Sunday, June 28, 2015

Raheem Sterling's move to Manchester City is a "done deal," reckons ex-Liverpool boss






Judi Online -  Raheem Sterling’s move to Manchester City is a ‘done deal’ according to former Liverpool manager Roy Evans.


The Blues have had two offers for the Anfield attacker rejected, reports the Manchester Evening News. 
 
The second bid amounts to £40m - £35m and £5m in add-ons - though the Merseyside club are said to want £50m.

But Roy Evans - who managed Liverpool between 1994 and 1998 - reckons a deal is as good as completed.

He reckons Liverpool’s huge spending in recent weeks means the departure of Sterling is inevitable.

Manager Brendan Rodgers splashed £29m on striker Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim and is poised to spend further on Southampton right-back Nathaniel Clyne, who is rated at £12m.

He has already brought in James Milner, Danny Ings - his fee is due to be set by tribunal - Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez.

Bandar Bola -  Evans believes that level of spending means Liverpool are resigned to losing Sterling, albeit for a huge fee.

He told talkSPORT: “I don’t think they would be spending the amount of money they have if they didn’t feel Raheem Sterling was already a done deal to somewhere.

“If you look at the transfer market and the way it has been with the amount of players Liverpool have bought, I think that it must be in the equation.

“I like the idea that they’re trying to do business early rather than wait until the end of the transfer window.”

City are thought to be readying themselves for a third bid, though they don’t want to pay the £50m Liverpool believe he is worth.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid all showed initial interest but City are in pole position to land the young England ace. 





Friday, June 26, 2015

Tottenham want Chelsea's Stoke transfer target Victor Moses as their hopes on other forwards fade






Judi Online -  Tottenham are trying to sign Chelsea winger Victor Moses.


Nigeria international Moses spent last season on loan at Stoke, where he scored four times in 23 games.

Mark Hughes wants him back at the Britannia next season and the Potters had been ready to request he be included in any deal, should Chelsea target Asmir Begovic to replace their Arsenal-bound keeper Petr Cech.

The 24-year-old, however, is reluctant as Spurs - who can offer Europa League football next season - have come in.

Ex-Crystal Palace trainee Moses, signed by Chelsea from Wigan in 2012 when Roberto Di Matteo was still manager, was sent out on a 12-month loan to Liverpool by Jose Mourinho when he returned to the west Londoners two years ago.

He is now considering his options, with little chance of breaking into Mourinho's first team.
Tottenham have had a frustrating time on the striker front.

Bandar Bola -  Long-time target Jay Rodriguez signed a new deal with Southampton last month, exciting Monaco forward Anthony Martial is also set to commit his future to his French club and Sevilla marksman Carlos Bacca would prefer a move to Liverpool.

Spurs are in talks with Turkish club Galatasaray to offload misfit forward Roberto Soldado but are struggling to find someone prepared to take £100,000-a-week striker Emmanuel Adebayor off their hands.

* VITESSE ARNHEM have signed Chelsea's England junior international Lewis Baker on loan for the coming season.
The 20-year-old, who has worn the Three Lions at under-20 level, has come through the Blues' youth system and had loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons.


Sunday, June 21, 2015

Manchester City target Kevin de Bruyne to hold Wolfsburg talks before deciding future







Judi Online -  Manchester City target Kevin de Bruyne is to hold talks with current club Wolfsburg, before deciding on his future.


The Belgian ace, 23, enjoyed an outstanding 2014-15 campaign with the Wolves, leading them to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga, as well as victory in the German Cup.

That has landed the former Chelsea misfit on the radar of both City and French champions PSG, with both keen on signing him this summer.

City captain Vincent Kompany, an international teammate of de Bruyne, recently hailed his compatriot as "phenomenal" and admitted his excitement at the prospect of potentially linking up at club level.

However, according to de Bruyne's agent, Patrick de Koster, the playmaker won't be making any decision on his future before talking with his current club.

Bandar Bola -  Wolfsburg splashed £22million on de Bruyne in January 2014, saving him from his Stamford Bridge hell and he believes he owes a debt to the Volkswagen-backed outfit.

