Wesley Sneijder’s move to Manchester United is back on according to The Mirror if the player will accept a restructured pay-deal.
The Dutchman has been linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer, as Sir Alex Ferguson wants him to replace retired star Paul Scholes.
Inter Milan have now paved the way for Sneijder to swap Serie A for the Premier League after accepting, in principle, a £30 million-plus offer made at the weekend.
It’s understood that Sneijder has been given permission by Inter to talk to United officials although a stumbling block could be the players wages.
Given the tax favourable status in Italy the Dutchman isn’t keen on taking a pay cut although he would still earn around £190,000-a-week, which stretches out of United’s pay structure.
It is thought compromise could be reached with the English Champions prepared to offer a large wage supplemented by bonuses and signing-on-fees that would spread over the length of the contract.
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Talks between Ferguson and chief executive David Gill have taken place regarding the salary package that wouldn’t go beyond United’s structure.
Sneijder’s agent is set to fly into London before the weekend to discuss the transfer and if all goes to plan the club are hoping to have him training with the squad before the new season kicks off.
Chelsea are trailing AC Milan’s Alexandre Pato according to the Mirror with a cash-plus-player deal being mooted.
Manager Andre Villas-Boas is set to try and persuade Blues owner Roman Abramovich to try and sign the Brazilian forward.
A £30 million-player-plus-cash deal is in the pipeline for the player who has been tracked by Chelsea for the last three years.
Villas-Boas see’s the striker as the perfect foil for Fernando Torres and believes their partnership could fire the club to Champions League success.
Chelsea are understood to be willing to offer £20 million plus either Nicolas Anelka or Salomon Kalou in exchange for Pato’s services.
It’s thought that Milan are prepared to let the Brazilian go if they can secure the signature of Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli.
However they may ask Chelsea for more money if they do go ahead with a move for Balotelli who has admitted he wants a move away from City.
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Pato scored 14 goals in 25 appearances last season at the San Siro despite being afflicted by minor injures all year losing his place in the national team to Neymar in the process.
However the 21-year-old has plenty of Champions League experience for a player of his age and fits the profile of the type of player Villas-Boas wants at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal fans have warned to be careful for what they wish for in light of the criticism directed towards Arsene Wenger. Sir Alex believes that the Frenchman deserves a huge amount of respect, given the giant strides he has made at the football club during his tenure.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Gunners blogs that include Arsenal’s spending gets a boost, Frimpong provides an edge, while Paquet rules out Gunners move.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week.
Caption Competition: Arsenal’s formula for success?
‘Six of the Best’ – Manchester v Arsenal clashes of recent times
Arsenal’s chances of spending big are boosted
Risking the short term future of Arsenal for the sake of long term stability?
Just the ‘edge’ that Arsenal are lacking
A tale of two football managers…
Blankety Blank – Arsene Wenger
Cearly one rule for Arsenal and one for everyone else
Paquet rules out Arsenal deal
Kenny looking to pip Arsene to £11m deal
Best of WEB
Was Nasri’s parting shot really necessary? – Gunnersphere
Ugly, Let’s get Ugly!! – Highbury House
United Keeper key to win tomorrow | #Muppet | Madrid Midfielder anyone? – Le Grove
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The end or the beginning? – Online Gooner
One Of Us Speaks: Snow, Royal Weddings & Udinese – A Cultured Left Foot
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Click on image below to take a closer look at Cristina
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has stated that he is happy at the club, has the backing of chairman Dave Whelan and is glad he turned down the opportunity to move to Aston Villa in the summer.
The Spanish coach’s position came under jeopardy last term as the Latics were threatened with relegation, but with his chairman’s patience the side from the DW Stadium managed to stay in the top flight.
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Martinez has thanked Whelan for his confidence, when other owners may well have looked for a new coach.
“I want [my teams] to play in a certain way and not many people understand that. We were flirting with relegation and we were in the bottom three,” he told Mirror Football.”Many other chairmen would have changed direction in the way we play and got a different manager. I understand that is what happens.”But he [Whelan] said that whatever happened there was a three-year plan to do what I wanted to do. I can’t speak about other chairmen, I don’t know them. But our chairman is the reason why Wigan are in the Premier League,” he continued.Martinez was approached by Aston Villa in the summer to become their new man in charge after the departure of Gerard Houiller, but he has no qualms about turning Villa down.”I had a meeting with the chairman at the ground. I went in with an open mind, I wanted to know what the chairman wanted to do. The moment he wanted me to stay, the conversation was ended.”I have got a strong belief in what I want to do to progress to the next level. The chairman agreed, so we just carried on working as normal.”It wasn’t about the other football club or the other job. It was about the relationship with my chairman,” he concluded.Wigan travel to Villa Park on Saturday, with only three points seperating the two Midlands teams.Written By Gareth McKnight[divider]FREE football app that pays you to view ads[ad_pod id=’qs-2′ align=’left’]
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has thanked the club’s fans for backing him after scoring against Everton at the weekend, and is keen to start hitting the back of the net on a more regular basis.
