Latest Transfer Update at 24-05-2012

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Thiago Silva: Won't be sold

MILAN DETERMINED TO KEEP THIAGO SILVA

AC Milan will resist the temptation to sell sought-after defender Thiago Silva this summer, according to club vice-president Adriano Galliani.
The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from the San Siro, with top European clubs - including Manchester City - keen to acquire the 27-year-old's services.
"We will do all that is possible and impossible to resist temptation," Galliani said to Gazzetta dello Sport. "Thiago Silva is happy to remain in Milan.
"He has a contract until 2016."
Silva is also a reported target of Barcelona and Paris St Germain.


"There is a true siege for him," Galliani said. "It seems every club wants him, rich clubs and their owners."
Silva will be in action in London this summer, with the central defender set to play at the Olympics with Brazil.
"Thiago asked and obtained the authorisation from us to go to the Olympics," Galliani said.
"We evaluated that it's better for us to have a player who is happy rather than unhappy."
Silva joined Milan in 2009 from Fluminense after previous unsuccessful spells in Europe with Porto and Dynamo Moscow.
He made 27 league appearances for Milan this season.


Galliani also revealed they club would not acquire the full rights of Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani or Argentinian striker Maxi Lopez.
The Rossoneri can exercise that option at the end of the month, but Galliani said: "Aquilani will not be bought at the end of May. We will see if we can find other solutions in June.
"For the time being, even though we are happy with him, we cannot buy Maxi Lopez."
Milan signed Aquilani from Liverpool on a season-long loan agreement last summer.


The 27-year-old made a total of 31 appearances for Milan this season.
Lopez, meanwhile, arrived at San Siro on loan from Serie A rivals Catania in January.
The 28-year-old, who recently announced his wish to remain at Milan, scored one goal in eight league appearances for Milan this season.

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Jonas Olsson: Could be on his way out at West Brom

OLSSON CONSIDERS WEST BROM EXIT

West Brom's Jonas Olsson has hinted he could be ready to look for a new challenge away from The Hawthorns.
The Sweden international is currently with his national side as he prepares for Euro 2012.
He has just over a year left on his current deal and told Baggies sporting director Dan Ashworth earlier this month he wanted to know who the new manager would be before signing an extension.
However, he has now admitted that after four years with the Black Country outfit he could be ready to move on.
"I have a year left and have started to think about the future," he told Expressen.
"I'm very happy with West Brom, the city, and like the way the club is going.


"At the same time, it would be fun to try something new, but we'll see what happens.
"I have been here for four years and feel that, if I am to move back to Sweden after my career, perhaps you shouldn't spend too much time in one place.
"If I were in Birmingham for seven or eight years, it will be harder to move back to Sweden when the time comes, so there are many factors to consider."
Olsson, who joined the club NEC Nijmegen in 2008 for less than £1million, has been linked with the likes of Tottenham, Aston Villa, Fulham, Everton, West Ham and Galatasaray.

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ROBERTO MARTINEZ 'IN LIVERPOOL TALKS'

Roberto Martinez took a small step closer to the vacant Liverpool manager's job after meeting with the club's owners in America today, according to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan.
The Spaniard is currently on a family holiday in the Caribbean but took a short flight to Miami where he was expected to meet Fenway Sports Group's top executives.
Martinez's current employer Whelan revealed details of the trip after speaking to his manager earlier.
"I got a phone call this morning and Roberto was on his way to America, he's flying down to Miami and is meeting Liverpool now," he told ESPN.
"I didn't ask him what he has decided to do but I told him I wanted it sorted out sooner rather than later."


Whelan added on Sky Sports News: "He has to listen to what they are offering. He is just doing what I gave him permission to do.
"This visit to America is a brief intrusion into his holiday but it is something he has to do."
Martinez has emerged as a front-runner after reports suggested former Porto and Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas had fallen out of the reckoning.
FSG have spent the last week since sacking manager Kenny Dalglish scouring the globe for a replacement.
Although their widespread trawl has attracted some criticism after a couple of knock-backs, it is part of the strategy they have chosen to implement as part of a re-organisation of the structure at Anfield which will see the appointment of a technical director above the new manager.


That approach has been criticised by Whelan, who added on ESPN: "My understanding is that Liverpool are seeking a final shortlist of six managers whom the owners would like to interview.
"I am amazed that they think they can do that, it sounds very much an American way of dealing with these issues in sport, but I would wonder how those six managers might feel."
The Wigan chairman also doubts Martinez's willingness to work under a technical director, although with a job the size of Liverpool the Spaniard may need some help addressing the scale of the workload.
"A little bit will have to do with the attitude of the owners because I don't think they fully understand the game of football in England," he told Sky Sports.
"Roberto likes total control, from the youngsters at 16 to the first team.
"If he doesn't get that I don't think he will take the job."
He added on ESPN: "My information is that the new Liverpool manager will not be given full responsibility of the football department.
"The set-up on the football side goes well beyond the norm even with a director of football.
"There will be somebody else signing players and they might not necessarily be the choice of the manager.


"My advice to Roberto is to think very carefully about this, but Liverpool are a big club and I hope that they remain one of the big clubs.
"I've asked Roberto to make his mind up as soon as possible. If we have to lose him I will move very quickly to appoint a successor as I have ideas.
"Hopefully he will stay with us but we will wait and see."
If the job is offered to him - and FSG are expected to interview other candidates - Whelan expects to be fully compensated.
"He signed an extension to his contract so Liverpool would have to buy out his contract," he said.
"You are into £2million to £3million minimum. Whatever the contract is worth I am sure Liverpool would honour that and buy it out."

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Eden Hazard: It will be Man City, Man United or Chelsea

EDEN HAZARD WEIGHS UP OPTIONS

Eden Hazard has confirmed he is heading to England and the role he is offered will be a key factor when he chooses between the Manchester giants and Champions League winners Chelsea.
Belgian forward Hazard, 21, is poised to leave French club Lille for an expensive transfer to the Barclays Premier League, where he has been coveted by several clubs.


He claims three of the biggest teams in the country are now waiting to hear if he will accept their approaches.
Hazard told Belgian news website HLN: "I do not know when I'll make a decision about my future club.
"It will anyway be Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea.
"The decision will depend on the amount of play I would see and the position where I would play.
"Not everyone can say that he can make a choice between the three top clubs."


Hazard's agent John Bico said this week that agreement on personal terms has been reached with all parties interested in the young Belgium international.
Lille, however, said at the start of the week that they had not received a firm bid for Hazard.
Belgium play Montenegro in Brussels on Friday and then take on England at Wembley on June 2, after which Hazard is set to announce his destination.

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Florent Malouda: French winger insists he wants to stay with Chelsea

MALOUDA INSISTS ON CHELSEA STAY

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda insists that he will remain with the English giants despite speculation linking him with a move out of Stamford Bridge this summer.
The France international won the FA Cup and the Champions League with the Blues this season and is keen on winning the Uefa Super Cup against Europa League winners Atletico Madrid in August.
"The European Super Cup and the Club World Cup are two competitions close to my heart," said Malouda.
"In five years at Chelsea, I have won five trophies, the ones that I came here to try and win. During the last two transfer windows, the club have said that I was not available for transfer."


Asked if that meant he still saw his future with Chelsea, Malouda replied: "Yes, and Chelsea know it."
"I knew at the beginning of the season I would not play all that often," he added. "This season has reminded of my first season at Chelsea.
"You have to accept it. I finished the previous campaign as Chelsea's leading scorer in the league and I started the next season on the bench.
"But I have had to prove myself in the past and always managed to impose myself."