Rovers pull out of India tour July 19, 2011 FOOTBALL: Blackburn have opted out of their proposed pre-season tour of India amid security fears following last week’s terrorist attack in Mumbai. Rovers, owned by Indian poultry firm Venky’s, were due to appear in Pune and become the first Premier League team to play in India, but will now reschedule.
Villas-Boas plans to keep spending after landing Courtois July 17, 2011 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas has vowed that Belgian goalkeeping prodigy Thibaut Courtois will not be his last signing of the summer. Courtois, 19, is expected to complete his £8m move from Genk this week, becoming the first player to arrive since Villas-Boas took charge last month. The Portuguese is not finished there, with Tottenham playmaker [...]
Arsenal legend Vieira retires July 14, 2011 FORMER Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has announced his retirement and has accepted a newly-created position as Manchester City’s football development executive. The 35-year-old Frenchman hung up his boots yesterday, 18 years after making his debut for Cannes, following a glittering career that has brought him World Cup and European Championship winners’ medals as well as seven [...]
QPR complete double swoop July 13, 2011 FOOTBALL: Premier League new-boys QPR have completed the signings of England internationals Jay Bothroyd and Kieron Dyer. Bothroyd, who made his England debut last November, joins on a free from Cardiff while Dyer, whose career has been beset by injuries, was released by West Ham a the end of last season. Meanwhile, west London rivals [...]
City reject Corinthians £35m offer for Tevez July 12, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY have rejected a £35m offer from Corinthians for their Argentina striker Carlos Tevez. The former Manchester United player (right), who left Corinthians in 2006 for West Ham, is desperate to quit the Premier League in order to be closer to his young family who are based in his native Argentina. Tevez’s long-time advisor Kia Joorabchian, [...]
Wenger upbeat on Cesc and Nasri as Gervinho signs up July 11, 2011 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger remains hopeful that he’ll start the new Premier League season with both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas at the club. On the day that Wenger finally confirmed the £11.2m signing of Lille forward Gervinho (below) – “subject to a regulatory process” – the Frenchman was also positive about his chances of persuading [...]
I’ll let you decide my title, says Villas-Boas June 29, 2011 NEW Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas attempted to downplay comparisons with his mentor Jose Mourinho by declaring himself modestly as “The Group One”. The 33-year-old was officially unveiled yesterday but their was none of the bravado or showmanship that marked Mourinho’s introduction seven years ago. Villas-Boas, who like the now Real Madrid manager, quit Porto to take [...]
Chelsea enter five-way fight for Neymar June 28, 2011 CHELSEA are among a quintet of European heavyweights to have entered the race for Brazilian sensation Neymar. The 19-year-old Santos forward’s £40m release clause is believed to have has been met by Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Manchester City, Spanish giants Real Madrid and ambitious oil rich Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. Neymar inspired Santos to victory [...]
Concerned Redknapp has to sell before he can buy June 26, 2011 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp admits his summer rebuilding can only commence once he has completed a significant clear-out. Redknapp commands one of the largest squads in the Premier League and has been told by the club’s board he must cut the playing staff before adding to it. Tottenham have already dismissed Chelsea’s bid of £22m [...]
THE HUMBLE ONE June 22, 2011 NEW CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas admits he will never be able to avoid comparisons with Jose Mourinho but insists his tenure will be underpinned by a focus on the team rather than self-promotion. The 33-year-old’s career has mirrored that of his mentor, who announced his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2004 by anointing himself as [...]