The England international got off the mark for the season as he bagged one of Liverpool’s two goals in a 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, and has thanked those around him for their support.
“The goal is for everyone really, Kenny [Dalglish], the others lads and the fans. Everyone who has stood by me,” he told the Liverpool Daily Post.
“It is a great feeling but it doesn’t really matter who scores the goals as long we get the three points and I thought it was great we did it here.
“The dressing room was just buzzing afterwards. Everyone was over the moon. This is by far the highlight of my time here, easily.
“Scoring against Everton and beating them at their place is special but you have got to keep it going.
“We’ve got Man United next game and I’ve got to make sure that I keep doing well week in and week out now,” he concluded.
Carroll is in the England squad to face Montenegro in Podgorica on Friday, and will compete for a starting spot with Darren Bent, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Bobby Zamora.
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Last week’s Premier League encounter at Anfield between great English rivals Liverpool and Manchester United ended in a 1-1 draw as the teams cancelled each other out. While on the pitch is was a battle between two talented teams, off it two legendary Scottish managers were also doing battle.
In Liverpool’s dugout there was Kenny Daglish, in Man United’s, Sir Alex Ferguson. Both are rightfully icons are their respective clubs and both have been there, done it and got the t-shirt. However, neither can believe their eyes in this picture, but what have they seen?
Leave your suggestions below…
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Win a copy of This is the One!
Written over the course of two eventful, diverse and controversial seasons, This Is the One offers a unique portrait of Sir Alex Ferguson from a privileged position behind the scenes.
Told from the perspective of The Guardian’s dedicated Manchester football correspondent, Daniel Taylor, who has been there from day one, the book examines every side of Ferguson, mixing the flint-faced authoritarian caricature, the infamous hairdryer treatment and the softer, humane side of an immensely likeable man.
Entertaining, revelatory, sometimes shocking but always affectionate, this is an honest biography of a manager who infuriates as much as he inspires, but whose heart is as big as the Man Utd trophy room.
For the FootballFanCast.com Caption Competition Terms and Conditions click here
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Check out our Caption Competition Gallery for some inspiration and to see the winners so far.
Last week’s winner: Chris – click here to see all entries
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You can also enter the Caption Competition via Qustodian SportsThe FREE football app that pays YOU to watch ads!
Wigan dropped to the foot of the Premier League table after losing their eighth successive game going down 2-0 to Fulham side who put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom three with victory at the DW Stadium.
Goals at the end of each half from Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele eased the pressure starting to build on Martin Jol also cranking up the heat on Latics boss Roberto Martinez. His side are rooted to the bottom of the table and looking at yet another long and arduous relegation battle. Fulham on the other hand bounced back from a disappointing late defeat at home to Everton last week with an determined display that lifted them away from the drop zone. Wigan produced a similar performance at Newcastle last week frustrating the Magpies for 80 minutes before conceding late on with poor finishing costing them dear. It proved to be a similar story this week as they wasted numerous chances allowing the Cottagers to snatch all three points.
A nervy first half was littered with sloppy passing and a few mistimed tackles and it was the home side who slowly but surely got on top with David Jones looking the most likely to break the deadlock. The summer signing from Wolves tested Mark Schwarzer with a stinging 20-yard strike before firing Emmerson Boyce’s cross wide from close range. Hugo Rodallega has yet to score in seven appearances this season was also guilty of wastefulness and should have at least made contact to a number of balls into the visitors penalty area. He did meet one with a wild scissor kick that sailed well over the bar before Ben Watson dipped a dangerous volley over the bar. They were made to pay as Fulham took the lead five minutes before half time against the run of play with a superb move starting at the back. Schwarzer rolled the ball out to John Arne Riise who in turn found Danny Murphy in the centre. The skipper pinged a super ball out to Bobby Zamora on the left who crossed the Dempsey to score via the body of Ali Al Habsi – drawing level with Brian McBride to become the highest scoring American in the league on 36 goals.
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Wigan continued to probe and Victor Moses was unlucky to see his vicious strike hit the post after he outmuscled Riise as the frustration levels began to rise inside the DW. Maynor Figueroa also struck the woodwork from 30-yards after being saved just minutes earlier by the crossbar with Zamora’s volley smashing cannoning back off the frame of the goal after Murphy picked him out from 50-yards. For all their efforts the Latics just couldn’t breakdown the Cottagers rearguard and a defensive mistake of their own cost them dearly with four minutes to go. Figueroa gifted possession to Steven Sidwell on halfway with the midfielder picking out Dembele to finish and secure all three points.
Sir Alex Ferguson was left fuming last night at the nature of Newcastle’s equaliser at Old Trafford. A dubious penalty left the United boss seething, who suggested the ‘Part-time’ official’s mistake may have cost them the title in the long run. It was a frustrating afternoon for United who created enough chances to win at least two games.
Elsewhere in the news football managers want longer transfer windows; City forced to cull their bulging squad, while PSG look to bring Chamakh in during January.
