Villa in 12m Downing deal July 15, 2009 ASTON VILLA are closing in on the £12m signing of Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing after the clubs agreed a fee yesterday. Downing, who has been ruled out until October with a foot injury, spent the afternoon in the midlands discussing personal terms with Villa. Relegated Boro have admitted they are ready to sell their most [...]
Flintoff: My body has told me it’s time to quit Tests July 15, 2009 ENGLAND’S Ashes preparations took a shock turn yesterday when talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff announced the current series would be his last in Test cricket. Ahead of today’s second clash with Australia at Lord’s, Flintoff said persistent injury problems over the last four years had forced him to reduce his workload. The 31-year-old will continue to [...]
Mega-rich City could overtake United July 14, 2009 THE bottomless pit of cash that Manchester City are mining this summer has already seen them snatch Carlos Tevez away from their more prestigious local rivals. And it is far from unthinkable that their spending spree could even see them poach Manchester United’s place in the top four too. Tevez has followed Gareth Barry and [...]
Jenas bait in Tottenham’s Vieira swoop July 14, 2009 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp is ready to use England midfielder Jermaine Jenas as bait in a sensational deal for Patrick Vieira. Inter Milan are reportedly willing to let Vieira, former captain of Spurs’ arch-rivals Arsenal, leave the club for a fee of around £3.5m. Tottenham are among a host of clubs chasing the 33-year-old Frenchman’s [...]
Flintoff set to recover for second Ashes Test July 14, 2009 TALISMANIC England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is expected to shake off a knee injury in time for tomorrow’s second Ashes Test against Australia. Head coach Andy Flower is waiting until today to make a decision on Flintoff, who felt pain after England snatched a draw in the first Test on Sunday. Flintoff needed an injection on [...]
Adebayor set to join Tevez at Man City July 13, 2009 MANCHESTER City boss Mark Hughes was last night on the verge of clinching a £50m double striker swoop after being given the green light in his bid to pair Carlos Tevez with Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor. Hughes confirmed that big-spending City had agreed a deal to sign £30m-rated Tevez, who left rivals Manchester United last month [...]
Ex-Sunderland director wants to buy Newcastle July 12, 2009 FORMER Sunderland director Charlie Chawke admitted yesterday that he is plotting to buy bitter local rivals Newcastle. Chawke, part of the Drumaville consortium that bought Sunderland in 2006, said he had opened talks about buying the Magpies from sportswear tycoon Mike Ashley. The Irish publican faces competition from several other groups, with Malaysian and American [...]
Outcast Deco issues an ultimatum to Ancelotti but Cole set to pen new deal July 9, 2009 OUT-OF-FAVOUR Chelsea midfielder Deco has warned boss Carlo Ancelotti that things must change if he is to stay at Stamford Bridge. The Portugal international has been linked with a move away from the west London club after enduring a disappointing debut season in the Premier League. Playmaker Deco, 32, made just three appearances during Guus [...]
Arsenal keep Usmanov at arm’s length by rejecting proposal for rights issue July 8, 2009 ARSENAL’S second largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov last night responded frostily after the Premier League club rejected his proposal of a rights issue. Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis said yesterday that the board had discussed the fund-raising exercise but concluded it would not greatly improve their financial position. Usmanov, who owns a 25 per cent stake [...]
United swoop for France U21 star Obertan July 8, 2009 FRANCE Under-21 winger Gabriel Obertan has vowed to seize his chance after completing a surprise move to Premier League champions Manchester United. Obertan, 20, yesterday sealed his switch from French title winners Bordeaux by signing a deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2013. United have not disclosed the fee, with reports in [...]