Latest Transfer Update at 12-04-2012

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Latest Transfer Update at 12-04-2012

Sessegnon: Has been in great form this season

O'NEILL: SESSEGNON WILL STAY

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has rubbished speculation linking star striker Stephane Sessegnon with a summer move away from the Stadium of Light.
The Benin international has attracted interest from a variety of clubs abroad as well as in the Premier League - but O'Neill is confident of keeping hold of one of his prize assets despite reports he is unhappy on Wearside.
"He's playing brilliantly," O'Neill said. "I've read he's unhappy the whole time, he couldn't be happier believe it or not. I don't think he can play like that if he's unhappy.


"He's in great form and I'm sure I won't stop the speculation no matter what I try.
"We want to keep him at the football club because he's been pretty brilliant, and I really couldn't say much more than that."
One of the clubs rumoured to be chasing Sessegnon's signature is his former club Paris St Germain, who sold him to Sunderland for £6m in January 2011.

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Hill: Keeps Nouble until end of the season

BARNSLEY SECURE NOUBLE STAY

Barnsley boss Keith Hill has persuaded West Ham striker Frank Nouble to stay until the end of the season but has told two players they can leave.
Nouble's original deal ended on Monday but the goal-shy Tykes still looking over their shoulder at the drop zone, Hill made his move.
But the manager's plans for next season are already taking shape, with defender Jay McEveley and midfielder Alastair Taylor set to leave.
McEveley is on loan with League Two Swindon Town until the end of the season, while former academy player of the year Taylor has notstarted a first-team game this season.


"Jay's at Swindon and knows the situation and it's unlikely we'll keep Alastair as well because there's lot of competition for places in midfield," Hill told The Star.
"He's a good young player, but might be better looking to play somewhere else."

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Rangers: Awaiting changes over SPL rules

RANGERS POSTPONE BID ANNOUNCEMENT

Rangers administrators Duff and Phelps have been forced to delay the announcement of a preferred bidder for the Ibrox club due to proposed changes to Scottish Premier League rules.
They had hoped to announce on Wednesday the acceptance in principle of an offer for the purchase of the Glasgow giants, with Paul Murray's Blue Knights, American businessman Bill Miller and a Singapore consortium fronted by Bill Ng still in the running.
However, the SPL have revealed that clubs will vote on a number of resolutions relating to financial fair play at a general meeting on April 30, which could result in tougher sanctions for clubs in administration and those facing liquidation.


Paul Clark, joint administrator, said: "As administrators we had hoped to announce today the acceptance in principle of an offer for the purchase of Rangers Football Club, which would be followed by a period of exclusivity while due diligence is undertaken.
"Regrettably, this is not now possible as we were informed over the Easter holiday period that the SPL is proposing to consider at a general meeting on April 30, significant rule changes in relation to clubs which find themselves in an insolvency situation."
Liquidation is an option in the event that Rangers are unable to exit administration via a CVA (Company Voluntary Arrangement).
If the SPL proposals are passed, a 'newco' Rangers would be docked 10 points for two consecutive seasons, as well as seeing SPL fees slashed by 75% for three seasons, if allowed straight back into the top flight.


Clark described the proposed rule changes as "disruptive and regrettable" at a time when administrators are trying to find a buyer for the club.
He added: "The effect of such revised measures being considered at this juncture is that we, as administrators, are duty bound to inform those parties who have submitted bids of the proposed resolutions the SPL intends to consider.
"Failure to do so would constitute material non-disclosure on our part, which is a serious matter.
"Inevitably, bidders are now considering this information and will have to take a view as to whether it will affect their individual bids as they now stand.


"The result is a delay in the sale process. We hope to receive feedback from bidders as soon as possible in order for us to take the sale process forward as quickly as we can.
"We fully respect the right of the SPL to review its own rules and regulations and will not comment on the detail of what is being proposed for the meeting on April 30 at this stage.
"However, the fact that such measures are being considered at such a sensitive point in the sale process at Rangers is disruptive and regrettable.
"We hope to issue a further update by the end of this week."

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Roberto Martinez: Praised by Latics chairman

MARTINEZ DISMISSES QUIT RUMOUR

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has dismissed speculation that he is ready to quit the club this summer.
It was claimed Martinez had reached an agreement with chairman Dave Whelan that he would leave the DW Stadium, regardless of whether the Latics win their relegation fight.
However, after this evening's momentous 1-0 win over Manchester United, Martinez claimed the stories were not true.
"I heard that and was very surprised," he said.
"You wonder where that rumour is coming from. At this stage of the season there is a real fight amongst the bottom five, you feel stories can upset clubs internally.


