Latest Transfer Update at 09-03-11

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Latest Transfer Update at 09-03-11


Ibrahimovic - Swede's future still unclear.
IBRA DOUBTS OVER FUTURE

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent has cast doubt on the player's declaration last week that he will finish his career at AC Milan.
The Swedish striker announced on Friday that he was committed to staying at the San Siro until such a time as he decided to hang up his boots.
His representative, Mino Raiola, however, claims that Ibrahimovic will reassess his options next summer.
Raiola is adamant that the 29-year-old will embark on another challenge elsewhere, while a return to Barcelona cannot be ruled out.
It had been thought there was very little chance of Ibrahimovic going back to the Spanish club, who loaned him to Milan in August on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move.
'"Zlatan might not end his career at AC Milan. We will decide everything in 2012 according to the results achieved here," Raiola told 7 Gold.
"He is just as likely to return to Barcelona and see out the remainder of his five-year deal there too."

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Lucas - hoping to secure new deal.
LUCAS WANTS NEW LIVERPOOL DEAL

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva believes he has done enough to deserve a new contract at Anfield.
The Brazil international will enter the final year of his current deal at the end of the season and there have yet to be any discussions regarding an extension.
Lucas has shown significant improvement this campaign, despite almost being sold last summer, and he has remained a part of Kenny Dalglish's plans since January.
The 24-year-old accepts that club owners, the Fenway Sports Group, and Dalglish, if he is offered a long-term contract, are likely to make summer changes to Liverpool's squad as they continue their rebuilding process.
But Lucas hopes that he is not a player who is moved on, as he told the Liverpool Daily Post: "Always in the summer a few players will go and a few players will come, so we have to wait and see. We want to finish this season well.
"I hope to be one of those that stays in the summer. Why not? I still have one year left on my contract after this season so I have a commitment with the club, and I'm doing everything to show I am capable to be here.
"There haven't been any talks over a new deal. I'm just looking at finishing this season. This season has been very good for me, and I just want to keep that going.
"I only have to convince two people - Dalglish and the Brazil national team manager. I just have to keep going."

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Wright Phillips - on the mend after back injury.
WRIGHT-PHILLIPS COULD RETURN FOR CITY

Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips could come into contention for the Europa League match against Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine tomorrow after a back injury.
Wright-Phillips is on the mend after being forced to miss the last two games because of the problem.
Midfielder Nigel de Jong, who has recovered from an ankle injury, is pushing for his first start in over a month in this last 16 first leg fixture.
Team (from): Hart, Taylor, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Boateng, Boyata, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Barry, De Jong, Vieira, Y Toure, Milner, M Johnson, Silva, Dzeko, Tevez, Balotelli, Jo.

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Magath - does not expect to leave Schalke.
MAGATH EXPECTS TO SEE OUT CONTRACT

Felix Magath expects to see out his contract with Schalke despite reports that he will be sacked no later than this summer.
The local WAZ newspaper this morning claimed that Magath will be relieved of his duties no later than June as Schalke endure a disappointing Bundesliga season.
But Magath told Kicker Online he knows nothing about any such plans and expects to remain at the club.
"Nobody has spoken to me and I still expect to fulfil my contract until 2013," he said.
Schalke currently lie 10th in the league table and are already all but mathematically out of the running for a place in the Champions League next season.
Their best hope of qualifying for Europe will be to win the DFB-Pokal having reached the final by virtue of a win over Bayern Munich last week, but that accomplishment has not reduced the pressure on Magath with the fans again calling for him to be sacked during last weekend's defeat to Stuttgart.
According to WAZ, that division has led the club to look elsewhere with Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel, Freiburg's Robin Dutt and St Pauli's Holger Stanislawski touted as potential successors.
Should Magath's departure be made official by the club, he would become the third Bundesliga manager to leave at the end of the current season.
Bayern Munich will part company with Louis van Gaal while Hamburg coach Armin Veh yesterday announced he would be stepping down in June.

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Dods - struggling to return from knee injury.
DODS FEARS SEASON IS OVER

Dundee United's veteran defender Darren Dods admits he is struggling to return from a knee injury before the end of the season.
Dods has made just four appearances for United this term and has not featured in a first-team game since early October.
It was initially thought that the 35-year-old was suffering from a cartilage problem, but scans eventually showed a shard of bone floating in his kneecap.
He must wait until next month for another visit to the specialist and Dods accepts he is facing a race to play again before the season is over.
"It was difficult for them to spot," said Dods. "I'm still four weeks away from a scan to see how it has healed and five weeks away from going back to visit the specialist.
"I reckon he should give me the all-clear then but I have been counting up and it means even if he does by the time I'm ready to play it's going to be around the last week of the season.
"At most I'll get only one or two games and that's disappointing."

