Latest Transfer Update at 22-05-11

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Marlon King - set to stay at Coventry.
COVENTRY CLOSE ON KING DEAL

Andy Thorn has revealed Coventry are close to agreeing a deal to keep Marlon King at the club.
Thorn is hopeful that the striker will pen a new contract at the Ricoh Arena as they look to build ahead of next season.
With the Sky Blues' transfer embargo officially being lifted, Thorn is expected to strengthen his squad this summer.
But his priority is keeping King, who was voted Player of the Season by the fans.
He said: "I have got a good feeling about Marlon who I am hoping is going to re-sign.
"The chairman is working really hard on it and talks are going really well, so we are doing everything we can to keep him at the club, as we are the others.
"He was taken aback by all the awards and the fans and all that sort of stuff and so I am a lot more positive about it now than I was at the end of the season, that's for sure.
"I have spoken to the chairman who is working his socks off on it.
"He has got the bit between his teeth and we are just keeping our fingers crossed now because he is a good player and someone we want round the club.
"The chairman is busting a gut, so it is good news."
Thorn also revealed his delight with the news that the club's transfer embargo has finally been lifted, giving him the green light to do some summer business.
"That is good news - superb!" he said. "We have got our ducks in a row and it is hard work, but fair play to the chairman he's got his head down and grafted away, so it is all very positive.
"We want players who are going to take us into a promotion challenge."

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Arsene Wenger - won't be wasteful.
WE'LL SPEND IF WE HAVE TO - WENGER

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists the club can afford to make a big-money purchase in the summer - if he finds the right man.
The Gunners are set to strengthen their squad following another trophyless campaign, which could yet end with them having to qualify for the Champions League even if they beat Fulham in their final Barclays Premier League game.
Wenger will aim to add experience to help his youngsters fulfil their potential with silverware, while also allowing those now surplus to requirements the opportunity to leave.
Arsenal have been linked with Bolton defender Gary Cahill and Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka. Both England internationals would come with inflated pricetags, but Wenger - if he feels strongly enough about a player - would be prepared to lay out a large chunk of his reported £35million transfer warchest.
"I like English players. They are good, but I have said the inflation for them is always very high," Wenger said.
"It is always a lot of money, but if we have to spend we will do it, if we are really convinced.
"On one player we can afford it, but it depends what will happen."
Wenger added: "We have lists - number one, two, three - and we will try to achieve them.
"Unfortunately it does not always go like planned. It is very difficult to make things happen.
"We will work on strengthening the team. We are definitely out on the market - that is for sure."
While it has been well documented Wenger has funds at his disposal, with that set for both transfer fees and wages, a major summer shopping spree remains unlikely.
"I will spend what is needed to spend," he said.
"It is very difficult to go out and say 'we have so much money', because then people wait for you.
"Like always we will try to buy at the right price, but we will try to invest."
Wenger added: "Our costs always go up - our wages go up, we renew contracts of the players, they know the prices which are available on the market, so the prices go up every year."
As well as looking for a few fresh faces, Wenger is determined to tie up French duo Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy on new deals rather than allow the scenario of either walking away on a free transfer at the end of the 2011/2012 campaign.
"We will sort that situation out quickly after the end of the season. We need to know very quickly," said the Arsenal boss.
"We won't allow that [contracts expire] to happen.
"It has to be resolved before the season starts again."
Were Arsenal to finish fourth, Wenger accepts he could not deny it would represent a step backwards.
"What will I say? I will say nothing. It is true," Wenger said.
"Overall I feel the season is decided by some key moments that happened a few weeks ago [in the Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham]."

