A wrap up the latest transfer gossip ahead of tomorrow night's transfer deadline.
On the agenda is Arsenal's move for Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler, where Gunners' officials are in Germany attempting to close a deal.
Toni Kroos' situation at Bayern Munich and the interest of Manchester United, plus an update on Tottenham's move for Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov are also covered.
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Norwich City are in talks for Blackburn Rovers defender Scott Dann.
The Daily Mail says Norwich are trying to pull off a pre-deadline move for Blackburn's £38,000-a-week defender.
Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis wants him at Selhurst Park, but Norwich are willing to match his astronomical wages.
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Bristol City have swooped for Cardiff City goalkeeper Simon Moore.
The Daily Mail says Moore has joined Bristol City on loan until the end of the season.
Moore joined Cardiff in the summer from Brentford.
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Brighton midfielder Liam Bridcutt is on Wearside today for talks with Sunderland.
The Daily Mail says Bridcutt is closing in on a £2.5million move to Sunderland from Brighton.
The central midfielder has travelled up to Wearside to discuss personal terms with the Black Cats ahead of Friday's transfer deadline.
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Manchester City are close to striking a deal for Porto midfielder Fernando.
The Brazilian is off contract in June and Porto have decided to cash in this week.
Sport TV says City have had a £6 million bid for Fernando accepted, with the player keen on a move to the Etihad.
City are also in for Porto teammate Eliaquim Mangala, 22, but they may have to wait till the summer to thrash out terms.
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In less than five months time, the much anticipated Brazil 2014 World Cup will kick off. 32 nations will face off in 12 host cities (assuming Curitiba makes it).
Not since USA 94 has the world cup taken place in the Americas and not since then has the tournament been spread so far and wide. Unlike then, this time groups games will take place thousands of miles apart making travelling between games a logistical challenge and expensive too.
All football fans, whether cheering on England or taking in some of the great other games on offer, can survive this world cup without it costing the earth. As this handy world cup travel guide proves, there are many tips and tricks to be employed to keep costs down. You need to know where you are going, when, where to stay and how best to plan your journey.
This guide contains information on travelling to Brazil, saving costs while there and most importantly, individual guides to each of the 12 host cities, so you can tailor each leg of the journey. All we need now is a miracle from England.
The Brazil World Cup 2014 promises to deliver thrills, spills and glory. We help to deliver you to Brazil – for less.
32 nations, 8 groups, 31 days, 64 matches, 12 host cities, 1 Trophy.
The numbers involved are staggering, and without proper planning the same could be true for your spending.
Here’s our help for planning world cup trips to Brazil in 2014.
BRAZIL WORLD CUP DATES
The 2014 World Cup finals will take place between 12th June 2014 and 13th July 2014, and like all World Cups before it will be split into stages and held across the country.
All eight previous world cup winners will be there, but for how long?
Stay for the whole tournament and you’ll spend 31 days minimum on the other side of the world. Stay for just the group stages (listen up England fans) and your trip could be over by 24th June.
This means its important to work out your budget and plan your trip so that you can fit in the maximum football for the minimum cost.
GETTING TO BRAZIL 2014
Have we mentioned that Brazil is, er, quite large? Wherever you end up, you're likely to fly into either Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro first. Look up flights to both and check which gives the best saving, then add on the cost of getting to your destination city to compare the total price.
Of course, this means staying in Sao Paulo or Rio may prove cheapest in terms of flying; but they're also likely to receive the most visitors hence more expensive hotels and more competition for match tickets.
You don't normally need a visa to visit Brazil, but still check the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website for entry requirements (particularly if you're a single parent or guardian travelling with a child).
It’s always worth checking if you can get cheaper flights by travelling direct to your chosen host city via another country, rather than flying into Sao Paulo or Rio then changing internally.
Compare flights and find out if you can save by flying in direct from Lisbon, Miami, Madrid, Frankfurt or Amsterdam.
SELF-BOOK OR PACKAGE TOURS?
