jan 16, 2014

Some of the Arsenal stars have been begging manager Arsene Wenger to make a big-name signing this month in order to add depth to their attacking options.

The Gunners have been relying on Olivier Giroud as the lone-man all season so far, and with Nicklas Bendtner and now Theo Walcott both out, Wenger is left with just Giroud and Lukas Podolski, who has only just returned from a hamstring injury.

Wenger made it clear that he wanted to sign a striker back in the Summer, but he failed in his pursuit for both Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez, however, he did show that he is willing to spend, by signing Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for £43million.

Now though, with the title up for grabs, some of the Arsenal players have pleaded with Wenger to go out and spend big again on a new striker so that they can really push on for the title.

Names going around are; Diego Costa, Stevan Jovetic, Wayne Rooney, Gonzalo Higuain and Jackson Martinez.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Chadli wants out, reveals agent

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Jan 16, 2014

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nacer Chadli wants a loan-move this month in order to play first-team football, according to his agent.

The Belgium international, who cost Spurs £7million back in the Summer, has failed to impress at White Hart Lane since his arrival, and due to that, his first-team appearances have been limited.

Six starts under Andre Villas-Boas and just the one under Tim Sherwood amounts to the game-time that Chadli has had at White Hart Lane, and this is why he is ready to move away until the end of the season.

Speaking in an interview, Chadli’s agent, Daniel Evrard admitted that his client is finding it tough in England, and also revealed his intentions are to seek a loan-move until the end of the season so that he can book his spot in the Belgium squad for this Summer’s World Cup.

Evrard said: “His situation is not easy at Tottenham at the moment.

“The World Cup is arriving so it’s a problem.

“For him to play at the World Cup it’s important so why not a loan?

“We haven’t spoken to Tottenham yet but I know there are clubs interested in him.

“There are a lot of players in the same situation who are not in the team and they want to play in the World Cup so there is a market for a lot of clubs.

“It’s important for him not to take any risks by going to a country he doesn’t know well.

“It’s very difficult for him because we’ve not seen the best of him at Tottenham. He has big potential so he is a little bit frustrated.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Daniel Levy to frustrate Arsenal by blocking Lewis Holtby exit

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Jan 16, 2014

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is set to frustrate fierce-rivals Arsenal by blocking a potential loan-move which would see Lewis Holtby join Geman side Schalke for the rest of the season, so that it means Julian Draxler will not be on his way to the Emirates Stadium this month.

The Bundelisga outfit are interested in loaning in Holtby so that he has game-time and so that they can suitable cover just in case Draxler does leave the club, with Arsene Wenger’s men leading the race.

However, after hearing about the plans to sign Draxler, Levy is now refusing to loan-out Holtby in fear that it will help their main rivals, much like they did in the Summer.

Allowing Gareth Bale to leave and join Real Madrid, meant that Arsenal could sign Mesut Ozil, but it appears the same situation will not be happening again.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Southampton turmoil could see stars leave

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Jan 16, 2014

Chelsea are set to re-bid for Southampton’s Luke Shaw after the club seem to be going through turmoil after chairman Nicola Cortese resigned from his position.

What is worst for The Saints is that Mauricio Pochettino revealed that is Cortese left, he would follow suit, and that could also see a whole host of stars leave the club as well, which is a big concern for Southampton fans, who were enjoying life in the Premier League.

With it all going wrong in the boardroom, Chelsea are prepared to swoop in for one of their most promising youngsters, Luke Shaw, who has already commented on his future claiming that it’s at St Marys, but now with all this going on, he could be tempted to leave the club before it goes even further downhill.

According to reports, Chelsea offered Southampton £15million plus Ryan Bertrand for Shaw, but that bid was rejected.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Chelsea legend claims that he never wants to leave Stamford Bridge

By

Billy Foster

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Jan 15, 2014

Jose Mourinho claims that he doesn’t want to go anywhere else and wants to finish his management career at Chelsea. Mourinho began his second spell with the club at the beggining of the season and he’s loving it there.

Jose Mourinho said: “I’m not here thinking about my next move because I don’t want to have a next move.”

“I will have a next move if and when Chelsea decides it’s time for that.”

“I’m here to stay. I belong to Chelsea, Chelsea belong to me.”

“I gave a lot to Chelsea in the past but they also gave a lot to me. This is a different professional relationship.”

The Portuguese spent 5 years away from the London side with spells at Inter Milan & Real Madrid. Mourinho kept his original house from his first spell with the club. Due to his success he could practically pick were he wanted to go. When he decided to leave Madrid for the blues Jose didn’t know whether they was looking for a new manager or whether they would want him.

When he spoke about it, it had turned out that they had Rafa Benitez as a temporary solution so they was looking for someone permanent so the ex Madrid manager jumped at the opportunity.

By Billy Foster

Chelsea confirm Nemanja Matic signing

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Jan 15, 2014

Chelsea have completed the signing of Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic for a fee around £21million, just three years after he left the club.

Matic, who has now signed a five-and-a-half-year deal at the club, left Stamford Bridge as part of the David Luiz deal which saw the Brazilian come the other way, but after Jose Mourinho made it clear that he wanted to strengthen his midfield, they attempted to re-.sign the Serbian international.

The 25-year-old flew to London last night and completed his medical and the paperwork today, and a few hours ago both the player and the club confirmed the deal.