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Ancelotti looks on as Chelsea lose 1-0 at Everton.
CARLO ANCELOTTI LEAVES CHELSEA

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has parted company with the club.
Ancelotti left his post less than two hours after Sunday afternoon's final Barclays Premier League game of the season at Everton, which the Blues lost 1-0.
That heralded the end of their worst season since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, with Ancelotti failing to win a trophy in what was his second year at the helm.
The club said in a statement on their official website: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Carlo Ancelotti parted company with the club today (Sunday, 22 May).
"The owner and board would like to thank Carlo for his contribution and achievements since taking over as manager in July 2009, which included winning the Double for the first time in the club's history.
"However, this season's performances have fallen short of expectations and the club feels the time is right to make this change ahead of next season's preparations.
"Carlo will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge, where he will be given the reception and respect his position in our history deserves.
"Chelsea's long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and we will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager.
"There will be no further comment until that appointment is made."
Press Association Sport understands Ancelotti was given his marching orders by chief executive Ron Gourlay at Goodison Park after completing his post-match media duties.
That press conference saw him reiterate his belief that he would have a meeting with his bosses next week, during which he would learn his fate.
The Italian was in good humour, saying: "I am now on holiday - but I am not sure how long my holiday will be!
"We haven't arranged any meeting but I think in the next week, now the season is finished, the club can address my job and they will take a decision.
"I have to wait and see what happens.
"I don't have to say anything to the club - they can judge me on my job for two years."
Ancelotti's dismissal echoes that of West Ham boss Avram Grant, who was given the boot immediately after last week's defeat at Wigan.
But it is understood Chelsea acted with similar haste as their players go on holiday on Monday.
Ancelotti won the club's first ever Premier League and FA Cup double in his maiden season in charge last year but his side have ended their latest campaign empty-handed.
Rumours Ancelotti was to depart grew after the club crashed out of the Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester United and his fate was ultimately sealed when a late title charge ended with defeat to the same opponents.
Ancelotti was recruited from AC Milan two years ago partly because of his reputation as a Champions League specialist.
But his two cracks with Chelsea at the trophy Abramovich craves the most arguably saw the club go backwards, as they twice suffered earlier than expected exits.
The Italian's departure will nevertheless elicit a great deal of sympathy, with there being several mitigating circumstances for this season's failure.
The decision to allow five senior players to leave last summer and focus more on youngsters appeared to backfire when injuries struck the spine of the team.
That co-incided with the shock sacking of assistant manager Ray Wilkins, which was immediately followed by the club's worst run in the league for almost 15 years.
The January arrival of Fernando Torres also arguably had a destabilising effect at a time when Chelsea looked to be getting their season back on track.
Ancelotti will at least leave having pocketed the final year of his reported £5million-per-season salary and is unlikely to be out of work for long, with former club Roma currently seeking a new manager.
He has expressed a desire to stay in England but, despite diplomatic responses to any interest he might have in taking over a team outside the top six, that seems a non-starter.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will start next season with their seventh manager in just eight years since Abramovich's takeover.
Guus Hiddink is reportedly the Russian's number one target, with Porto sensation Andre Villas-Boas also heavily touted.
But securing either of those will not be easy, opening the door for a raft of other candidates.
CARLO ANCELOTTI FACTFILE
1959: Born in Reggiolo, Italy on June 10.
1976: Begins professional playing career with Parma.
1979: Joins Roma.
1980: Wins Coppa Italia with the Giallorossi, who go on to win the trophy again in 1981, 1984 and 1986.
1983: Part of the Roma side that wins the Serie A title.
1987: Joins AC Milan.
1988: Milan win the domestic title in Ancelotti's first season.
1989: Part of the Milan side which wins the European Cup.
1990: Milan retain European Cup. Ancelotti is part of the Italy squad for the 1990 World Cup on home soil, where they lose in the semi-finals to Argentina.
1992: Milan win the Italian league title. Ancelotti retires from playing.
1995-96: Takes up his first coaching post with Serie B side Reggiana. Leads them to promotion to the top flight, before leaving for Parma.
1996-97: Leads Parma to second in Serie A.
1998: Appointed manager of Juventus.
2001: Steers Juve to runners-up spot in 2000 and 2001.
November - Appointed manager of AC Milan.
2003: Manages Milan to Champions League glory as they beat Juventus on penalties in the final at Old Trafford.
2004: Leads Milan to Serie A title.
2005: Milan surrender a 3-0 half-time lead against Liverpool in the Champions League final in Istanbul. The Reds win on penalties.
2006-07: Milan begin the season docked eight points for their part in the 'calciopoli' match-fixing scandal.
2007: Milan beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League final in Athens.
2008: May - Milan rebuff a reported approach from Chelsea to talk to Ancelotti about succeeding Avram Grant.
2009: May 31 - Ancelotti confirms his contract has been mutually terminated. He denies he has agreed a deal with Chelsea.
June 1 - Confirmed as new Chelsea manager on a three-year contract.
August 9 - Chelsea win Community Shield after beating Manchester United on penalties, following a 2-2 draw at Wembley.
December 2 - Chelsea lose to Blackburn on penalties in quarter-final of League Cup following 3-3 draw at Ewood Park.
2010: March 16 - Lose 3-1 on aggregate to Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in last 16 of Champions League.
May 9 - Chelsea thrash Wigan 8-0 on the final day of the season to clinch Premier League title by one point and become the first club to score more than 100 goals in a top-flight season since 1963.
May 15 - Chelsea beat Portsmouth 1-0 in FA Cup final to complete their first ever double. The summer sees them offload several senior players, bringing in only Yossi Benayoun and Ramires.
August 8 - Chelsea lose 3-1 to Manchester United in Community Shield but win first five Premier League games of the season.
November 11 - Ray Wilkins is sacked as Ancelotti's assistant manager, with no public explanation given for his departure.
November 14 - Shock 3-0 home defeat to Sunderland sparks run of only one win in next nine league games, Chelsea's worst for almost 15 years, amid injuries to key players. Despite slipping out of the top four, Ancelotti retains the support of owner Roman Abramovich.
2011: January 31 - Chelsea sign Fernando Torres and David Luiz for a combined £75million.
February 19 - Everton win on penalties at Stamford Bridge after 1-1 draw in FA Cup fifth-round replay. Ancelotti claims it is up to Abramovich whether he keeps his job, insisting he will not quit.
March 1 - Chelsea come from a goal down to beat Manchester United 2-1 to keep alive their slim Premier League title hopes.
March 20 - Chief executive Ron Gourlay reveals Ancelotti's position will be reviewed at the end of the season.
April 8 - Ancelotti insists he does not need to win the Champions League to keep his job after losing quarter-final first leg to United two days earlier.
April 12 - Beaten 2-1 in second leg as decision to play goalless Torres backfires spectacularly. Reports suggest Ancelotti will be sacked at the end of the season.
April 15 - Ancelotti insists it would "not be a problem" if Abramovich sacks him after speculation turns to the identity of his successor.
May 8 - A 2-1 defeat to Manchester United all but ends the title race, United subsequently clinching the prize with a draw at Blackburn.
May 15 - Denies his wave to the fans following a 2-2 draw with Newcastle was a farewell.
May 22 - Parts company with Chelsea shortly after the season-ending 1-0 defeat at Everton.

