Latest Transfer Update at 17-05-2012

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Radamel Falcao: Bagged 36 goals

ATLETICO DENY TORRES-FALCAO SWAP

Atletico Madrid have moved swiftly to quell speculation Chelsea are ready to offer Fernando Torres in a potential swap deal for Colombia striker Radamel Falcao.
Reports have suggested Blues owner Roman Abramovich is willing to offer Torres, a lifelong Atletico fan who started his career at Estadio Vicente Calderon, as bait for the 26-year-old.
The Spanish side insist they have not received any offers for Falcao, who has plundered 36 goals in 48 games this season for the recently-crowned Europa League champions.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo has rejected talk of a return for Torres - five years after he left for Liverpoool in a £20m move.


But Cerezo admits he is bracing himself for Europe's top clubs to make summer bids for ex-Porto striker Falcao.
"An exchange with Chelsea for Torres? That is not true. Those rumours have been invented for the papers," he told Colombian radio station Caracol.
"We have not received any concrete offers for Falcao.
"Now is the time for the rumours but if a bid arrives then it is normal to study any proposition.
"Falcao has four years left on his Atletico contract and we are calm."
Cerezo added he believes Falcao, who joined Atletico in a Portuguese record £35m deal last summer, is one of the top five players in the world.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Emerged as potential Villa target

ODDS SLASHED ON SOLSKJAER FOR VILLA

Former Manchester United star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has rapidly emerged as a red-hot favourite to become the next Aston Villa manager.
Solskjaer's odds have plummeted on Thursday with bookmakers across the country, coming in to around 6-4 from 25-1 following Alex McLeish's sacking.
The 39-year-old has only recently entered into club management following a stunning playing career, predominantly with United where he spent 11 seasons from 1996 to 2007, scoring 126 goals in 366 appearances.


Solskjaer then coached United's reserves for two and a half years before joining Molde, the club where he played for two years prior to moving to Old Trafford, leading them to their first Norwegian league title in 100 years last October.
Solskjaer's emergence as a potential target comes on a day when McLeish has expressed his regret at letting down the Villa fans following his season of failure with the club.
McLeish was sacked by owner Randy Lerner after just 11 months in charge, overseeing a dismal campaign in which Villa came within two points of relegation from the Barclays Premier League.
Villa managed a club record low of four home wins, with their points tally of 38 their lowest for 42 years and their eventual 16th-place finish their worst in six seasons.
McLeish said: "When I accepted the role as manager of Aston Villa Football Club I was acutely aware of the responsibility I had to find the best way to serve the great traditions of one of the finest clubs in professional football.


"I was truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to manage the club, which plays such an important part in the fabric of the local community and to its worldwide fan base.
"I relished the challenge and, together with my loyal and very capable staff, dedicated all of my efforts into moulding a successful team.
"My only regret in leaving now is we weren't able to achieve more for the supporters and their high expectations.
"Finally, I want to take this moment to say that I have nothing but the highest respect for the club and sincerely wish it and the fans great success in the future."
Lerner flew to the UK on Wednesday to begin the search for McLeish's successor in earnest.
Lerner said earlier in the week that under McLeish Villa lacked "compelling play and results", with his desire now to appoint a man "who sees the club's potential and embraces our collective expectations".


However, his plans are likely to have been thrown off kilter by Liverpool's sacking of Kenny Dalglish on Wednesday.
Aside from Solskjaer, other targets on Villa's radar such as Wigan's Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers at Swansea and Norwich's Paul Lambert are almost certain to figure highly on Liverpool's list of prospective candidates.
Martinez spurned Villa's advances a year ago, and after his astonishing end to the season in keeping the Latics up, has been installed as one of the favourites for the vacancy at Anfield.
One man apparently not in Villa's thoughts is Mick McCarthy, dismissed by Wolves in mid-February after nearly six years in charge.

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Jose Moreira: Contracted terminated by Swans

MOREIRA HEADING FOR SWANSEA EXIT

Swansea have cancelled the contract of goalkeeper Jose Moreira by mutual consent.
The 30-year-old joined on a two-year deal last summer from Benfica, but made just one first-team appearance as Michel Vorm and Gerhard Tremmel proved to be Brendan Rodgers' preferred goalkeeping options.


And with the Portugal international keen to get more game time, the club have agreed to terminate his contract.
"This is the best decision for both the club and myself," said Moreira.
"I need to play football and hopefully, after a holiday with my family, I will sort my future with a new club.
"It was very difficult to play in the first team because Michel has done so well this season, and he deserves to be the number one.
"I saw every day in training how good he is, and hopefully I helped provide good competition for him."

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Paul Jewell: Feeling no extra pressure

NO EXTRA PRESSURE ON JEWELL

Paul Jewell does not feel under any added pressure to deliver success in what is the final year of his contract at Portman Road.
The former Wigan boss was appointed in January 2011 on a two-and-a-half year deal, replacing Roy Keane with Town hovering dangerously above the drop zone.
Jewell went on to secure a mid-table finish before rebuilding his ranks last summer with a host of new signings, but this season's promotion hopes soon evaporated and Ipswich eventually went on to finish in 15th place.


With plans taking shape for next term's assault on a top-six finish, Jewell told the club's official website: "I'm not under any extra pressure because it's the last year of my contract here. I can't work any harder than I already do. I can't have a greater desire to do well here than I already have.
"I can remember at the last game of this season at home. We were losing 3-0 to Millwall and a supporter came down and started shouting 'you don't show any passion, you don't shout', I took exception to that because I kick every ball out there.
"I make mistakes but I don't think anyone can question my intensity and desire. That won't change. I am what I am. Everything I do I try and do to the best of my ability."