Manchester United chief executive David Gill says that manager Sir Alex Ferguson still has a free hand in the transfer market, despite talk of the club's debts placing a curb on potential spending.
Ferguson has stated that he doesn't expect to be very busy in the summer transfer market, with Gill insisting that funds are in place should the Scot decide that a number of new faces are needed at Old Trafford.
Gill told The Independent:"The money is there. People say Alex is saying that because he has to. Anyone who knows Alex Ferguson knows he wouldn't say that if he didn't mean what he said.
"The money is definitely there. The results for the quarter ending 31 March will show the figures are about £95million cash.
"We are not in a situation whereby Alex is restricted in what he wants to do with the club and his modus operandi as a manager.
"We have never said 'you can't do that, we have to pay interest (on the debt)'.
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"I can look you in the eye and say that. He would say exactly the same thing. People don't believe it.
"We never said to him 'you can't go for that player because he's too much'."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Liverpool have no chance of enticing Didier Deschamps away from Marseille, according to the French side's president Jean-Claude Dassier.
The former France international midfielder guided Marseille to the Ligue 1 title last term, impressing the Anfield hierarchy in the process.
The Reds are without a manager following Rafael Benitez's departure earlier in the summer, with current Fulham boss Roy Hodgson believed to be the favourite to take on the role.
However, Dassier claims Deschamps is the man Liverpool want, telling L'Equipe:"It's true, Liverpool's executive director, Christian Purslow, called me on Thursday morning. He speaks French very well and is very polite.
"I was expecting his call because I had heard of Liverpool's interest in Didier. He asked me if I would allow him to meet Didier and (agent) Jean-Pierre Bernes. I replied that I would never forbid anyone from meeting whoever.
"I also kindly indicated to him that there wasn't the slightest chance for him to pinch our coach. Even in his dreams.
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"With Didier, we have a trusting relationship. I hope he will commit himself to us for another year. I'm not worried. It's true also that Didier is flattered to see a great European club interested in him."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Former Wigan Athletic defender Paul Scharner is hoping to join Roy Hodgson at Liverpool.
The 30-year-old Austrian is available on a free transfer after leaving the DW Stadium at the end of the last campaign and is hoping Hodgson’s previous interest can lead to a move to Anfield.
The new Reds boss tried to sign Scharner during his time as Fulham manager.
“Roy Hodgson and Paul Scharner – this is a special relationship,” said the player’s agent, Valentin Hobel.
“Hodgson thinks that Paul’s strengths in midfield are better than his attributes in central defence.
“Liverpool would be a dream, of course, but we are in contact with several clubs. Because he is a free transfer, he can choose.”
Meanwhile, striker Nabil El Zhar is looking to leave Anfield this summer after struggling to make an impact at first-team level.
“I want to leave Liverpool. I do not play often enough,” said the 23-year-old striker.
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“There are several European clubs interested and I will not close any doors.”
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And the fallout from France’s ignominious World Cup debacle continues. Embarrassed by the conduct of French skipper Patrice Evra, former France captain Marcel Desailly has chimed in with his two cents on the whole affair.
”The Federation president and the coach have already paid the price,” Desailly said. ”And I think that Evra, who is the origin of the strike, should pay too.
”The captain made a mistake and he has to assume the consequences of his actions. He decided not to train, before realising his mistake and apologising. But he deserves at least a temporary suspension.
”He is an excellent player, our best left-back, but he should be suspended for two months, because the captain is the first one to be an example. His behaviour affected the image of France throughout the world.”
Desailly’s comments mirrored those of France’s most-capped player, Lilian Thuram.Speaking after an FFF council meeting, the former Juventus defender said: “I demanded that the players be harshly punished and that Evra never returns to the France squad. When you are captain of the France team, you must have a responsibility to the jersey and the people.”
The shambles that accompanied France’s World Cup campaign has made them the laughing stock of the football world. Whilst one can point to the (often baffling) decisions made by recently departed coach Raymond Domenech, the conduct of the squad, particularly those orchestrating the camp rebellion, was reprehensible.
Although the acts and decisions made by the non-playing stuff may have contributed to the side’s failure to win in South Africa, the majority of the blame must be apportioned to the players for their dismal performances. As captain, Patrice Evra was the figurehead of France’s playing staff, and subsequently responsible for his and their actions. In leading the mutiny, Evra undermined the coach and his authority, an act which breached the fundamental trust and relationship existing between player and coach.
