Latest Football Transfer News 09-07-2012

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Solbakken - Club comes first

But Wolves boss not naive about prospect of losing best players
Last Updated: July 9, 2012 3:25pm


Stale Solbakken: Not ruling anything out but hoping to keep Wolves' best players


Wolves manager Stale Solbakken has insisted "the club must always come first" as speculation mounts that star names could leave Molineux.
Winger Matt Jarvis and forward Steven Fletcher have both been repeatedly linked with moves away from the club following relegation from the Premier League last season.
Wolves are under little financial pressure to sell and both Jarvis and Fletcher have three years remaining on their current deals.


But while Solbakken, who was appointed Wolves boss in May, wants the best deal for the club he is also aware of the realities of player power.
He told the Express and Star: "If you start shaping a team and then suddenly three or four players are gone, then you start at a disadvantage.
"The club must always come first and we have to see how we can cope with what comes in.
Open-minded

"You must not be naive. You have to be open-minded.
"You can't rule anything out - if suddenly there's an offer you can't turn down because it's the biggest opportunity, maybe that opportunity only comes once in a lifetime.
"You always have these situations and it would be naive to say 'he will never go, he will never go'.
"But it's also naive to say you can let your best players go and still compete for top six - that's also stupid."

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Augsburg secure Ottl signing

We've captured an experienced midfielder, says general manager
Last Updated: July 9, 2012 5:26pm


Andreas Ottl: Has left Hertha Berlin to sign for Augsburg


Former Bayern Munich midfielder Andreas Ottl has joined Augsburg on a two-year deal.
Ottl had spent last season at Hertha Berlin but the club were relegated from the Bundesliga after losing a play-off to Fortuna Dusseldorf and agreed to terminate the player's contract.
The 27-year-old former Germany under-21 international has signed until the summer of 2014 and is hoping to enjoy success with the Bavarian side.


"I am pleased to be at FC Augsburg and I am looking forward to helping the club to a good run of results in the new Bundesliga campaign," he told the club's official website.
"We will hopefully reach our goals in the new season."
Augsburg's general manager Manfred Paula has no doubts the club have acquired a talented individual.
"We have captured an experienced midfielder in Andrea Ottl," said Paula.
"He is still young enough to be on the very top of his game. He will strengthen our team with his skills and quality."
Ottl played more than 100 games for Bayern, twice winning the league and cup double with the club.

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Mancini signs new Man City deal
Last Updated: July 9 2012, 18:04 BST

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has agreed terms on a new five-year deal with the Barclays Premier League champions.



Mancini: Signs a new deal as Man City manager
The Italian, who had been linked with the vacant job as Russia boss, began discussions on a new deal at the end of last season and has committed to a long-term future at the Etihad Stadium.
A club statement read: "Manchester City Football Club today are pleased to announce that a new contract has been agreed with manager Roberto Mancini.


"The deal, which runs until the summer of 2017, follows the club's most successful season in more than four decades, which concluded in the most dramatic of circumstances in the team's thrilling 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers in May this year."
Former Inter Milan manager Mancini took over as City boss from Mark Hughes in December 2009.
In his first full season at the club he ended a 35-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup and also secured Champions League football with a third-place finish in the Premier League.
Last season he wrote his name into the club's history books by edging Manchester United in the closing seconds of the season to win a first league title in 44 years.


"I am delighted to be able to give all of my efforts to Manchester City for a further five years," he told www.mcfc.co.uk.
"The opportunity which exists to build on our recent success is enormous. Manchester City is a fantastic football club, from the owner, chairman, board and the executive team, through to the players, staff and fans.
"I am very much looking forward to the challenges and excitement ahead."


Interim CEO John MacBeath added: "Roberto's managerial credentials have been well proven in Europe for many years and in leading a team which has won the FA Cup and an unforgettable Barclays Premier League title in successive seasons, his ability to manage in the English domestic game is also undisputed.
"This new agreement allows Roberto to focus on the challenge of guiding a team which is capable not only of defending the Premier League title, but one which can compete for European honours."

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Kaka future in doubt

Chinese club Guangzhou say they have no plans to sign Brazilian
Last Updated: July 9, 2012 10:59pm


Kaka: Understood to be keen to leave Real Madrid, but will not be joining Guangzhou Evergrande


It remains uncertain where Kaka will be plying his trade next season after Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande dismissed speculation linking them with a move for the Real Madrid playmaker.
It had been reported that Kaka could be set for a switch to mega-rich Guangzhou, but they have already filled their quota of overseas players.


"We currently have seven foreign players for the season coming up and we have no plans to change any of them," club president Liu Yongzhou stated.
Fresh reports suggest that the Brazilian is set to ask Jose Mourinho to make his exit from Real Madrid an easy one to allow him to rejoin AC Milan.


Kaka is thought to be desperate to quit the Santiago Bernabeu but knows his options are limited as Los Merengues stick to their €25million (£19.8m) asking price.
The 30-year-old has also been linked with a move to England, with Tottenham a possible destination as part of a swap deal involving Luka Modric.