Latest Transfer Update at 09-03-2012

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Latest Transfer Update at 09-03-2012

Ferguson: Not allowed to talk about the England job

FERGUSON CAN'T TALK ABOUT ENGLAND

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been gagged by the Premier League after voicing his backing for Harry Redknapp to be the next England manager.
Ferguson believes Tottenham boss Redknapp has all the credentials required to replace Fabio Capello and, after stepping into the Scotland job following the death of Jock Stein in 1985, is perfectly placed to assess the difficulties anyone would have taking over immediately before a major tournament.
However, it appears the game's authorities are not comfortable with Ferguson expressing his opinions, however useful an insight they offer.
And, following Thursday night's 3-2 Europa League defeat by Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford, Ferguson said the Premier League had told him to stop.


"The Premier League has written to me asking me not to talk about the England manager's job," the Scot said. "I don't know why."
It shows the lengths the authorities are going to in their bid to restrict debate over an issue that many feel the Football Association are taking too long over anyway considering they are willing to wait until the last weeks of the season before confirming who will lead England into Euro 2012.
Ferguson's statement did not quite obscure another disappointing home European performance from United.
Last season's Champions League finalists have won just one of five European games at Old Trafford this term and have a combination of Wayne Rooney's late penalty and a succession of excellent saves from David de Gea to thank for the fact they will go to Spain for next week's second leg still with some home of progression.


"There's no doubt they were the better team," Ferguson said.
"It's an uphill fight for us. The question is can we win the match over there? I think we can."
United will need to show vast improvement, though, after being comprehensively outplayed.
After going in front against the run of play thanks to Rooney's first-half opener, the hosts were pegged back by the outstanding Fernando Llorente before the break.


Oscar de Marcos put the Basque outfit in front and they looked set to inflict the heaviest home European defeat on United when Rafael's woeful error allowed Iker Muniain to bag a third in the final minutes.
Rooney's penalty prevented that embarrassment.
"We probably were better in general play than United but it's a compliment to our opponents and expression of their quality that we could only beat them by a deficit of one goal," Athletic coach Marcelo Bielsa said.

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Clint Dempsey: In fine form for Fulham

CLINT DEMPSEY IN NEW DEAL TALKS

Fulham manager Martin Jol has confirmed that discussions have begun with Clint Dempsey over a contract extension.
Having scored 18 goals this season and admitted in January that he would like to play in the UEFA Champions League before the end of his career, it is possible that the American could attract interest from elsewhere.
Dempsey is under contract at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2013 but he has become such an important player for the club that Jol wants to secure his services for longer.


The Dutchman is hopeful that fresh terms can be agreed after opening talks over a new three-year deal, while he has also spoken to a number of other players about their futures as he looks to keep Fulham pushing forward.
"We are talking to him," said Jol. "At any club, you want to keep your best players so that is what we try hard to do.
"If Clint Dempsey wasn't here, we wouldn't be in this position because we have had to rely on him a lot of times to score goals.


"He is here for at least another year, so that is not a big problem. The problem is that we want to keep him here for longer. But the difference is not very big.

"He has 17 months left and we want to keep him here for the next three years.
"I hope the four or five players we are talking to will stay. I am confident they will. They realise it is a very good club."

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Gregg Wylde: Rangers exit

COYLE UNSURE ON WYLDE SITUATION

Bolton boss Owen Coyle has admitted he is uncertain whether he would be allowed to sign out-of-contract winger Gregg Wylde even if he wanted to.
The Trotters are among a host of clubs to be linked with Wylde since he opted to walk away from Rangers earlier this month after the Glasgow giants entered administration.
Coyle did look at the 20-year-old in the summer before deciding not to make a move.
However, with Bolton now desperate to try and escape the Premier League relegation zone, Coyle might be tempted to look at Wylde again.
Although the Trotters have filled their 25-man squad, in theory they could sign Wylde as clubs are allowed to recruit an unlimited number of under-21s.


