Latest Transfer Update at 22-03-11

[<<ELVIS>>]

Robin Dutt - new Leverkusen boss.
DUTT TO REPLACE HEYNCKES AT KUSEN

Jupp Heynckes has confirmed he will leave his post as Bayer Leverkusen coach when his contract expires at the end of the season.
His place will be taken by current Freiburg boss Robin Dutt, who has been given a two-year contract starting from July 1.
Heynckes has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich and is regarded as the number one candidate to succeed Louis van Gaal, who will leave the club in the summer.
"Mr Heynckes has informed us he will not be available for another year in charge," said Leverkusen's general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser on his club's website.
"We are delighted Robin Dutt will start work with Leverkusen on July 1 after some very cordial negotiations with the Freiburg management."
The announcement comes after a week in which Wolfsburg, Schalke and Hamburg all changed coaches, and shortly after Van Gaal's departure from Bayern was confirmed.
Although Heynckes' appointment as coach of Bayern from the summer has not yet been made official, an announcement from the Bavarians is believed to be imminent.
In the meantime, there are still seven games of the current season to be played, and a lot at stake.
Leverkusen are currently second in the table, seven points behind faltering league leaders Borussia Dortmund and the same distance ahead of fourth-placed Bayern.
This success made Heynckes "consider the idea of adding on a third year, as the club wished, for a long time", according to Holzhauser, who added that Heynckes had "always emphasised he would work two years with Bayer before stepping back".
And the 65-year-old coach admitted it had not been an easy choice to make.
"It was a very tough decision to leave Bayer Leverkusen," said Heynckes. "They are a very well led club with a fantastic team.
"I will put all of my efforts into cementing second place in the Bundesliga and qualifying for the Champions League next season."
That may, however, be detrimental to his personal future, should he take over at Bayern next season.
If Leverkusen qualify for the Champions League, Bayern could miss out.
Dutt could therefore be the major winner as he inherits a side which is likely to be playing in Europe's elite club competition next year.
"I am really looking forward to the challenge in Leverkusen and working with a team which has been coached magnificently by Jupp Heynckes," said Dutt.
"The philosophy of Bayer Leverkusen, which was explained to me by Wolfgang Holzhauser and (Bayer's director of sport) Rudi Voller, is exactly the same as my views of football."
He too will be looking to bring the season to a successful conclusion with Freiburg, whom he has led to eighth in the table and almost certain safety with seven games to go.

[<<ELVIS>>]

Brian Howard - wanted by Southampton.
HOWARD REVEALS SAINTS INTEREST

Reading midfielder Brian Howard has confirmed he was close to joining hometown club Southampton on loan at the weekend.
Howard was back in the Royals' starting line-up on Saturday in a win at his former club Barnsley and revealed afterwards that the Saints had been in contact.
He said: "There was an interest in taking me.
"The manager knows me and he knows that I want to play football but he said he was happy with my performances and I was unlucky not to be in the team.
"He didn't want to let me go but said to me that if I really wanted to go I could.
"But I said if I was going to be involved I was happy to stay and as far as I am concerned I am a Reading player."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Chris Herd - linked with Pompey loan move.
COTTERILL: NO LOAN MOVES PLANNED

Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill insists he is not planning on bringing in any loan players before Thursday's deadline.
Pompey already have six loanees in their current squad, with only five of those allowed to be selected in a match-day squad.
Aston Villa midfielder Chris Herd has been linked with a temporary move to Fratton Park but Cotterill has scotched those rumours.
"I doubt we'll sign anyone else before Thursday, we're okay," he told The News. "I don't think we'll get in anyone else.
"I've heard about the link with Chris Herd, someone else has mentioned that to me.
"I know him from being on loan at Lincoln last season and he's a good, young player. I don't know where that link has come from, though."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Rowan Vine - staying longer.
DONS KEEP VINE LONGER

MK Dons have extended QPR striker Rowan Vine's loan spell by a further month.
Vine initially joined the Dons in mid-January and will now stay until after the Dons' home game against Huddersfield on April 22.
Vine is not eligible for the final three games of the season against Plymouth, Notts County and Oldham and would not be available to the Dons should they make it to the play-offs.

[<<ELVIS>>]

Luigi Del Neri - contracted for two more years.
DEL NERI VOWS TO GO ON

Embattled Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri wants to see out the remainder of his contract.
The Bianconeri are 11 points behind fourth-placed Udinese in the Serie A table with nine games remaining.
A place in next season's Champions League looks to be out of reach for Del Neri's team but the coach is determined to make amends next season if given the opportunity.
"I certainly have a chance to stay," Del Neri said. "I have a contract for another two seasons, and it depends on the club, with which I have a perfect understanding."
Del Neri replaced Alberto Zaccheroni last summer and the Turin side have had to deal with numerous injury worries this season.
The problems worsened last week when Italy striker Vincenzo Iaquinta sustained a thigh injury in training and was lost for the remainder of the campaign.
Leandro Rinaudo, Mohamed Sissoko and Fabio Quagliarella had already been ruled out with season-ending injuries.
"Without injuries, we would have been able to match anyone," Del Neri said. "We are missing four or five points in the standings and this is due to injuries."
Juve halted a four-game winless streak in Sunday's 2-1 triumph over Brescia.
Del Neri's team travel to the Stadio Olimpico to face Roma on April 3.