Latest Transfer Update at 18-05-2012

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: In talks with Villa

SOLSKJAER OPENS VILLA TALKS

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has received the support of a trio of fellow former Norway internationals as he starte talks on becoming Aston Villa's new manager on Friday.
Collected from his home town of Kristiansund in Villa owner Randy Lerner's private jet, Solskjaer was joined on the flight by wife Silje.
After Lerner sacked Alex McLeish on Monday after a wretched 11 months in charge, Solskjaer is seemingly seen by the owner as the young, progressive manager to take Villa forward.


After 11 seasons as a player with Manchester United and a further two and a half years at Old Trafford as reserve team manager, the 39-year-old returned to Molde in 2010 after spending two years at the club as a player in the mid-1990s.
Last October, at the end of his first season in charge, Solskjaer guided Molde to their first Norwegian League title in their 100-year history.
Villa and Solskjaer are now in talks, as confirmed by Molde in a club statement.
"Molde Football Club is aware of interest and contact from Aston Villa, and is aware that Aston Villa and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are talking together," it read.
Despite Solskjaer's lack of managerial experience, Jan-Aage Fjortoft, Erik Thorstvedt and John Carew all feel he would be a success at Villa Park.
Former Swindon and Middlesbrough striker Fjortoft, now a television presenter, said: "Every Villa supporter will ask, 'Is he too inexperienced?', and if they lose a game, people will say, 'Well, he is inexperienced'.


"But I've seen so many useless managers in English football, then and now, so Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have no problem coping with that, given the knowledge, the experience he has from the game."
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Fjortoft added: "When he came to Norway, to move out of the Manchester United bubble, for a lot of people that would have been tough because you are at your own club.
"But Ole has been a great leader for Molde. He always supports his team, and is clear in the demands of his players.
"He won't be Alex Ferguson, he will be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but very influenced by the life he has had at Manchester United.
"He has always been a learner, and he will be a great, great manager."


Thorstvedt, Tottenham goalkeeper from 1989-1996, appreciates Villa would be taking a gamble on someone with only 18 months' experience as a league manager.
The 49-year-old said: "It's a surprise he is possibly going to be offered such a big job so early.
"But he is very clever, really sensible, and what he says always makes sense.
"He would possibly have thought, 'This is too early for me and I need more experience before I take on a big job like Villa'.
"But if he feels he is ready, then go for it. It's a great chance at a club that was almost relegated this season.
"So maybe the expectations aren't that big and the upside is massive if he can succeed.
"He's played attractive, fluent, passing football in Norway, and it's a Villa side that are a bit jaded, in a need of an energy injection.
"I think he can do that because of his personality and the style of football he wants to play."


The downside, however, is Solskjaer's long-stated ambition to one day manage United, which would imply that Villa would be nothing more than a stepping stone.
Thorstvedt added: "I know his dream is to end up managing Manchester United one day, but he has to take it step by step.
"But if he can take on Villa and do well, the road to Man United will be a lot quicker than he might have anticipated."
Former Villa star Carew believes Solskjaer is an ideal candidate to lead the midlands club out of the doldrums.
Carew, who spent four years with Villa, scoring 52 goals in 133 appearances, said: "This would be a fantastic job for Ole Gunnar to have.
"He has the mentality and respect from players he needs to succeed, and I think Villa will work really well under his leadership.
"Everything suggests Solskjaer can have a great managerial career in England."
Villa fans have so far welcomed the link to Solskjaer, with 86% from nearly 600 votes on one internet forum giving their approval.

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Brendan Rodgers: Rebuffed Reds approach

RODGERS REBUFFS REDS APPROACH

Swansea have confirmed that manager Brendan Rodgers has rejected an approach from Liverpool to discuss the managerial vacancy at Anfield.
Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are searching for a new manager after sacking Kenny Dalglish on Wednesday, and have already had an approach to speak to Wigan manager Roberto Martinez accepted.
FSG were also known to be keen to speak to Rodgers, but a Swansea statement read: "Swansea City can confirm that an approach from Liverpool FC to speak to manager Brendan Rodgers was officially received by chairman Huw Jenkins on Friday morning.
"The club is pleased to confirm that Brendan has declined the current opportunity to speak to the Anfield club about the vacant position."
The statement continued: "The Swansea manager is currently working hard to strengthen the squad in readiness for the new Barclays Premier League campaign.