The situation is far more complicated than that though.
First of all, world governing body FIFA would have to confirm that Wylde was free to sign for another club outside the transfer window.
Then the Premier League would have to rule on the matter, mindful of their requirement to uphold the integrity of the competition.
It is new ground which, if it is not explored in Wylde's case, almost certainly would be should more high-profile Rangers players either be released or the club get liquidated.


"Gregg Wylde is a player we had an interest in back in August," confirmed Coyle.
"He is a talented young player who has been caught up in the turmoil at Rangers.
"His performances have been up and down, whereas last season there is no doubt he was at the top of his form."
Coyle confirmed he had not spoken to Wylde or his representatives about a move, although he is aware of the complications.
"Potentially anyone could be a useful addition to our squad," said the Scot.
"There would need to be some FIFA directive on it because it is extenuating circumstances.
"You would need to await what the outcome of that is before anyone acts upon it."
Despite his lifelong allegiance to Celtic, Coyle takes no pleasure from the ongoing troubles at Ibrox, which seem to take another downward turn by the day.


"I grew up in Glasgow," he said. "I am Celtic through and through and always will be.
"But I am a huge admirer of Rangers. I was always well treated when I went there as a player and Ally McCoist is a pal of mine.
"I feel for him. I look with dismay at how they got to that situation.
"You go anywhere in the world and people know Rangers. I am sure that will be the case again, as horrible as this present situation is.
"When they come through this they will get back to the strength and power they were before."

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Matthew Briggs: Set for Fulham return

BRIGGS HEADING BACK TO FULHAM

Peterborough are set to send on-loan left-back Matthew Briggs back to Fulham.
Briggs' temporary stay at London Road was set to expire following the npower Championship fixture at home to Blackpool on Saturday.
But Posh boss Darren Ferguson does not anticipate using the 20-year-old against the Tangerines and he plans to send Briggs back before the game.

Briggs made five appearances during his month-long loan at Peterborough.

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Frank Nouble: Makes loan switch

NOUBLE MAKES TYKES SWITCH

West Ham have loaned striker Frank Nouble to Championship rivals Barnsley.
The 20-year-old, who had a spell on loan at Oakwell last season, has put pen to paper on an initial one-month deal.
Nouble will be out of contract at Upton Park in the summer and is well down the strikers' pecking order behind the likes of Nicky Maynard, Sam Baldock, Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te.
He could still do his promotion-chasing parent club a favour, though, if he makes his debut against leaders Southampton on Saturday.

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Jamal Campbell-Ryce: Loan switch

CAMPBELL-RYCE MAKES ORIENT SWITCH Bristol City have allowed Jamal Campbell-Ryce to join Leyton Orient on loan until the end of the season.
The winger has struggled to hold down a spot in the City first team, making just 13 starts over the course of the current campaign.
Robins manager Derek McInnes said the move would benefit all parties.
He told City's official website: "We've allowed Jamal to go out and get regular games. He's been frustrated he hasn't been involved recently and I understand that.
"As with any player who goes out on loan, we wish him luck as he looks to get regular games."

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Herita Ilunga: Training with Doncaster

ILUNGA BACK TRAINING WITH ROVERS

Former West Ham defender Herita Ilunga could be poised to rejoin Doncaster.
Ilunga spent time on loan at the Keepmoat Stadium earlier this season before his Hammers contract was cancelled.
Rovers boss Dean Saunders has invited the 30-year-old back to train at the club's Cantley Park training base and he could be offered a short-term deal after left-back Tommy Spurr suffered a hip injury.
"I'm thinking about bringing Ilunga in so he's here," said Saunders. "He's terminated his contract with West Ham and he's been training with Orient just trying to keep himself right.


"We need to do something because if you get injured now you're having to miss four or five games with us playing three a week. We can't afford to go into these games being under-prepared and under-strength. I don't really want to play a right-back and left-back.
"Hopefully we can get him. I'm trying. We'll see how Tommy is. Hopefully Tommy will be okay but, if he's not we've got someone there who can step in."

