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Deschamps hints Lloris could leave France camp amid United talk
31 August 2015
France coach Didier Deschamps has indicated Hugo Lloris could be allowed to leave their camp to complete a transfer amid talk of a move to Manchester United.
Goalkeeper and captain Lloris is with the France squad as they prepare for friendlies with Portugal and Serbia, but has been linked with a switch from Tottenham to United, who are poised to lose David de Gea to Real Madrid.
The French Football Federation (FFF) permitted Monaco forward Anthony Martial to leave the squad in order to "travel to England to sign a contract with Manchester United" earlier on Monday.
And asked about Lloris, Deschamps said: "I have seen you announce that Hugo Lloris could leave [Clairefontaine].
"There is nothing. The transfer window closes tonight in France but in England, it closes tomorrow at 6pm. If there is any other case, I will do the same [as with Martial].
Liverpool have wrapped up a deal to sign promising Nigeria youth international Taiwo Awoniyi.
The 18-year-old striker had been playing with Imperial Academy in his homeland and has been sent straight out on loan to German second-tier outfit FSV Frankfurt.
"This is the biggest club in the world and I'm privileged to be here," he told the club's official website.
"I'll try to develop myself very well so that when I come back to Liverpool I'll be able to add value to the team.
"When I’m in the red shirt, I will always give my very best to make the fans happy."
West Brom have signed goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard on a free transfer from Manchester United.
The 31-year-old has signed a two-year deal at The Hawthorns, where he will link up with fellow former United players Ben Foster, Jonny Evans, James Chester and Darren Fletcher.
Denmark international Lindegaard told the club's official website: "Since moving to England I've been impressed with how well West Brom have done in the Premier League.
"I had a good chat with Tony Pulis - I must call him the 'gaffer' now - and he convinced me it would be a good move for me and the club.
"From there things moved very quickly. I was very keen to get it done so I can just concentrate on the thing that matters most, the football.
"I am very happy to join and hope I can make a big contribution this season."
Sunderland winger Emanuele Giaccherini has been allowed to leave the club to join Serie A outfit Bologna on loan.
With Dick Advocaat having bolstered his attacking options by signing Ola Toivonen and Fabio Borini in recent days - the former on loan - Italy international Giaccherini was likely to see his first-team chances limited.
And Bologna are now set to benefit from the 30-year-old's services as they bid to avoid relegation following their promotion back to the top flight.
Giaccherini has made 32 Premier League appearances for Sunderland since arriving from Juventus in 2013.
Former club-record signing Brown Ideye has left West Brom for Olympiacos after being shunted down the pecking order by Salomon Rondon and Rickie Lambert.
An estimated £10million was spent on the Nigeria striker just over a year ago when he moved to The Hawthorns from Dynamo Kiev, but he failed to fire in the Premier League, managing just four goals in 24 top-flight games.
His record fee was eclipsed when Rondon joined Tony Pulis' side from Zenit, and the Albion head coach confirmed earlier in the window that Ideye would be allowed to depart.
One striker who looks increasingly likely to remain at Albion is Saido Berahino, with West Brom rejecting two bids from Tottenham for the England Under-21 international, who has also seen a transfer request turned down.
Dynamo Kiev striker Dieumerci Mbokani has joined Norwich City on a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move.
The 29-year-old DR Congo international will move to Carrow Road subject to a work permit ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline.
Mbokani was prolific during a second spell at Anderlecht, where he won the Belgian Pro League title twice and the Golden Shoe award two years ago.
He has since scored 19 goals in 46 games for Dynamo and is now set to get his chance in the Premier League.
Norwich manager Alex Neil told the club's official website: "Dieumerci is going to give us competition at the top end of the pitch, and I think we've needed a bit of strengthening there.
"He's a big, strong number nine - he can take the ball in, he's mobile and he's a real threat in the box. We're hoping all of those things come together for him.
"He's got a good track record and he's played Champions League football, so I think it's an exciting signing for us."
The Spain international does not have a squad number at the Red Devils having angered Louis van Gaal last season but is available for selection should his manager require
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes has been included in Manchester United's Premier League squad despite seemingly being frozen out at Old Trafford.
The former Barcelona man was left out of United's pre-season tour of the USA after angering Louis van Gaal by refusing to play in an Under-21 match last season.
The Spain international was then stripped of his squad number and has not been included in the matchday squad for any of the Red Devils' six games this campaign.
Despite being linked with Besiktas, he remains with the 20-time English champions, though he was left out of their Champions League group stage squad.
