Close Season News Updates

[johntheclaret]

Derby
Sign Norwich striker Robert Earnshaw for £3.5m, making this a clud record fee.

Looks like "dud" at first look. Or was that the intention?

Sorry McA,, typo.. fingers get wornout. Bloody long posts some of these.

By the way, have you been keeping up with the Rams news regarding the directors and the alleged fianancial irregularities. A third director was taken in for questioning. I haven't heard anything since.

[Blue Boy]

Tonights latest.



Man U have completed the signing of Tomasz Kuszczak, after completing a successful loan spell with them. The fee is undisclosed. The Polish keeper finalised a permanent deal following a season on loan from WBA.

Great news for Man U - I rekon he is a gun !!!

[johntheclaret]

Officially announced this morning , Thaksin Shanawatra has taken over at Man City.

officailly announced this afternoon, Sven Goran Ericson officially appointed manager at Man C

Go help all who sail in her

[johntheclaret]

Latest....
Tevez in talks with Man U. His agent has said he is already on his way. Reported fee is £20m. there is now a big debate where that money will go. If it does not go to WHU, the Sheff U might have a big case over the ownership of the player

Leeds put up fole salev after the Inland Revenue blocked the proposed buy in deal. Leeds have until Monday before the club closes. (Is that Wedgie I here cheering all the way down there)

Wolves sign Freedy Eastwood from Southend, for £1.5m

Cisse signs on for Marsielle on a permanent deal. Also big clear out at Liverpool as more transfers out, to come.

Craig Bellamy has agreed personal terms with West Ham (looks like they are resigned to losing Tevez) and in talks with Liverpool (who want to recoup some of the £27m paid for Torres).

There are some decent stories breaking right now. Unfortunately it's 10 past one in the morning and I have to be up at 5:15 tomorrow, so will try to update in the morning during the 1/4 time breaks.

[johntheclaret]

Bolo Zenden has joined Marsielle
Newcastle have signed Gerami from Chelski
Sunderland have signed Baird from Southampton for £3m

Thats definitely it

[Blue Boy]

JTC

If it hasnt been mention great work on your updates !!!

[smithy]

amp;

[johntheclaret]

JTC

If it hasnt been mention great work on your updates !!!

Cheers Blue Boy

[johntheclaret]

West HamCraig Bellamy has signed for West Ham Utd on a four year deal. The fee is around £8m and Bellamy is on a reputed $120k per week.
West ham have also rejected a bid from Liverpool for midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
Have also signed Wright from Everton on a free transfer.

Ipswich
Have made an improved offer to Blackburn for Francis Jeffers. Having already had two previous bids turned down, the tractor boys seem determiined to get their man.

Man City
Target 7 new signings before the season starts. New owner Shinawatra quoted as saying City need to invest in midfielders and strikers and will purchase 6 or 7 new players to take the club forward.

Derby
David Kelly joins Billy Davis as assistant coach.
Have signed defender Andy Todd from b4st4rds on a 4 year deal. Todd fromer loane at Burnley and captain of b4st4rds signed on a free transfer.
Also sign Mears from West Ham for £1m.

Everton
Finally capture striker / midfielder Phil Jageilka from Sheffield United for £4m. Jags has been the number 1 target for David Moyes for some time.

QPR
Former Chelski keeper Ed de Goey has been confirmed as the new coach.

Birmingham
Confirm signing of De Rigger from French side Lille.

Just to make you all jealous.
Next season Sky TV will show 92 live EPL games, more than 70 CCC and League games, more than 60 FA CUP & Carling Cup games, all the playoff's, more than 40 live Spanish La Liga games along with Scottich League and cup games. On top of this they offer an interactive service "Football First" showing the full 90 minutes of every EPL game played each week.

DA, you are gonna have a ball (No pun intended)

[johntheclaret]

Aston Villa
Have handed a trial to French U21 keeper Steve Mandanda. The Le Harve player represented his country in last months U21 European Championships. O'Neill reported , "we will give him a few days and take it from there"

Cardiff
Are set to sign Wolves keeper Michael Oakes, 33, on a one year deal, while captain Darren Purse hasa signed a new one year contract extension.

