Latest Transfer Update at 01-03-2012

[<<ELVIS>>]

Adam Hammill: Loan switch

HAMMILL JOINS BORO ON LOAN

Middlesbrough have signed Wolves winger Adam Hammill on loan until the end of the season.
Boro's form in 2012 has not been great with just two league wins to their name this year.
Boss Tony Mowbray is determined not to let their promotion bid falter and he is looking to bolster a number of areas within his squad, with loan signings of forwards, midfielders and wingers all on his agenda.
He now looks to have remedied any issues he had with width by bringing in Hammill from Wolves.


"Adam is capable of bringing a different ingredient to the squad and giving us something we've missed for a bit," said Mowbray.
"He also has a bit of individuality, he's versatile enough to play in any midfield position and he creates extra competition within the squad."
The 24-year-old joined the Molineux club from Barnsley last year, but he has been limited to just four appearances in the league this season and new boss Terry Connor has now sanctioned a temporary move to Teesside.


Boro maintain an interest in Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who they hoped to have tied up this week.
But it is understood that there are still a few issues to iron out, although the player himself is keen to make the loan switch having enjoyed a spell with Blackpool earlier this season.
Mowbray is also looking at striking options, with Jason Scotland and Ishmael Miller still on his radar.

[<<ELVIS>>]

Davis Luiz: Denies lashing out at Lampard

DAVID LUIZ DENIES LAMPARD CRITICISM

David Luiz has denied publicly criticising Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard in an interview with the Portuguese press.
Blues defender Luiz was quoted by O Jogo newspaper as commenting on team-mate Lampard's widely-publicised problems with manager Andre Villas-Boas.
But the 24-year-old was adamant on Thursday afternoon his words had been taken out of context and were not directed at Lampard individually but were more general in nature.
Claiming Luiz had criticised Lampard, O Jogo quoted him as saying: "No one has to be someone's father or son in a football club.
"There are no privileged people there. He simply has to listen to the coach when he gives orders and take them.
"No player can forget that they are just an employee of the club."
But Luiz tweeted this afternoon: "This is media, Frank know me, and I never said about him! I said generaly! I only talked about coaches and players in general. Always CFC."


Any perceived criticism of Lampard by Luiz would increase speculation about a split in the Chelsea dressing room between the Portuguese-speaking contingent - all of whom are reportedly 100% behind Villas-Boas - and some of their more senior team-mates.
Villas-Boas admitted earlier this month that not all his players backed his "project" to revamp an ageing squad amid what is proving a turbulent transition at Stamford Bridge.
He insisted at the time that did not matter because he had the full support of owner Roman Abramovich but he has since confessed to the first doubts about whether or not he would be sacked.
Luiz claimed Villas-Boas had been unfairly castigated, despite Chelsea being fifth in the Barclays Premier League and in danger of Champions League and FA Cup elimination.


"Last season, there were teams who were in a poor position in the table, and no one talked about it," Luiz said.
"It is a lot easier to talk about Andre, because Chelsea are a big team who always fight for the first place.
"And when they are third or fourth, it gets easy to slam the coach.
"But Andre has an immense capacity, he is an excellent person and I am sure he will have a great future at Chelsea."
Luiz, who has had an up-and-down year since moving to Stamford Bridge from Benfica, also played down talk he was a target for Barcelona.
Reports suggest Barca will turn to Luiz if they are unable to secure AC Milan's Thiago Silva this summer.
Luiz told Spanish newspaper Sport: "I would be lying if I said I know nothing.
"I am aware, not least because for months there have been constant rumours about Barca's interest.
"What I can confirm is that I have not negotiated anything and no one has submitted a concrete offer. I am 100% a Chelsea player.
"Barca are a great team that play fantastic football. Every player would love to play for Barcelona, but I am with Chelsea and I have an obligation to my club."
One player who would consider leaving this summer, on loan, is striker Romelu Lukaku.


The 18-year-old, who has made just six substitute appearances in the league since joining Chelsea from Anderlecht, has been warned he needs regular football to keep his place in the Belgium squad.
Lukaku told Voetbal International: "It is said that the clubs are lining up to loan me and that is true. I even heard that Anderlecht want me back. The club that wants me most is my preference.
"I want to be number one for Belgium, but our other strikers are not standing still. Something has to change."
Lukaku even suggested that could be the Chelsea manager, but added: "Do not get me wrong, I have no problem with Andre Villas-Boas. He is just under a lot of pressure."
Lukaku could be called upon for Saturday's game at West Brom if Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge both fail to recover from injury.
Drogba was forced to miss the Ivory Coast's friendly against Guinea on Tuesday with a knee problem, while Sturridge limped out of England's defeat to Holland last night with a bruised toe.
Sturridge said: "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I'm fit for Saturday's game because I don't want to be missing any football action."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Raul: Offered new Schalke deal

SCHALKE OFFER EXTENSION TO RAUL

Schalke have offered veteran Spanish striker Raul a new contract.
But as Schalke's director of sport Horst Heldt and Raul's agent Gines Carvajal have been unable to find a suitable time to meet and discuss the 34-year-old's future, Heldt has sent him an email with his club's offer.
Raul's current contract is up for renewal in the summer and Schalke are keen for him to extend his stay in Gelsenkirchen.
"We agreed that we would send Gines Carvajal our proposal using a modern communication method, meaning email," said Heldt on the Bundesliga club's website.


"The simple reason for this is that he has been abroad for a few days and, since we have several midweek games, we were unable to find a suitable time to meet in person.

"Therefore, we are both very pleased with this solution."
Heldt will now be keeping a close eye on his mailbox, awaiting Raul's response.
"Firstly, Raul's agent has to take his time considering the offer and then he will discuss it with the player," added Heldt.
"We have tentatively agreed to meet at the end of March to talk about it.
"That means we are fully on schedule."


Heldt hopes that the talks will lead to a positive conclusion.
"He is definitely a very important player for us," he said. "He has scored 11 goals in the Bundesliga this season alone and is always totally committed.
"We are very proud to have such a unique footballer playing for Schalke."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Robbie Fowler: Training with Blackpool

ROBBIE FOWLER TRAINING WITH BLACKPOOL

Former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler is training with Blackpool with a view to joining the npower Championship club.
The 36-year-old has played in Australia and Thailand since leaving English football in 2008, following a brief spell with Blackburn.
Fowler was poised to join the new Premier League Soccer venture in India before the project ran into financial problems and on Thursday Blackpool confirmed he could be heading to Bloomfield Road after impressing boss Ian Holloway.


In a series of tweets on their official Twitter page, the club said: "Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has trained with the club today with a view to signing a permanent deal.
"No deal has yet been agreed but Ian Holloway revealed in his press conference that the striker has impressed and is close to full fitness."
Blackpool face Hull on Friday night and the club distanced themselves from reports Fowler would sign in time to face a team managed by his former team-mate Nick Barmby.
They added: "Contrary to some reports, Fowler would not be available for Friday's game, should he sign a deal."
Holloway believes Fowler still has the hunger to be a success in English football.


"It's brilliant to have someone like Robbie at the club," he told the Blackpool Gazette. "He looked terrific in training and I don't think he's that far away from being fully fit."
Speaking to Blackpool's official website, www.blackpoolfc.co.uk, Holloway added: "Has he got some quality, can he play a pass, can he score a goal? Yes he can.
"I still think he wants to play and he's got undoubted quality."

[sami15]

t'hanks freind