Barcelona feel they will finally land Cesc Fabregas with a renewed bid of £35m. Arsenal conceded that they are unlikely to stand in the Spaniard’s way providing that the Catalans meet their asking price and although there have been rumours in the press this morning that Cesc may look to go on strike in order to force a deal through; it seems unlikely that an amicable agreement won’t be reached.
In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include Tottenham set for talks with Luka Modric; Liverpool willing to sacrifice kids to land Charlie Adam, while Sunderland trigger Wickham auction after having £13m bid accepted.
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Barcelona scent victory with renewed £35m Fábregas bid – Guardian
De Gea to seal £18.3m deal – Daily Telegraph
Chelsea still rebuilding as Abramovich considers Emenalo for director role – Daily Mail
Arsene’s letter to unhappy fan – Sun
Modric to hold talks with Tottenham – Guardian
Liverpool willing to sacrifice kids to land Adam – Mirror
City told not to rock the Boat – Sun
Sunderland trigger Wickham auction after agreeing £13m deal – Daily Mail
Spurs offer quartet to Bolton in bid to land Cahill – Daily Mail
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McLeish to offer Birmingham keeper swap deal – Mirror
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Yesterday it was announced that Aston Villa have agreed a £9.5m fee with Wigan Athletic for Charles N’Zogbia and the 25-year-old is set travel down to Villa Park to discuss personal terms today.
The French international who was last capped in 2010, will be a straight forward replacement on the left wing for the recently departed Stuart Downing and will become McLeish’s second summer signing after capturing N’Zogbia’s former Newcastle teammate Shay Given from Man City last week.
McLeish has long been an admirer of N’Zogbia and actually came within a whisker of signing him last summer for his former club Birmingham City but the deal collapsed at the 11th hour as they couldn’t agree personal terms. So although a fee has now been agreed it is still not 100% that he will be joining the club. However if as expected he does agree terms this week, McLeish will be hoping that he will be a suitable replacement for Downing and Young who had started to build up a potent attacking force alongside Darren Bent last season.
Villa have so far raised over £40 million from player sales this summer and N’Zogbia will be a major part of a new look Aston Villa side with the Alan Hutton and Scott Parker two other possible arrivals at Villa Park. Although he has experienced controversy in the past especially at Newcastle, I can see McLeish being disciplined with the winger and he will make sure the Villa fans only see N’Zogbia’s good side.
Interestingly he is actually classed as a home-grown player after being affiliated with an English club since the age of 18 when he brought over by Newcastle from Le Havre and will count as one of the eight players home-grown players needed in Villa’s 25-man-squad. This make it even more of a transfer bargain as everyone has seen that English players are moving at overinflated transfer fees partly due to this rule.
With Downing and Young sold, Villa were looking for a player that can create threats to the opposition and would also be responsible for set-pieces. In N’Zogbia they have this player as he is known for his match-winning ability, his excellent all round play and is one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League. He can also operate on either flank or as an attacking midfielder so it is understandable why Villa have snapped him up.
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It will be a new challenge for N’Zogbia who was influential in keeping the Latics in the Premier League last season and his two goals against West Ham in the penultimate game of the season all but secured their survival. Dave Whelan recently said of his prized asset: “I have always said for £10 million he is an absolute snip, if Stewart Downing can change hands for £20 million I don’t know what Charles is worth.”
He contributed with ten goals and seven assists for the Latics last season which is not too different to Downing’s total of seven goals and nine assists and this shows what a good deal Villa are getting with a reported £10.5 million difference in transfer fees.
With only 12 months left on his contract Wigan are getting a decent price for the winger but in terms of Downing’s move, it is still relatively cheap. He will only improve at a bigger club and in the right environment so N’Zogbia could be worth a lot more in the future. Downing’s £20m price tag was over-inflated by the fact he still had four years left on his contract at Villa Park but Villa fans must feel they are the end of a very good deal.
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Villa fans would have been saddened to see their player of the year Downing leave after his impressive form last season but I feel they are getting a more than adequate replacement in N’Zogbia. He has a similar goal scoring record, has the ability to change a game and is signing at a very reasonable price. The rebuilding has begun and securing N’Zogbia’s signature would be a great way to kick-start it.
Do you agree? Do you think N’Zogbia is the right man to replace Downing? Follow me on twitter @aidanmccartney
As football fans around the country brace themselves for the start of the Premier League season, FFC wanted to point you in the direct of the NEW ESPN Goals App that is now available for you to download for FREE.