New France coach Laurent Blanc has acknowledged the challenges that face him in rebuilding a damaged side. Having expressed his own disgust at the players’ decision to strike, Blanc has admitted that no player is safe from the axe, stating: “‘I can’t act like nothing happened in South Africa. It wouldn’t go down well. I followed the events, as you all did, with a lot of sadness. I was outraged by certain behaviour. It’s a delicate situation. There are meetings to be had.”
Whether or not Blanc decides to heed the words of World Cup-winning pair Desailly and Thuram remains to be seen. However, Patrice Evra can have no complaints should he find himself succumb to the national team guillotine.
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Click on image below to see the PORTUGAL babes at the World Cup
Craig Bellamy insists there are no hard feelings towards Roberto Mancini following his departure from Manchester City.
Bellamy, 31, joined hometown club Cardiff City on a season-long loan in the Championship on Tuesday after being frozen out of the first-team picture at Eastlands this summer.
The Wales striker was left out of Mancini’s 25-man Premier League squad but claims he bears no grudge towards the Italian coach.
“There’s no ill feeling,” explained the well-travelled former Liverpool, Newcastle, West Ham and Blackburn frontman.
“I hope he does well, he’s a top manager.
“I had the greatest time at Manchester City at a great period in their history.
“I was bought to take the club on to the next stage and I feel I played a big part in doing that. The players they’re signing are incredible.
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“The next couple of years I’m sure they’ll get the Premier League title and I hope they do.”
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So James Milner finally makes his move to Manchester City and brings with it the end to one of the longest transfer sagas of this summer. In homage, we recall some of the biggest sagas in recent memory.
James Milner to Man City (2010) There was nowhere else to start other than the England midfielder, as his £24m move to Eastlands was finally completed. The move probably also played a factor in the departure of Villa boss Martin O’Neill, as he tried to keep a hold onto Milner; when O’Neill resigned, Milner was free to complete his move. O’Neill’s desire for him to stay, disagreement over the fee and Stephen Ireland’s role as a makeweight all helped to draw the deal out over the entire summer. Still, it all gave Milner the chance to say goodbye to his fans with a goal and standing ovation at Villa Park on the first day of this season.
Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona (2009, 10, 11?) Another season at Arsenal without a trophy and another tournament with his Spanish teammates ending in success all looked to be contributing to a move to his hometown club. His role on the bench behind Xavi, Inestia, Busquets and Pedro may have been an indication of what life in the Nou Camp could have been like, or it may just be that he is still in love with Arsenal. Whatever the reason, Fabregas has spent a second summer turning Guardiola’s advances down (along with every other Catalan). What money on Barcelona trying their luck next summer?
Dimitar Berbatov to Man Utd (2008) The last few minutes of 2008’s summer transfer window saw the Bulgarian finally complete his move. Spurs were ready to report United to the FA for illegally chasing their player and compiled a dossier of a year’s worth of evidence to present to the Premier League. The move was further complicated by interest from the then newly-rich Man City, who agreed a fee with Spurs at the last minute on deadline day, only for Berbatov himself to refuse to speak to City due to their lack of Champions League football.
Gareth Barry to Liverpool (2008) Rafa Benitez’s master plan was to forge a side made up of Gerrard, Barry, Robbie Keane and Torres: Benitez stated that Robbie Keane’s unsuccessful spell at the club was down to the fact that Barry wasn’t there also. Villa were holding out for around £18m but Liverpool wanted something closer to £12m, and thus a stalemate ran the entire length of the summer, with Gareth Barry publicly stating he wanted to go. O’Neill and Benitez’s relationship with each other was sour at the best of times, and the following summer the country was ready for the story to end. Barry had other ideas however, and plumped for Man City within a week of the end of the 08/09 season.
Patrick Vieira to Real Madrid/Juventus (2002, 03, 04, 05) There was a time when as sure as fans were that the season would end, they were as certain that Vieira would mute a move to a European giant. For three years it looked as though Real Madrid would be his destination, but problems over the agreed fee, as well as Vieira’s wage demands, meant that Vieira’s Arsenal career continued to run. The Frenchman was after Champions League success and didn’t believe he could achieve it with Arsenal. In 2005, he eventually plumped for a move to Turin, which brought him illegal league titles, but still no coveted Champions League trophy.