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Steven Naismith: Reportedly agreed a wage cut

RANGERS DUO AGREE PAY CUTS - REPORT

Rangers players and administrators are closing in on a wage-reduction deal that would prevent significant redundancies.
It is understood that Scotland pair Steven Whittaker and Steven Naismith have both signed an agreement to accept 75% wage cuts.
The Scotland pair were among about half a dozen players to have stalled on a deal late on Tuesday night but negotiations resumed yesterday afternoon and agreement was reached late last night.
Like the rest of the squad, they had agreed in principle to the wage cuts but wanted guarantees that their sacrifices would ensure there would be no job losses among the entire workforce.
It is understood the pair are now happy with assurances from administrators that there will be no forced redundancies.
Administrators are now understood to be pushing ahead with attempts to sign agreements with the whole squad.
Given many players had been happy with the deal several days ago, there is hope that process can be concluded today.
Naismith arrived for training this morning and explained his position.


Naismith told Sky Sports News: "We just want to get the best for the club, everybody at the club's doing all they can to get a solution.
"There's a lot of Rangers fans in the squad and we just want to get it fixed.
"Everybody's trying to come to a good conclusion and get the best for the club.
"Everybody wants to succeed, there's a lot of innocent people here that just want to go on with their lives and get a job at the end of the day."
Administrators Duff and Phelps had warned an agreement to cut players' wages by up to 75% needed to be completed today to avoid significant redundancies.
The corporate recovery team had blamed the failure of a deal on Tuesday night on players' advisors for demanding personal conditions.
Some players had sought exit clauses in their contracts in return for wage cuts and administrators were wary of a mass summer exodus of key players that would have put off potential buyers.
But administrator Paul Clark appears content to accede to some demands for a caveat in the contracts given the uncertainty over the club's future.
Clark told BBC Scotland last night: "I don't think that should be considered that any or all of the players are considering that they want to leave the club in the summer.


"It's just a safety mechanism from their point of view, in exchange for the very substantial amounts they're giving up, to give them some flexibility depending on what the new ownership structure looks like when the club comes out of administration."
Talks are also set to continue with prospective buyers.
Clark told BBC Scotland: "We've got several parties who appear to be asking all the right questions and we are looking for them to move forward to make some bids to us, we hope at some point next week."
Clark also insisted there was no benefit for majority shareholder Craig Whyte in Rangers moving into liquidation.
Whyte's motives and actions have come under serious scrutiny and it has been unclear what rights he has as a creditor and what claim he may have over the assets.
Whyte bought his stake for £1 in return for pledges to pay off the £18million bank debt and invest his own money, £9.5million initially, but Lloyds were paid with money secured on the back of future season ticket sales.
Clark said: "There is a security that remains on the public record in favour of Craig Whyte. My view is that security has no value.
"There's no obvious signs, or information, or clarification we've seen that would suggest he's actually paid any personal money into Rangers Football Club, and therefore I don't see at the moment that he has secured creditor status.
"Liquidation tends to be the death of a business, or a football club in this case, and death tends to destroy value, so I don't fully understand why it's felt Craig Whyte, or indeed anyone, could benefit or profit from that."
Whyte was yesterday declared unfit to hold a position in football following an independent inquiry launched by the Scottish Football Association.

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Cheick Tiote: Key player for Newcastle

NEWCASTLE FEAR CHEICK TIOTE EXIT

Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias admits he fears losing star midfielder Cheick Tiote this summer.
The Ivory Coast international has been a key component in the Magpies' rise up the Premier League table this season.
He has made 16 appearances in the league, missing a month due to the African Cup of Nations, and has witnessed only two defeats all season.
The 25-year-old has a growing reputation in English football since moving from Dutch side FC Twente in 2010.
Despite being contracted until 2017, Llambias understands that the North East club could find it difficult to retain the midfielder beyond the current campaign if a big-money offer was tabled.


