Latest Transfer News

[Forda]

Fulham boss Martin Jol has expressed his frustration at the transfer window system as he attempts to replace Mousa Dembele while simultaneously prepare his team for a league game.

Belgium star Dembele moved to Spurs earlier this week in a £15million deal, leaving Cottagers chief Jol precious little time to bring in a replacement.

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has already completed a deadline day move to Craven Cottage, penning a two-year contract.

Wolfsburg winger Ashkan Delagah is another linked with a last-minute £2million move to west London, as the clock ticks towards the 11pm deadline.

Jol would not be drawn on any particular targets but did bemoan the transfer deadline, which closes just hours before Fulham play a Premier League game at West Ham.

"That is what I don't like about the transfer window," said the Dutchman.

"You are playing your third game and you have to play someone who has been at the club for a day, it is not ideal."

 

[wased]

Latest Football Transfer News 07-09-2012

Fabregas happy at Barca

Barca midfielder admits it will take time to be a success

Cesc Fabregas: Believes it will take time to succeed at Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has moved to defuse a potential row at Barcelona after suggesting he was unhappy with life on the bench.
The former Arsenal midfielder spoke out earlier this week to reveal his disappointment at receiving limited opportunities this season at the Catalan club.
But the 25-year-old now claims reports have exaggerated the problem and he still intends to see out is career at Barca.
"This whole situation is exaggerated," he told Catalunya Radio.


"I am happy. I am at the club I wanted to be at for many years. Currently I am very calm.
"I'm doing my job and working as anyone else to make life difficult for my coach (to leave me out).
"I want to retire at the Camp Nou."
Fabregas continues to play second fiddle to Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta in the Barcelona midfield but points to history as a source of encouragement that his day will come.


"When Guardiola retired it was not easy for Xavi," Fabregas added.
"People did not understand his game and he was criticised. Now he is one of the best players in the history of Barca.
"People take time to get used to you. With Iniesta it also went something like this."
New stadium

With Fabregas eyeing a long-term stay that opens up the possibility of him being with the club if they move to a new stadium as has been tentatively proposed.
That would be the second time Fabregas has witnessed such a change close up having been at Arsenal when they moved from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium.
And Fabregas admits to having mixed feelings about the change.


"It's a difficult question," added the Spain international.
"Changing it, I do not know. We feel very comfortable in the Camp Nou.
"The Highbury experience I have was very small but was so special.
"The Emirates is amazing - Very modern and it has everything. But..."

 

[wased]

Bentley makes Russian move

Spurs midfielder joins FC Rostov on loan until January

David Bentley: Joining Russian side FC Rostov on loan until January.

Tottenham midfielder David Bentley has joined Russian side FC Rostov on loan until January.
Spurs have allowed the 27-year-old to leave on loan as he is well down the pecking order at White Hart Lane.
The former Arsenal trainee, who joined Tottenham from Blackburn in a £15million deal in the summer of 2008, found first-team opportunities in short supply at White Hart Lane under then-manager Harry Redknapp over the last two campaigns and has not played for Spurs since November 2010.


Bentley had a spell on loan at West Ham last season before a serious knee injury curtailed his stay at Upton Park.
A number of clubs are thought to have expressed an interest in taking Bentley on loan, but the England international has decided to take up the opportunity to move to Russia with Rostov.
Bentley is the second new face at Rostov after former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle joined the club on a free transfer earlier this week.

