Kapo joins Boulogne while Marseille target Mancini

January 10, 2010

Boulogne have signed former French international Oliver Kapo on loan till the end of the season from Premier League club Wigan. Kapo who has not featured in Roberto Martinez’s plans will lend weight to Boulogne’s bid to avoid relegation. They lie second from bottom in Ligue1 and Kapo will provide them with a much needed attacking outlet. Kapo has great experience of playing in the French League having played 119 times for Auxerre and scoring on 19 occasions.

Inter Milan’s Brazilian midfielder Amantino Mancini is close to signing for French giants Marseille on a six month loan deal. Mancini has been on the fringes of the Inter squad and has made just seven appearances this season for the Nerrazuri. Marseille boss Didier Deschamps is a huge admirer of the former Roma midfielder and is looking for a quick solution. “It’s not a simple dossier, but we’re on the right track. It’s hard to find quality players at this time of year. He’s had a few offers but he’s interested in OM and would love to go to the World Cup. He’s a world-class player who can play wide either side, score goals and set them up,” Deschamps said.

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Written by admin · Filed Under Football Rumours, Premier League Transfers

Southampton sign Portuguese defender

January 9, 2010

League one side Southampton have announced the signing of Portuguese defender Jose Fonte from Crystal Palace. Fonte, 26, has signed a three and a half year contract at St. Mary’s. The fee Saints paid Palace for the defender’s services was not revealed, but rumours have it to be somewhere near the £1.2m mark.

Fonte, a product of Sporting Lisbon’s famed youth system, had ill fated spells at Salgueiros and F.C. Felgueiras before signing for Vitoria Setubal in 2005. After one year, he moved to Portuguese giants Benfica and had loan spells at Pacos Ferreira, Estrela Amadora and Crystal Palace. Palace’s loan deal had an option to buy the player and Eagles boss Neil Warnock saw enough talent in Fonte to bring him to Selhurst Park on a permanent basis in July 2008.

Fonte made 22 league appearances for Crystal Palace in the 2009-10 Championship season. He has a younger brother Rui, who was at Arsenal between 2006 and 2009.

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Written by admin · Filed Under League One

Michel close to joining Birmingham

January 9, 2010

Promising Spanish midfielder Michel is set to join Premier League Birmingham City from Sporting Gijon for £3million.The deal is nearlly complete for the 23 year-old and all that is now require is for him to sign a contract.

He won’t be able to play for City on Saturday evening as he won’t be registered in time but the deal should be completed in the next 24 hours. Michel has revealed his sadness over leaving Sporting but has also expressed his excitement at moving to the Premier League.

“This day was very complicated by the rumours and the meeting but finally I believe this is the best situation for all parties,” he said.

“I am very grateful to Sporting for giving this chance to me. To play in the Premier League is a big move in my sporting career.

“Now I intend to profit from the chance and increase my level as a footballer, this is a rare sensation.”

“There is joy by the transfer but also pain for leaving Sporting, I don’t think they will suffer with my exit – they possess a big squad.

“For me the English language is not a problem. I intend to speak it soon to adapt to the Premier League, which is an incredible competition.”

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City complete Vieira signing

January 8, 2010

Premier League Manchester City have signed former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira on-loan until the end of season. City will also have the option of extending Vieira’s stay by 12 months in the summer.

Vieira had fallen down the pecking order at Italian champions Inter and has moved to gain regular first team football. The midfielder passed a medical on Thursday and will now join up with the City squad.

The 33 year-old played a key role for Arsenal for nine years and won numerous trophies with Arsene Wenger’s side. He was also linked with a move back to the Gunners and also neighbours Tottenham but has now ended speculation over his future by signing for City.

Vieira has become Roberto Mancini’s first signing at the club. The City manager had previously worked with the French international at Inter. And the former Nerazzurri boss has always been a big admirer of the player.

Mancini has revealed that he is delighted to have signed the midfielder. He told the clubs official website: “Patrick is a world class midfielder with a winner’s mentality and will fit into this group very well,”

“He knows me and my staff well, and importantly he also knows what the Premier League is all about. He will not need much time to settle in. Patrick is one of the great players of this era with almost every honour in the game against his name.

“I am sure City fans will welcome him warmly and appreciate the contribution he will make.”

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Swansea splash out record sum to sign David Cotterill

January 7, 2010

Young Welsh winger David Cotterill has made his loan move to Swansea City permanent. The Swans have paid Sheffield United £600,000 for the 22 year old’s services, thereby making him the club’s most expensive signing.

Cotterill has signed a three and a half year contract with the Championship club. He started his career with Bristol City and moved to Wigan in August 2006 for £2m. He struggled to hold down a first team place at Wigan and was shipped out to Sheffield United on loan in January 2008. The Blades signed him for an undisclosed fee from the Latics in the summer of 2008.

Swans boss Paulo Sousa was quite pleased with the deal. The Portuguese manager said, “We believe that he possesses great talent and that he can be a very important player, not just in the Championship but also in the Premier League.”

Cotterill said that he was delighted in the move and would try and help Swansea achieve their goal of finishing in the top six and landing a spot in the playoffs.

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Wigan complete transfer of Serbian keeper

January 7, 2010

Premier League Wigan Athletic have completed the signing of Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic. The keeper arrives from Sporting Lisbon on-loan until the end of the season. The 26 year-old will compete with England international Chris Kirkland for the number one spot at the DW Stadium.