Man U
Have agreed personal terms with WHU's Carlos Tevez, although this is not going to be simple. United are currently dealing with Tevez agent / alleged owner, rather than with West Ham, and the EPL are likely to block any move until the exact position concerning Tevez's ownership is clarified. Newspapers going into overdrive over his fee which varies from £60 to £21m. Either way, it's a lot of dosh.

Liverpool
Will recover most of the £27m they paid for Torres. Bellamy has signed for West Ham for £8m, Cisse for Marseille for £6m and Garcia to Madrid for £4.5m. Cisse cost Liverpool £14m in July 2004.
edit: from previous update. Bellamy's salary is $150k per week, not $120k

Spurs
Are set to renew their interest in Barca winger Ludovic Giuly.

Wigan
Are on the brink of signing WBA midfielder Jason Koumas for £5m after having a previous bid of £4m turned down.

Preston
Have ordered want away striker Nugent to return to the club to resume preseason training. Sunderland pulled out of a move despite agreeing a deal worth £6m and now talks with Portsmouth have been put on hold. Nugent set his heart on a move to boyhood idols Everton, but Toffee's boss Moyes will not offer more than £4m.

Real Madrid
If anyone has doubt over player power. Here is a story that might explain the valur a top player can bring to a club.
Real Madrid made more than £330m ($660million) during David Beckham's four years at the club. Beckham moved to Real from Man U in 2003 for a fee of £25m. Madrid claim they sold more than 1 million 'Beckham' shirts within the first 6 months of his arrival at the Bernabeu, and "other 'Beckham' commercial activities generate more than £300 million in four years" quoted Real marketing director Jose' Sanchez.

Sunderland
Are set to lodge a third and improved bid of £5m for rated Wigan defender Leighton Baines.

Man CityAre set to make their 1st transfer of the summer with the signing of former Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek.

[johntheclaret]

Liverpool
Have agreed a fee with West Ham for Yossi Benayoun according to the Israeli Internationals agent. The transfer fee, in the region of £4m will be finalised fro the 25 y/o midfielder on Wednesday.
Are in talks with Dutch outfit Ajax for 20 year old winger Ryan Babel. Ajax have confirmed talks are taking place although the two sides have not yet agreed a fee. Ajax value Bable at £13.5m whilst Liverpool had a bid of £10m rejected on monday.

Chelski
Dutch international winger Arjan Robben says contrat talks with the Blues over a 5 year deal are no progressing smoothly. Robben has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and his future has been further clouded by Chelski's signing of Lyon winger Florent Malouda who has moved to the Blues on a 4 year deal for an undisclosed fee. Lyon valued Malouda at £13.5m and president Jean Michel Aulas has stated that Chelski are in agreement over the fee.

Arsenal
Are in talks with Serie A side Fiorentina over the transfer of Freddie Lungberg.

Wigan
Have completed the £5.3m transfer fo Jason Koumas from WBA. Koumas passed a medical and has agreed terms on a 4 year deal.

Portsmouth
Are set to sign PNE striker David Nugent and it is expected the deal will go through on Wednesday. The two clubs have agreed a £6m fee for the England international striker who will sign a 4 year deal subject to a medical

Bolton
Have signed Mikel Alonso (brother of Liverpool's Xabi) on a season loan from Real Sociadad. The 27 year old midfielder has spent time at the Reebok on trial and Sociadad have agrred an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the coming season.

Derby
Has mad an approach to Monaco over 27 year old striker Mohamed Kallon. The Sierra Leone captain is also being tracked by Fulham, Middlesboro, and Fulham, and has ade it known he would like to play in England (Wouldn't they all mate).

Leeds
Administrators KPMG have delayed their decision over the sale of the club whilst they evaluate rival bids from former owner Ken Bates, and a joint proposal from Inverstment frim Redbus and property developer Simon Morris.