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O'Hara - impressed during time at Molineux
MICK McCARTHY WANTS TO KEEP O'HARA

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has revealed his desire to sign on loan Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara on a permanent basis.
But any deal for a player valued in excess of £5million would be dependent on Wolves maintaining their Barclays Premier League status.
The 24-year-old moved to Molineux last month with a view to completing a permanent move if it suited both parties.
He has netted twice in four games and has already played an important part in the battle for survival.
McCarthy told the Wolverhampton Express and Star: "I want to sign him and I think Jamie would be happy to come.
"It will all be dependent on whether we can offer him Premier League football though.
"If we were safe there would be no doubt that a deal would be done.
"Jamie wants to come and we want to sign him."
McCarthy is keen to complete the deal after losing out in the race to sign Steve Sidwell from Aston Villa in January.
Sidwell had agreed to move to Wolves but was prised away at the 11th hour by Fulham.
McCarthy said: "You can have a deal agreed on anything but, until it's signed somebody can scupper it.
"Jamie is here until the end of the season, for the next nine games. But, if it all could be done tomorrow, I'd sign him if we could."

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Jordan Henderson - going nowhere.
JORDAN HENDERSON GOING NOWHERE

Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson has no intention of leaving the club during the summer.
The 20-year-old's blossoming reputation, fuelled by a first senior England cap, has alerted potential suitors to his talent with Manchester United rumoured to be among those monitoring his situation.
However, amid speculation that a deal has already been done - something manager Steve Bruce has dismissed - Henderson has expressed his desire to remain with his home-town club.
He told the Journal: "I do feel I have improved this season. I'm a better player than I was 12 months ago.
"It has been another great season for me. I have had some ups and downs along the way, but it's all part of my development. I have coped okay with the second season thing.
"I'm improving every day, that is what I'm aiming to do. I'm enjoying myself at Sunderland, I'm not looking to leave.
"I'm playing every week in the Premier League and that's all I have ever dreamed of doing.
"I'm young and I'm playing for Sunderland. It's something I love doing. I just want to keep doing that, keep improving, keep getting better as a player."
Henderson was catapulted into the first-team picture after impressing Bruce in training during the first few weeks of the then new boss' time on Wearside.
He has been virtually ever-present since forcing his way into the starting line-up, and while his manager admits there have been times when he might have been rested for his own sake had injuries not taken their toll on the squad, he remains a key man.

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Petr Cech - happy at Chelsea.
PETR CECH HAPPY AT CHELSEA

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech admits he is more than happy with life at the club after making his 300th appearance for the Blues.
Cech made his landmark appearance as he helped The Blues claim a 3-1 win at Blackpool on Monday.
The Czech Republic international insists he is enjoying life at Stamford Bridge - although he admitted that was as long as they remained one of the world's top clubs.
"It's true. I am happy at Chelsea and have no reason to change anything," he told his own website.
"As long as they are one of the world's best clubs and as long as they want me to play for them, I will be happy to stay."
Cech is delighted to have played 300 games for Chelsea, adding: "It is a nice feeling to have played in so many games for one of the world's best clubs.
"It has taken me seven years to achieve that and who knows what is going to be seven years later. I will be 35 then.
"If I manage to experience another seven years on the top level of football and another 300 fixtures, I will be happy."
Cech also feels that Chelsea's title hopes have been very much revived in recent weeks following their recent wins over Manchester United and Blackpool.
"Step by step we are getting back where we belong," he said.
"In the next round we host Manchester City and if we beat them we will be in third spot.
"We have one game in hand over United, we are to play against them once more, so anything can happen.
"This win has provided us with some sort of chance if they keep on dropping points and we keep winning."

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Boyd - joined Forest's promotion challenge.
KRIS BOYD EYES IMMEDIATE IMPACT

jNew Nottingham Forest signing Kris Boyd is looking to make an immediate impact.
Boyd has joined Forest from Middlesbrough in a loan exchange that has seen Paul Smith move in the opposite direction.
The Scotland international has been signed in time to make his debut against Sheffield United on Tuesday and he is hoping to be involved.
"I've not been playing too much at Middlesbrough but I would like to get involved as soon as possible and if the manager wants me to play some part in tonight's game, I'm up for it," said Boyd.
"The loan transfer has come out of the blue for me. I didn't know anything about it until Monday but once I knew that a club of Forest's stature and history wanted me, I didn't need asking twice.
"I want to be part of a successful team and one that is heading in the right direction and Forest certainly fit the bill where that is concerned.
"There are a lot of games coming up in a short time and I just want to concentrate on what's right for Forest and do everything I can to help them get into the Premier League.
"I've spoken to a few people about the manager at Forest and all I have heard back from them is good. He's got a fantastic record in the Championship and has the right mindset to get the club promoted."

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Ricardo Gardner - loan move.
PRESTON SWITCH FOR GARDNER

Bolton midfielder Ricardo Gardner has joined npower Championship strugglers Preston on a one-month loan deal.
The Jamaican winger has returned to fitness after missing nearly all of the season with a knee injury and will link up again with former Trotters assistant manager Phil Brown, now in charge of the Lilywhites.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle told bwfc.co.uk: "Ricardo has worked really hard to recover from his injury and get himself back up to speed and Preston presents an opportunity for him to sharpen up his match fitness."
Gardner has made more than 400 appearances for Bolton since joining the club in the summer of 1998 but his only outing this season came in the Carling Cup win over Southampton in August.