Usmanov hints at £700m Arsenal offer December 21, 2010 ARSENAL’S second largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov has reignited the battle for ownership at Emirates Stadium by declaring his intention to move to the brink of launching a formal £700m takeover offer. Russian billionaire Usmanov already owns almost 27 per cent of the Premier League outfit, but wants to increase that to 29.9 per cent – [...]
Under-fire Grant set to begin January spending with deal for Villa’s Sidwell December 21, 2010 WEST HAM are poised to bolster their squad for another relegation scrap by completing the signing of tough-tackling Aston Villa midfielder Steven Sidwell. The former Chelsea, Reading and Arsenal player, 28, is out of contract at the end of the season and eager for first-team action, having made just six appearances this term. Under-fire Hammers [...]
Fears over fixture pile-up as more games face axe December 20, 2010 PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have moved to ease fears of a fixture pile-up as extreme weather threatens to wipe out further fixtures. Heavy snowfall claimed seven of the nine top flight games at the weekend, while some of the Boxing Day schedule is already under threat. Blackpool, who postponed their clash with Tottenham on Sunday, are [...]
Are Manchester United really about to become Qatar’s latest high-profile buy? December 19, 2010 WHEN Manchester United visited Qatar in January it was touted as a sunshine break, a chance for their title-chasing players to escape from the freezing conditions gripping England at the start of the year. But it also prompted whispers that the country’s most famous club were sounding out appetite to invest in United, or even [...]
Grant is sure West Ham will emulate Baggies and stay up December 19, 2010 WEST HAM manager Avram Grant believes his side will re-write the record books by becoming only the second team in Premier League history to beat relegation despite being bottom on Christmas Day. Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn at Ewood Park ensured the Hammers will have the unwanted distinction of propping up the table next Saturday, two points [...]
Fixtures frozen as snow decimates sport schedule December 19, 2010 SNOW and freezing temperatures wreaked havoc on the sporting weekend, but tonight’s Premier League clash between Manchester City and Everton is set to go ahead. Chelsea’s top-of-the-table meeting with Manchester United, which was due to take place yesterday afternoon, was the most high-profile casualty, while Tottenham and Arsenal’s weekend matches were also postponed. Rugby also [...]
Wenger still to forgive Shawcross December 16, 2010 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has rejected the opportunity to absolve Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross of any blame for the tackle that broke Aaron Ramsey’s leg last season. The fractious relationship, which already existed between the two clubs, was accentuated by Shawcross’s actions back in February, when he inflicted a potentially career ending injury on the [...]
Lampard set to return for Chelsea date with United December 16, 2010 CHELSEA have received a major boost ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Manchester United after Frank Lampard came through a practice match unscathed. Lampard completed the 60-minute game behind closed doors at the Blues’ Cobham training ground yesterday in what was an urgent bid to boost his fitness ahead of the match with [...]
Grant optimistic West Ham’s luck will change December 16, 2010 UNDER-FIRE West Ham manager Avram Grant is confident his players will collect enough points over the Christmas schedule to keep him in a job beyond the festive period. With the Hammers in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom of the Premier League it is understood that Grant has been given three games to save [...]
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2010-11 December 16, 2010 AFTER 96 group stages matches and 276 goals, the wheat has been cut from the chaff. Among the remaining 16 teams are the English quartet of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs, who will find out thier next opponents in today’s draw. The Gunners will be most worried, with Barcelona or Real Madrid potentially next [...]