Thomas Cook offers international + internal flight packages from £2,199, but you won’t necessarily get tickets. Instead you’ll have to apply for match tickets off your own bat in the FIFA ballot.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says he believes in the potential of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku is expected to return to parent club Chelsea at the end of the season.
"I'm convinced he can be a good player," said Mourinho, when asked about his ageing strike-force.
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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho accepts his strike-force is entering the veterans' stage.
Chelsea's present strike options are Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o, who are aged 29, 28 and 32, respectively.
"All our three strikers, no-one is the future for 10 years, like we have in other positions," Mourinho said.
"Not one of them is the player for 10 years like (Eden) Hazard or like Willian or (Andre) Schurrle or all these guys.
"Normally one of these three strikers would be replaced for somebody with this perspective of long term and this perspective of evolution."
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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is refusing to panic over their lack of striker signing this month.
Mourinho says he won't settle for second best during the winter transfer window.
"We know what we are doing and if we do (something) now we are not doing the right thing," the Portuguese said.
"I know that people probably can think 'what they need is a striker to score 30 goals like (Sergio) Aguero, (Edin) Dzeko, (Luis) Suarez' and all these guys.
"But the most important thing for us is not today. The most important thing for us is the perspective of future and doing the right thing.
"When we do the striker, we do the right thing. And the right thing is not, for sure, now.
"Normally the market is easier in the summer, more time, more players, more changes. It's much better."
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Chelsea must break the bank to complete their capture of FC Basle winger Mohamed Salah.
The Mail on Sunday says Chelsea’s pursuit of Salah will end up costing the club £20million.
Liverpool increased their offer for Salah to £18.5m late last week when they became aware of Chelsea’s interest, with £13.5m due to be paid as an straight down-payment and £5m in bonuses.
But Chelsea, flush with £37m from agreeing to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United, were able to gazump the Merseysiders again, agreeing to go to £20 million.
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Arsenal attacker Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain admits he deserved his rollicking from Per Mertesacker during their FA Cup win over Coventry City on Friday.
Usually mild-mannered, Mertesacker looked more like Martin Keown confronting Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford, waving his arms wildly in the reprimand as the Ox gave the ball away.
The England ace later said: "We set each other high standards and, if you do something that's not good enough, you can bet one of your team-mates will tell you.
"I gave the ball away and it resulted in them hitting the post. I knew I did wrong there. Per just gave me a nice, friendly reminder and that's what you need.
"We do have characters now, strong characters with a lot of experience like Mathieu Flamini and Per, who have been around the game for a long time at a very high standard. And with new signings coming in that makes it even more exciting."
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Arsenal could close a deal for Schalke star Julian Draxler by the end of the day.
The Mail on Sunday says Arsenal have moved a step closer to taking Schalke's Julian Draxler to the club with a deal expected to be finalised this weekend.
The two clubs are still in negotiations for the 20-year-old but the player wants to move to the club and the expectation on both sides is that a compromise will be reached this week.
Arsenal do not want to go higher than £30million while Schalke want close to £35m. Ultimately Arsenal are likely to agree to a deal with additional clauses that could bring the fee up to what Schalke want.
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Chelsea have announced Michael Essien is moving to AC Milan.
A Chelsea statement on Friday night confirmed a deal had been struck with Milan for the Ghana international.
It read: "Chelsea Football Club and AC Milan have reached an agreement for the transfer of Michael Essien to the Serie A side.
"Essien has travelled to Italy and the completion of the move is subject to him agreeing personal terms with Milan and passing a medical examination."
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Manchester United are moving to trump Chelsea for Southampton fullback Luke Shaw.
The Daily Mail says United are considering a £23million offer for Shaw following the completion of Juan Mata's £37m move from Chelsea.
A bid is set to go in over the weekend as United look to beat Chelsea to the 18-year-old's signature.
United are stepping up their efforts for Shaw as they foresee Chelsea making an offer for the Saints man in the summer.
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Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says his squad is the equal of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
His free-scoring side have already topped 100 goals for the season in record time.