 

[wased]

Gudjohnsen accepts Seattle trial

Former Blues man open to MLS move

Eidur Gudjohnsen: Linking up with MLS side Seattle Sounders on trial

Former Chelsea and Barcelona star Eidur Gudjohnsen has linked up with MLS side Seattle Sounders on trial.
Gudjohnsen is available on a free transfer after leaving Greek side AEK Athens earlier this summer.
The 33-year-old admits he is open to the idea of moving to America as he looks to impress the Sounders coaching staff.
"I'm just looking at things at the club. I will be training there for a few days and see how I like things," Gudjohnsen told Icelandic football website 433.is


"This has been going on for a while so I decided to take a shot. I haven't promised anything to anyone, I'll just go there and meet people at the club.
"I have no idea how strong the MLS league is, I haven't watched it that much. It's been growing though, and players such as David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez and Robbie Keane have arrived there. The league is getting bigger but it isn't concrete that I'll be playing there.
"I decided to accept the club's offer of coming over, they want to introduce themselves to me. They also want to see if my foot is okay. We decided not to discuss anything contract related."

 

[wased]

Potters plan to loan out players

Fringe players to be moved on in bid to balance books
Last Updated: September 7, 2012 9:01am

Danny Higginbotham: Could be loaned out by Stoke

Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes admits they plan to send out a number of fringe players on loan in a bid to balance the books.
Danny Higginbotham, Michael Tonge, Diego Arismendi and Mama Sidibe were all left out of the maximum 25-man Premier League squad following a busy reshuffling of the squad during the transfer window.


Michael Owen's arrival at the Britannia Stadium earlier this week brought the number of new faces to seven and Stoke are prepared to let a few move out on loan when the emergency window opens on Saturday.


"The fact we have made seven signings speaks for itself," Scholes told the Stoke Sentinel. "The backing that the Coates family has again given the club is incredible.
"Now we have to balance things and move some players out as well.
"It's fair to say we have ended up with more in the squad than is appropriate."

 

[wased]

Owen prepared to work hard

Michael Owen accepts he may have to work hard to win a place in the Stoke side.

Michael Owen: Not expecting an easy ride
The former England striker this week signed for the Potters having been available as a free agent following his release by Manchester United at the end of last season.
The 32-year-old endured three injury-blighted years at Old Trafford and now feels he has to prove himself at the Britannia Stadium despite his experiences with United and previously with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and England.
Owen told Stoke City Player: "There are many strikers at the club, I'm not expecting it to be an easy ride.


"I'll have to work, obviously, to play any part. I'm prepared to do that.
"There are a lot of top players at the club, so I'm hopefully going to fit in well with the squad and have a good season."
Owen was strongly linked with Stoke throughout the summer and more recently with former club Liverpool, boyhood team Everton and Sunderland.
His move to Stoke was announced on Tuesday and was ratified by the Premier League, after confusion over whether he had been included in the club's 25-man squad for the competition, the following day.


Owen first held talks with Potters boss Tony Pulis earlier in the summer and is now keen to start working under him.
Owen said: "I met the manager two or three months ago. We were singing from the same hymn sheet in many ways.
"It is important to have a healthy respect for your manager and understand what he wants and different things. I feel as if I'll get that here with Tony Pulis.
"We had a good chat and it's just a shame it took a few months after that before I signed.


"But anyway, we're here now and I'm looking forward to it."
Stoke are next in action when champions Manchester City visit the Britannia Stadium in the Barclays Premier League on September 15.
Owen has worked on his fitness privately but is unsure he will be match-sharp by then.
He said: "I know how I feel but in many ways I'm unsure in terms of exactly what stage I'm at compared to the rest of the squad.
"They've had a long pre-season, so it might turn out when I do a few tests that I'm quite a bit behind or it might be that I'm further forward than I thought - I just don't know.


"I'll have some tests over the next few days and gauge where I am, and hopefully I'll be out there as soon as possible."
Stoke are now a well-established Premier League team in their fifth season in the top flight.
Owen said: "Looking from outside, Stoke have done particularly well since the introduction to the Premier League, regularly coming mid-table, give or take a few places.
"I think everyone's objectives at the start of the season - unless you are Man Utd, Chelsea etc - is to get 40 points as soon as you can and to secure your status, and then for a club on the up like this, to try to aim as high as possible."

 

[wased]

Rooney regrets transfer request
Last Updated: September 7 2012, 6:43 BST

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits handing in a transfer request two years ago was the biggest mistake of his career.