Man City
Have reached a preliminary agreement with Reggina to sign striker Rolando Bianchi for £8.8m. The Italian club expect the 24 year old to complete his move to City on Wednesday.

Blackpool
Have signed Huddersfield striker Gary Tayloer-Fletcher, 26, for an undisclosed fee on a two year deal.
Have also signed former Leeds defender Stephen Crainey, 26, on a one year contract with an option for an additional year.

Dagenham & Redbridge
Just a titbit for those discussing stadium names on the SANFL forum. The daggers have signed a new sponsorship deal with their local authority for a 3 year period. The Daggers' home ground at Victoria Raod will now be known as, [color=#0000FF]"The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium".[/color]

Ipswich
Have withdrawn their interest in b4st4rds striker Francis Jeffers after failing to agree a personal terms. the tractor boys say they were close to agreeing a fee with b4st4rds but have baulked at the 26 year old's financial demands.

Accrington Stanley
Have signed former Burnley utility player Graham Branch on a one year deal, after the 35 year old was released by the clarets at the end of last season.

Sheffield United
Have completed the signing of defender Gary Naysmith from Everton. The 28 year old defender agreed personal terms last Thursday and the Blades have agreed a transfer fee of £1m with Everton.

Sunderland
Have agreed a fee of £3m for Southampton 25 year old NI International Chris Baird. The deal will go ahead once Baird has agreed personal terms with the BLack Cats.

Tottenham
Sports and media group ENIC Interantional has made an offer to take 100% control of the White Hart Lane club. ENIC already holds 66% of Spurs shares having, last month, snapped up Sire Alan Sugar's stake for £25m. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is the managing director of ENIC.

Cardiff
Are trying to persuade former Engalnd striker Robbie Fowler to foinf the the championship club. Chairman Peter Ridsdale has said that the Bluebirds have offered an attractive packge and are hopeful the former Liverpoll strike will join them.

[heater31]

"The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium".

Have they lost the plot at Dag & Red or what?????


cheers for the Blackpool update JTC

[johntheclaret]

Leeds
Administrators KPMG have announced the sale of the club to a consortium led by former chairman Ken Bates. The consortium will pay creditors £0.08p in the pound. Losing bidders Redbus and Simon Franks not happy with the decision as Bates bid was only £350k compared to the Redbus bid of £10m. KPMG say they reviewed all the bids and believe that Bates' was the in the best interest of the club

Sunderland
Have agreed a £5m fee with Cardiff for Michael Chopra. Chopra who signed for the Bluebirds for just £500k last summer, will travel to Wearside tomorrow to discuss personal terms. City manager David jones was quoted as saying "I am sorry to see him go, but at the end of the day there is a price for every player and this is good business for us." Sorry to report this RM. Good profit for one year though £5m - £500 = profit £4.5m.
Cats have had a £5m offer rejected by Hearts for goal keeper Craig Gordon. Neither club were prepared to make any further comments on the failed bid, whilst Gordon's agent Andy Evans said " no deal has been agreed at present, but discussions are ongoing".

Aston Villa
Have completed the signing of U16 starlet Harry Forrester from Watford.

Porstmouth
Have completed the signing of PNE striker Nugent for a fee of £6m after he completed a satisfactory medical today.
Have also announced the signing of Nigerian striker John Utaka from French club Rennes on a four year deal for a fee of around £7m

Liverpool
Holland and Ajax winger Ryan Babel has agreed personal terms with the Anfiled club after passing a medical. There is still the stiking point of the fee. Ajax still want £13.5m, whilst Liverpool originally offered £10m but have submitted a "much higher" bid according to Ajax technical director Martin van Geel.
Have also signed 16 year old Millwall striker David Amoo for an undisclosed fee, and he expected to begin training at the club's academy this week.
Liverpool will also launch their own TV channel LFC TV (wow, that's original ) after agreeing a deal with Irish broadcasters Setanta Sports. Note..... Setanta Sports is a subscription broacaster offering around 8 channels over here, with one dedicated to USA sports, one to Horse racing one to Scottish League, with the rest offering a general mix of sports. The only downside, it's $35.00 per month on top of the $195.00 per month for sky. They offer one AvFL game per week but I thought $35.00 per month per AvFL game was a bit steep.