"We are working every day to keep improving and keep moving towards those standards. We beat Bayern Munich in Germany in the Champions League, and that was an indication of where we are going. This team has a lot of things to improve but I think we are not so far from the big teams.
"The only way to continue improving is to win titles. If you win titles, it’s because you do the right things. The way we are working, maybe given time we are going to be a very strong team in Europe.
"Is everything in place to achieve our objective and be at the same level as those top teams? Yes I think so. I believe it is. I don’t know what happens with other teams, whether they are scared when they step out at The Etihad. But I know this team will continue trying to score goals, because that is what we do best."
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Manchester United boss David Moyes is being linked with Bayern Munich striker Marko Mandzukic.
Moyes saw Borussia Monchengladbach lose 2-0 to Bayern last night.
The Daily Mail says Bayern are also hoping to open contract talks with Mandzukic, but United will be heartened by news of a fall-out between the free-scoring striker and coach Pep Guardiola. Mandzukic, whose contract runs until 2016, was evidently accused of lacking enthusiasm in training and axed from the squad for Friday night's game.
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Manchester United boss David Moyes is in talks for Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos.
The Daily Mail says Moyes was escorted into Borussia Monchengladbach's stadium by Toni Kroos' agent on Friday night after being alerted to a contract stand-off between the Germany midfielder and his Bayern Munich bosses.
Moyes saw Gladbach lose 2-0 to Bayern last night.
Kroos' representative Sascha Breese, from the Sports Total agency, met Moyes and coaches Phil Neville and Steve Round and sat with them at the game.
Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted: "It is always about money in every agreement, and talks have so far failed to lead to a new contract for Toni. We are interested in prolonging his stay with us."
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Counting down the Top Ten Richest Clubs in the game - AC Milan, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Spanish Liga pair Real Madrid and Barcelona all feature - but where did they finish in 2013?
And what of nouveau riche PSG and AS Monaco? Or the traditional Arsenal and Juventus?
Wayne Rooney won't make Manchester United's trip to Chelsea.
The Daily Mail says Rooney trained on his own with a physio on Friday morning and will definitely miss Manchester United's crucial trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
The 28-year-old has been out with a long-standing thigh injury and was recently allowed leave for a warm-weather break in Egypt.
Rooney is now back at Carrington after doing some fitness work abroad with United’s head of human performance Richard Hawkins – who accompanied him on a similar trip to Portland, Oregon in 2010.
"He's back and he's looking good but he's not ready for this game," manager David Moyes said. "He's done some running on the grass and I don't want to put a date on his return but I've watched him running and he's in good condition. He's kept himself right while he's been away."
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Sheffield United teenage striker Diego De Girolamo is a top target for Premier League clubs.
The Daily Mail says the teenager, who was being closely monitored by Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City, caused a stir in 2012 when he opted to play for Italy U18s instead of England after receiving a personal call from the great AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi. Diego qualified for Italy through his father Cosimo who is from Naples.
A 10-month recovery ensued but he returned to play an hour for Sheffield United's U21s against Stoke earlier this month before a run out against Coventry U18s last week. He scored two goals in 13 minutes before over extending his knee and coming off as a precaution.
However, he has been training with Sheffield United's first-team squad and is hoping for a place on the bench against Bradford with an eye on facing Fulham in the FA Cup also.
Liverpool and Everton, alerted by his return to fitness, are also due to send scouts to watch De Girolamo.
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Former Sunderland striker Ji Dong-won will eventually join Borussia Dortmund this year.
The Daily Mail says Ji signed for Augsburg yesterday in a £500,000 deal but the South Korea man is merely taking a detour to Dortmund.
The 22-year-old played for Augsburg on loan in the first half of last year and helped them avoid relegation and has joined them until the end of the season.
He will sign a four-year contract at Dortmund in the summer, and BVB sporting director Michael Zorc said: "We are delighted that we can sign this talented player on a free for next season."
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Manchester United boss David Moyes has blocked a loan departure for Wilfried Zaha.