Latic’s boss Roberto Martinez also has the experienced Mike Pollitt and Richard Kingston in his squad, but the latter is currently on international duty with Ghana at the African Nations Cup. Stojkovic has received his work permit and goes straight into Wigan’s squad for the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday.

Martinez told the clubs official website: “Everyone knows about the quality of the English Premier League,”

“So to get a chance like this is a fantastic opportunity for me. It is going to be very tough because I know the quality of the goalkeepers already here but every professional trains to play first-team football. I am looking forward to the challenge of getting in the team and fighting for a place.”

Martinez continued: “Vladimir is a highly experienced keeper who is the number one choice in his home country. That shows you the calibre of professional we are signing, as a player but also in terms of his character and determination to succeed.

“He will add tremendous competition for places in the goalkeeping department – something which we need everywhere on the pitch.”

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Sporting Lisbon target Pedro Mendes

January 7, 2010

Glasgow Rangers’ Portugese midfielder Pedro Mendes is weighing up a move back to his hometown with Sporting Lisbon. With the Ibrox club battling against huge debt, they are being forced to consider most bids for their stars in the transfer window. Mendes is currently on the sidelines recovering from injury but has hinted that he would strongly consider a move to Sporting if the chance arises.

Mendes moved to Rangers from Portsmouth in 2008 and has become a huge fan favourite at the club. His highlight at the club came when he scored in the derby against Celtic some 17 months ago. Mendes has been the bedrock on which Rangers laid their foundation last season. He appeared in 42 of the 47 games they played last season. Many pundits believe him to be the most technically sound player in the entire league.

With a spot in Portugal’s 2010 squad up for grabs, Mendes believes that a move back to his homeland would enhance his chances of making it to South Africa. Mendes has played over 150 games in his native League and has had stints with Vitoria de Guimaraes and FC Porto.“I’ve not received an offer officially from Sporting but that’s normal. I’ll decide the best option for me. The final decision to sell is down to Rangers. If I receive an offer from Sporting it would be difficult to reject a club challenging for honours,” Mendes said.

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Man City chase Patrick Vieira

January 7, 2010

Former Arsenal midfield star Patrick Vieira is on the verge of returning to England according to Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho. Vieira has been widely linked with a move to Manchester City. New City manager Roberto Mancini who formerly managed Vieira during his time as Inter manager is keen to bring the player back to England. In his time at Arsenal Vieira won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups. He left Arsenal in 2005, for Juventus, where he spent one season before joining Inter in 2006.

Mourinho spoke after Inter’s 1-0 win over Chievo:

“I should give a special mention to Vieira, who certainly played his last game with us.”I don’t know where he will go, maybe England which he likes a lot, but we should thank him for what he has done.”

“I will miss him but I don’t have the right to demand anything from a club who has done so much for me.

“He had an impeccable game. It was the perfect farewell to us, and I want to wish him all the best for his new career.”

“The club decided not to renew his contract, which is coming to an end, and to accept the offer of another club,”

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Atletico Madrid look to pounce on Merida

January 7, 2010

Atletico Madrid are looking to strike a deal with Arsenal for their teenage midfielder Fran Merida. Merida faces an uncertain future at Arsenal and his contract expires at the end of the season. Merida is one of the hottest youngsters in Europe and Atletico face a lot of competition for the former Barcelona trainee.

Merida’s representative Joseba Diaz has refuted claims of any deal being struck between the two parties. Rumours of a five-year deal had surfaced in local newspapers, but Diaz shot them down by insisting that they were still looking at the possibility of extending his contract with Arsenal. The Spanish star has played at every junior level for Spain but has made only three appearances for Arsenal during his career without scoring a goal. He spent 2008 on loan at Real Sociedad making 14 appearances for the club and scored once.

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo has confirmed that his club would be actively looking to hire the services of Merida. “Of course we are interested, he is one of the best young players in Europe. But just as we are thinking of it many other teams in Europe will be thinking the same,” he said.

Even Arsene Wenger has bad vibes about the situation. He sounds resigned to lose Merida. “We made him an offer but he could never finalise it for different reasons. He is at the stage where he wants
to play and he needs to play. I don’t know if he has signed somewhere else. I am a bit disappointed if he has,” Wenger said.

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Babel’s agent reveals Birmingham bid

January 6, 2010

Ryan Babel’s agent has revealed that Birmingham City have made a bid for the Liverpool winger. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is looking to offload some players to raise some much needed transfer funds. And Babel has been unsettled at Anfield, due to not gaining a regular first team spot at Anfield.

Babel’s agent Winnie Haatrecht has admitted that the Dutch international would consider a move to the Midlands if the two clubs could agree a transfer fee.

“We know that Liverpool seriously thinks about the offer from Birmingham, we would consider a deal if both clubs come to an agreement,” Haatrecht told De Telegraaf.

However he has revealed that the former Ajax ace would prefer to stay at Liverpool and gain a regular first team place.

“In general Ryan wants to succeed at Liverpool,” added Haatrecht. “But if the people at Anfield conclude it’s better he leaves, we have to think about the next chapter in his career.

“We will look then to the team, the perspectives of the club and Ryan as well as a meeting with the manager.”

Haarecht also stated that there are numerous clubs interested in signing Babel.

He continued: “I have sent all interested clubs to Liverpool, finally five or six clubs contacted the club. None of them came to an agreement with Liverpool.”

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