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Magpies line up double swoop

May 31, 2011

Newcastle United are reportedly planning a summer raid for out of favour Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov and relegated West Ham star Demba Ba. According to reports in the press, Magpies boss Alan Pardew has identified the two as ideal replacements to fill the void left by Andy Carroll’s departure to Liverpool in the winter. Newcastle are yet to make any big name signings out of Carroll’s £35m sale to the Reds, but are reportedly also close to completing the signing of Yohan Cabaye from Lille.

Berbatov, the Premier League’s top scorer last season, was not even named on United’s bench for the Champions League final and is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer. A move to Newcastle may not please the articulate Bulgarian too much, especially as the Magpies do not have European football to offer.

Former Hoffenheim forward Ba is however a more realistic target but Newcastle face competition from Everton and Sunderland for his signature.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Newcastle United Transfer News, Rumours

Galatasaray confirm Elmander signing

May 31, 2011

It was rumoured to have been done and dusted a long time ago, but Johan Elmander’s transfer to Galatasaray is now official, with the Turkish giants announcing the news on their website. Elmander, Bolton’s record signing when he arrived from Toulouse in 2008, wanted to move to greener pastures and chose not to extend his contract with the Trotters despite a reasonably successfull 10/11 season at the Reebok stadium.

Galatasaray announced that Elmander had been given a three year deal ( till the end of the 2013/2014 season) and also made public the news that the Swedish forward would get 1.8m euros as his annual pay packet.

Galatasaray had a very poor Turkish Superlig 10/11 season, finishing a lowly 8th and missing out on a European spot altogether. The league was won by Gala’s great domestic rivals Fenerbahce.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Bolton Transfer News, Rumours

Newcastle close to completing signing of Lille star

May 29, 2011

Newcastle United are close to completing the signing of Lille midfielder Yohan Cabaye. According to media reports, the Magpies have activated Cabaye’s reported six million euro buyout clause in his contract and have offered the 25 year old a four year deal.

Cabaye’s contract with Lille, who won the 2010/11 Ligue 1 championship ahead of more fancied teams like Lyon and Marseille, was only till 2013 and the medio had reportedly refused to pen a new deal with LOSC.

Box to box midfielder Cabaye has been with Lille since 2004 and has been capped at almost all age levels by France. He earned his first senior cap last year against Norway in August.

Newcastle are also interested in several other Ligue 1 stars, with the likes of Cheikh M’Bengue, Gervinho and Kevin Gameiro also on their summer shopping list.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Newcastle United Transfer News, Rumours

Bolton and Villa to slug it out for Kayal

May 29, 2011

According to news reports, Bolton and Aston Villa are set to slug it out in the summer for the signature of Celtic’s Israeli star Beram Kayal. Medio Kayal is expected to leave Parkhead this summer and the Premier League seems like a likely destination for him, with Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa both interested in his services.

Kayal is rated at around £3m, a figure that suits both the Trotters and Villa perfectly. Celtic finished second in the SPL last season, with Kayal turning in some eye catching performances for the Hoops before his season was ended by a wrist injury. Several other Premier League clubs are set to be interested in Kayal, who has said that he hopes to continue his good form next season.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Aston Villa Transfer News | Aston Villa Transfer Rumours

Larsson, Bowyer and Phillips leave Birmingham

May 27, 2011

Sebastian Larsson, Lee Bowyer and Kevin Phillips have parted company with Birmingham City FC, the club have announced. Birmingham, winners of the 2010/11 Carling Cup, were relegated to the Championship on the last day of the Premier League season following a loss to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Along with Larsson, Bowyer and Phillips, goalkeeper Maik Taylor and defenders Martin Jiranek and Stuart Parnaby have also left St. Andrew’s. However veteran defender Stephen Carr will be staying in the Midlands after the club gave him a new one year deal.

Birmingham also revealed that they will be trying their best to keep Scottish forward James McFadden on their books for the 2011/2012 season.

