Latest Transfer Update at 19-08-11

[<<ELVIS>>]

Damien Duff: Extends Fulham deal
NEW DEAL FOR DAMIEN DUFF
Fulham winger Damien Duff has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at Craven Cottage until summer 2013.
The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international has become a key player since joining the London club from Newcastle in August 2009, helping the Cottagers reach the 2010 Europa League final.
Duff put pen to paper on his new deal today and believes there will be many more good times ahead under new manager Martin Jol.
He told fulhamfc.com: "I've enjoyed every minute of my time at Fulham since joining two years ago and I'm delighted to be staying at the Cottage until at least 2013.
"This is a fantastic club with great supporters and it's a very exciting time to be part of the team.
"I feel in great condition and I'm hungry to achieve more success for this club.
"We've had some great moments together so far and I believe there's more to come from us in the Premier League and Europe this season under Martin Jol."

Duff began his senior career at Blackburn, winning the League Cup with Rovers in 2002 before switching to Chelsea the following year.
He won two Premier League titles and another League Cup during a three-year stint at Stamford Bridge before signing for Newcastle, where he spent a less successful three years prior to his transfer to Fulham.
The Cottagers confirmed news of Duff's new deal in a statement on their website, a day after he had helped Jol's side defeat Ukrainian outfit Dnipro 3-0 in the first leg of their Europa League play-off.
It read: "The club can confirm that Damien Duff has signed a one-year contract extension that will see Fulham's Republic of Ireland international remain at Craven Cottage until at least the summer of 2013.
"Duff joined Fulham in August 2009 from Newcastle United in a move that has revitalised his career after a frustrating spell on Tyneside.
"The winger regained his form and fitness to become an integral part of the team's success over the past two seasons, including Fulham's remarkable journey to the 2010 UEFA Europa League final.
"Regulars at the Cottage will testify that the signing of Duff has turned out to be an inspired piece of business by the club and both parties are delighted to confirm the news that the player will remain at the Cottage for at least the next two seasons."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Poulsen: Set for Liverpool exit
LIVERPOOL WILL LET POULSEN LEAVE
Christian Poulsen's agent has revealed Liverpool are willing to let the midfielder leave the club.
The Denmark international has found himself out of favour at Liverpool after failing to make an impact since arriving from Juventus last summer.
The summer signings of midfielders Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam have pushed Poulsen further down the pecking order at Anfield and the club are now prepared to offload the 31-year-old.
Poulsen's agent, Jorn Bonnesen, has confirmed the player has been told he will not be playing regularly for Liverpool this season and that he is looking for a new club for the midfielder.
"I've talked with Liverpool now. They have said that they are not confident that they can meet Christian's desire for playing time, and they understand that we are trying to find a new club for Christian," Bonnesen told bold.dk.
"We look about us and explore the options.
"There are clubs interested, but I can not tell more about the possibilities."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Luka Modric: Linked with Chelsea move
BOND THINKS MODRIC WILL STAY
Luka Modric will remain at Tottenham despite Harry Redknapp's claim the squad could benefit from his departure, Spurs assistant manager Kevin Bond insists.
Chelsea have made unsuccessful bids of £22million and £27million for the player this summer, but rumours persist that the Blues are not willing to concede defeat and will lodge a renewed bid of over £30million soon.
Spurs have maintained a hard-line stance over Modric's future ever since the saga began, with chairman Daniel Levy keen to stress that the club will not sell any of their stars before the transfer window closes.
Tottenham boss Redknapp admitted on Wednesday that he wants to hold on to Modric, but conceded that the proceeds of any transfer fee would help him develop a better team than he has now.
Despite that claim, Bond is confident that Levy will stick to his word and not offload the 25-year-old Croatian star, who missed last night's 5-0 hammering of Hearts with a groin problem.
"The chairman has made it quite clear that Luka will not be leaving the club and I don't see that changing at all," Bond told the BBC.
"He has said categorically that he will stay at the club and I think that's what will happen."
Redknapp stressed on Wednesday that signing top-class players will be key to persuading the likes of Modric, Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart to reject any big-money offers from other clubs to stay at White Hart Lane.
After a quiet close season, Spurs' attempt to bring in new faces is gathering pace.
The north London club are in talks with Manchester City and Real Madrid over possible deals for Emmanuel Adebayor and Lassana Diarra, and both could be Spurs players by the start of next week.
Adebayor's arrival would give Spurs the powerful target man that Redknapp has been looking for since January and would also increase competition among a strikeforce that scored just 18 league goals between them last season.
Jermain Defoe was the biggest flop among the forward ranks at Spurs last term, scoring just four top-flight goals.
The England striker has impressed during pre-season though and looked sharp at Tynecastle last night, where he scored one and set up two goals to effectively end the club's Europa League play-off tie against Hearts after one leg.
Spurs captain Michael Dawson thinks Defoe will be able to handle the competition from Adebayor if he moves to White Hart Lane and has backed the 28-year-old to score regularly this season.
"At Tottenham all the players know that we have to fight for our places, especially when there is talk we are signing some players," Dawson told the London Evening Standard.
"When you walk on that pitch you have to make sure you do well to stay in the team next week and there is no doubt Jermain is looking sharper than ever.
"JD is a player who loves playing football and scoring goals. He is a top player. I have played against him when I was at Nottingham Forest, and have to stop him in training now. He always makes it very difficult for defenders.
"When you see him in and around the box he knows how to score as he showed against Hearts. Hopefully he will score plenty for us this season."
Spurs now have the weekend to prepare for Monday night's testing trip to Old Trafford where they will meet a Manchester United side who, if their early form is anything to go by, look destined to be crowned champions again next summer.
Tottenham have not won at Old Trafford for 22 years, but Dawson thinks victory is possible.
"Winning the way we did against Hearts has given us a lot of confidence," he said.
"I know people will write us off, but while we have been there in recent seasons and not got the result we wanted, our performances have been good. Hopefully we can put things right on Monday."