"There is nothing true about it. I signed a new deal in the summer for an extra two years.
"That was my conversation with the chairman and nothing has changed since."
Martinez was desperate to ensure the "loose rumour" did not destabilise his side ahead of such an important game.
Wigan did his job perfectly as his side climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time since October thanks to Shaun Maloney's curling strike four minutes after half-time.


"The most important thing for me are the next five games and making sure we all give our lives for Wigan to retain their status in the Premier League," he said.
"The rumour is unfounded. There is nothing to deny about it."

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Peter Gulacsi: Back at Liverpool

GULACSI SET FOR LIVERPOOL RETURN

Liverpool are set to recall Peter Gulacsi from his loan spell at Hull to ease their goalkeeping crisis, the npower Championship club have confirmed.
The Reds are short of cover after first-choice keeper Jose Reina and his deputy Alexander Doni were sent off in successive games.
Those suspensions have left third-choice Brad Jones, who came off the bench against Blackburn last night, as Kenny Dalglish's only senior stopper ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Everton.


Dalglish is unable to move for an emergency loan signing and has turned to Hungarian Gulacsi, who is available for Wembley duty after not being selected for either of the Tigers' two FA Cup ties this season.
The 21-year-old has made 15 Championship appearances for the East Yorkshire outfit, who have also made loan moves this season for Arsenal's Vito Mannone and Sunderland's Trevor Carson after Gulacsi failed to impress.


A statement on Hull's official website read: "Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is set to be recalled from his loan spell with the Tigers by parent club Liverpool. The Hungarian stopper will return to Anfield later today."

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Jamie Hamill: Ruptured cruciate knee ligament

HAMILL FACING LENGTHY LAY-OFF

Hearts right-back Jamie Hamill faces months of rehabilitation after rupturing his cruciate knee ligament, the Edinburgh club have confirmed.
Hamill suffered the injury at Hearts' indoor training facility day and was immediately sent for a scan.
Hearts boss Paulo Sergio said on the club's official website, www.heartsfc.co.uk: "It is bad news for Jamie as he has done his cruciate and he will be out for a long period.


"He is one of the guys who never missed a day's training and then this happens to him and I'm very sad for him."
It is a blow for Hearts, who meet Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday and are seeking to improve their sixth-placed position in the table to secure European football next term.
The 25-year-old former Kilmarnock defender, who scored in the quarter-final replay win at St Mirren, will visit a knee specialist next week but is already resigned to missing the start of next season, meaning he would likely be absent for any European qualifiers should Hearts secure continental competition.
Sergio added: "I have no doubt he will come back strongly as he is one of the strongest characters in our dressing room.
"I am sure he will recover sooner than anyone could imagine as he is a strong guy.


"We all feel sorry for him. We will give him all the support he needs to get through this and hopefully we can deliver a good result for him on Sunday."
(reopens) Meanwhile, Hearts have announced they have sold more than 10,000 tickets for Sunday's Hampden clash with Celtic since they went on sale at 9am this morning.

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Darren O'Dea: On loan at Leeds

O'DEA HOPES FOR LEEDS DEAL

On-loan Leeds defender Darren O'Dea has reiterated his hope that he can secure a permanent contract at Elland Road.
The Republic of Ireland international, who has made 36 appearances this term, joined Leeds on a season-long loan from Celtic in August.
Following a run of three straight defeats, Leeds' play-off hopes are all-but over and manager Neil Warnock is already turning his thoughts to next season.


Warnock is keen to implement an overhaul of his squad in the summer and O'Dea is hopeful he can perform well enough with four games remaining to seal his future at the club.
O'Dea told the club's official website: "The manager's already started planning for next season so everybody has everything to play for.


"There might not be much for us there in terms of the league, but our careers and futures at this club are there to play for.
"I hope I can stay, but as I've said there's only one man who will make the decision. I'm sure he'll have a rough idea about what he wants to do, but I don't see anywhere better to be than here."

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Balotelli: Linked with a return to former club Inter Milan

INTER RULE OUT BALOTELLI MOVE

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has rejected talk linking them with a move to bring Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli back to the club.
Reports have suggested that Inter and city rivals AC Milan could battle it out to bring Balotelli back to Italy and end his controversial time in England.

