Cheekbones, or James Milner as he is also known has had a busy summer. I was lucky enough to spend some quality time with him in South Africa which was nice. Despite both playing for Aston Villa we don’t get much of a chance to hangout. Cheekbones tends to hang out with the ‘cool’ guys like Carew, Gabby and Ash, they always go to fun places like the strip club and McDonalds. It’s not like they don’t ask me to go with them, it’s just if I did my wife would hit me. Anyhow, Cheekbones has had a lot of speculation around him, will he or won’t he move to Manchester City. Well, if there is one thing I am an expert on it is moving clubs, I am such a hot commodity (though for some reason my transfer fees keep going down, financial crisis has truly hurt us all). Since he can never hear me when I talk to him in the locker room (tip for Man City medical staff, I think he has bad hearing so maybe check that during the medical), I will take this forum to offer my advice. Cheekbones, Aston Villa already has a small squad and by you leaving it improves my chances of playing regular first team football, so I think you should take this opportunity. After all, sitting on the bench isn’t all that bad and at least you still get paid! That’s all for now, but stay tuned to the Subs Bench for my thoughts as the new season goes into full swing.
Emile Heskey
Matt Wooding by .
England
Titus Bramble today completed his move from Wigan to Sunderland on a three-year deal in a deal believed to be worth £1million.
Bolton Wanderers are on the verge of landing the highly-rated Real Madrid teenager Marcos Alonso.The 18-year-old defender will undergo a medical at the Reebok Stadium this weekend before moving to Owen Coyle’s side in a £1.6million deal.
According to ESPNsoccernet sources, Benfica midfielder Ramires will join Chelsea next week in a £20 million deal.
Manchester United have agreed terms with defender Nemanja Vidic on a new “long-term” contract with the club, chief executive David Gill has confirmed to MUTV.
Europe
Olympiacos have completed the transfer of Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera in a deal worth £3.3 million.
Spanish club Villarreal have been informed by Europe’s football governing body UEFA that they will replace fellow Primera Division club Real Mallorca in the Europa League in 2010-11. Mallorca were disqualified from the Europa League on Thursday by UEFA, who stated that financial factors were the reasons for the expulsion.
France have suspended their entire 23 man World Cup squad for one game, meaning none of them will be eligible for selection for the upcoming friendly against Norway. Laurent Blanc had requested the suspension to the French federation as he attempts to rebuild the team after the disastrous World Cup campaign.
South America
Fluminense coach Muricy Ramalho has confirmed he expects to be named as Dunga’s replacement as Brazil boss. The Brazilian football federation is expected to make a formal announcement later today.
England
Ashley Young has hinted that he might sign a new deal at Villa Park. The winger told Sky Sports, “If the contract talks are put forward to me, then of course I will sit down and talk.”
Tottenham have become the first Premier League club to ban vuvuzelas from their own ground ahead of the new season. West Ham, Arsenal, Birmingham & Sunderland have all followed suit.
Wigan Athletic midfielder Olivier Kapo is on the verge of leaving the Latics and moving to an unnamed French side. Martinez told the Wigan Observer: “Olivier has expressed a desire to play in France and we will not try and change his mind.”
A major row has erupted over Martin Jol’s move from Ajax to Fulham. Soccernet is reporting that the Dutch club have refused to discuss any compensation for the loss of their manager.
Liverpool have a £5 million deal agreed for Rangers defender Danny Wilson. 18 year old Wilson had been linked with a move to Anfield for months and will cost Liverpool an initial fee of £2 million with various add-ons taking the total possible outlay to £5 million.
Europe
Harry Kewell has revealed that his special relationship with Galatasaray’s passionate fans and attack-minded coach Frank Rijkaard were behind his decision to snub a host of other offers and remain in Turkey for one more season. The 31-year-old Australia star rejected overtures from three English Premier League clubs, the Bundesliga, Japan, Korea, the UAE and a ‘mind-boggling’ approach from Gold Coast United to extend his stay in Istanbul.
UEFA will decide on Thursday if Spanish side Mallorca will be allowed to take part in the 2010-11 Europa League due to continued financial issues surrounding the club.
Sebastian Giovinco will leave Juventus in the summer after not being guaranteed first-team football, according to the player’s agent. “It is normal that the boy wants to play,” Andrea D’Amico told Sky Italia. ”His desire was to do it at Juventus, but if the plans of the coach don’t involve him, it is necessary that he leaves and plays elsewhere”.
Arsenal is believed to have agreed a fee with Shakhtar Donetsk for the Eduardo. The Croatian was missing from the squad that flew out to Austria on Monday for the club’s pre-season training camp to allow him to hold talks with Shakhtar.
AC Milan has confirmed the signing of defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Genoa. The 22 year old is said to have cost around €5 million. Milan has also allowed Gianmarco Zigoni, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Rodney Strasser to join Genoa on a co-ownership arrangement as part of the deal.
MLS
Chivas USA captain Jonathan Bornstein will join Tigres of the Mexican First Division following the 2010 MLS season.
Liverpool’s first bosman transfer of the season came in the form of Milan Jovanovic from Standard Liege. Many people had tipped him to be the new number ten and they were correct as it was announced on the website this morning.
“The number has previously been worn by Anfield legends like John Barnes, Terry McDermott, Jan Molby, Luis Garcia and John Toshack.”
Certainly if Michael Owen hadn’t joined Manchester United last year then he would be included in this ‘legendary’ list? Luis Garcia is a legend, but not on the level that Owen is. Was it a shot?
Zach Lawton by .