"We are aware of the interest from other clubs," said de Koster.

"But Kevin knows how much faith Wolfsburg showed in him when Chelsea didn't.

"Klaus [Allofs - Wolfsburg sporting director] says he will be making a proposal. We will wait to hear that before we consider other options."

De Bruyne has four years left on his current contract and will be playing Champions League football next term, if he remains at the Volkswagen Arena.




Friday, June 19, 2015

Tottenham complete Kieran Trippier transfer as Burnley defender agrees five-year deal







Judi Online -  Tottenham have completed the signing of Kieran Trippier from Burnley.


The 24-year-old defender, who started every Premier League game last season, has penned a five-year deal at White Hart Lane.

Trippier had a £3.5m release clause at Turf Moor, which was activated after Sean Dyche's men were relegated to the Championship.

Liverpool were also keen but Spurs have pushed through the deal, with Mauricio Pochettino keen to give Kyle Walker some competition at right-back.

"When I first heard that the club was interested I didn’t have to think twice," Trippier said.

Bandar Bola -  It’s such a big club and now I just can’t wait to get started and show everyone what I can do.

"Whenever I get a chance, I want to do well for the other players, the staff and, of course, the fans.

"I’ll take every opportunity I get with both hands and hopefully play my part for everyone at the club."

Trippier is Spurs' second signing of the summer following the arrival of Kevin Wimmer last month.

The Austrian centre-back also agreed a five-year contract with Pochettino's men, arriving for an undisclosed fee.



Thursday, June 18, 2015

Raheem Sterling transfer: Liverpool calling Manchester City's bluff over that 'final' £40million offer



 


Judi Online -  Liverpool are ready to call Manchester City’s bluff on their claim they have made a final offer for Raheem Sterling.

The Reds rejected that bid - worth £40million - for young England star Sterling this week, and now they will make clear they expect that to be the end of the matter, as it was supposed to be a take it or leave it deal.

And their message to deposed Premier League champions City couldn’t be simpler: Shut up OR pay up.

Liverpool’s American owners are sick of the circus that has sprung up around the talented 20-year-old.

Bandar Bola -  They are hoping that by bluntly telling City their 'final' bid is the end of the matter it will quieten the noise around the situation... if the Blues were telling the truth that they would walk away if that improved offer was refused.

It puts the ball firmly in the opposition court, with the Mancunians unable to proceed unless they return with a new offer which gets close to Liverpool’s valuation of the winger.

The Reds have to pay 20 per cent of any fee they receive for Sterling to his first club, Queens Park Rangers. And that means they will not entertain any figure below £50m.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Juventus keen on £25million Oscar as Max Allegri admits admiration for Chelsea star







Judi Online -  Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri wants to sign £25million Oscar from Chelsea.

The champions are ready to consider offers for the 23-year-old this summer and Allegri has suggested the Italian champions will be first in the queue.

Asked whether he admires Oscar, Allegri said: “Very much. He is one of those players who can make a difference in Europe.”

Oscar signed a new five year deal at Stamford Bridge last November and insisted back in April that he wants to stay at Chelsea.

Mourinho has claimed that he will not sell Oscar during the current transfer window and that the player will benefit from being left out of the Copa America to recover from an injury.

Bandar Bola -  Oscar has been, however, among the most substituted players in the Premier League this season and Allegri has indicated Juventus are ready to test Chelsea’s resolve.

Meanwhile United Arab Emirates outfit Al Ain have targeted John Obi Mikel.

The Dubai club are ready to offer him a lucrative deal to quit south west London.

Blues’ midfielder Mikel has a year left on his contract but has been a fringe player for the past seasons and is understood to be considering the move.


Friday, June 12, 2015

West Ham eye transfer of Tottenham old boy Vedran Corluka from Lokomotiv Moscow






Judi Online -  Slaven Bilic is trying to bring former Tottenham star Vedran Corluka to West Ham.