City boss Roberto Mancini hinted last weekend that he would 'probably' sell the temperamental striker following his sending off in the defeat to Arsenal.
The Italy international has since apologised for his latest misdemeanour and admitted he would discuss his future with City's hierarchy at the end of the season.
Moratti, who sold Balotelli to City last summer, is a huge admirer of the striker, but insists he has no plans to re-sign him.


"For the moment he's a Man City player", Moratti told reporters before Inter's win over Siena.
"We followed what happened - he's always the same and he's technically really good.
"But we have not made moves, he's not in our plans, even if we know he's really strong."

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Damien Comolli: Leaves by 'mutual consent'

DAMIEN COMOLLI DEPARTS LIVERPOOL

Damien Comolli has left his role as Liverpool's director of football by mutual consent, the club confirmed on Thursday morning.
Manager Kenny Dalglish has also insisted he has been the man calling the shots over transfers after the surprise departure of Comolli.
Just two days before their FA Cup semi-final with Everton, the club announced the Frenchman had left by mutual consent, with Comolli saying he was returning home for family reasons.
Initially brought in by new owners American Fenway Sports Group in November 2010 to help ease their first move into football, Comolli's appointment preceded Dalglish's by nearly two months but, once the Scot replaced Roy Hodgson, there was no doubt who was in charge.
Even Comolli's promotion from director of football strategy to a wider role the following March failed to alter the balance of power that club icon Dalglish controlled.


And while Comolli has been criticised for his role in Liverpool's recent - and so far unsuccessful - transfer policy, the Reds boss stressed he had the final word on signings.
"Everyone who has come into the club since Damien has been here was of my choice," said Dalglish.
"Once I made the choice who I wanted, Damien went away and did a fantastic job of bringing them in.
"He has been really helpful in every transfer target we've gone for.
"I had a fantastic working and personal relationship with Damien and it is disappointing but I suppose there is not much in football which comes as a surprise.
"It is sad to see anyone leave the football club and he goes with my best wishes and hopefully it is not long before we meet again.
"We wish him well with everything that he does."


When FSG took over in October 2010 much was made of their intention to employ the moneyball theory, which had been so successful at their other high-profile acquisition of the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise, to transfers.
That essentially meant finding players who were potentially underachieving at other clubs but who could be signed relatively cheaply, made into a success and therefore have a much higher re-sale value.


However, in the three transfer windows Dalglish has overseen, the owners have forked out the best part of £125million, with a net spend of about £70million.
Those deals included an eye-watering £35million for Andy Carroll, £20million for Stewart Downing, £16million for Jordan Henderson.
Dalglish's best deals have been for Craig Bellamy, who came in on a free but has no re-sale value because of his age, and Jose Enrique (£6million from Newcastle), with only Luis Suarez, at £22.8million, coming close to justifying his price tag.
With the owners' pre-season ambitions of regaining a place in the top-four ended by a run of woeful league results it appears the director of football experiment has been ditched.


The responsibility now lies solely with Dalglish, who has come in for his fair share of criticism recently, and while that may not actually have changed much behind the scenes it is now more transparent and there can be no hiding behind anyone else.
Principal owner John Henry thanked Comolli for his contribution but business partner and Liverpool chairman Tom Werner was slightly more pragmatic in his assessment of the situation.
"The club needs to move forward and we now have a huge game on Saturday," he said in a statement.


"It is important that everyone joins us in supporting the manager and gets behind Kenny and the team and focuses on a strong finish to the season."
Comolli, who has also worked for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger and was widely credited with playing a part in Tottenham's recent resurgence, thanked the club for his opportunity.

"I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to work at Liverpool and am happy to move on from the club and back to France for family reasons," he said.
"I wish the club all the best for the future."

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Shearer: England needs a manager now

SHEARER: ENGLAND MUST NAME BOSS NOW

Former England striker Alan Shearer has called on the FA to name the man to take the squad to Euro 2012.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is many people's favourite to land the role of coaching England in Poland and the Ukraine - but Shearer believes failure to install the new man will soon start damaging chances of success.


He told the BBC: "They need a manager pretty soon - actually now. Now the time has come and so be it if they upset one or two people.
"I would absolutely 100% still go for Harry Redknapp and I think everyone will tell you the same story.
"The FA are in a very difficult position because if they go in with an approach then it would upset people. But maybe the FA should think about England rather than the other football clubs."