It’s episode #53 of TSB podcast and Matt and Zach discuss the last happenings in Europe and at home. Joe Cole joins up Liverpool but was it the right move and did Liverpool offer to much? TFC has a TFC’esque failure away at Philly and we try and convince you to watch Canada play Peru September 4th.
Enjoy!
England
Joe Cole has signed for Liverpool with a four year deal believed to be worth £90,000-a-week pending a medical.
Arsenal striker Eduardo is on the verge of leaving Emirates Stadium for Shakhtar Donetsk in a £6 million deal, according to reports in the British and Croatian press.
Aberdeen are hoping to sign free agent former Aston Villa and Derby County midfielder Lee Hendrie after the 33-year-old was released by the Rams at the end of the last Championship season. A statement on Aberdeen’s official website said, “English midfielder Lee Hendrie has arrived in Aberdeen with a view to potentially signing for the Dons.”
Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa and Fulham’s Paul Konchesky are left-back targets for Liverpool according to numerous reports in England.
Europe
West Bromwich Albion midfielder Borja Valero has completed a season-long loan move to Villarreal with a view to a permanent deal.
England
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his ‘concern’ at Owen Hargreaves’ ongoing knee problems.
Canadian striker Simeon Jackson has signed a two year deal at Championship club Norwich after completing his move from Gillingham.
Emiliano Insua is to hold talks with Fiorentina after Liverpool agreed a fee to sell the defender to the Italian club. An offer reported to be in the region of £5million, has been accepted.
Europe
Barcelona has completed the signing of Brazilian wing-back Adriano on a four-year contract from Sevilla.
Deportivo La Coruna have been reported to the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) for money owed to midfielder Sergio Gonzalez and their former striker Sebastian Taborda, and failure to pay up could see the Galician side relegated.
Palermo has completed the signing of Argentinean defender Santiago Garcia from Rosario Central. The 22 year old signed a five-year deal after joining the club for an undisclosed fee.
MLS
Reports out of Mexico indicate Nery Castillo will join Chicago as its new DP.
Taylor Twellman has called on New England fans to be patient in the clubs search for a DP. He tweeted, “to all @NERevolution fans. Be Patient. Using the DP slot doesn’t necessarily guarantee success so put your trust with the Krafts. Trust me. If @NERevolution use the DP it will 1) make sense on field and 2)be the right off-field player. Our time will come.”
Asia
New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz will return to Australia days after moving to Chinese club Shandong Luneng. Smeltz decided after five days in China it would be near impossible for his wife and his two children to settle. A Football Federation Australia source reportedly said the International Transfer Clearance for Smeltz was never dispatched, leaving him free to re-join Gold Coast United.
Well, what an honour! I worked really hard in South Africa, not only during the last month, but in the years after I announced the World Cup would indeed be coming to Africa. I did my best to touch South Africans right across the country, but to receive such an honourable reward was completely unexpected. I have to say though, I was a little surprised that only the bellend got the acknowledgement and not all of me. I realise that most of my diplomatic relations were handled by little Sepp, and it is true that he does do most of my thinking, but football is a team game and I feel it is wrong to single out individuals in a team performance. Still, being awarded the Golden Balls is great! This whole ordeal makes me wonder though, little Sepp thinks it would be a good idea to experiment with technology, maybe I should listen to what he has to say?
Ouch! Who kicked that?
-General by .
England
West Ham are poised to confirm the signings of Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne and Mexican winger Pablo Barrera. Barrera represented Mexico at the World Cup and will join the club from Pumas UNAM in a £4 million deal. He has agreed a four-year contract with the Hammers. Meanwhile, a source has told Soccernet: “The deal for Piquionne is 99% done.”
Inter Milan have rejected a €25 million bid from Manchester City for striker Mario Balotelli, according to reports in Italy.
Several Premiership clubs have targeted Celtic winger Aiden McGeady, who is ready to leave the Bhoys. Celtic boss Neil Lennon has already said he fears losing the Ireland international. Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is a long-term admirer of the 26-year-old having managed him at Parkhead and he has the funds to match Celtic’s £6 million valuation. However, he will face fierce competition from Everton, Tottenham and city rivals Birmingham City.
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon will not be fit for the start of the new campaign after fracturing a bone in his arm during pre-season training.
Skysports.com understands West Ham have agreed a deal to sign Portsmouth defender Tal Ben-Haim. Ben Haim was left behind as Portsmouth travelled to America for a pre-season tour so that he could sort his future out.
Rio Ferdinand named Ryan Giggs the best player in Premier League history ahead of Eric Cantona and Thierry Henry after a twitter debate
Europe
Saint-Etienne is set to complete the signing of US defender Carlos Bocanegra from fellow French club Stade Rennais. France Football reports that an amount in the region of €500,000 has been exchanged between the two clubs.
MLS
Major League Soccer chiefs have no intention of allowing Landon Donovan to head to Europe on a permanent deal. “He’s become a real football hero,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber. “MLS needs football heroes, and we have a great American football hero playing for us in LA.” (It’s really sad Donovan’s career has come to this I think)
Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts has hinted that AC Milan forward Ronaldinho will be joining MLS side L.A. Galaxy imminently. “I expect, by the way, Major League Soccer to make another announcement in the next couple of days about another very big world superstar coming to our league,” Checketts told radio station KALL 10 Sports.“Not to our team, I don’t want to mislead anybody, but another one of our teams is going to make a major investment and that will be a big announcement in the next couple of days.”I would imagine that this guy’s coming to L.A. and you’ll all recognise who he is.” When asked if the mystery man was Brazilian, he replied: “I think he might.”
DC United have released former MLS MVP Luciano Emilio after he failed to make an impact this season in four appearances.
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