Real gazump United move for Benzema July 1, 2009 REAL MADRID were last night poised to hijack Manchester United’s move for Karim Benzema after having a €35m bid for the striker accepted by Lyon. Highly-rated Benzema was top of Sir Alex Ferguson’s summer wish-list in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80m move to Real, which was finally completed last night. But now the France [...]
City boss Hughes in no hurry to snare 50m forward duo July 1, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY manager Mark Hughes insists he is prepared to wait if it means pulling off a monumental deal for Barcelona forward Samuel Eto’o. Eto’o’s proposed £25m switch is on ice amid an apparent stand-off between the Cameroon international and the Spanish club. Barcelona are thought to be keen to offload a player who has [...]
Gallas cool on Inter talks as Ramsey signs July 1, 2009 ARSENAL defender William Gallas has distanced himself from reports of interest from Inter Milan by reaffirming his commitment to the Gunners. Gallas, 31, has been tipped to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer after being stripped of the captaincy midway through last season. But he said: “My contract is still valid for a year, so [...]
Murray eases through to last four date with Roddick July 1, 2009 MURRAYMANIA erupted to a whole new level yesterday after Andy Murray remained on course for a historic Wimbledon success by sweeping into the semi-finals for the first time. Not since Bunny Austin in 1938 has a British man reached the final of his home event at the All England Club, but victory over American Andy [...]
Straight set win comes as a relief for Murray July 1, 2009 ANDY MURRAY spoke of his relief at avoiding another nail-biting five-setter after securing his place in the last four for the first time with a straight sets victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero. The third seed took just one hour, 41 minutes to post a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the former world No1 – a [...]
Federer makes Karlovic look small to set up Haas meeting July 1, 2009 FIVE-TIME champion Roger Federer admitted his sights were already trained on a sixth title after beating Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic to reach the semi-finals. Federer booked his 21st consecutive Grand Slam last four place with a comfortable 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) win over the 6ft 10in ace machine. And the world No2, who will meet [...]
Aggression the key to our domination, says Venus July 1, 2009 DEFENDING champion Venus Williams believes her and sister Serena’s monopolisation of Wimbledon is down to one trait: aggression. Between them they have won the title in seven of the last nine years and are firmly on course to improve that record this weekend. Defeat for either of the Californians in today’s semi-finals would constitute one [...]
Vaughan: I didn’t merit an Ashes call June 30, 2009 MICHAEL VAUGHAN, England’s most successful Test captain of all time, admitted he did not deserve to be selected for this year’s Ashes, after confirming his retirement from the game yesterday. The Yorkshire batsman, who led the country to glory against Australia in 2005, had pinned his hopes on earning a recall to the side in [...]
O’Driscoll joins third Test absentee list June 30, 2009 CENTRE Brian O’Driscoll has become the latest British and Irish Lions player to be ruled out of Saturday’s third and final Test through injury. O’Driscoll suffered concussion in last weekend’s series-clinching defeat in Pretoria, and doctors have decided he will not recover in time to finish the tour. Prop Adam Jones joins O’Driscoll in returning [...]
United land 16m Valencia now Benzema’s on the radar June 30, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED last night clinched the signing of Antonio Valencia – and then set their sights on completing a £51m double raid to add Karim Benzema. Ecuador winger Valencia made the switch from Wigan after putting pen-to-paper on a four-year deal believed to be worth around £16m. Now, with £80m at his disposal following the [...]