Bilbao reject United's Herrera bid

Bilbao reject United's Herrera bid

Bilbao reject United's Herrera bid

Manchester United have seen an offer for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera rejected by the Spanish club.

Athletic said they dismissed a bid from United on Thursday night that fell short of the buy-out clause in his contract, and stressed there was no room for negotiation.

Club president Josu Urrutia said in a press conference on Friday that any player can leave the club, but only if he indicates a desire to go and his full release clause is paid.

In Herrera's case, that clause is widely reported to be 36million euro (£30.75million).

Urrutia indicated Athletic would wish to keep Herrera, a Basque player born in Bilbao who began his career at Real Zaragoza.

Urrutia said on Friday: "Yes we received an offer last night, an official offer from Manchester United. When there's something I'll confirm it.

"Our club is different, our club is special, it's based on sentiment.

"Our objective as a club is not to make money through our players, but to have the best performances possible.

"To break a contract with Athletic, first they have to tell us they want to leave, and that's not the case with Ander, at the moment. Then they have to pay the buy-out clause in his contract, and that's not the case here either.

"In reality the buy-out clause in Ander's contract has not been met.



Source : http://www.football.co.uk/manchester_united/bilbao_reject_united_s_herrera_bid_rss4388055.shtml
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Chalobah commits to Blues

Chalobah commits to Blues

Chalobah commits to Blues

England Under-21 international Nathaniel Chalobah has signed a new five-year contract at Chelsea, the Blues have announced.

The 18-year-old Chelsea academy product spent last season on loan at Watford and has been spoken of highly by Blues boss Jose Mourinho, who plans to integrate the midfielder or defender into the first team in the 2014/15 season.

Chalobah said on chelseafc.com: "It is great for me that Chelsea are willing to give me such a long contract, it is a big confidence boost.

"I know I must continue to improve to earn a place in the Chelsea team and with my future settled, I can concentrate on doing that."

Mourinho said: "He's a very, very good player and I like him very, very much. I am very impressed. For sure he is a Chelsea player."



Source : http://www.football.co.uk/chelsea/chalobah_commits_to_blues_rss4388033.shtml
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Spurs' spending passes 90million pound mark

Spurs' spending passes 90million pound mark

Spurs' spending passes 90million pound mark

Tottenham's summer spending spree passed the £90million mark when they completed the signing of Erik Lamela from Roma.

Vlad Chiriches became the club's fifth summer purchase on Friday morning when he completed his £8.5million move from Steaua Bucharest and four hours later, the north London club confirmed that they had signed 21-year-old Lamela for a fee thought to be around £25.8million.

"We are delighted to announce that we've reached agreement with AS Roma for the transfer of Erik Lamela," Spurs said on their Twitter feed.

Lamela, who has three Argentina caps, moved to Roma from River Plate two years ago and he quickly become recognised as one of the hottest properties in Europe.

Lamela scored 21 goals in 67 appearances for the Italian club, where he played in a number of positions across midfield.

Lamela arrived in London on Wednesday night, but Tottenham would not comment on the player's potential signing for fear that another club may snatch the midfielder from under their noses with an 11th hour bid.

Tottenham have now spent approximately £92.8million in this transfer window following the signings of Lamela, Chiriches, Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Etienne Capoue and Nacer Chadli.

Spurs are also close to signing midfielder Christian Eriksen from Ajax.

Should the deal for the Dane go through, it is likely to pave the way for Gareth Bale to complete his world-record move to Real Madrid.



Source : http://www.football.co.uk/tottenham_hotspur/spurs__spending_passes_90million_pound_mark_rss4387963.shtml
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Summer spending set to break record

Summer spending set to break record

Summer spending set to break record

Premier League spending during the summer transfer window is poised to hit record levels this year.

With three days remaining until Monday's transfer deadline, professional services firm Deloitte has released data indicating that spending is already 15 per cent higher than at the same stage of last year's window.

As of Friday morning, clubs had spent an estimated £430million on players, £60million short of the final 2012 total of £490million. The record spend of £500million was recorded in 2008.

One of the chief reasons for the increased spending is thought to be the competition's new £5.5billion global television deals, which have taken effect this season.

Dan Jones, partner in Deloitte's specialist Sports Business Group, said: "This summer looks set to be a record for the Premier League in gross, and quite possibly also net transfer spending.

"Clubs have already spent over £400million this summer and with several large deals looking close to completion and a number of clubs still expected to do significant business, we will likely see the £500million gross record broken by Tuesday morning.

"In a potentially record summer, it is important to consider this level of spending in the wider financial context of the Premier League.

"The 2013-14 season will be the first in which clubs will benefit financially from the increased broadcast deals and we are seeing this translate into increased spending.

"However, transfer spending this summer is still likely to be less than the total incremental revenue clubs will receive from these new broadcast deals."

The highest fees paid so far are the reported £32million Chelsea paid for Willian this week and the £30million Manchester City spent on Fernandinho earlier in the summer.