Newcastle
New owner Mike Ashley is set to complete his buy-out of the club after triggering a compulsory purchase of the remaining shares. Ashley's company St James Holdings has revealed to the LSE that they had agreed to buy almost 95% of the shares.

West Ham
The Tevez saga rolls on and on. The EPL have warned WHU that they face further disciplinary action if they do not receieve a transfer fee for the striker. Tevez wants to join Man U but the deal has reached an impasse as businessman Kia Joorabchian insists he owns the 22 year old's economic rights. The EPL insists WHU must receive any transfer fee, now reported to be at.....wait for it.......£40 (forty) million. Meanwhile Joorabchian has contacted Sheffield Utd with a view to passing documents proving his ownership of the players contract. Note....should Tevez finally go to Man U for £40m it will take the Old Trafford club's spending to £90m ($195 million) this summer.

Birmingham City
Boss Steve Bruce has confirmed the club's interest in West Ham's Paul Konchesky. However West Ham are understood to want doulbe the £2m that the Blues have offered for the 26 year old England defender.

b4st4rds
Will play Vilnius in the 3rd round of the Intertoto cup after Uefa threw Legia Warsaw out of this years competition. Vtra led Legia 2 - 0 in their 1st leg match on Sunday, but the match was abandoned when Polish (Note POLISH) fans began rioting. Uefa have also banned Legia from european competitions for the 2008, 2009 season.

Sydney FC
Have emerged as the main rivals to Cardiff City in the battle to sign former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler. The Bluebirds are about to receive £5m for the sale of Copra and have reportedly put together " a very attractive package". Maybe you guys have some more on this at your end.

Arsenal
May yet bid £13m for Newcastle striker Obifemi Martins and trigger a release clause in his contract.
Have sealed the transfer of Auxerre's Bakari Sagna in a £6m deal.

Chelski
Have bid £14m for Sevilla's Daniel Alves. If Sevilla do not accept their offer they will turn their attentions to Tottenham's Pascal Chimbonda.

[Dogwatcher]

Good pick-up for the Cats - Chopra.
Needed another striker and he's the best one outside the Premier one would think.
Good money Cardiff got for him too.

[smithy]

[quote="johntheclaret

Liverpool
Liverpool will also launch their own TV channel LFC TV (wow, that's original ) after agreeing a deal with Irish broadcasters Setanta Sports. Note..... Setanta Sports is a subscription broacaster offering around 8 channels over here, with one dedicated to USA sports, one to Horse racing one to Scottish League, with the rest offering a general mix of sports. The only downside, it's $35.00 per month on top of the $195.00 per month for sky. They offer one AvFL game per week but I thought $35.00 per month per AvFL game was a bit steep.

[/quote]

Setanta is available on the Optus B3 satellite here and this is an email I got from them.

There are no plans currently to make LFC TV available in Australia. In Australia, MUTV and Chelsea TV are not standalone channels, rather we broadcast the programming blocks from those channels on Setanta Sports Australia. Even in the UK those channels are not 24 channels as such, but actually broadcast for limited number of hours per day and much of the programming is repeated.
Currently the FAPL restricts each broadcaster to showing only two clubs’ programming, which in our case are MUTV and Chelsea TV, but now that the LFC announcement has been made we will be assessing whether to replace Chelsea TV.

[RoosterMarty]

A mate e-mailed me the Chopra news at work today, I was gutted to hear that.. especially after hearing Fowler might front, they would make a decent combo in the Coke league, at least we got good cash. Hopefully the Bluebirds can find another gun striker to carry us like he did last season.

