Latest Football Transfer News 29-06-2012

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Latest Football Transfer News 29-06-2012



Sao Paulo hold Denilson hope
Last Updated: June 29 2012, 8:59 BST



Sao Paulo director of football Adalberto Baptista is to speak with Arsenal about the possibility of extending Denilson's loan spell at the Brazilian club.


Denilson: Could be set to extend his loan spell with Sao Paulo

Denilson returned to his homeland last summer on a year-long loan deal, but it had looked as though he would be coming back to Emirates Stadium for the start of the new Premier League season after Sao Paulo recently admitted they could not afford his transfer fee.
The 24-year-old had struggled to hold down a regular starting role with Arsenal before he was loaned out but the Gunners are now believed to want him back after some impressive performances for Sao Paulo.
Sao Paulo are nevertheless hopeful he will be allowed to stay on another temporary arrangement and talks are set to take place in the near future.


15. Denilson

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Vice-president Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes told Globo Esporte: "Arsenal's staff want him to return but we are waiting for [director of football] Adalberto Baptista to have talks with them.
"Maybe we will manage to extend the loan for six more months or even another year."
Asked about Arsenal's view on Denilson, De Jesus Lopes added: "They liked his performances, they liked Denilson's development. That's why they want him to return."

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Spurs closing on Villas-Boas
Last Updated: June 29 2012, 8:22 BST

Tottenham could make Andre Villas-Boas their new manager as early as this weekend.


Andre Villas-Boas: Closing on Spurs role


Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is ready to give the Portuguese a second crack at Premier League management just four months after the end of his short spell at Chelsea.
Villas-Boas is as short as 1/14 to replace Harry Redknapp, and Tottenham cleared the decks for his arrival by confirming the departures of coaches Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond on Thursday.
Gareth Bale's decision to extend his deal will be welcome, but the former Porto boss has a fight on his hands to keep Luka Modric.


Modric is again being linked with Real Madrid and is on record saying he wants to leave for a club in the Champions League.
But, according to former Real star Guti, the Croatian is not good enough for the Bernabeu.
"He hasn't even been the key man for Tottenham," Guti said. "I don't think he's done enough to play for Madrid."

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Albrighton given all-clear
Last Updated: June 29 2012, 8:42 BST

Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton has recovered from a thigh problem and will be fully fit for the start of pre-season training on July 5.


Marc Albrighton: Recovered from a thigh problem


Albrighton suffered the same setback on three separate occasions last season and missed the finale of the Barclays Premier League campaign.
But he has been given the thumbs-up by Villa's medical team after having the injury checked during the summer break.
Albrighton said: "I am fit and I am raring to go. I strained my thigh three times in three months which was really frustrating.
"But I have come in during the summer to make sure it is healing well and looking good.
"The physios are very positive about it and say it is progressing well."


Albrighton is keen to recapture the form of his debut season in 2010-2011.
He said: "I had a good first season but the second wasn't so good. It's a huge season ahead for me.
"I'm looking to impress early on and get the confidence which will take me on for the remainder of the season.
"There is a new gaffer (Paul Lambert) and I'm relishing the chance to try and impress and the challenges ahead."

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Terriers move for Norwood

Huddersfield hopeful of landing United youngster
Last Updated: June 29, 2012 8:16am

Oliver Norwood: Set for move to Championship after leaving Manchester United




Huddersfield Town have opened talks with Oliver Norwood and now appear in pole position to land the Manchester United youngster, Sky Sports understands.
The 21-year-old midfielder has never played a first-team game at Old Trafford and is now ready to leave the club after his contract expired.
He has already held talks with a number of teams and was offered a deal by Barnsley, but their Yorkshire neighbours Huddersfield have now made their move.


The Northern Ireland international is now expected to make a decision shortly on his future with the Terriers confident they have done enough to persuade him to join them.
United will be due compensation for Norwood as he is under 23.

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Magpies in Twente talks
Last Updated: June 29 2012, 11:07 BST



Sky Sports understands that a delegation from Newcastle United have arrived in Holland to open talks with FC Twente over Luuk de Jong and Douglas.

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Luuke de Jong: Holland striker wanted by Newcastle

Newcastle have already seen one bid of €10million (£8million) for de Jong rejected by Twente and they have now reported to upped that to €12million (£10milion).
However, sources close to the deal have confirmed to Sky Sports that Twente are standing firm over de Jong and want in excess of €15million for the Dutch international striker.
Despite their stance, Newcastle have dispatched a delegation of managing Derek Lambias and secretary Lee Charnley to Holland to open talks with the Eredivisie club with the hope of striking a deal.

• Profiles

• Luuk de Jong
• Douglas

De Jong is their main point of interest, but it is also believed they will continue talks over Brazilian-born defender Douglas, who has been on their radar for a number of months.
Newcastle are pushing hard for De Jong with German side Borussia Monchengladbach also very keen, although reports suggesting they have already sealed a deal have been dismissed by Twente.

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Swansea fail in Duplan bid
Last Updated: June 29 2012, 9:50 BST

FC Utrecht claim they have rejected a bid from Swansea City for Edouard Duplan.


