Latest Football Transfer News 29-06-2012

[<<ELVIS>>]

Dos Santos leaving Spurs

Mexican playmaker heading for White Hart Lane exit
Last Updated: June 29, 2012 4:24pm

Giovani dos Santos: Has been granted permission by Mexico to complete summer switch




Mexico's Olympic coach, Luis Fernando Tena, has revealed Giovani dos Santos is close to completing a move away from Tottenham Hotspur.
The talented playmaker has endured a frustrating time at White Hart Lane since signing from Barcelona in the summer of 2008.
A nightmare spell in England has seen him struggle to hold down a regular role, preventing him from making the desired impact.
With first team opportunities thin on the ground, Dos Santos has taken in numerous loan spells.
The 23-year-old has spent time with Ipswich Town, Racing Santander and Galatasaray, allowing him to get much-needed game time.
Contract

It has been reported that Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are keen to take him back to Spain this summer, and it appears that a switch may be on the cards.
"He asked us if he could complete the transfer from Tottenham to another team," Tena told mediotempo.com after granting Dos Santos permission to leave Mexico's pre-Olympic training camp.
"He has to go to sign papers, he has to go to get them sorted out.
"The most important thing is his mental state. We never had a doubt when he told us (he wanted to go back to Europe). We told him: 'Go. Do it.'
"He told us the name of the club. I can't say which club, but for us it is much better if he is relaxed, that he gets his contract sorted and that he comes back physically and mentally at his best level, content and knowing that he is going to play."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Royals wages lured Pog - agent

Agent claims money was clincher in impending Royals move
Last Updated: June 29, 2012 5:15pm

Pavel Pogrebnyak: Thought to be on edge of Reading move




Pavel Pogrebnyak has chosen to join Reading over staying at Fulham because they were unwilling to match the big-money wages offered by the Royals, according to the striker's agent.
The 28-year-old is on the verge of joining the Premier League newcomers, recently taken over by Russian business tycoon Anton Zingarevich, after reportedly undergoing a medical at the Madejski Stadium this week.
It is thought the deal hinges on the frontman acquiring a work permit.
Russia international Pogrebynak made a big impact at Craven Cottage after joining from Stuttgart for the second half of last season, scoring six goals in 12 appearances, including a hat-trick against Wolves.
But while his agent, Dr Oliver Wendt, says the frontman was happy in West London, he claims Fulham offered him a less appealing wage package than their promoted rivals.
Wages

Wendt told the Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle: "There are maybe a number of reasons why we have decided to move to Reading, but in the end, the difference in wages was too great and we could not ignore it.
"We did go back to Fulham, but they were not prepared to improve their offer.
"He was happy at Fulham and had a really great time there. Maybe he could have signed a new deal, but we have to consider the amount being offered at Reading."


Wendt claims Pogrebnyak is enjoying life in England and is pleased to be picking up regular game-time.
He added: "The intention was always just to play regularly again, to ensure he was picked for the Euros, as he was not starting enough games in Stuttgart.
"It worked out well for him. He and his family have enjoyed life in England."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Redknapp tried to sign Balotelli
Last Updated: June 29 2012, 17:47 BST

Harry Redknapp has revealed he tried to sign Mario Balotelli while he was Tottenham manager and has predicted a great future for the Italian.


Mario Balotelli: Has a fan in Harry Redknapp


Balotelli guided Italy into the final of Euro 2012 by scoring both goals in the 2-1 victory over Germany.
The 21-year-old is a volatile character and had a turbulent season although he ultimately secured a Barclays Premier League winners' medal with Manchester City.
Redknapp said: "You never know what you're going to get with Mario Balotelli but one thing is certain - he is a major talent. He stunned Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-final and his second goal was fantastic.


"I actually tried to sign him for Tottenham before he went to Manchester City. I'd admired him for a while and I went over to Italy to watch him play. I was impressed and I met up with him too.
"We wanted him on a loan deal but his club weren't keen and it never happened. Shame because he's definitely got it and, at only 21-years-old, he'll be terrorising defenders for many seasons to come."
England were beaten by Italy at the quarter-final stage in a game which starkly displayed their deficiencies, specifically an inability to retain possession and inferior technical ability.
For Redknapp footballing culture in this country has to change if England are ever to challenge.
He told Sky Sports News: "We did okay. Roy (Hodgson) came in at a difficult time.
"We came out of the group which wasn't the most difficult group in my opinion and then didn't play very well against Italy.
"I don't think anyone expected a lot more but I still think we've got players in this country that are capable of doing a lot better and hopefully Roy will take them on now.


"He's got time to work with the team but I think it's long term.
"Unless someone sorts it out and we start playing and producing people that are technically better and are willing to play from the back and receive the ball and play like Italy played against us where they passed the ball - like the top teams in the world - they are never going to improve.
"The problem is they can set up Burton and have the kids there and work on their skills and on their technique. The problem is they then go to football clubs and it depends how the clubs play.
"If the clubs are not going to play it's no good having somebody who is going to be the new (Andrea) Pirlo and that kid goes to a club where they are lumping the ball from back to front 60 yards.


"Unless they are going to play through these people and they are going to encourage more and more teams to play football then we are always going to have that problem."
Redknapp, Betfair's football ambassador for Euro 2012, also expressed surprise that David Beckham has not been selected for the Great Britain team for the Olympics.
"I have to say that I would have picked him," he said.
"David has been a fantastic servant to all his clubs and a tremendous ambassador for football.
"He trained with Tottenham in January 2011 and we looked at signing him on loan when the American season ended. Putting him in the Olympics squad would not have hurt.
"Fair play to Stuart. He's always been his own man, which is what you have to be if you want to make it as a top manager. It's up to him to select the best squad at his disposal, that's what he believes he'll do."

[<<ELVIS>>]

Inter exit for Lucio

Brazilian wished a fond farewell from Giuseppe Meazza
Last Updated: June 29, 2012 7:38pm



Lucio: Won six major trophies, including the Champions League, while at Inter Milan

Veteran defender Lucio's glittering career at Inter Milan has been brought to an end after it was agreed to cancel the final two years of his contract by mutual consent.
The 34-year-old Brazilian World Cup winner joined Inter in 2009 and went on to play 136 matches, scoring five goals.
In his time at Inter, Lucio also won one Scudetto, two Coppa Italias, one Super Coppa, the UEFA Champions League and the Club World Cup.
"Internazionale announces that the documents relative to the cancellation of Lucio's contract by mutual consent have been deposited in the offices of Lega Serie A," said a club statement.
"Everyone at FC Internazionale wishes Lucio and his family a fond farewell."
Fenerbahce denial

On Thursday, Turkish club Fenerbahce were moved to post an official statement on their website denying they wanted to sign Lucio.
Prior to moving to Italy, Lucio enjoyed a successful career in Germany, where he played for both Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
Lucio scored in the 2002 Champions League final for Leverkusen, although they lost the match to Real Madrid.
With Bayern, he won three Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokal crowns and three Supercups.
Lucio has 105 caps for his country, and a 2002 World Cup winners' medal to go with Confederations Cup glory in 2005 and 2009.