Xabi Alonso to Juventus/Real Madrid (2008, 09) The flip side of the Gareth Barry deal. Whether Rafa wanted both players in the same team, or one for the other is only really know to Benitez himself, but Alonso felt compromised with the lack of conviction over his position at the club. Juventus looked the most likely destination, and his move there, with Barry to Anfield, looked like a done deal, but neither happened and Alonso stayed to continue to play great football for Liverpool. Without the backing of his boss, Alonso still wanted to move on and joined the most expensively assembled team ever at Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid (2008, 09) And speaking of Real Madrid, none were more expensive than the £80m spent on Ronaldo. Ever since ‘the wink’ in the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo’s time looked up at Man Utd, but Sir Alex Ferguson wasn’t about to let that keep him from getting the best out of Ronaldo for a further three seasons. Ronaldo never hid his desire to head to Real, and equally the club were vocal in their pursuit of him. It looked as though he would go in 2008, but the saga rumbled on for another year. In the end, United could not refuse such a big offer for their player and Ronaldo got his wish. His comments during the protracted deal about being ‘a modern-day slave’ did himself no favours.
Frank Ribery to Real/Barca/Man Utd/Chelsea (2008, 09) Not being in La Liga or the Premier League means that Ribery is a constant column filler in the sports gossip sections. Moves to England were muted in 2008, with Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge realistic destinations, but the Spanish duo were always a thorn in any potential deals. The following summer, the same candidates again were being linked and Ribery looked destined to leave Germany. As Real bought the best player from each of the PL, Serie A and Ligue 1, they looked as though they’d take the Bundesliga’s most high profile also. Ribery told the press:
“I have made up my mind – I want to leave. It’s Real or nothing.”
So nothing then. Ribery signed a new contract with Bayern last May.
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David Villa to Barca/Real/Liverpool/Chelsea (2008, 09, 10) And maybe a whole host of other clubs? Villa’s unquestionable talent, along with his club’s horrific debt meant that each summer Villa, along with David Silva, looked as though they’d have to be sold to balance the books. Somehow Valencia managed to stave off having to sell their prized assets for a couple of years. How many concrete offers Valencia received is unsure, but Villa’s preference was always to stay in Spain. Just as it looked as though he was willing to give England a chance, Barcelona made their move and completed a deal for just over £30m. Villa, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi in the same team – Europe watch out.
Loic Remy to half of Europe (2010) Not the biggest name in the list, but I almost want to buy this previously anonymous French striker for myself just so I don’t have to hear another story about him. Stoke, West Ham, Liverpool, Everton, Spurs, Arsenal and other clubs across the continent have been linked to the Nice striker. Every day brings another club into connection with Remy, although none look as though they are actually that interested. Come the passing of the transfer window, he may well still be at Nice.
Who else has taken their time over a transfer – completed or not? Dani Alves to Chelsea perhaps? Steven Gerrard’s supposed moves to Real Madrid or Chelsea? Let us know some others.
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In wake of England’s World Cup exit, Fabio Capello has been forced into making some major calls. The squad’s poor performance in South Africa exposed the need for a “new era” and although the perfect start to the European Championship 2012 qualifying campaign goes some way in diminishing their summer sins, the Italian still has plenty to mull over before England meet Montenegro at Wembley. With Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Frank Lampard all likely to be fit again it poses questions about a return to the old guard.
Capello must decide whether to play Rio Ferdinand for the first time since his knee injury in England’s first World Cup training session and indeed whether Frank Lampard should partner a Steven Gerrard flourishing in his central role.
But surely the re-emergence of faith shown to these players in South Africa would contradict their qualifying success thus far and put Capello under a lot more pressure?
Phil Jagielka has been fantastic in the two games so far; against Switzerland he commanded the back four in the absence of Terry or Ferdinand alongside former club team-mate Joleon Lescott and displayed that his England career is blossoming with good anticipation and timely interventions. It would hardly lend itself to the initiation of a new era to drop him and instead facilitate the previous central defensive pairing.
Similarly, I believe the doubts over whether Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can coexist in the same England midfield have been nullified by the pairing of Gareth Barry and the Liverpool skipper. Barry’s calm aura coupled with his ability to sit deep and break up play permits Gerrard to express himself going forward. This was typified by the way he controlled the games tempo, whilst showing a touch of class for the assist to Adam Johnson.