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Celebrations for Manchester City at Bolton.
MANCINI EYES ANOTHER SPENDING SPREE

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini saw his side cement third place in the Barclays Premier League table - then outlined his plans for an assault on the Champions League.
Mancini said after the 2-0 win over 10-man Bolton he wants some players with experience of performing in Europe's elite club competition.
And he is anxious to get in sufficient numbers after seeing Tottenham struggle to deal with the domestic campaign and the Champions League.
City will gain automatic entry to the Champions League by finishing ahead of Arsenal and level with Chelsea.
Mancini said: "It is a strange competition. We are a good team but maybe we need other players who have played in it and have experience.
"Every game is a hard game and if you don't have many players you can change in the Champions League and Premier League it would be a really hard season.
"Tottenham this year put all their strength into the Champions League and lost many points in the Premier League.
"For this we need good players, many players for these competitions. In football if you don't spend you don't win."
Goals from Joleon Lescott and substitute Edin Dzeko took City to victory against a Bolton side, who had Daniel Sturridge sent off late in the game.
Lescott made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute when he sent a looping header over Jussi Jaaskelainen following a corner from Adam Johnson.
That took the wind out of Bolton's sails and Dzeko added a second in the 62nd minute, shortly after stepping off the bench when he capitalised on Gary Cahill's mistake.
The result completed a superb season for Italian Mancini, who steered the club to success in the FA Cup - their first trophy in 35 years.
Mancini said: "I am delighted. We deserved to get third position, maybe second also. I am happy for the players because it is credit to them. They have had a fantastic season. Many congratulations to all the players.
"It was very important for us to win the FA Cup because it was the first trophy for many years. Now we know if we work hard and if we always believe in ourselves we can beat any team. But we need to improve. That is important.
"By finishing third it means we can stay at home for our holidays and we can relax 100 per cent. We can work in pre-season calmly and without problems. Then we can think about the Charity Shield."