Moyes met the young winger on the training field yesterday and told him that he would not consider him for a move away from the club until fellow attackers Nani and Ashley Young were fit.
Moyes said ahead of tomorrow’s game at Chelsea: "Wilfried Zaha has a chance.
"I have told him that if I can’t get him the games I will put him out on loan.
"But he can’t go out while we have Ashley and Nani injured and I would be surprised if anyone thought was a possibility."
Asked if he had argued with Zaha on Friday, Moyes said: "I had 30 seconds chat on the training pitch today and we were talking away. So there was nothing like that.
"I have indicated to the boy (that he can go on loan when others get fit).
"But he is a Manchester United player, that’s what he is."
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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told him he was retiring two weeks before making the decision public.
The pair have a close relationship off the pitch and Mourinho admitted he was nervous when Ferguson trusted him with his secret.
"I knew a couple of weeks before the announcement because my friend (Ferguson) was nice to me and trusted me completely," said the Chelsea boss.
"He told me something really important before the press. He said I was one of his best friends in football so he wanted me to know before I read about it.
"I was afraid because I was sure someone might leak and the boss might think it had come from me. But it would never have.
"It was the same way he knew from me I was coming back to Chelsea."
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Manchester United boss David Moyes insists they want to secure Wayne Rooney to a new deal.
Moyes, who revealed Rooney has returned to light training at the club’s Carrington HQ following a warm-weather break in Egypt, re-iterated the club will try to extend the striker’s deal.
He said: "The club will deal with that. They will do all the things they need to do, no question."
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Thursday 30th January 2014 15:18
Print Article
Email ArticleSpurs are to appeal against the dismissal of Danny Rose during Wednesday's 5-1 home defeat by Manchester City, according to Sky sources.
The defender was shown a red card on the advice of a linesman following a last-ditch tackle on visiting striker Edin Dzeko.
Referee Andre Marriner looked to be pointing for a corner after Rose diverted the ball behind Hugo Lorris' goal but after consultation with his assistant, awarded a penalty.
Yaya Toure sent the Frenchman the wrong way to put City 2-0 ahead in the 55th minute and within three minutes Dzeko had put the game beyond the home side.
Etienne Capoue gave Spurs brief hope shortly before the hour mark but further goals from substitute Stevan Jovetic and Vincent Kompany completed the rout for City.
After the match, Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood gave a strong hint he would appeal against the card and subsequent three-match ban which would rule Rose out of games against Hull, Everton and Newcastle.
"I think Andre got it right in the first place when he called it as a corner," he said. "But, unfortunately for us, the linesman decided that Andre got it wrong.
"I think Danny's making a last-ditch tackle so he's having to lunge in there a bit. He clearly wins the ball. I think we will appeal."
However, City boss Manuel Pellegrini disagreed with Sherwood's views claiming assistant Scott Ledger was correct to flag for the infringement.
"It was a clear penalty and a clear red card because he was the last man," he said. "The sending-off was not the thing that changed the game. The game was over and completed from the beginning for our team."
Thursday 30th January 2014 20:05
Print Article Email ArticleAston Villa manager Paul Lambert believes Christian Benteke's difficult start to the season may prove to be a blessing in disguise.
A recent knee injury led to the striker having an extended break which Lambert reckons has helped spark his startling return to form recently.
The Villa boss also revealed he has received no interest in Benteke from other clubs this month, unlike last summer when he had to fight hard to keep the Belgian in the midlands.
Benteke has returned to form in recent weeks with three goals in his last three games, including the penalty winner in Wednesday's 4-3 derby victory over West Brom.
His recent purple patch follows an inauspicious start to the season blighted by injuries, poor performances and a lack of goals, following a sublime first term last year and a turbulent summer which saw him request a transfer only to change his mind.
"He's scored three in three and I think the break for Christian with his knee (was important)," Lambert said.
"Sometimes it's not about getting treatment on an injury - it's about managing it and man-managing someone. Giving him that break has certainly been great for him and he's come back and scored three in the last three games.
"But it's his general game that has picked up. His actual level of performance has been really, really high."