[johntheclaret]

[

That would seem a sensible thing to do Smithy, considering Liverpools worldwide fan base. Reckon they must be the No2 behind Man U for popularity even if it has been 20 odd years since they won the league. It will take more than 4 years of Abramovich's Roubels to build a global fan base to match Pool's

[johntheclaret]

A mate e-mailed me the Chopra news at work today, I was gutted to hear that.. especially after hearing Fowler might front, they would make a decent combo in the Coke league, at least we got good cash. Hopefully the Bluebirds can find another gun striker to carry us like he did last season.

£5m for Chopra is good business for Cardiff, except, The Blubirds obviously fell away from the promotion race when he was injured last season and it is questionable where they are going to get a replacement. They are not exactly the most fashionable club in the CCC and they will struggle to get any gun striker without paying a kings ransom. The top guns, Eastwood and Sharpe, from the lower leagues have already been snapped up and Earnshaw has just signed a new deal at Derby, so their options are limited.

[johntheclaret]

Sheffield United
Have been told they cannot appeal an arbitration panel's decision to side with the EPL over the Tevez affair. And a high court ruling today has concluded that there was no point of law in the panels' decision which could be challenged by Sheffield. The book is now closed and get used to it Blades, you are in the CCC.

Fulham
Have signed Paul Konchesky from West Ham for a fee worth £3.25m to become manager Lawrie Snachez's fifth summer signing. The left back has signed on a four year deal after completing a medical.
Have also signed striker David Healy from Leeds on a four year contract for an undisclosed fee. (£1.5m) This deal has been on for a long time but was held up due to Leeds financial position.

Man City
Have completed the signing of Reggia striker Rolando Bianchi. Whilst the fee is undisclosed, sources close to the club recvealed Eriksson has paid a fee of around £8.8m for the Italian U21 hitman.
Have targetted Man U winger Keiron Richardson as second signing. the fee is expected to be around £5.5m.

Burnley
Have completed the £250k signing of former player Robbie Blake from relegated Leeds. Blake who left the clarets for Birmingham in a £1.25m deal in 2005 has signed a three year deal. Welcome back robbie. We love you

Aston Villa
Are ready to move for Spurs defender Anthony Gardner, spurs are likely to want a fee of around £3m

Rangers
I don't usually do Scottish teams but thought this might be of interest. Rangers will hand a trial to Australian superkid David D'Apuzzo, 18, next week.

Southampton
Are the target of a multi-million takeover bid from Dubai Holdings, the Arab group which tried to buy Liverpool.

Liverpool
Have completed the signing of Ajax's Ryan Babel in an £11.5m deal. The 20 year old Dutch striker has signed a 5 year deal.
The Reds have submitted plans for their new staduim at Stanley Park, to the city council and hope to begin work by the end of the year. The proposal sets out a timetable for construction of the arean, which could cost £280m and has a capcity of 60,000. The application is scheduled for 25 July and the stadium has potential for expansion to accomodate 80,000 fans. Liverpool hope to recieve permission by October and start work before 2008.

Leicester
Have completed the signing for midfielder Stephen Clemence from Birmingham for a fee of around £1m. The 29 year old has signed a 3 year deal to become Leicester's 11th signing.

Sydney FC
Robbie Fowler will hold talks with his family before deciding whether to accept an offer from Sydney FC.. The 32 year old former Liverpool star, now a free agent has been in Sydney for discussions.

Bristol City
Have signed Wolves winger Michael McIndoe for an undisclosed fee and a 3 year contract.

Wigan
Are expected to sign striker Marlon Harewood from West Ham on friday in a deal worth around £3.7m

[BPBRB]

Leicester
Have completed the signing for midfielder Stephen Clemence from Birmingham for a fee of around £1m. The 29 year old has signed a 3 year deal to become Leicester's 11th signing.

Well they would want to seriously push in the CC Championship this season for promotion given the new owners money pouring in, a new Manager and wholesale player changes. Last season just avoiding relegation to the third tier which would have been the first time in the club's history of not playing in either of the top two tiers of English Football one of only 7 clubs in that elite group!

Another bloody change of playing shirt means forking out more bloody money as well!!!