Despite that, he will be available to play domestic football should Van Gaal require him this season after being named as one of 21 players registered to play in the Premier League.
He is joined by fellow goalkeepers Sergio Romero, Sam Johnstone and compatriot David de Gea, who himself is yet to make an appearance this term but could be reintroduced into the fold after his move to Real Madrid fell through.
Manchester United's Premier League squad in full
Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Sam Johnstone, Sergio Romero, Victor Valdes
Defenders: Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia, Guillermo Varela
Midfielders: Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ashley Young
Strikers: Will Keane, Wayne Rooney
The likes of Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and James Wilson are not included as clubs are not required to name players under the age of 21.
Adebayor left out of Tottenham Premier League and Europa League squads
Sep 3, 2015 19:30:58
The 31-year-old failed to make the cut at Spurs but transfer target Saido Berahino is named in West Brom's squad for the season
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been left out of the club's Premier League and Europa League squads for the 2015/16 season, reinforcing rumours that his time at White Hart Lane is coming to a close.
The 31-year-old Togo striker has fallen out of favour in North London, but remains at the club following the transfer window shutting on Tuesday.
Adebayor now looks set to run down the final year of a lucrative contract at Tottenham, with Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino effectively signalling the end of the striker's stint at White Hart Lane by omitting the former Manchester City and Arsenal player the squad.
A proposed loan move to Aston Villa failed to come to fruition and the forward also dismissed speculation in June linking him with a switch to Turkey's Super Lig.
Tottenham, who failed to offload Adebayor before the transfer window closed on Tuesday, also saw their efforts for West Brom striker Saido Berahino rebuffed.
Spurs had their fourth and fifth bids for the Burundi-born strike rejected by Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace on the final day of the transfer window.
But the 22-year-old, despite suggesting he would never play for the club again under Peace, has been named in the West Brom squad for the ongoing Premier League season.
The Berahino transfer saga has provoked a war of words between White Hart Lane and the Hawthorns, with the striker reportedly being given extra time off by West Brom in order to clear his head.
Pedro: Valdes gave me Van Gaal warning prior to Man Utd snub
Sep 3, 2015 15:01:12
The winger has admitted his former team-mate told him his only "problem" at Old Trafford was with the coach but insists it did not influence his decision to choose Chelsea
Pedro has revealed his Spain team-mate Victor Valdes warned him of his "problem" of playing under Louis van Gaal at Manchester United before he joined Chelsea.
The winger was linked with a move to Old Trafford for much of the summer before Chelsea took advantage of their rivals' indecision by completing a late deal.
And while United goalkeeper Valdes spoke highly of the club and its supporters, Pedro admits he did not recommend life under Van Gaal.
"He told me it was a very good club with great supporters and the only problem was with the coach," Pedro told Marca.
Valdes has been left out of United's Champions League squad following the collapse of David de Gea's move to Real Madrid and Pedro believes his former Barcelona team-mate is being treated unfairly.
"It is true that I do not like the treatment of my [Spain] team-mates, especially Victor, who has been a reference for me and is a model professional," he added.
"I don't think it's fair, but that did not influence my decision [to join Chelsea].
"I just saw Man Utd wasn't convinced to take the step of signing me, they were delaying a lot and I needed a team with which to start the new season. Chelsea acted more decisively."
The Spurs chairman said that his club did nothing wrong in their pursuit of the 21-year-old and has hit back at his West Brom counterpart Jeremy Peace over his handling of the bid
Tottenham did nothing wrong in their pursuit of West Brom striker Saido Berahino, according to chairman Daniel Levy.
Spurs saw four bids for the England Under-21 striker rejected during the window, while Berahino - who has vowed never to play for the club again - also had a transfer request turned down.
Hawthorns chairman Jeremy Peace took the unusual step of publishing this information, as well as his own opinions on the offers, on West Brom's official website, accusing Levy of "antics which were designed to get him [Berahino] out of our club cheaply".
Peace also revealed that Tottenham's offer of staged payments was not to his taste, but Levy has now responded, insisting that Spurs were not at fault.
Levy told Spurs' official website: "Firstly, there is hardly a transfer concluded across Europe which doesn't include staged payments. This is particularly so when significant amounts such as £20m-£30m are involved - players don't come cheaply these days.
"Secondly, we do not make anything personal. None of the proposals, discussions or negotiations we undertake involve any personal elements or ego - everything we do is in the interest of what is best for our club.
"Thirdly, we never make anything public, particularly in the best interests of the players involved. Making aspects such as transfer requests public is wholly disrespectful to a player.