“I am very happy for this opportunity. I just want to say I will give my best to help the team and make the Chelsea fans happy,” said Matic.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said: “He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Schalke cannot stop bid for Julian Draxler

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Jan 15, 2014

The 20-year-old, who has over four years left on his current deal with Schalke, has previously insisted he would not be leaving the club ahead of the World Cup finals.

Chelsea are reportedly long-time admirers of Draxler, however it has been claimed that Arsenal were readying a £37million (€45.5m) which would trigger his release clause.

And speaking in German daily Bild, Schalke general manager Horst Heldt admits they could not stand in his way if a bid did meet his buy-out clause.

“We are still hopeful Julian (Draxler) is to stay on at our club,” said Heldt. “However, there are certain arrangements we cannot change!”

Reports in Germany have claimed that Schalke’s interest in re-signing Lewis Holtby from Tottenham could stem from the fact they fear losing Draxler this month.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Sidney Sam – who has already agreed to join Schalke this summer – is seen as the long-term replacement for Draxler.

Written by Steve Milne – Have your say below 🙂

Nani poised for Man United exit

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Jan 15, 2014

Manchester United winger Nani could leave the club to join Valencia this week if Singapore businessman Peter Lim is given the go-ahead to buy the Spanish club.

Lim, who tried to buy Liverpool in 2010, will find out on Wednesday if his £250million offer for Valencia has been accepted.

If the debt-stricken club’s main creditors Bankia wave through the takeover Lim has promised to spend £40million euros this transfer window and Nani will be one of his first purchases.

Nani’s agent Jorge Mendes is working closely with Lim and the two spoke at the Fifa Ballon d’Or gala on Monday. They also watched Valencia crash out of the Spanish Cup together on Tuesday.

Valencia have also been linked with Monaco’s Radamel Falcao.

The Colombian is another Mendes client and it is being seen as another sweetener for those who control Valencia to give Lim the green light although unlikely to come to pass in view of the player’s huge transfer fee and wages.

Nani is a more realistic target however with Mendes having already negotiated his departure from Old Trafford in recent talks in Manchester with United.

Valencia were the last team to break Real Madrid and Barcelona’s hold on the Spanish title winning it under Rafa Benitez in 2004. But they have been football’s biggest losers in the collapse of the Spanish economy.

The currently have two stadiums – one, Mestalla, that they cannot sell – and a new one that they cannot afford to finish building. Lim’s plans are understood to include wiping out the 300m debt and finishing the new stadium as well as spending big in the winter transfer window.

Written by Steve Milne – Have your say below

Ramsey set to return from thigh strain for Arsenal’s clash with Fulham

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Jan 15, 2014

The Wales international has been out since picking up a thigh strain against West Ham on Boxing Day.

But Ramsey, who has arguably been the Gunners’ player of the season so far, is ready to hand Arsene Wenger a huge boost by returning to action this weekend.

Meanwhile, Arsenal medics will continue to assess Tomas Rosicky and Nacho Monreal ahead of the clash against their London rivals.

Rosicky sustained a suspected broken nose, while Monreal suffered a foot injury in Monday’s win at Aston Villa.

Both are said to be doubtful for the visit of Rene Meulensteen’s side on Saturday.

Written by Steve Milne

Manchester United bid for Vito Mannone

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Jan 15, 2014

Manchester United have made contact with Sunderland over goalkeeper Vito Mannone, according to Gazetta dello Sport.

The Italian sports daily claim that David Moyes is interested in bringing in former Arsenal keeper Mannone as back-up to David De Gea.

The story suggests that Anders Lindegaard could be leaving Old Trafford with the Dane keen for first-team football elsewhere.

And any Mannone departure would open the door for Sunderland to bring in Argentina number two Mariano Andújar.

The Catania goalkeeper is available this winter and, as revealed by MirrorSport last week , Gus Poyet is a fan of the 30-year-old – who will only move to the Stadium of Light for first-team football.

“I like the style of South American goalkeepers,” Poyet admitted, “and Andújar is a player that I like and I know.”

Written by Steve Milne – Have your say below 🙂

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to finish career in Premier League

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Jan 15, 2014

Former Real Madrid president Roman Calderon has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the Premier League before the end of his playing career.

The Portuguese superstar – who won the FIFA Ballon d’Or on Monday – only signed a five-year-deal with Madrid in September but has previously suggested he would welcome a second spell in England.

A return to Manchester United was touted last summer and this week he sensationally claimed he did consider a switch to Old Trafford, after speaking with former team-mate Rio Ferdinand.

He remains firmly committed to Los Blancos for the time being but Calderon believes he will look to move back to the Premier League before hanging up his boots.

The ex-Madrid president told The Sun: “I do not think he will finish his career at Real. I feel that one day he will return to England.

“In Madrid, he is pleased with the city and the fans. But I think his relationship with Florentino Perez is not as good as it was with Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.”

The 28-year-old returned to training yesterday to show off his award, with Madrid bosses desperate to retain his services for the forseeable future.

And while he would appear to have one big deal left him, Calderon accepts a move away from the Spanish capital will not be happening any time soon.

He added: “Of course, everyone in the world wants to have Cristiano in their team, certainly.

“It was very important to keep him with us for the image of Madrid and for his level of performance in the years to come. Cristiano was born to play for Real Madrid.”

Written by Steve Milne – Have your say below 🙂

We can achieve anything now, insists Mertesacker

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Jan 15, 2014