Talking of Adam Johnson, with Milner suspended and Walcott injured, England may have found themselves the perfect answer to that.
The Manchester City winger looked more like a man with forty caps than four as he got on the score sheet and caused problems almost every time he received the ball whether he was cutting inside or dancing past defenders. I for one believed he should have been on the plane. A tricky winger who not many sides would have known about such was his rapid rise to prominence beforehand and he also may yet prove to be one of Manchester City’s best buys, £8million pounds amongst their lavish spending was a real coup.
In Basle, there was nothing faulty about England. They looked like a team again rather than 11 highly talented individuals who have failed to deliver time and time again. And if England are to drive away the familiarity of heartbreak from South Africa, changes such as these have to be made.
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It could also be conceived that such blind loyalty to players such as Lampard, Ferdinand and Terry have been contributory Capello’s descent from “god to monster” and trusting the “old guard” as opposed to blooding England’s youngsters where he can would not constitute a return journey to his former status. If England are to move forward in a dawn, the Italian must be brave. The game against Montenegro offers him a perfect opportunity to do so.
Wolves defender Ronald Zubar has been ruled out for a month following ankle surgery.
The 25-year-old Frenchman made just two appearances before picking up the injury in August and has now gone under the surgeon's knife.
"He went out to see the surgeon in France that he's used before with the club doctor Matt Perry and it was decided that was the best course of action," manager Mick McCarthy told the Birmingham Mail.
"He could have had an injection but the problem would have probably come back. It's the best time to get it done because we've got two weeks without a game.
"We've missed him and it's a blow because he's played very well and he's a good player. It's been frustrating for him because he twisted his ankle in the first friendly and it's been one thing after another.
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"Having said that, Kevin Foley has played excellently for us and I thought he was different class on Saturday (2-0 defeat at Wigan)."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Defiant manager Roy Hodgson has vowed to silence his critics following Liverpool's dismal start to the season.
Hodgson has found himself under immediate pressure at Anfield after the worst start to a league season since 1953-54.
The Reds have picked up just six points from the first 21 on offer and find themselves in the relegation places after seven games.
Hodgson has also seen his side dumped out of the Carling Cup at the third-round stage by League Two outfit Northampton Town.
However, the former Fulham boss, who took the unfashionable London club all the way to the Europa League Final last May, has vowed to silence his doubters.
"I don't think you go from being as feted as I was in May to suddenly losing any abilities I have three months later," he told the club's official website.
"It's a question that's going to get asked but it shouldn't really be asked by people who've been in football for a long time, because they know that in football you have good moments and bad moments.
"At the end of May I was having fantastic moments and at the end of September I'm having bad moments.
"But I don't think that after 35 years of coaching I've suddenly lost the abilities that have served me so well."
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Meanwhile, Hodgson has admitted he is likely to strengthen his under-performing squad when the transfer window reopens in January.
"We've got to trust in the players because until January we can't do anything about that," he added. "(Against Blackpool on Sunday) we did what we could with the players we have available at the moment, but we are a little bit short of out-and-out front players at the moment, and of course we lost one of the most important ones (Fernando Torres) near the start of the game."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Fulham manager Mark Hughes has admitted he would love to sign Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz in the January transfer window.
Hughes first worked with the Paraguay international when he coached Blackburn Rovers and later splurged £17.5million for his services when he was handed the reins at Manchester City.
With the 29-year-old behind the likes of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Jo and Mario Balotelli in Roberto Mancini's pecking order, Hughes has revealed his admiration and desire to link up with him for a third time.
"I'm interested in players of the quality of Roque," Hughes said."My interest in him before was there for everybody to see.
"Whether we pursue that in January is open to debate. I'm not aware that he's available. That might change, but I don't like discussing players by name before we've actually signed him.
"This time in the transfer window we want to target players quite early so that we are ready to flick the switch when the window opens."
The Welshman is also keen to bring striker Andrew Johnson back into the fold after making his long-awaited comeback in last weekend's 2-1 loss at West Bromwich Albion, but he admits he will not be rushed into the starting line-up.
He added:"Andy's available for selection. He did very well against West Brom but we don't want to rush him.
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"It's important for Andy to know in his own mind that he's fit and well, but he's done everything we've asked of him.
"He played another game behind closed doors on Tuesday but he's probably not ready for 90 minutes. We must filter him back into the group as carefully as we can."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email