He said: "We'll be losing one or two names this summer, but that'll be regenerated back into the squad.
"For instance, Tiote has been with us a year and a half. He is out there. People know he's a good player.
"He's proven in the Premier League, he's not picking up as many yellow cards, he's learning.
"How are we going to stop a big club from coming in for him? It'll be very hard.
"One thing in our favour is that we now have a very good side and that might encourage the player to stay.
"But if someone knocks on the door and says they want this or that money, the reality may be that we have to trade."


Meanwhile, Llambias has revealed that Newcastle are in a strong position when it comes to negotiating a deal for future players.
The Toon have surprised many this season and are well placed to qualify for a place in Europe at the end of the season.
They are currently sixth, two points behind Chelsea, and Llambias is confident that the club can sign their transfer targets for next season.
He said: "We have targets for the summer, and we're not in a position of having to beg.
"People are saying, 'Ah Newcastle. Of course we want to talk to you'. We do a brilliant video presentation - very sharp, it is great - and it opens eye to what the club, the fans and the city are all about."

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Lukas Podolski: Arsenal transfer target

WENGER: NO PODOLSKI AGREEMENT

Arsene Wenger maintains there is not yet any agreement in place to secure the arrival of striker Lukas Podolski, which is expected to be confirmed before the end of the season.
The 26-year-old is understood to be keen to join the Gunners in the summer, with suggestions an £11million deal had already been agreed with Cologne.
The Poland-born forward would certainly add some experience to the Arsenal attack in support of 32-goal captain Robin van Persie, having played at the World Cup twice and also in two European Championships.
Wenger, though, maintained at Friday's press conference ahead of Monday night's Barclays Premier League clash against Newcastle, that the transfer was not yet a done deal.
"I have not a lot to say about that because if we sign a player we will inform you. At the moment we have not signed anybody. There is still no agreement.
"The distance to the agreement is not always linked with the signing. When you are very close you are quickly very far again, but Podolski is a good player, I wouldn't deny that."


When pressed on the possibility of completing a deal by visiting German media, Wenger suggested there could be some movement "in the next two or three weeks", adding: "anything is possible".
Van Persie has yet to agree a contract extension, which runs until the summer of 2013.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has fuelled speculation of another big-money raid on the Emirates Stadium for the Holland striker, whom he hailed as "one of the best strikers in Europe".
Wenger insists such comments must be taken with a pinch of salt.
"If you are to have one quality it is not to be unsettled because what is said of you by other clubs is part of the job," the Arsenal boss said.
"What is important is how much you want to win the next game and all the rest is basically not important."
Wenger added: "Robin is the leader of our club and I would just like to specify that he is not at the end of his contract.
"He is under contract until 2013. So you do your job, focus on your job which he does very well and enjoy your games."


Brazil full-back Andre Santos could be in the squad on Monday, having recovered from the broken ankle which sidelined him since December.
Wenger is also hopeful of a positive prognosis for England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who has not played at all this season because of his ankle problem.
"The progress in training is very good but what you do not want is to have any setbacks," Wenger said.
"The setback could be a bad scan, but the clinical signs are all very good when you look at his ankle, it is not inflamed and it is normal progress now.
"But we are a bit over cautious with him now because of the setbacks we had before."


Wenger maintained he was "surprised" to have been charged with improper conduct by UEFA after confronting referee Damir Skomina following Arsenal's 3-0 win over AC Milan on Tuesday night.
If the case is proved and Wenger is given a touchline ban, it will be the third time within the space of a year he has been given such a sanction by Europe's governing body.
With their Champions League hopes now over following the 4-3 aggregate defeat, Arsenal will be out to continue their momentum on Monday night, building from successive wins over third-placed Tottenham and at Liverpool.
"We want to finish as high as we can," Wenger said.
"It will be difficult because we know that we face a massive battle there with Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle and maybe Liverpool.
"We have created the momentum but we know until the end of the season that every game will be a massive one for us.
"What is at stake is to be in the top four, if possible in the top three, but it will be difficult for everybody."