This ultimate Barclays Premier league app includes live scores, video highlights and clips of every goal* for all 380 games – within just minutes of it taking place.
The essential football app for fans of the Barclays Premier League will feature: Video of goals and match action from every Barclays Premier League match all season long Live scores and match stats Fixtures and results from around the league Additional video including match previews and weekend round-ups Video alerts: Alerts for goal videos, match highlight clips and Weekend roundup clips.
Can you afford not to have this app on your phone – Click here to find out more!
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* Goals footage is near-live with goals available shortly after being scored except for footage from matches on Saturday from 3pm, this is due to UEFA restrictions. Footage from these matches is available from approximately 5.15pm Saturday
With Man United finally giving up in their pursuit to sign Wesley Sneijder it is clear that Fergie believes this current squad is certainly good enough to retain their title this coming season. The fringe players have certainly stepped up in pre-season and given the United boss some genuine food for thought.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes no respite for United’s punch bag; Fergie set to save millions, while Hernandez provides a welcome throwback from the past.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this week.
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A burgeoning talent set to save Fergie millions?
A welcome headache for Sir Alex Ferguson
No respite for Manchester United’s punching bag
Are Manchester United really better off?
Win or lose, this time it matters for Manchester United
Have United’s rivals got what it takes to knock them off their perch?
Javier Hernandez – a throwback from the past
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Best of WEB
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United’s New Signing Could Hold The Key To Champions League Success – Red Flag Flying High
Reds’ vibrancy points to a flexible future – United Rant
Friendly competition for positions foretells a bright future – The Busby Way
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Fans Should Know That They Know As Much As The Players Do – United Religion
Manchester United ‘Pull Plug On Wesley Sneijder Deal’ – Red Flag Flying High
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Click on Miss Blasi below to see her in all her glory
Craig Bellamy has stated that it is an honour to be signed by Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish, and that he is looking forward to starting with Liverpool for the second time.
The 32-year-old played for the Merseyside club in 2006/07, and resigned for The Reds on transfer deadline day after being frozen out at big spending Manchester City.
Reports indicate that Tottenham were keen to bring the 32-year-old to White Hart Lane, but Bellamy had only one side in mind.
“I’ve grown up with Kenny Dalglish, now to be signed by him is a massive honour,” he told Liverpoolfc.tv.
“This is an exciting time. When Kenny took over, watching as a fan last season I got the buzz as well and it was great to see Liverpool end the season well.
“For me, the players they’ve signed this summer, there has been a lot of British which takes me back to when I started watching Liverpool. It looks so familiar to me and to be part of it is such a huge honour,” the Wales international continued.
Dalglish played for Liverpool for 13 years, winning six league titles and three European Cups, and Bellamy is full of praise for the Scottish coach.
“To every Liverpool fan, Kenny is probably the best player ever to pull on the red shirt so that speaks for itself. He was the first player-manager to do the double and just the way he conducted himself really.
“I know we’ve had bits of success since then but the club hasn’t been the same since he left, so to come back in and be a part of this with the players who are here – it’s a good time,” he concluded.
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Bellamy could be in line to make his debut against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on September 10th.
Manchester United striker Michael Owen has spoken of his desire to play more regularly for the Premier League champions, and is hoping to force his way into the starting XI at Old Trafford.
The attacker was given a rare start for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men against Leeds in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, and he repaid the Scottish coach’s faith by grabbing two goals in a 3-0 win.
Despite this, with Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez the preferred strike partnership, and Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck in contention also, Owen may find chances hard to come by, but is willing to fight for a place.
“I’m not content if I’m not playing. I get criticised a lot with things like ‘you don’t play, you pick your money up’ and all the rest of it but I’m not proud of that fact. I want to play all the time.,” he told reporters.
Owen featured heavily in his first season at United, but knows that this term it will be difficult to command a regular position due to the quality at Ferguson’s disposal.
“If the season was going to be like the first season I was here then I’d be delighted. That was fantastic and I felt involved. I was always either on the bench or playing.
“Obviously I want to be involved again but I appreciate that there’s some top players in the team and in the squad and it’s a challenge to get on the bench let alone into the first team,” he concluded.
Ferguson was full of praise for his attacker after the Leeds game, and is happy with the veteran forward’s contribution.
“Michael Owen’s finishing was fantastic. His goal ratio is unbelievable. We are very pleased with him,” he told The Daily Mail.
“Unfortunately for us he has had one or two injuries. But with me having Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez he is not getting the games he deserves and that is unfortunate.”