Wayne Rooney: 'United want the same as me'
Rooney issued a statement in September 2010 in which he questioned the Red Devils' ability to attract top players and indicated he wanted to leave because the club could not match his ambitions.
Two days later, though, the England international performed a dramatic U-turn and signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford.
He looks back on the whole affair now with a sense of regret.
In his latest autobiography, which is being serialised by the Daily Mirror, he recalls: "In September 2010 my ankle puts me on the sidelines.
"I get frustrated with myself, my game, my injury, and everything around me.


"I'm stuck in a cycle of bad form but I can't get out of it.
"And that's when I make the biggest mistake of my football career.
"In October, I release a statement which publicly questions my happiness at Old Trafford. Am I better off elsewhere?
"Everyone makes a fuss. There are discussions inside United to sort out the issue, people outside United chuck their opinions around, but the thing is, nobody really knows what's going on in my life.


"None of them understand where I am in my career. They don't know where my head's at.
"The only person who really knows what's going on in there is me, but even I'm not sure what I want."
He continues: "Then the manager has his say. 'Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you have in your own field. And it never really works that way'.


"He's saying the grass isn't always greener, and he's right.
"I like what's in my field. I'm wrong. United want the same as me: trophies, success, to be the best."

 

[wased]

Gunners boss says striker still has a future at the Emirates
Last Updated: September 7, 2012 12:55pm

Nicklas Bendtner: Has linked up with Juventus on a season-long loan

Arsene Wenger claims to have never lost faith in Nicklas Bendtner and says there could be a route back to the Arsenal first-team for the Danish striker.
The 24-year-old has never been short on self-belief, but has struggled to produce his best in limited outings for the Gunners.
A lack of regular starts has done little to aid his cause and he has grown increasingly frustrated with life at the Emirates.
A loan spell at Sunderland

last season allowed him to spearhead a Premier League attack, and he fared admirably in a team which ended the campaign in 13th place.
He was reluctant to return to Arsenal

and another bit-part role in North London, and Juventus

offered him a further loan opportunity.
Value

Wenger believes Bendtner,

who impressed for Denmark at Euro 2012, will show his true colours in Serie A and has refused to rule out the prospect of him leading Arsenal's line at some point in the future.
"He can do well in Italy," the Gunners boss told Corriere dello Sport.
"He's a top player for me, but he's had difficulties here. You can't doubt the player's value though.
"We believe in him and that is why we only gave him to Juventus on loan.
"I think he can resolve his problems with us and prove himself. We believe in him."
Value

While Juve were able to lure Bendtner to Serie A over the summer, they missed out on Robin van Persie.

Wenger claims the package pieced together by the Turin giants fell well short of Arsenal's valuation, despite the Dutchman having only 12 months left to run on his contract.
"Juventus can't think about selling players for €70million and then buying new ones for a tenth of that amount," he said.
"That would be too easy, but that is not possible in today's football.
"Van Persie

would have been a free agent in the summer of 2013, but we decided to sell after Manchester United

made a great offer."

 

[wased]

Zenit in Nani contract claim

Russians says winger's demands scuppered move
Last Updated: September 7, 2012 9:53am

Nani: Held talks about Russian move

Zenit St Petersburg claim that Nani's wage demands were the main reason for him not moving to Russia.
Zenit were not shy in splashing the cash this summer after they completed the €100million double swoop of Hulk and Axel Witsel.
The Russian champions admitted that Hulk and Witsel were their top priorities, but they were still keen on Manchester United

winger Nani.