The 29-year-old, currently at Lokomotiv Moscow, spent four years at the White Hart Lane club between 2008 and 2012.

Before that, he spent a year at Manchester City but was replaced when then-boss Mark Hughes brought in Pablo Zabaleta.

Corluka was a key player for the Croatian national team under Bilic and was part of the side that lost just eight games in six years under Bilic, the Hammers’ new boss.

He has just been voted one of the best players of the past season at Lokomotiv - one of Bilic’s former clubs - who have lifted the 2015 Russia Cup.

West Ham had an interest in free agent ex-England full-back Micah Richards following his release by Manchester City. But the 26-year-old is set to join Aston Villa on a free transfer next week when he returns from holiday.

The Irons have also expressed an interest to Arsenal in taking Carl Jenkinson on loan, as they did last season. 

The Gunners, however, want a £2million loan fee, which the east Londoners are not prepared to pay.
Meanwhile Mauro Zarate has insisted he is ready to prove himself an asset for Bilic.

Bandar Bola -  The 28-year-old Argentine was brought in by Hammers’ joint-chairman David Gold last summer but then-manager Sam Allardyce rarely included him in his plans and the two men fell out.

Zarate was farmed out on loan to QPR but arrived at Loftus Road disillusioned and unfit. He was also fined for his angry reaction to not being able to make the team to face Liverpool last month.

He was eventually sent back to West Ham who, in turn sent him home to Argentina for a break to regain his fitness ahead of the new season.

With Bilic now in charge, Zarate is aiming for a fresh start next season.

He said: “It is an exciting time for the club and I want to be part of that.

I know the new manager had a good relationship with his players at Besiktas and I want to work hard to become a part of his plans.

“West Ham is still a club that I love. I have been training hard and I am looking forward to showing that I can still be an important player for them.”

Earlier this week, Gold made it clear that Zarate would get another chance.

He said: “The slate has been wiped clean and under Slaven everyone will get their chance.”



Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Michael Owen: Liverpool newcomer Danny Ings must step it up or life won't be pleasant







Judi Online -  Michael Owen has warned Danny Ings he faces “a whole new ball game” trying to cope with the pressure of playing for Liverpool.

The 22-year-old striker, who officially joins the Reds on July 1, has expressed his delight at the switch from relegated Burnley.

But former Anfield marksman Owen said: “It’s a whole new ball game when you go to a club like Liverpool. This is where the scrutiny is on. Any weaknesses that you have in your game will be exposed at a top club.

“Danny Ings is a goal scorer. He has put in some really good performances and now he will have to make that step up into a team where things are expected of you.

“Not just nicking a goal every so often and you make the headlines. If you play poorly once you get plenty of criticism. So it’s a different challenge he has taken on.”

Owen came through the ranks at Anfield to score 158 goals in 297 games and make himself England’s no.1 striker.

Bandar Bola -  He clinched the FA Cup , two League Cups and the UEFA Cup with Liverpool and was also crowned European Footballer of the Year.

He added: “I know a lot of people think that if you are at a club like Liverpool or Manchester United then you should score 20 goals a season, because you are getting all the chances - but it’s true if you are good enough.

“If you are not good enough then you get exposed really quickly, and it’s not pleasant.

“But absolutely, you have got to be pleased for Danny because it’s is great to see lads like that come from the smaller teams into the big boys and get given a chance in the big teams.

“I really do hope he is successful at Liverpool, that he is successful in the first team, and then the next natural progression for him is international football.

“But he has got to master the getting into the starting team at Liverpool first.”

Monday, June 8, 2015

Jamie Vardy had England shirt signed by teammates after debut he'll never forget








Judi Online -  Jamie Vardy has made sure he will never forget his England debut after getting a signed shirt.


Leicester forward Vardy admits he got the whole dressing room to sign his shirt after making his international bow against the Republic of Ireland.

Vardy, 28, makes it sound like he was a fan who won a competition to play for England - but is hoping it will not be his last appearance.

Vardy said: “I’ve kept my shirt and the boys have signed it for me, which is obviously an added bonus.