With Hernandez due to be sidelined for a number of weeks after being injured by Ashley Cole against Chelsea, Owen will look to take advantage and increase his playing time in the Mexican’s absence.
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Over the years there have been many great players who’ve graced the Premier League, making it the most enjoyable entertaining and exciting domestic competition in the world. Players such as Cantona, Shearer, Henry, Ronaldo, Fabregas and Franny Jeffers have given even the non-football lovers a reason to tune in to Match of the Day on a Saturday night as they show us how the beautiful game can be truly just that. There have also been another set of players though, throughout the years, men who may have footballing ability but also have the knack of causing most of us to scream in anger whenever they touch the ball. I’m talking about the sort of players who if your daughter brought them home, you’d wish she was a lesbian. Players we love to hate.
Now, not many of us actually know Premier League players on a personal level, but we can pretty much garner all we need to know about someone from their attitude on the pitch. Some players such as Paul Scholes for example, will never be truly hated, which is somewhat surprising considering he’s fouled every single Premier League player at least twice, because they just get on with the game in a quiet manner. However for every Paul Scholes, there’s a Robbie Savage, the sort of player that even some of his own fans struggle to find a fondness for. Here’s my own personal Premier League XI made up of players you’d rather glass, than have a pint with.
Click on William Gallas below to see the Most Hated Premier League XI of all time
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List compiled by Justin Mottershead
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Guus Hiddink has been sacked by the Turkish national team after they failed to qualify for Euro 2012, sparking rumours he could head back to Chelsea in some capacity.
The Dutch coach received his marching orders after a 3-0 aggregate defeat to Croatia in the European Championships playoffs, and is free now to take on a new project.
“Following the meeting between Turkish Football Federation Executive Committee and Turkey head coach Guus Hiddink, the Dutch coach’s contract has been terminated by mutual consent,” a statement on the TFF website confirmed.
“We would like to thank Mr Guus Hiddink for his services during his working period, and wish him all the best in his future career.”
Hiddink steadied the ship at Stamford Bridge when he took control on a temporary basis in 2009, winning the FA Cup in the process.
When asked about his future the 65-year-old remained apathetic, but admitted that he enjoyed his time in England.
“I’ve not made up my mind about the future yet. I’m going to take some time off and then we will see what happens, but I had a wonderful time in England,” he stated.
“It was great at Chelsea, a terrific time, but that doesn’t mean I am ready to start tomorrow. I need some time to reflect.
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“I’m not ready to retire, I like to be involved with a team on a daily basis. But maybe I am ready to step out of the limelight a little bit, away from the cameras. Hopefully I will still be involved but perhaps it will be as an adviser or a consultant,” he concluded.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle has stated that he is happy with the manner of his side’s 5-0 win over Stoke on Sunday, and hopes the result can be a catalyst for a good run of form.
The side from the Reebok Stadium have had a poor start to the season, and many are tipping The Trotters to struggle against relegation this term.
Despite this, Ivan Klasnic and Chris Eagles doubles and a Kevin Davies strike gave the home side a comfortable victory against Tony Pulis’ men.
“I think the most important thing was to win the game, but how we won it and the level of performance was so pleasing for everyone,” Coyle told Sky Sports.
“We had to stand up and defend for our lives because Stoke put you under more pressure than any other team in the league in terms of defending in the box.
“Every one of them to a man showed a level of performance today that could be a catalyst for us moving forward.
“We know we had a slow start but we also know we have good players and a very good team.
“We have probably have five players who would have a great chance of starting in the team today missing through injury and we know the fixtures we have had and that probably ate into a little bit of confidence. But today you saw the confidence pulsing through their veins again,” he concluded.
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Bolton are still in the relegation zone despite the win, but will look to get out of the bottom three with a positive result against West Brom next weekend.
The January transfer window is now just a few weeks away and Premier League clubs will have set out their preferred signings for the New Year. With very few clubs able to splash mega bucks in the window, plenty of top flight clubs will be looking at the much improving Championship for possible targets next month.
There are definitely some bargains to be had in the second tier of English football and also some genuine Premier League quality that is waiting to be snapped up by the big clubs. Youngsters are breaking through into Championship sides and it may be the case that the clubs look to cash in on the future stars.
Last season Premier League clubs Birmingham and West Ham have held on to the majority of their quality players and some experienced heads are having a much welcomed second wind in their careers that could be worth a gamble on in January. Here are the ten players that have the Premier League clubs sniffing around.