Source : http://www.football.co.uk/tottenham_hotspur/summer_spending_set_to_break_record_rss4387898.shtml
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Jordi Alba: “Valencia v Barça is always a special game”

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The fullback knows all about playing at Mestalla and insists that Valencia “will be going all out for this game, especially after what happened to them last week at Espanyol”

On the Champions League draw, he said that “it's an advantage to play teams we know so well ... But it won't be an easy group”

  • Training session 30/08/2013 Training session 30/08/2013

    Jordi Alba is looking forward to travelling with Barça to Mestalla, where he spent three seasons before moving to Catalonia last summer. So he knows how Valencia always raise their game when they face FC Barcelona, saying that “I’m sure they’ll be well up for the game against us. I was there for three years and Barça’s visits are always a special day for the fans, the players and the coaches – they treat the game like a final”. Djukic’s side have come in for some heavy criticism after a poor display at Cornellà-El Prat last week, but Alba reckons ““the season has only just started, so it’s wrong to criticise a team so early … They will be going all out for this game, especially after what happened to them last week at Espanyol”.

    Champions League draw

    The player also commented on how FC Barcelona have been grouped with Milan, Ajax and Glasgow Celtic in the Champions League. “We know it’s not an easy group because last season we lost to both Milan and Celtic” he said. “Ajax are a very good team who like play when they have they have the ball and who are aggressive when they don’t … It is advantage that they’re all teams we know in depth. But we’ll stick to playing our game and try not to make the mistakes we made last season. We need to make sure we finish top of the group.”

    Alba accepted the old cliché that there are no easy games in Europe, but nevertheless insists that “Barça are expected to qualify. We will try to win every game and make it into the last sixteen … Our objective this season is to win every trophy and it’s been a few years since we won the Champions League so we’re especially hungry for that, but we want to win all the competitions that we’re in.”

    Pressure and defence

    So far this season, Barça have only conceded one goal in four official matches. Alba explained this good record by saying that “we’re all putting on defensive pressure, even Leo, and that’s why we’re defending better. If we create pressure from the front, the ball is always going to be further away from our goal.”

    David Moyes believes Rooney is in good shape

    David Moyes believes Rooney is in good shape

    David Moyes believes Rooney is in good shape

    Manchester United manager David Moyes has revealed Wayne Rooney is mentally in good shape ahead of Sunday's trip to Liverpool.

    Rooney completed his first game of the season against Chelsea on Monday, after which he thanked the United fans for their support.

    Since then, Chelsea have signed Samuel Eto'o, which seems to have ended any chance of Rooney leaving for Stamford Bridge ahead of the transfer window closing on Monday night.

    And now he is preparing for one of United's biggest games of the season.

    "Wayne Rooney has been a great player for many years for Manchester United," said Moyes.

    "I felt he played very well the other night and he's looking in good condition and is mentally in good shape too."

    Moyes declined to enter into further discussion on Rooney, preferring instead to underline the stance United have taken throughout the summer.

    "We told you and everybody else from day one so I don't think there's anything else to add today," he said.

    Moyes was no more forthcoming on United's pursuit of new players.

    The club have had another bid rejected by Everton for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines this week.



    Source : http://www.football.co.uk/manchester_united/david_moyes_believes_rooney_is_in_good_shape_rss4387855.shtml
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    Summer of struggle for Pardew and Newcastle

    Summer of struggle for Pardew and Newcastle

    Summer of struggle for Pardew and Newcastle

    Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admits another turbulent transfer window and a tough start to the season have taken their toll on him.

    The 52-year-old has had to contend with the controversial appointment of director of football Joe Kinnear, continued speculation over the future of French midfielder Yohan Cabaye, a frustrating lack of signings to date and a distinctly ordinary opening to the new campaign on the pitch.

    That combination of factors would have been difficult enough to deal with had Pardew not ended last season fighting for his job with both owner Mike Ashley and the club's fans less than impressed with a 16th-placed Barclays Premier League finish.

    While he insists the events of the last few weeks have not really come as a surprise to him, he is hoping his fortunes will take a significant turn for the better as he prepares for Fulham's visit to St James' Park on Saturday and Monday's transfer deadline.

    Pardew said: "If I had been asked during the summer what would pre-season be like, I would have suggested not too dissimilar to how it's been.

    "We had a tough start in terms of Manchester City away with a new manager, and also you could almost sense that one or two of our players would be involved in this window, so I kind of sensed it was coming.

    "But that doesn't mean to say it hasn't been difficult, because it has.

    "It has been a very difficult period and if we can get a win on Saturday and get through to Monday with one or two additions, I will be very, very pleased."

    A crushing 4-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium was followed by a dispiriting 0-0 home draw with West Ham, and Wednesday night's 2-0 Capital One Cup victory at League Two Morecambe came courtesy largely of Pardew's understudies and was less convincing than the scoreline suggests.

    But the uncertainty of Cabaye's future - the France international has been told he is expected to be available for selection against Fulham after sitting out the opening three games - has proved draining with Arsenal's second bid having been firmly rejected, but the Magpies are awaiting a response with time running down.



    Source : http://www.football.co.uk/newcastle_united/summer_of_struggle_for_pardew_and_newcastle__rss4387820.shtml
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