The 25-year-old currently has two-years remaining on his deal at Old Trafford,

but talks are reported to have stalled over an extension.
Zenit director-general Maxim Mitrofanov has now admitted that if Nani had agreed terms, he could have made the move to Russia's Second City.
"If Hulk had demanded €8 million to €10 million a year, these conditions would have been unacceptable for Zenit," Mitrofanov said.
"The transfer of Nani failed mostly due to this reason, as he asked for an enormous salary and we would not pay him."
Priorities

Mitrofanov admitted that Nani and Tottenham target Joao Moutinho were not their 'top' targets.
"We really have been negotiating Nani and Moutinho, but Hulk and Witzel were top priorities," he said,
"It must be understood that any transfer campaign is based on the list of players, ranked by priority."
The club were also looking into bringing Arsenal's

Andrey Arshavin back to St Petersburg, but the player is reported to have decided to remain in London.

 

[wased]

Ziegler leaves Juventus to join Lokomotiv in loan deal
Last Updated: September 7, 2012 10:23am

Reto Ziegler: Left Juventus to join Lokomotiv Moscow on loan

Swiss defender Reto Ziegler has joined Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow on loan from Juventus.
Swiss defender Reto Ziegler

has joined Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow on loan from Juventus.

The 26-year-old full-back spent the whole of last season on loan with Fenerbahce of Turkey and has again been loaned out by the Turin club.
Juventus posted a statement on their official website which read: "Following his successful stint in Turkey last year, Reto Ziegler is now set to experience another foreign championship.


"The Swiss left-back will get a taste of the Russian Premier League while plying his trade at Lokomotiv Moscow. Juventus have reached an agreement with the Moscow outfit for the loan transfer of Ziegler until June 30, 2013."
The head of Lokomotiv's selection department Kirill Kotov told his club's official website: "We have been looking for a player to enhance our defence.
"Reto Ziegler is a left-footed player that meets our demands. It is also important that he can play both in defence and midfield. This will boost competition within the team."

 

[wased]

RVP regret for Juve

Serie A giants could not justify the cost of signing Dutch striker
Last Updated: September 7, 2012 10:22am

Robin van Persie: Was a target for Juventus, but ended up at Manchester United

Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta admits to being disappointed at missing out on Robin van Persie, with the striker proving too expensive.
The reigning Italian champions were among those looking to add the Holland international to their ranks over the summer once it became apparent that he wanted out of Arsenal.

The Gunners were keen to sell him to a foreign club, ruling out the possibility of him coming back to haunt them in the future.
Juve, though, could not justify the outlay required to bring Van Persie

on board, with Arsenal demanding £24million for a player that had just 12 months left to run on his contract.
Their reluctance to meet that asking price opened the door for Manchester United

to snap up the deadly Dutchman and keep him in England.
Targets

"I have regrets about Van Perise, but it would have been a bad choice for the club if we had paid €30million for a player who would have seen his contract expire next year," Marotta told Tuttosport.
"We are happy with the business we were able to carry out.
"We hit our targets with the acquisition of good, young players with reasonable salaries - (Kwadwo) Asamoah, (Mauricio) Isla and (Sebastian) Giovinco.
"There is another fact which must not be overlooked, the fact that we kept (Claudio) Marchisio and (Arturo) Vidal, who were wanted by Bayern Munich.

"

 

[wased]

Huntelaar talks continue

Dutch striker remains locked in deal discussions with Schalke
Last Updated: September 7, 2012 11:37am

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar: Will see his current contract at Schalke expire next summer

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar saw out the summer transfer window at Schalke and claims talks regarding a contract extension remain ongoing.
With the Holland international having failed to reach an agreement as deadline day approached, it was suggested that he could be lured away from the Bundesliga.
No bids were tabled, though, and the striker remains in Germany.


Huntelaar has no issue with that and remains open to the prospect of prolonging his stay at Schalke.
He claims an agreement is no closer to being reached at present, but insists he is happy to continue with discussions.
"I am not about to make any statement on my contract situation," Huntelaar told Sport-BILD.
"It's true that we have had one of two further chats, but nothing has happened. It will take more time."
Decision

Huntelaar's current deal is due to expire next summer, but Schalke remain optimistic regarding their chances of securing his services past that point.
"Maybe the case of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will take more time," said chairman Clemens Tonnies.
"I have no problem with that as long as he gives his all for Schalke in the meantime.
"Hopefully at the end there will be a decision reached which is similar to that of Jefferson Farfan."
Farfan saw contract talks drag on last season, as he entered the final year of his deal, but he eventually committed his long-term future to the club.