Managers want longer transfer window – Guardian
Ferguson could face censure for linesman rant – Daily Telegraph
I’ve got no sympathy for AVB – he knew what he was getting into – Independent
Bothroyd to report Twitter user after alleged racial slur after Norwich defeat – Daily Mail
PSG set to make £10m bid for Arsenal striker – Mirror
City forced to cull bulging squad – Daily Telegraph
Scholes still pulling the strings at United – People
Mancini: City’s cavaliers need to be boring again – Independent
Controversies have ‘cost Terry £6m’ in sponsorships, according to experts – Daily Mail
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Redknapp rules out January buys – Mirror
Warnock rages at ‘scandalous’ decision over QPR keeper crisis – Daily Mail
AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has stated that if Carlos Tevez has any ambition he will choose the Serie A giants above his other suitors.
The Scudetto holders are keen to sign the Argentina international after one to many controversies has Manchester City keen to see the back of the controversial forward.
Massimiliano Allegri’s team have offered to take Tevez on loan, but City have rejected this as they want to sell the striker and be done with him.
With big-spending Paris Saint Germain also admitting their interest in the South American, Berlusconi has stated that Tevez has a choice to make.
“AC Milan is a solution of prestige,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“Tevez has to choose between the prestige that AC Milan represents, with the possibility of playing in one of the biggest clubs in the world and perhaps to win the Golden Ball, or the money of the Paris Saint Germain, led by Sheikh of Qatar.”
Meanwhile, a report in The Daily Mail indicated that Tottenham could emerge as surprise bidders for Tevez come January.
However Harry Redknapp has been quick to distance himself from a move for the South American.
“He is a special player, the type of player who could make the difference, but I wouldn’t think that’s a real possibility,” the Spurs boss admitted.
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Finally, The Guardian indicate that Juventus have entered the bidding for Tevez’s signature, and are ready to offer £21 million to Manchester City for his services.
As the Premier League season passes the half way stage, managers up and down the table will now hopefully know what their best XI is and what style of the play they use is the most effective. With the table now taking shape, some teams will be pleased with how things are going and some won’t and I can see a definite trend in the teams that are performing well thus far in the 2011-12 season.
Obviously the big spenders Manchester City have ample talent throughout their squad and so rotation is possible for Roberto Mancini without a worry. But obviously the rest of the league does not have that sort of luxury. Two teams that have perhaps ‘overachieved’ so far this season are Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
I feel the reason of the early success for the two clubs are down to the managers building a strong spine to their side that are the catalyst to their success. Take a look at Spurs who have been able to use a constant spine with Friedel, Kaboul, Modric/Parker and Adebayor. The regular fitness and form of these players have enabled Harry Redknapp to build the side around them, which he has done fantastically. Spurs have been slightly fortuitous with a lack of long term injuries to key players (minus Lennon and Dawson) but they must be praised for trying to keep their best XI fit for each league game which has been a complete success. One or two squad players may need to improve or arrive at the club to give them a real strength in depth to be able to compete with the likes of City and United on a long term basis but the sky is the limit for Redknapp and his squad. A victory tonight will see them go level on points with Manchester United and leave them just three behind leaders City.
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Newcastle United have been the surprise package under Alan Pardew in the past five months or so and that has drawn much interest in their top players in the January transfer window. Pardew didn’t spend big in the summer but still put together a terrific side that have earned points home and away against the odds and sit comfortably in the top half. Again, a strong, consistent spine has been the strength that the Magpies have needed to keep up their fine form, with Krul, Coloccini, Cabaye/Tiote and Ba staying fit and putting in top performances week-in-week-out to keep impressing at the Sports Direct Arena.
Midfield maestro Tiote has been hampered by injuries so far this season and will join top scorer and the Premier League signing of the season Ba at the African Cup of Nations for the next month or so which could dramatically damage the Toon’s form. With two players from their spine missing, will Newcastle be in the same position as they are now in five weeks time?
So it has been a good season for Spurs and Newcastle, with their spines dominating their opponents but one side that has struggled with form throughout the campaign is Chelsea. Yes they still sit in the Champions League spots, just above Arsenal, and are through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, but you can’t help but feel something has not yet clicked at Stamford Bridge.
I feel the problem at the Bridge has been the reverse of what has happened at White Hart Lane and the Sports Direct Arena. With their consistent spines, the before-mentioned clubs have been successful but Chelsea have failed to keep the same XI on the pitch game after game which has not gone unnoticed. It seems AVB is yet to find his best side with Drogba and Torres taking it in turns up front and Frank Lampard now regularly on the bench, joined off the field by influential Michael Essien , who is nearing a return from injury. John Terry’s off the field problems have hampered his performances and the defender that can’t defend, David Luiz has not been much help.
This has resulted in the Blues spine becoming irregular and chopping and changing regularly which has become a problem for the West London club who sit 11 points behind the leaders City as the new year gets under way. The first four or five names on the manager’s team sheet are crucial and a consistency behind that could well be the difference between success and failure, especially over the course of a whole season.
Is your spine at your club strong enough? Who would be the perfect players to play there? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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