“There’s no chance anyone who makes their debut would be able to forget it.

Bandar Bola -  “A couple of the lads afterwards were talking about their debuts in the shower. They had their debuts 10 years ago and still remember it as if it were yesterday.”

It was also a far cry from another of Vardy’s debuts, for non-league Stockbridge Park.

“I can remember most of them. Stocksbridge is going back a very long time and I did make a few appearances when I was in the reserves,” said Vardy.

“I remember the first time I was on the bench for Stocksbridge. It was Cammell Laird away, down on Liverpool docks.

“A few of the locals put the coach windows through. I couldn’t tell you what with, we just got back to the coach and the windows were gone through.”



Saturday, June 6, 2015

England boss Roy Hodgson tells Jack Wilshere: Clean up your act!






 Judi Online -   “I do wish players would behave in an angelic manner. I’ve been wishing that for 40 years, but I’m coming to terms with the fact they do things that are ill-advised and not the right things to do.


“They often get punished, the FA step forward and make it clear what is unacceptable. I’m hardened to these incidents and don’t get so apoplectic as some people do.

"I had a little word with him, but I won’t tell you what I said.”

Along with last week’s hiccup, the Arsenal man has been caught smoking. Three years ago, he was caught up in a brawl outside a nightclub.

Now he has been landed with a charge by the Football Association following the shenanigans outside the Emirates stadium.

A succession of ankle problems have restricted his appearances for both club and country.

Bandar Bola -  Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has stopped short of criticising Wilshere in public. But he indicated towards the end of the season that time was running out for a man who made his first appearance for the club seven years ago.

For the time being, Hodgson too remains a fan. But clearly he is running as short of patience as the Frenchman.

Before Sunday's friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, the England chief added of Wilshere: “He has played very well for England. And he nd plays in a position we think is a very good one for us going forward.

“He has competition there from Michael Carrick, who has the same qualities for how we’d like a player to play in that position.

“And we are desperate, like most people who follow English football, that Jack keeps himself fit and gets a run of games because we believe his qualities will be very important for us going forward into the Euros.”



 

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Radamel Falcao keen to join Chelsea before Copa America starts – but Blues only want a loan deal







Judi Online -  Radamel Falcao is trying to rush through a move to Chelsea – but the deal has hit a potential snag.


Chelsea are understood to only be willing to take Falcao on a season-long loan deal while Monaco would rather negotiate a permanent transfer this summer and the two clubs are trying to thrash out an agreement.

Falcao wants any move to be resolved before Colombia start their Copa America campaign on June 14 and is prepared to take a big cut in his £265,000-a-week wages.

Monaco want around £35m for Falcao but want a fixed deal in place having seen their prized asset drop in value after a disappointing season at Manchester United.

But despite concerns over Falcao’s fitness, Chelsea are ready to take a gamble – but only on loan. 

Bandar Bola -  Falcao has had interest from Valencia, Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg but wants to stay in the Premier League and move to London, as revealed in Mirror Sport in March.

The 29-year-old said: “I know that it has been speculated a lot about Chelsea. I try to stay out of it. But I would like to continue in the Premier League.

“I think about working with Colombia for now. Everything else is for my agent.”

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who shares the same agent as Falcao in Jorge Mendes, is keen because he regards the deal as a good back-up plan for Diego Costa and Loic Remy.



Monday, June 1, 2015

Lee Clark lifts lid on Blackpool's nightmare season that was more suicide than seaside







Judi Online -  The renegade striker who complained of toothache in December and was never seen again all season.


The goalkeeper who played in an autographed shirt because the kitman had been sacked and no new jersey could be found.

The players suffering from cramp before half-time because they’d had no pre-season.

The dedicated professionals literally begging to leave to revive their careers.

The owner who had the statue of a club legend taken down and placed in a shed.

The supporters who became so enraged they invaded the pitch and forced an abandonment.

And the former England captain so upset by the chaos at his beloved club that the hurt in his eyes convinced the manager to resign.