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Arsene Wenger - 'You have to live in a realistic world'.
ARSENE WENGER WON'T SPEND BIG

Arsene Wenger expects to be active in the transfer window this summer but has warned Arsenal fans not to expect extravagant spending.
The Gunners finished the season with a whimper at Craven Cottage, where Theo Walcott's late equaliser rescued a point in a 2-2 draw with Fulham.
Wenger concedes he needs to strengthen if his side are to challenge for the title next season, but he is concerned by the spending power of those around the club.
The Frenchman insists he will not spend for the sake of it and will only target the right players to enhance his options.
"We need good players, world-class players," Wenger told Sky Sports.
"We will try to buy the right players. Spending is not a purpose, it's not our goal. We want the right players.
"We have to be conscious that we cannot buy players for £50million. We fight with opponents who can do that.
"You have to live in a realistic world, therefore we will give it our best to strengthen the team."
Meanwhile, Wenger refused to dwell on the draw with Fulham as a win would have seen them finish fourth regardless, meaning Arsenal must qualify for the Champions League group phase.
The Gunners, who lost at home to Aston Villa last week, were hoping for results to go their way to finish third, but Manchester City's win at Bolton confirmed the top four remained unchanged.
"Anyone can drop points here," Wenger said.
"The result last week had a massive impact on the outcome of the league. So today, of course we had to win, but even if we had we would not have qualified directly."

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Kevin Keen - wants West Ham job.
KEVIN KEEN: I AM NASTY ENOUGH

Kevin Keen insisted he was nasty enough to be West Ham manager, despite his audition for the job seeing the club exit the Barclays Premier League with a whimper.
The rock-bottom Hammers were beaten 3-0 by Sunderland in their final game of a miserable season, and one that appeared to scupper any faint hope caretaker boss Keen might have had of succeeding Avram Grant.
But the former West Ham winger, whose previous spell in temporary charge also yielded a defeat, said: "Some people say I'm too nice to manage. Always a nice boy, played football in a nice way."
Asked if he could be nasty as well, he added: "Yes, I can. Spread the word.
"I think my audition for the job started as soon as I got it.
"I have conducted myself well since then and I hope they take that into account. I love the club. I played for them for nine years. It's in my blood.
"I feel I can really take the club on and contribute. If you ask the players if they want me to take the job, I think you'd get an affirmative answer from the majority of the players."
Keen was realistic about his chances, saying: "If I'm up against Martin O'Neill, Steve McClaren, Sam Allardyce, Neil Warnock, then it's going to be a tough ask.
"Because those boys have got a lot of experience, they've got a better record than my losses of two and wins of nil in the Premier League.
"So, it's up to the owners.
"I'm sure whichever way they go, they'll make the right decision."
Keen insisted that whoever was in charge needed to undo the damage he felt was done at the club under Grant and Gianfranco Zola.
"Do you not think that over the last couple of years, we've had Avram Grant and Gianfranco Zola and perhaps we've gone away from the traditions and the way we have played?" he said.
"Those traditions have been lost over the last four or five years and we need to regain them."
But he was under no illusions over the task facing the Hammers, who will lose several of their star players before starting the npower Championship season.
"It will be a tough, tough season in the Championship," he said.
"There are more teams in it who want to play football, it's more physical than the Premier League - but not as much as it used to be - and there are more games.
"We have fantastic young players here and if we can keep hold of them, we have a fantastic base to build from and we can play the kind of football our fans believe in."
Keen defended West Ham's performance amid a quiet atmosphere at Upton Park, one which was only lifted when more than one group of fans began an ironic conga.
"The supporters were absolutely amazing," he said.
"I thought the players put a lot of effort in, typified the season.
"Once it went 2-0, it was a tough afternoon.
"The players kept going.
"Unfortunately, after the season we've had, it's difficult mentally."