"The club will make no further comment at this stage."
Rodgers, who signed a new three-and-half-year deal in February, has previously been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham after making a huge impression by guiding Swansea to an 11th-place finish in their maiden Premier League campaign.
The Welsh club rounded off their season by beating Liverpool 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium, a fixture which proved to be Dalglish's last in charge of the Reds.
Swansea's attractive possession style of play also won former Reading and Watford manager Rodgers plenty of admirers, and chairman Huw Jenkins has admitted the Swans will have to become use to their boss being linked with other clubs.
And it says much about the Northern Irishman's burgeoning reputation that he was among the bookmakers' favourites to take over at Anfield, along with the likes of former Swans' boss Martinez, Andre Villas-Boas, Frank Rijkaard and Didier Deschamps.
But the decision to reject an approach from one of the British game's traditional powers represents a major boost to the Welsh side as they look to build on a promising start to life in the top flight.


Despite the speculation linking him with other clubs, Rodgers has always insisted he is committed to Swansea.
After being linked with Tottenham in February, he said: "The most important thing for me is to have peace and satisfaction in my job, I don't know where else other than Swansea that I can be as happy as I am.
"If speculation comes with me doing the job well then I am flattered and honoured. However, this is the place I want to be, hopefully I can be here for the duration of my contract, that's my aim.
"I am already at a top club, Swansea is a top club. It might not be in the Champions League and, at this moment in time, challenging for trophies, but in my own mind I am at a top club.


"This is a club that is run fantastically well, I get the opportunity to manage this club how I want to and do everything here.
"I am 39 years of age. I hope to prove myself over a long period and my only concentration is on Swansea City."
Rodgers is due to fly out to Austria this weekend as he gets the chance to spend four days with world and European champions Spain at their pre-Euro 2012 training camp in Schruns, before heading to New York to take in Wales' friendly with Mexico.
Rodgers is also to hold talks with Tottenham over taking defender Steven Caulker on another season-long loan, while Swansea are thought to be edging closer to agreeing a permanent move for Gylfi Sigurdsson after the Hoffenheim midfielder's stunning loan spell.

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Fabio Capello: Linked with Chelsea role

CAPELLO CHELSEA LINK PLAYED DOWN

Fabio Capello's son and lawyer, Pierfilippo, insists that his father is not in talks with Chelsea.
Capello junior has revealed that the former England coach was close to a move to China.
However, Marcello Lippi was appointed manager of Guangzhou - who Capello had been talking to.
Capello has also been strongly linked with taking charge at Stamford Bridge in recent days, but this has now been denied.


Asked about Chelsea, Pierfilippo told TuttoMercato: "Unfortunately, these are just wonderful inventions by newspapers.
"A future in China the same as (Marcello) Lippi? My father was already close to the same club (Guangzhou), then it all came to nothing."
He did though insist that they would not exclude any option in the future.
"Any possibility cannot be excluded, as long as the project is successful and exciting," he insisted.

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Grant Holt: Looking to leave Carrow Road

NORWICH REJECT HOLT TRANSFER REQUEST

Norwich have rejected a transfer request from striker Grant Holt, it is understood.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a superb first season in the top flight with the Canaries, where he won the player of the year award for the third successive season.
Holt impressed so much there had been suggestions of an England call-up, but he was not named in Roy Hodgson's squad for Euro 2012 and has today dropped a bombshell at Carrow Road.
The striker has become a fans' favourite at the club since joining from Shrewsbury for a reported fee of £400,000 in July 2009.
Holt helped the East Anglian side to the npower League One title in his first season at the club, netting 30 goals in 44 appearances.
He continued to score regularly in the npower Championship and helped Paul Lambert's side secure back-to-back to promotions, earning them a place in the Barclays Premier League after a six-year absence.


Holt's performance saw him rewarded with a new three-year deal at Carrow Road ahead of the 2011/12 season, where he shone and hit 17 goals.
However, the talisman has now handed in a transfer request and could be set for a move to pastures new.
The news follows speculation linking manager Paul Lambert with a move away from the club.
The Scot is considered one of the hottest managerial talents in the country and has been linked with the vacant managerial positions at Aston Villa and Liverpool.

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Park Ji-Sung: Hoping to stay at Old Trafford

PARK WANTS MAN UTD STAY

Park Ji-Sung has reiterated his desire to finish his career at Manchester United, despite struggling to hold down a regular place this season.
The South Korean midfielder made just 17 appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson's side during 2011/12, and is yet to be offered a new contract, despite having just 12 months left on his current deal.


But the 31-year-old, who joined the club from PSV Eindhoven in 2005, wants to stay at Old Trafford.
"I want to retire at United," he said. "But what I want does not always translate to reality."
Park finished the season without a winners' medal for the first time since he moved to United. But he is not going to dwell on a disappointing year.
"I want to forget the past and think about what I have to do in the future."