 

[wased]

AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes never thought about a summer transfer

Philippe Mexes: The France defender was linked with a summer move away from AC Milan

Philippe Mexes insists he 'never thought about' leaving AC Milan in the summer transfer window.
The French defender, who has suffered with fitness problems and has missed the first games of this season, was linked with a move away from the San Siro.


But former Roma

man Mexes

remains at Milan and could now be set for a key season following the departures of Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta.
"I heard a lot of false things said about me but the important factor is that I am still here," he told Sky Sport Italia. "I never thought about going elsewhere.
"I want to show the fans just how attached I am to this shirt and I have always worked hard to get back into action as soon as possible."

 

[wased]

Fulham eye Greek star

Free agent Karagounis attracts Jol's interest

Giorgos Karagounis: Attracting interest from Fulham as a free agent

Sky Sports understands Fulham are weighing up a move for Greek international Giorgos Karagounis.
Karagounis is available on a free transfer and therefore able to sign for a club outside the transfer window.
The experienced midfielder is looking for a new club after leaving Panathinaikos earlier this summer.
Fulham

boss Martin Jol is keen to bolster his midfield options after seeing key figures Moussa Dembele

and Clint Dempsey

leave the club last month.


Jol is short of options in midfield after also allowing Danny Murphy

and Dickson Etuhu

to leave for Blackburn earlier this summer.
Karagounis has a wealth of experience having won over 100 caps for Greece, helping them win Euro 2004, and counts Inter Milan

and Benfica among his former clubs.
A number of clubs are thought to be keen on signing Karagounis, but Fulham are giving serious consideration to offering him a deal at Craven Cottage.

 

[wased]

Kean given mixed signals

Rovers boss claims full-back told him he was happy to stay

Martin Olsson: Was said to be keen on securing a summer switch away from Ewood Park

Steve Kean claims to have been given 'mixed signals' regarding Martin Olsson's future at Blackburn, but insists the defender has not been unsettled.
It appeared as though the Sweden

international wanted out of Ewood Park following relegation into the Championship, something he confirmed during an interview in his homeland on Thursday.


Kean, though, has refuted any suggestion that Rovers knocked back bids for the 24-year-old and is blaming the uncertainty on meddling representatives.
He says Olsson

expressed commitment to the collective cause during summer discussions with the full-back and is confident he will have no problem slipping back into the side once he has returned to full fitness following major groin surgery.


"We had no bids on Friday (deadline day) for Martin and we are glad of that," Kean told the Lancashire Telegraph.
"He is not 100 per cent fit, even though he has been away with Sweden. It has been a long time since he has played but he is still here and we are delighted about that.
Agents

"We were getting mixed signals. I spoke to Martin many times and he said he wanted to get back in the team, then you have agents or agents on behalf of other agents saying his agent had told them he was desperate to get away.
"You can only speak with the player and when they tell you they want to get their head down and stay at the club, then that is good news."
Kean has also expressed his concern at Sweden's decision to include an unfit Olsson in their squad for the start of 2014 World Cup

qualifying.
He added: "We are very frustrated that Martin went away with Sweden. We contacted them and said we did not think he was in a physical state. He was technically fit but had not played any minutes.
"We asked if he could stay at the club and build back into some training and they were adamant they wanted him over.
"If he was pushed into a game it could push him into an injury. He is getting over a groin injury we had to be careful with. We asked if he could stay, they said no."