Lambert added: "It's about recognising what your player needs.
"We knew he had a knee problem and he was playing through it. It wasn't getting any better so we had to think of something else to try and do and gave him that little bit of a break.
"He's come back and he's been excellent. But I think people forget that Christian's season last season started way before anybody else's because he was playing for Genk before coming here.
"So he's played a lot of games for such a young lad. To come here and do what he's done is going to drain him. But since he's come back he's been excellent."
Benteke scored 23 goals in all competitions last season, sparking interest from other clubs in the summer. Lambert eventually convinced him to stay put - and revealed there has been nobody sniffing around in the January window.
"There's been no interest whatsoever. None," he said.
"Any manager will tell you the January window isn't great.
"It's good for the media frenzy but I never get drawn right into it. I understand people not wanting to spend lots of money. It's not right and it's not good for the game, because you can panic and go and buy someone you don't really want for lots of money.
"But Christian's ability has always been there. People know what he can do. But it's sustaining that level."
Thursday 30th January 2014 17:33
Print Article Email ArticleNewcastle have had a bid for promising France midfielder Clement Grenier rejected by Ligue 1 giants Lyon, according to Sky sources.
Having lost key playmaker Yohan Cabaye in a £23m transfer to Paris St Germain earlier in the week, Magpies manager Alan Pardew is keen to bolster his midfield options ahead of Friday's deadline.
But Lyon have turned down what Pardew called a "substantial" bid at an earlier press conference, during which he seemed confident of bringing the 23-year-old to St James' Park.
Pardew had said: "I don't know. We have two days left and we will have to wait and see. I'm obviously hopeful.
"He (Grenier) has tremendous creative technical ability and he's a player that Newcastle fans would love to see at the football club.
"But he's still not our player, so until he is... I will wax lyrical about him then."
One man already signed up at Newcastle ahead of the deadline is striker Luuk de Jong, a loan acquisition from Borussia Monchengladbach who goes straight into the squad for Saturday's derby clash with Sunderland.
Pardew said of the Dutchman: "I'm pleased in so much that he's a player we have had our eye on for a while.
"He was someone we couldn't quite reach in his last transfer move in terms of the finance, but that hasn't worked out as perfectly as perhaps they both hoped, the team and Luuk, and he's ended up here.
"But he has done well today and we are looking forward to his inclusion in the squad.
"He's a big presence of a player, he's a goalscorer and if there's a criticism you would aim at us, maybe we could do with scoring a few more goals."
Thursday 30th January 2014 18:23
Print Article Email ArticleLiverpool's plans to redevelop Anfield could be submitted before the end of the season after the next stage of the area's regeneration was unveiled.
Further details about proposed work on the Main Stand and Anfield Road were revealed in the Anfield Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) published on Thursday.
Liverpool City Council will consider the SRF on February 7 and if the draft is approved a four-week public consultation will take place before it can be officially adopted by the council in April.
All parties can then submit planning applications, although the club have always stressed they have never put a timeline on their proposals for the revamp.
But the document states that proposed developments are expected to be delivered by 2018.
Managing director Ian Ayre said earlier this week their plans were based on "certainties" and although deals have been agreed for 67 of the 71 properties affected by the stadium plans, the remaining houses have yet to be acquired.
The remaining four properties are owned by two owners and negotiations are still ongoing, but the council has already indicated it will pursue compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers where agreements cannot be reached.
Formal approval of the potential use of such powers could come by the end of February but CPOs are regarded as a last resort.
"The publication of the draft SRF document is another important milestone in the regeneration project as we continue this exciting journey to transform the Anfield area," said Ayre in a statement.
"Any final decision regarding a future stadium expansion continues to be based on certainty - certainty that we can obtain the necessary land around the stadium to facilitate any expansion; certainty that there is demand for any future expansion; certainty that we have home owners' support; and certainty that we will be able to navigate the complex planning landscape.
"We regard the progress to date as extremely positive and will continue to be fully supportive of the regeneration project with Liverpool City Council and Your Housing Group."