Birmingham fans reacted with surprise to the news of the releases, especially that of Parnaby and Bowyer, both of whom could have helped Blues return immediately to the Premiership.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Birmingham Transfer News, Rumours

Milan rule out move for Fabregas

May 26, 2011

Newly crowned Serie A champions AC Milan have ruled out a move for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas this summer. Club president Adriano Galliani said that Fabregas, who is widely expected to leave the Gunners this summer following another trophyless season, is too expensive for the Rossoneri’s liking. Fabregas’ reported asking price is in the £50m-60m range.

Milan are looking for midfield reinforcements following Andrea Pirlo’s departure to Juventus and the likelihood of Gennaro Gattuso joining Pirlo out of the San Siro. With Fabregas ruled out as an option, the focus has shifted to Slovakian captain Marek Hamsik, who plays for Napoli in Serie A. But the Partenopei have qualified for the Champions League this season and will be keen to keep hold of their prize asset.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Arsenal Transfer News | Arsenal Transfer Rumours

Bolton Wanderers announce departure of quartet

May 25, 2011

Bolton Wanderers have announced the departure of Jlloyd Samuel, Joey O’Brien, Tamir Cohen and Johan Elmander from the club at the end of this season. The quartet will leave the Reebok this summer as they have not penned an extension to their current contracts.

Elmander was Bolton’s record signing when he arrived from Ligue 1 club Toulouse FC in 2008, but he will now leave the Reebok on a free, with Galatasaray likely to be his next destination. The Swedish hitman struggled in his first two seasons at the club, but enjoyed a very profitable 10/11 season.

Bolton also announced that loanees Daniel Sturridge and Rodrigo would be returning to their respective parent clubs ( Chelsea and Benfica).

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Bolton Transfer News, Rumours

Maradona coached Al-Wasl working towards Forlan signing

May 24, 2011

UAE club Al-Wasl have claimed that they are working towards securing the signature of former Manchester United star Diego Forlan in the summer. Uruguayan hitman Forlan is expected to leave Atletico Madrid this summer after Los Colchoneros missed out on the Champions League and is a reported summer target for many clubs.

Al-Wasl, who recently announced Argentine legend Diego Maradona as their new coach, are looking to bolster their forward line with some marquee signings and Forlan fits the bill perfectly. The lure of big bucks in the Emirates might lure Forlan to the UAE unless the striker feels he wants to have another crack in Europe.

If he signs, Forlan, 32, winner of the Golden Ball at the 2010 World Cup, will become Maradona’s first signing at Al-Wasl.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Football Rumours, Transfers Out

Chelsea part company with Ancelotti

May 23, 2011

Chelsea have parted company with manager Carlo Ancelotti, thus ending the Italian’s two year old stay at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were unable to win a single trophy in the 2010/11 season, finishing second to Man United in the league and losing to the same team in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

The announcement was made just after Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Everton FC on the final day of the season.

A statement released on Chelsea’s official website said, “This season’s performances have fallen short of expectations and the club feels the time is right to make this change ahead of next season’s preparations.”

Ancelotti is widely expected to head back to Italy with Roma interested and Juventus on the lookout for a new manager after their own decision to sack Luigi Delneri.

Guus Hiddink and Porto’s Andre Villas Boas are expected to be among the frontrunners to replace Ancelotti at the Bridge.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Chelsea Transfer News | Chelsea Transfer Rumours

Curtains for Hargreaves- United will not offer midfielder new contract

May 22, 2011

Owen Hargreaves’ career at Manchester United is drawing to a close after the Red Devils said that they would not be offering the injury hit medio a new contract. Hargreaves, 30, was signed from Bayern Munich by United in 2007 for £17m, but has only been able to make 39 appearances for the newly crowned Premier League champions over the course of four seasons.

Hargreaves has struggled with a troublesome knee injury and even the best efforts of surgeons across the pond have not been able to resurrect the Canadian born medio’s career.

Hargreaves was one of England’s standout players at the 2006 World Cup where they lost on penalties to Portugal.

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Written by Le Foot · Filed Under Manchester United Transfer News | Manchester United Transfer Rumours