Latest Transfer Update at 05-03-2012

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Claudio Ranieri: Won't back down

I CAN COPE WITH THE PRESSURE - RANIERI

Inter Milan manager Claudio Ranieri has vowed not to hide from the pressure building on his position despite Sunday's second-half fightback against Catania.
The Nerazzurri came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to draw 2-2, goals from Diego Forlan and Diego Milito ending a five-match losing run in all competitions.
But they remain winless in nine and lie seventh in Serie A, 11 points behind Lazio in the final Champions League place.
Ranieri's substitutions, particularly the half-time introduction of Wesley Sneijder, made an impact, but captain Javier Zanetti questioned the withdrawal of Esteban Cambiasso, who was reduced to tears by the crowd's response.
"You'd have to ask the coach whether it was the right decision to replace someone who has won so much," Zanetti told the Inter Channel. "If Ranieri makes his choices, there must be a reason."


Zanetti also credited goalkeeper Julio Cesar for the inspirational team talk at half-time.
But Ranieri said on www.inter.it: "It was an important reaction. This is a team that doesn't give up and we'll fight on. Thank goodness I have champions in the changing rooms who were able to look each other in the face and react.
"At the end of the first half I didn't feel like I was on the way out, I never have in my career.
"I have had a lot of pressure but there's no point in burying your head in the sand. A coach must stick by his team for better or for worse.
"Clouds don't only descend on the coach, they descend on the whole of Inter. President (Massimo) Moratti made it very clear, we are all in the dock and I'm not interested in Ranieri, I'm trying to do my best for the team.


"It's a shame that a club and a president that have done so much and have achieved so much come under criticism in their first bad season, but we must be above this. We must accept the boos and the applause.
"Can we still think about coming third? For now, we have to concentrate on winning to get on track again, and only on that."
Ranieri insists he is still planning for the long term, and said: "They proposed two years (when I arrived) and I'm happy with that; then we'll see.
"I hope I'll stay here as long as possible even if, like husbands, we're always the last to know. I think the president has confidence in me and I just concentrate on my work."

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Gylfi Sigurdsson: Enjoying his time at Swansea

SIGURDSSON WANTS FUTURE TALKS

On-loan Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson admits he is 'curious' about his future and does not want to return to Hoffenheim to sit on the bench.
Sigurdsson moved to the Liberty Stadium during the January transfer window after enduring a frustrating first half of the season with the Bundesliga club.


He has scored three times in seven appearances for the Swans and grabbed both goals in Saturday's 2-0 victory at Wigan Athletic.
The Iceland international is enjoying his time with Swansea and plans to hold talks with Hoffenheim to discuss his long-term future.
"I just want to play football. I'm very happy here at the moment and hopefully things will get sorted in the summer. I don't know what's going to happen," said the 22-year-old.


"I'm concentrating on Swansea City and helping them stay in the league.
"You're not going to turn down Premier League football when you're out of the side at Hoffenheim.
"Of course I'm curious about my future. It's not up to me as I've another two seasons left at Hoffenheim but I don't want to sit on the bench there for any longer.


"Hoffenheim were in contact a couple of weeks ago and I spoke briefly to the new manager - Markus Babbel.
"I think he's going to give me a call later this month and speak to me again. We'll see what happens."

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Jamie Pitman: Out of a job

O'KELLY REPLACES PITMAN AT BULLS

Hereford have announced Richard O'Kelly as their new manager after Jamie Pitman was relieved of his duties by the npower League Two club earlier on Monday.
O'Kelly, who has left his role as a coach at League One Walsall, is a surprise appointment with 12 matches remaining for the Bulls - who are two points and two places above the drop zone - to preserve their Football League status.
O'Kelly, 55, returns to Edgar Street having been assistant manager to former boss Graham Turner between 2002 and 2004 but he has no senior management experience.

A former forward who spent most of his playing career with Walsall, O'Kelly also has vast coaching experience with the likes of Grimsby, West Brom and Aston Villa while he was assistant to Sean O'Driscoll at both Bournemouth and Doncaster.
He has been appointed on a deal until the end of the season although Hereford are keen to make it a long-term relationship, while Pitman has been retained among the club's coaching staff.


O'Kelly, who will take charge for the first time at Macclesfield tomorrow night, told the club's official website: "I'm excited to be given this chance and it's great to be back at Hereford.
"It's a very special football club for me and I'm determined to make sure the club starts to achieve its potential.
"It's my first job as manager but what better team to start with. We've got 12 games to show and prove to people just what we can do."

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Ramires: Extends Stamford Bridge stay

RAMIRES SIGNS NEW CHELSEA DEAL

Chelsea midfielder Ramires has signed a new five-year contract to remain at Stamford Bridge.
The hard-working Brazil international joined the Blues from Benfica in the summer of 2010 and has since established himself as a key part of the midfield.
"I am very happy with my new contract. I am very happy with the support I have playing for this club so I want to say thank you to Chelsea," he told the club's official website.