"I make no apologies for being ambitious for our club and looking to deliver future success for our fans."
The PFA has revealed that Berahino is set to meet with the Baggies next week to try to resolve his future, with the striker having been given "a few days off".
"Everyone is jumping up and down but we don't think [a strike] will happen," a PFA spokesperson said.
"We've spoken to the club, who have offered mediation and support, as well as someone close to the player. They will sit down with the player next week and I'm sure it'll get sorted out.
"He's got two years left on his contract so this will either be sorted in January or next season.
"In the meantime I'm sure he will just get on with it."
The Hammers skipper was dismissed for a tackle on Danny Ings, while the Dutchman was dismissed for a slap on West Brom midfielder Craig Gardner at the weekend
West Ham captain Mark Noble has had the red card shown to him in last weekend's 3-0 win at Liverpool rescinded by the Football Association, while Stoke City midfielder Ibrahim Afellay's suspension has been reduced by one game.
Noble will be free to play for West Ham in their next match against Newcastle United, when the Premier League resumes after the international break, while Afellay's ban for slapping West Brom's Craig Gardner will now only last two matches.
Having scored West Ham's second goal before half-time, Noble was sent off in the second half of the Anfield fixture for a challenge on Danny Ings, though the sending off has been quashed.
However, the FA have announced that West Ham have been charged with failing to control their players in the aftermath of Noble's dismissal.
"In relation to the behaviour of the West Ham United players following Mr Noble's dismissal, the club has been charged for failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion," the FA's statement said.
"The club has until 6pm on 7 September 2015 to respond to the charge."
Afellay, meanwhile, will miss clashes with Arsenal and Leicester City.
The England international last featured for the Gunners in April but has gone under the knife and is set to miss a number of months following his latest setback
Arsenal have confirmed that Danny Welbeck has undergone knee surgery after failing to sufficiently overcome an injury picked up in April.
The north London club had hoped they would not need to resort to surgery and the injury would heal over time, but the England international has finally gone under the knife and will be out of action for several months.
"Danny Welbeck has undergone surgery on his left knee after being unable to sufficiently step up his rehabilitation work," a club statement read.
"The striker has been working throughout the summer to recover from the injury sustained at the end of April.
"It had been hoped he would avoid surgery but after increasing his training workload, the injury to his cartilage did not respond as well as hoped and the decision was taken last week for him to undergo surgery by a leading specialist in the field.
"Danny is now expected to be out for a period of months and everyone at Arsenal wishes him well."
Arsene Wenger had previously expressed his hope that Welbeck would return after the international break, but his lay-off has now been extended.
The forward last featured for the club on April 26, when the Gunners drew 0-0 with Chelsea.
Departed Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has thanked former Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson after sealing a move to Bayer Leverkusen.
The Mexico international made his switch to the Bundesliga on Monday, bringing an end to a five-year stint on the books at United, during which he won two Premier League crowns - both under Ferguson.
And Hernandez, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, took to Instagram to express his gratitude.
"I want to thank Sir Alex Ferguson and [chief scout] Jim Lawlor, the club staff, all the players I played with," he posted.
""But specially I want to thank all the Manchester United fans in the UK and all around the world for the incredible support I've had this past 4 years and all the best wishes they have for me in my new chapter!! #MUFC #GGMU #2premierleagues #19&20 #60goals #85starts #thankyou."
Hernandez, who scored 59 goals in 157 United appearances, signed a three-year contract with Leverkusen after a deal worth a reported £7.3million was agreed.
The Blues transfer policy has been criticised by the player's union boss after the number of players sent out on loan to clubs across Europe tipped over the 30 mark
Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor has criticised Chelsea for 'warehousing' footballers after 33 registered players joined opposition clubs on short-term deals.
The PFA boss believe the Blues transfer deals are influencing competitions across Europe and denying first-team players at rival sides the chance to play regularly.
Over £100 million has been spent on the players currently out on loan across the continent and Taylor is concerned by the extent of Chelsea's recruitment, and the repercussions for foreign clubs.
“You just wonder where the number will end because it’s a pretty strong influence that one Premier League club seems to be having in so many competitions," he said.
“It’s a bit of a worry with so many Chelsea players out on loan. It’s almost a warehousing of players. You wonder whether it brings into question the integrity of the various competitions.
“From a player’s point of view, you can see they would want to go out on loan if there is not a first-team place *available.
"But Chelsea have an academy so you have to wonder how it is they have such a phenomenal number of players out there."
