SUMMER SALES FOOTBALL UPDATE August 5, 2009 Drogba signs to Blues until 2012 CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba last night committed his future to the club by signing a new three-year contract. The Ivory Coast international, who joined the Blues from Marseille in 2004, is thought to have agreed a deal worth £100,000 per week. “I love the club, I feel good here [...]
Wenger refuses to budge on Chamakh August 4, 2009 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has declared his interest in Marouane Chamakh to be over, insisting he will not be held to ransom by Bordeaux over the Morocco striker. The French champions have rejected a bid of £6m from the Gunners, with president Jean-Louis Triaud demanding closer to £15m despite the 25-year-old entering the final year [...]
Reds agree to sell Alonso to Real for 34m August 4, 2009 LIVERPOOL midfielder Xabi Alonso will today complete his long-awaited move to Real Madrid after the two clubs finally agreed a £34m deal last night. Months of haggling were brought to a close when Liverpool accepted a package thought to be worth £30m up front and a further £4m based on his performance at Real. The [...]
IN THE BRAWN STUFF August 4, 2009 FORMULA ONE team boss Ross Brawn is facing the loss of his driving licence after being charged with speeding. The 54-year-old, whose Brawn GP outfit lead both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, is accused of driving at 100mph on the A30 in Devon. Brawn did not appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday as he [...]
Racing return is proving pain in the neck for Schumacher August 4, 2009 SEVEN-TIME champion Michael Schumacher has admitted a lingering neck injury is hampering his sensational return to racing. The German, 40, has been coaxed out of retirement by former team Ferrari while Felipe Massa recovers from a fractured skull suffered at last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix. But Schumacher says his training for the European Grand Prix [...]
Players face cocaine clampdown August 4, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Players in England are set to become the first in the world to face out-of-competition tests for cocaine and other recreational drugs. The Rugby Football Union is working on tightening current worldwide legislation, which only allows testing for cocaine on matchdays. It follows former Bath trio Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins’ [...]
Villa Delph deep for teenager August 4, 2009 FOOTBALL: Aston Villa last night completed the £8m signing of England Under-19 midfielder Fabian Delph from Leeds. The 19-year-old yesterday agreed personal terms to join Villa, who saw off competition from Manchester City and Fulham for his signature.
English clubs finances ‘a concern’ August 4, 2009 FOOTBALL: European chiefs Uefa have warned that some English clubs are jeopardising their futures by living beyond their means. The combined debt of top-flight clubs alone is estimated to be more than £3bn, while in lower divisions clubs have struggled to stay afloat. Uefa general secretary David Taylor said: “There are stories concerning some English [...]
Tour stage winner denies doping August 4, 2009 CYCLIST: Spaniard Mikel Astarloza has denied doping after testing positive for the banned blood-booster EPO. Astarloza, who won stage 16 of this year’s Tour de France, was provisionally banned last week on the basis of an out-of-competition test in June. “I haven’t taken anything illegal,” he said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to find out [...]
Trott in line as fears grow for Flintoff August 4, 2009 ENGLAND selectors yesterday handed uncapped Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott a shock call-up for the fourth Test amid mounting concerns over the fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Nottinghamshire seamer Ryan Sidebottom was also drafted into the 14-man squad, in place of spinner Monty Panesar, for the match at Headingley, which starts on Friday. But it is [...]