Lee Clark spent just six months as Blackpool manager - but he could fill a book with the anecdotes from their Championship relegation campaign.

Clark, who resigned two weeks ago, is a rare modern footballing man - a lifelong Newcastle United fan, with genuine concern for the way supporters feel increasingly disconnected from their clubs.

He said: “I’ll probably always side with supporters because I’m one of them. Players, managers and owners come and go but fans stay, it’s passed down from grandparents and great-grandparents.

“Nowadays players are often in a bubble, they don’t know the man in the street, they don’t understand how football affects supporters’ lives. Knowing all that is why Blackpool hurt so much.

“I’ve always tried to have a relationship with supporters but I got labelled as a good friend of the Blackpool chairman, who was backing what he was doing, when I wasn’t.

"I didn’t fall out with him, in fact he asked me to stay, but I’d wanted to do a job for the supporters.”

Clark took the job in late October with Blackpool rock-bottom and after relegation was sealed, the festering resentment towards chairman Karl Oyston reached toxic levels when a supporters’ pitch protest forced the abandonment of the home game against Huddersfield.

Clark admitted: “I think 99.9 per cent of people thought I shouldn’t take the job – but managers need an ego and I thought I could be the miracle worker.

“I did the due diligence, but I soon realised all those people warning me off were being proved right. I’d done due diligence but nothing prepares you for the reality.”

The striker in question was former Newcastle bad-lad Nile Ranger.

Clark explained: “Nile is an extremely talented footballer, with many issues away from football – in December, I told him he wouldn’t be in the squad against Birmingham, he said he was injured and didn’t train that day, then he had toothache and we didn’t see him again.

Bandar Bola -  “Nile was getting paid, then fined every day he didn’t turn up. My advice was for the club not to take up the option of another season for him but they have done.”

Ranger was one of many players signed in desperation before the start of the season, as Blackpool struggled to field a team.

Former Huddersfield and Birmingham boss Clark said: “In my first game, I had players with fatigue - one going down with cramp before half-time; they’d had no pre-season.

“They brought in a bucket-load of players at the last minute. It looked like they’d recruited players who thought ‘This our last choice, so we’ll sign for Blackpool’.

“In January, I had disenchanted players - good pros - begging me to leave to further their careers.

“There was always a negative story. The kitman left and the keeper, Joe Lewis, had to play in a signed jersey because we couldn’t find another. Even the pitch was an embarrassment.

“The atmosphere between the fans and chairman was so intense and it only became worse.

“They had intelligence that the supporters were planning a protest around the Stan Mortensen statue, then it was gone. Before the Huddersfield game, we knew a bigger than normal protest was planned.

“I’d had regular sitdowns with Jimmy Armfield, talking about the club’s great old days but I saw him while the referee and match commander were trying to decide whether we would go back on the pitch and could see the hurt in Jimmy’s eyes.

"That really hit me hard. That probably made my decision to leave.

“To achieve anything, all a club’s main stakeholders need to pull in the same direction. Hopefully that can happen at Blackpool – somehow I don’t think it will.”

Some of Clark’s empathy with Blackpool fans tally with his own feelings about Mike Ashley’s Newcastle regime – but he believes there are major differences.

He said: “A lot of people have told me there are similarities between Newcastle and Blackpool, but Mike Ashley presides over one of the best run clubs in the Premier League, judged on sound businesses principles alone - though in football that isn’t always possible.

“That football club dictates people’s lives in Newcastle, they will spend their last penny to go to the match. People say their expectations are too high, delusions of grandeur, but they just want a team that mirrors their passion.

“When I played under Kevin Keegan, he totally understood that. From what Mike Ashley said before the West Ham game, he accepts having exciting players and playing the Geordie way goes with the territory.

“It would be my dream to manage the club. People ask John Carver how he could take the job with the owner not spending, but if you’re a Geordie and you turn down being Newcastle manager, you’ll regret it for life.

“Having a relegation on my CV hurts but it hasn’t knocked my confidence. In hindsight, I regret taking the Blackpool job – but it will help in the future.”