Taylor, who was appointed to the footballers' union after retiring in 1981, agrees that loan deals allow players to gain experience away from the parent club, but has questioned the fairness of certain negotiations.
“Players want to play and the loan system gives them that chance," he added.
"But then there are players at these clubs in Europe who are denied the chance because others are coming in with their parent clubs paying their wages. It makes that option more *attractive.
“So then it is not about the best team winning a *particular competition, it is about who has the best *relationship with the biggest clubs.
“It’s not so much something that we’ve been alerted to. It’s something that you can’t fail to notice because it has been such a phenomenal number of players out there.”
Rooney rejected Man Utd TWICE before £25.6m move, reveals Ferguson
By Chris Davie
Sep 5, 2015 01:45:00
The England captain was first spotted playing for Everton Under-14s but rejected the advances of United on two occasions before joining from Everton in 2004
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Wayne Rooney rejected Manchester United on two occasions before his £25.6 million move to Old Trafford in 2004.
Rooney first came to the attention of United when their former reserve team coach Jim Ryan spotted the forward playing in a match for Everton Under-14s.
"Jim Ryan came back from one of our academy games at the 14 years level and he said 'I've seen a player' and he said the boy is Wayne Rooney and we tried to get him because there's a window at the end of the season - it's a one week window - where we can entice or approach a boy from another club to come join your academy, but it failed,” Ferguson told ITV.
"The boy wanted to stay at Everton - at that time he had a love of the club and he's an Everton fan.
"When he got to 16 we tried again. We approached him to join as a 16-year-old, but once again he refused. Then I think everyone saw the highlights when he scored that goal against Arsenal. It confirmed exactly exactly what Jim Ryan had said. This boy was going to be a United player."
Ferguson recounted the moment he decided to sign Rooney after the England captain came on as a half-time substitute in Everton’s 4-3 defeat to United at Goodison Park in February 2004.
“He missed a sitter in that game. But he came on as 17-year-old lad,” said the former United boss.
“After that, I had Walter Smith as my assistant and he said 'we've got to get this kid, we've got to get him', and that started the process of the bid. "Eventually we got it done in my office after we played Everton. There was Bill Kenwright, Maurice Watkins and David Moyes, obviously, arguing over the deal and we eventually got it done."
´Where are the stars of Manchester United?´ - Queiroz hits out at Moyes and Van Gaal
5 September 2015
Former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz has hit out at David Moyes and Louis van Gaal for the way they handled the transition from Alex Ferguson and accused the club of panic buying.
Queiroz enjoyed two spells as assistant – his second coming on the back an unsuccessful stint with Real Madrid - to Ferguson, who retired from management in 2013 after winning 38 trophies with United.
Successor Moyes was sacked before the end of his first season, which United eventually finished in seventh, with Van Gaal coming in to lead them back to the Champions League in unconvincing fashion the following year.
Queiroz told The Guardian: "I have great admiration and respect for Louis [van Gaal] and David [Moyes], they are great coaches that I admire but I think they made some critical and crucial mistakes in the transition from Alex."
Criticising Moyes' changes to the coaching staff, he said: "It was not necessary to turn everything upside down with the staff with people like Mike Phelan, people that know the insides of the club.
"I learned with people like Bobby Charlton and Alex this magnificent lesson that you must trust your own people.
"There are no other people in a better position than your own people to know what to do. No other people could be better prepared to make the right decisions in terms of continuity … we need to see some leadership.
"I hope and expect this season that Manchester United is able to not only compete, to win but to win in style because that is what Manchester United is about, winning with style and entertainment.
"A club like Manchester, with its financial capabilities, the results must be there immediately. We also want to see the players shining. Great players like [George] Best, [Paul] Scholes, [Ryan] Giggs, [Roy] Keane, [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy – where are they? Where are the stars of Manchester United?
"It was always about creating players. Now it is the opposite. And even some of the players that arrived in the team like [Radamel] Falcao and [Angel] Di Maria were on the bench.
"I saw Di Maria and some games, he looked like he has never played football. There is panic buying. You have to prepare and then make the decisions together. You can still make wrong decisions but we never made panic decisions when buying players."
Danny Ings is eager to learn from new team-mate Daniel Sturridge when the Liverpool striker returns following hip surgery.
Sturridge started just seven Premier League games for Liverpool last season due to a lengthy list of injury problems, with his last appearance coming as a substitute in April's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal.
The England forward has now returned to training after undergoing rehabilitation in the United States, and could make his comeback when Liverpool travel to Manchester United next Saturday.