Duplan: Swansea bid rejected


The winger has one year left on his contract at the Liberty Stadium and the Eredivisie club previously announced they were expecting an approach from the Swans for the Frenchman.
And the Dutch club's general director Wilko van Schaik, while admitting the offer has materialised, says Swansea did not meet Utrecht's asking price for the 29-year-old.

"Swansea made us a bid. We rated it as too low," said van Schaik.
"We can use the money but that is not to say we give away our players for bargain fees."
Utrecht would have to sell Duplan, who was voted the club's best player last term, this summer or next January if they want to avoid a Bosman departure.

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Yakubu makes China move
Last Updated: June 29 2012, 11:25 BST


Yakubu Aiyegbeni has agreed a switch to Chinese outfit Guangzhou Fuli, bringing to an end his time with Blackburn Rovers.


Yakubu Aiyegbeni: Heading for China


The 29-year-old striker becomes the latest high-profile figure to head for the Far East, following Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka's arrival at Shanghai Shenhua.
Yakubu is looking forward to experiencing a different culture and footballing way of life after nine years in England with Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester City (loan) and Blackburn.


"There were many clubs interested according to the media, but the only people who made direct contact have been Guangzhou R&F," he said.
"Many will ask why China? The truth is there is not much to prove after scoring almost a century of goals in the (Premier) league - considered as one of the best in the world.
"I thank Blackburn Rovers, the fans, fellow players for making my one season there seem like a decade.
"I appreciate their support and I hope the club will come back again into the top-flight as soon as possible."


8. Yakubu

Yakubu had been looking to leave Blackburn following their relegation out of the Premier League last season and insists money played no part in his decision to head for China.
"Money cannot buy you happiness and what I have found from the people in China is love, happiness, sincerity and warmth and I can't wait to get started here," he said.
"They are starting an unbelievable football programme here and it's nice to be a part of it.

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Lavezzi close to PSG switch

Napoli striker's agent expects deal to be done on Monday
Last Updated: June 29, 2012 11:52am


Ezequiel Lavezzi: Expected to seal move to PSG in the next few days




Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi is set to complete a move to Paris St Germain early next week, according to his agent.
Lavezzi has been strongly linked with a move away from Naples for some time, with Manchester City and Inter Milan also among the clubs reportedly chasing the 27-year-old striker.
It emerged earlier in June that PSG were poised to sign the Argentina international, before he admitted that he was in the dark about the finer points of the deal.
Reports in Italy claim PSG have offered Lavezzi a five-year contract and a salary of €5million (£4m) per season.

Explain
"We hope that the contract will be signed on Monday," Lavezzi's agent Alejandro Mazzoni told Sky Italia.

"There are still a few minor details to be discussed by both clubs. Everything should be ready by Monday or Tuesday.
"It's difficult for Lavezzi to say goodbye to Napoli and once the deal will be completed, he will explain his decision to leave."
Lavezzi, whose contract runs to 2015, joined Napoli from San Lorenzo in 2007 and played a key role in helping the club re-establish themselves as a major force in Serie A.

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Laudrup set to trim squad

Swansea manager does not want to carry more than 22 players
Last Updated: June 29, 2012 9:37am

Michael Laudrup: Believes the ideal squad size is 22 players




A number of Swansea players could be heading for the exit door this summer as new manager Michael Laudrup wants to have a squad of 22.
There are currently 34 professionals at the Liberty Stadium, although nine of those have progressed from the youth ranks and have limited first-team experience.
Laudrup insisted at his first news conference that he wanted to have a close look at the squad he had inherited and would not be making wholesale changes, but it appears there could be several departures.


"Michael only wants to carry 22 players, so we need to free up space," chairman Huw Jenkins is quoted as saying in the Daily Express.
Erik Larsen, Laudrup's long-term assistant who will be joining him in Wales for the start of the new season, says it makes sense to have a streamlined squad.
While Larsen insists Laudrup will be flexible and add to the squad if needed, he believes that trimming the playing staff to 22 will ensure standards remain high.
"Michael thinks that it is the best number in terms of how to get the best out of training every day," Larsen told the South Wales Evening Post.
Appropriate

"It's a question of quality, intensity, how to organise the training and how things should be done. It's entirely practical.

"There will always be some restrictions if you are too few, but, especially in smaller clubs, if you have one too many people, it decreases the quality.
"You must always have high-quality training to prepare you for matches.
"It's the number he thinks is most appropriate, but it's not set in stone.
"It's not the case that there's only room for 22. These things develop so if someone gets injured you can add more."

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Shrews seek cash for Collins
Last Updated: June 29, 2012 12:17pm



Collins: Made Robins switch

James Collins' switch from Shrewsbury to Swindon is likely to be settled by tribunal according to the player's manager Graham Turner.
Striker Collins was top scorer for the League One new boys last season, but decided to join fellow promotion winners Swindon after rejecting a new contract at the Greenhouse Meadow and because the player is under the age of 24 Shrewsbury are entitled to compensation.


"We've started talking about a fee, but we've had no correspondence from them other than me chasing it up earlier this week," Turner told the club's official website.
"We're awaiting an offer, what we're looking for, and I would think the chances of it finishing up at a tribunal are quite high."
"We obviously value James as a young player with stacks of potential. He's already a proven goalscorer at league level so we'll wait and see what Swindon's reactions are to the situation."