Ramires' new deal comes just 24 hours after Chelsea sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas.
The Portuguese's departure has left uncertainty around the west London club with Roberto Di Matteo installed in temporary charge for the remainder of the season.
Ramires' signing will, however, offer some positive news as Chelsea look to get back on track in their quest to climb back up the Barclays Premier League table.


The weekend's 1-0 defeat at West Brom, Ramires' 50th Blues league appearance, prompted Villas-Boas' departure after it left them fifth in the table and three points behind Arsenal in the final Champions League qualification place.
Chelsea also face an important fortnight with an FA Cup fifth-round replay at Birmingham on Tuesday night before they host Napoli in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie.
They head into that match trailing 3-1 on aggregate after defeat in the Stadio Sao Paolo last week.

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Rafael Benitez: Wants to return to a 'big club'

BENITEZ KEEN ON RETURN TO 'TOP CLUB'

Rafael Benitez has ambitions to return to management with a "top club" but refused to be drawn on a possible move to Chelsea.
The former Liverpool, Valencia and Inter Milan boss is currently out of work and is one of the favourites to replace Andre Villas-Boas, who was sacked by Chelsea on Sunday after less than a season in charge.
The Spaniard, who won the Champions League with the Reds in 2005, confirmed he wants to get back into the game at the highest level but, aside from offering his sympathy to Villas-Boas, he was careful not to talk directly about Chelsea.
"I don't like to see any manager lose a job," he told Sky Sports News.
"Before, people were more patient but now you have to win almost every week. I have experience in Spain and Italy and it is even worse there, after two or three games you are under pressure.


"I would like to have in the future a top side, a top club that can fight for titles and challenge. That was my idea when I came to Liverpool, after I went to Inter it was the same and Valencia was the same.
"My experience is in the Champions League, to challenge and to try and win trophies."
Former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, currently with Real Madrid, is another name heavily linked with the Stamford Bridge hot seat but one of the factors that some believe could see Benitez installed is his history with Fernando Torres.


Benitez brought the Spain forward to Anfield, where he enjoyed a golden spell before a £50million move to Chelsea that has never really got off the ground.
Asked about his relationship with Torres, Benitez added: "I was really pleased with Fernando at Liverpool. It was fantastic for the club, for him, for everyone. He's a top-class player and he will do well."

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Edy Reja: Still at Lazio despite offering his resignation

REJA POSITIVE OVER FUTURE

Lazio coach Edy Reja has reaffirmed his commitment to the club and is targeting the Serie A title - less than two weeks after tendering his resignation.
Reja offered to stand down ahead of the Europa League last-32 second leg against Atletico Madrid on February 23, his side having been hammered 5-1 by Palermo the previous weekend.
A 1-0 defeat in Spain then confirmed Lazio's elimination, 4-1 on aggregate, but Reja was convinced to stay on.
The Biancocelesti responded with a 1-0 win over Fiorentina before Sunday's 2-1 success against bitter local rivals Roma, which left them only three points behind second-placed Juventus and six behind leaders AC Milan in the race for the Scudetto.


"At Lazio everything has to point to the title, we must keep believing," Reja told Radio Anch'io.
"Milan will be difficult to catch, they are a strong team with individuals that can always change the game. Juve are in sight, I know they are a great team but we we hope to do well and win all our games.
"We hope that these teams collapse, although it will be difficult for us. The important thing is to get all our players back and believe in our chances, I do not think we are lacking anything."
On the issue of his future, Reja confirmed he and club president Claudio Lotito have put the confusion of last month behind them and are working towards long-term goals.
"We have agreed that my relationship with Lazio will continue in the years to come," he said. "It is important to agree and continue when there are differences.


"For two years already we have achieved extraordinary things, the team has grown and I am proud of this group, it is perhaps one of the best I've had in my career. If I had my full team available we could have some more points."

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Eriksson: Understands decision to sack AVB

ERIKSSON - I'D TAKE THE CHELSEA JOB

Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted he would accept an offer to succeed Andre Villas-Boas as Chelsea manager.
The former England coach has been out of work since leaving Leicester last October, and he is keen to return to management with a "big club".
Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez are the favourites to take over at Stamford Bridge, although Roberto Di Matteo has been appointed interim boss until the end of the season following the sacking of Villas-Boas on Sunday.


Eriksson, who was linked with the job while still in charge of England, said: "I would take it, of course.
"They already have a manager for the rest of the season and I guess that is a natural solution, because he has been in the club now for the whole season."
Villas-Boas was axed barely eight months after replacing Carlo Ancelotti, and Blues owner Roman Abramovich is now searching for his eighth manager in as many years.


But when asked it he considered the role to be an impossible task, Eriksson added: "Nothing is impossible. But this time I think it is understandable that something happened.
"I don't defend it. But I can understand it, because with Chelsea if they don't play in Europe next season, that would be a disaster for them."