And Ings, a close-season arrival from Burnley, cannot wait to play alongside the prolific Sturridge, who has scored 40 goals in 67 appearances for the Merseyside club since joining from Chelsea in January 2013.
"He's a fantastic striker, he scores so many goals, he's sharp, he works hard, so it will be great to have him back," Ings told Liverpool's official website.
"He's another player I can learn from - he's been doing it at the top level for many years now so it's great to have him back and I'm looking forward to working with him.
"I think everybody here has different qualities as strikers and it's only better for all of us to learn from each other, and especially for me to learn off them, the more experienced strikers here.
"It's great to have so many good strikers at the club for me to learn from."
Casillas hits out at ‘ungrateful’ Manchester United over Valdes treatment
By Gill Clark
Sep 8, 2015 10:18:08
The former Real Madrid man says his compatriot needs to find a solution to his current situation soon after being frozen out at Old Trafford by Louis van Gaal
Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas has hit out at Manchester United over their treatment of Victor Valdes.
The Spaniard moved to Old Trafford in October 2014 initially to train with the club as he recovered from a serious knee injury.
Valdes then signed an 18-month contract with the Red Devils but has subsequently been frozen out after manager Louis van Gaal claimed he refused to play in a reserve game.
"I want to send all my support and a lot of encouragement to Victor," he told El Mundo Deportivo. "This is proof that at times football is ungrateful.
"He deserves to find a solution soon because of the type of player he is.”
Valdes was linked with Besiktas at the end of transfer window but remains at Old Trafford despite having being excluded from their Champions League squad and Casillas is hoping his situation improves.
"Had they told us a year-and-a-half ago that he would be in this situation, no one would have believed it,” he added.
"Obviously, no one wishes him that. I know he will come out of this situation because he has a privileged mind and I really hope he comes out of this.
"I'm certain he will succeed because we all get back to enjoying ourselves [after leaving a club]."
The Manchester United playmaker is in no doubt that his Spain team-mate will be welcomed back into the fold, despite being frozen out so far this season
Juan Mata insists that there has been no falling out between Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal and David De Gea over the goalkeeper's collapsed move to Real Madrid.
After months of speculation, De Gea looked set to complete a deadline-day move to the Santiago Bernabeu that would have seen Blancos No.1 Keylor Navas move in the opposite direction.
However, the relevant documentation was not lodged with La Liga in time, meaning De Gea must remain at United, until at least the January transfer window.
Given the Spain international has yet to see a minute of Premier League action so far this season, there has been speculation that Van Gaal will leave De Gea in the stands for the final year of his contract.
Mata, though, insists that there is no issue between the two and says that he fully expects United's Players' Player of the Year for the past two seasons to have another big campaign at Old Trafford.
"I don’t think there’ll be a problem with the club, the coach or the fans," the Spain playmaker told reporters. "That’s how I perceive it.
"The fans love [De Gea] very much and he’s highly regarded by both the club and the coach. I think it will still be the same.
"The last two years David has been the best player in our team. His saves have earned us a lot of points. I have no doubt this will be a very good year, too."
Mata also dismissed the suggestion that De Gea's focus has and will continue to be affected by his inability to complete his proposed move to Madrid.
"I’ve talked with him a lot," the former Chelsea man added. "There have been hectic and stressful days but he is such a quiet, centred person, nothing changes him."
Goalkeeper Sergio Romero has thanked Louis van Gaal for the confidence shown in him and conceded he might still have been without a club had it not been for the Manchester United manager.
Romero was a free agent after leaving Sampdoria at the end of the 2014-15 before he was snapped up by United.
The 28-year-old has started all four of United's Premier League fixtures and kept three clean sheets amid the David de Gea saga.
However, the Argentina international admitted there was less interest than he had been hoping for after his good performances at this year's Copa America and the 2014 World Cup.
"I am very grateful to Van Gaal. I found it difficult to find a new club, even though I had played well at the World Cup and the Copa America," Romero told La Nacion.
"I do not have the feeling that I am the undisputed No.1 already, but I do feel a lot of support from the technical staff.
"It is very important for a goalkeeper to feel the support of the coach. You don't rotate goalkeepers. You either start or have to settle for a spot on the bench. There is no third option. And Van Gaal is giving me the confidence I need.
"Although I missed part of pre-season, I immediately started playing for the biggest club in the world, because that is what Manchester United are. Playing for United is like a dream come true and I hope it will not end any time soon."
It is unclear as of yet whether he will continue to start for United now that De Gea's proposed move to Real Madrid has fallen through.