 

[wased]

Hatters loan swap for Robinson

Robinson: Heading to Kenilworth Road

Northampton striker Jake Robinson has agreed to join Blue Square Bet Premier side Luton on a one-month loan.
The 25-year-old, who arrived from Shrewsbury in the summer of 2011, has made 35 appearances for the Cobblers, scoring once.
That goal came in midweek when Northampton

produced a surprise 1-0 home win over MK Dons of League One in the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.


Boss Aidy Boothroyd said: "This is a good opportunity for Jake.
"It will give him the chance to play regular football and he hasn't had that opportunity here.
"It is in the best interests of all parties that he plays regularly and we wish him well."

 

[wased]

Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate says he could have joined Arsenal

Cheikhou Kouyate: Says he had the chance to join Arsenal in the summer

Cheikhou Kouyate has revealed that he had contact with Arsene Wenger during the summer before deciding to stay at Anderlecht.
Kouyate enjoyed a superb season with Anderlecht in the Belgian league last term and is looking forward to their upcoming UEFA Champions League campaign.


He says the prospect of a European adventure with the club where he is so adored by the supporters convinced him not to leave.
The Senegalese defender had been linked with a number of high-profile European clubs during the transfer window, and says he could have made the move to Emirates Stadium.


"The fans of Anderlecht asked me to stay for the club and they showed me their appreciation," Kouyate told the African press.
"Qualifying for the Champions League was also very important for me, because without that I think I should have been in London where I had a good contact with Arsene Wenger

and Arsenal.

"

 

[wased]

Everton loan of Club Brugge's Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe blocked by FIFA

Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe: Everton insist they had full support from the Football Association and Premier League

Everton are considering their options after FIFA refused to ratify the loan of Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe from Club Brugge.
The Premier League club initially announced a deal was in place late on last Friday's transfer deadline day and insisted all the necessary paperwork was submitted.


But the move for Belgian international Odjidja-Ofoe,

which also included a permanent option, required clearance from football's world governing body, FIFA.
This has not been granted and Everton

are now taking their time to assess their next step regarding the situation before making any additional comments.


A statement on their official website on Friday night read: "FIFA have today refused to ratify the loan transfer of Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe to Everton from Club Brugge.

"The decision comes despite both the Football Association

and Premier League giving their full support to the loan agreement and Everton lodging the relevant signed paperwork in advance of the international transfer deadline on August 31.
"An Everton spokesman confirmed the club will consider all available options before making any further comment."

 

[wased]

Everton Odjidja-Ofoe move thwarted
Last Updated: September 8 2012, 1:59 BST

FIFA have refused to ratify the loan transfer of Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe to Everton from Club Brugge.

Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe: Everton move not approved
The Toffees agreed a late deal a week ago and believed the required documentation had been submitted just before last Friday's 11pm deadline.
However, the move required the green light from world football's governing body and a week later FIFA have decided not to rubber-stamp the deal for the 23-year-old midfielder.


Everton said in a statement on the club's official website: "The decision comes despite both the Football Association and Premier League giving their full support to the loan agreement and Everton lodging the relevant signed paperwork in advance of the international transfer deadline on August 31."
Everton confirmed the club will consider "all available options" before discussing the issue further.

 

[wased]

Malouda offered Lyon lifeline

French club keep door open for former star
Last Updated: September 8, 2012 11:22am

Florent Malouda: Could be set for a return to former club Lyon after finding himself out of favour at Chelsea

Lyon have hinted they are ready to offer Chelsea outcast Florent Malouda a way out of Stamford Bridge.
Malouda

has been deemed surplus to requirements in Roberto Di Matteo's plans and has been left out of Chelsea's

Champions League squad.
The France international also claims he has been forced to train with the club's kids after slipping down the pecking order in the Chelsea first team.


Malouda left Lyon

for Chelsea in 2007 and the French club's president, Jean-Michel Aulas, claims the door is open for Malouda to return to Stade Gerland.
"Our door is always open to former players," said Aulas. "Malouda has been in contact with our coaching team very recently.
"We've also spoken with Jeremy Toulalan who has been having problems at Malaga.

"