English Barclays Premiership 2007/2008: Juni 2007

6/29/2007

Tevez 'turns down' Inter

West Ham United striker Carlos Tevez appears to be leaning towards staying in the Premier League after declining to meet Internazionale's deadline.

Tevez is weighing up his club future and has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Inter and Real Madrid.

Inter had expressed an interest in signing the Argentine, but president Massimo Moratti revealed earlier on Thursday that Tevez was 'no longer an objective'.

According to the forward's representative Kia Joorabchian, Inter had set a deadline for the player to make a decision on a move to the Serie A champions.

Joorabchian admits Tevez was not willing to meet that demand, particularly as he seems keen to stay in English football.

"Inter put a deadline on the decision and Carlos' heart is really in the Premier League, so he was not prepared to meet that cut-off point," said Joorabchian in a statement.

Tevez, who has yet to rule out staying at West Ham next season, is currently in Venezuela on Copa America duty with the Argentine national team.

Joorabchian also dismissed suggestions that Tevez has been offered a £100,000-a-week contract to stay at Upton Park.

He added: "He has not been offered that sum of money to stay, but it is true we are still talking and hope to come to some arrangement."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 28 Jun 2007

6/27/2007

United welcome Uefa action

Manchester United have applauded Uefa's decision to introduce new crowd control measures for major European games.

United's UEFA Champions League matches against Lille and Roma were marred by trouble, while

there were also problems in Tottenham's Uefa Cup quarter-final with Sevilla.

And Uefa has now agreed to British government proposals to increase stewarding and limit the use of riot police.

A statement from Manchester United read: "The events of last season clearly demonstrated the need for crowd control standards to be set and met across Europe and this is welcome news.

"The Home Office has acted decisively to examine and identify the problems faced by UK citizens while abroad watching English clubs play in the major competitions.

"This club is always ready to provide constructive support and advice when asked."

source : www.skysports.com
By Lewis Rutledge - Created on 26 Jun 2007

Fulham face rivals for Lee

Lee Chun-soo is holding talks with a second Premier League team after negotiations with Fulham stalled.

The South Korea international has been discussing a move to Fulham, with reports suggesting the striker has been offered a one-year contract.

Chelsea have also been linked with the Ulsan Tigers forward, while a further three English clubs want Lee, according to his agent.

A move to Craven Cottage is now looking increasingly unlikely due to the player's unhappiness with the terms on the table.

Lee's representative Kim Min-jae has confirmed that talks are taking place with a second Premier League club, with Portsmouth, West Ham United and Wigan Athletic rumoured to hold an interest.

"A new team has offered a deal with better conditions than what Fulham had offered," Kim told the Korea Times.

"We can't just wait forever for Fulham to up their offer, so we are now pushing the negotiations further with the new team."

The former Real Sociedad man is hoping to return to European football after the upcoming Asian Cup tournament and he could join four of his compatriots in the Premier League.

Park Ji-sung, Lee Dong-gook, Lee Young-pyo and Seol Ki-hyeon all play in the top flight, with the latter having also been linked with a move to Fulham from Reading.

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 26 Jun 2007

Gaillard: Security the priority

William Gaillard admits it is difficult for Uefa to ensure there is a pan-European security policy for games.

The Uefa spokesman recently upset Liverpool supporters for criticising their behaviour at the UEFA Champions League final against Milan in Athens in May.

Gaillard feels a small minority were responsible for the problems and feels minor factions across the continent are behind the bulk of the trouble.

"If you go to the football supporters' organisation's website, you will see it's quite interesting the testimony of the Liverpool fans who were in Athens and many experienced problems," Gaillard told Sky Sports News.

"They said there is a small group of people that, and they put it this way, make it a badge of honour to get into stadiums without paying.

"That's also a case in some English stadiums and supporters themselves are saying that.

"The problem, I think, is very much a marginal one in England, but away we have problems.

"For example, there was some racism this year, we've had problems also of organised groups of supporters, mostly in Southern Europe, who belong to extremist political factions who want confrontations with police or stewards.

"We have drinking problems, which is more prevalent in Northern Europe. All these factors make it difficult to have a pan-European policy, but this is what we are working on."

Gaillard also acknowledged the desire to ensure fans can still travel safely across the continent for fixtures.

He added: "The priority is to make the life of supporters a lot easier and make sure the most important priority is security and safety.

"We never experienced this years ago. The number of fans travelling throughout Europe is a tremendously positive phenomenon.

"It brings people together and we have to make sure it never turns into a tragedy."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 26 Jun 2007

Ronaldo offers Nani help

Cristiano Ronaldo feels Nani has the potential to emulate his own achievements at Manchester United.

Nani has agreed to join United from Ronaldo's former club Sporting Lisbon and is tipped to be Ryan Giggs' long-term successor on the left wing.

He showed flashes of his ability at the recent European Under 21 Championship and he will be helped to settle in at Old Trafford by Ronaldo.

Last season's Footballer of the Year is confident his young compatriot can make a major impact with the Premier League champions, along with fellow new signing Anderson.

"I still haven't spoken with Nani, but I am going to do everything I can so that his stay in Manchester goes well," Ronaldo told MaisFutebol.

"I really hope he has the same success as me, or even more, because he's got the ability to do this.

"He's joining the right club to evolve as a player and as a person.

"Whatever I can do for Nani and Anderson I'll do with the greatest of pleasure because they don't know Manchester or how the club operates."

Regarding next season, Ronaldo is hoping that United can build on their domestic success by winning the UEFA Champions League.

He added: "I hope that things can be as good as this year and that we will be champions, not only in the league, but also in the Champions League.

"I think that we are in a good way."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 26 Jun 2007

Hungarian duo want to shine

Young Hungarian strikers Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon are hoping to make a name for themselves at Liverpool.

The Reds signed 18-year-old Nemeth and 17-year-old Simon from MTK Budapest after the two clubs reached an agreement.

The pair hope to form a solid partnership at Anfield and progress through the ranks to Rafa Benitez's first-team squad.

"We're moving to Liverpool on June 25 and we hope that in a year or two we can make our debut in the first team," Nemeth told skysports.com.

"I'm very happy with this co-operation, I think this is great news for our whole country, it's a big honour."

Simon added: "We want to play regular football in the reserves and we will do our best to step forward as soon as it's possible."

Nemeth has already received one call-up to the Hungarian national team but has not played.

He has, however, already represented his country at U21 level.

"I'd love to play in the national team and I hope that soon I can make my debut. But of course it's always up to the national coach [Peter Varhidi] if he invites me or not."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Juha Pal - Created on 26 Jun 2007

Kewell hopes for fitness fillip

Harry Kewell hopes his long spell on the sidelines with Liverpool last season will help to prolong his career.

The Australian star only played in the final three games of Liverpool's season after sustaining a serious injury with his country in last summer's World Cup finals.

However, Kewell has now returned to full fitness ahead of the Asian Cup, and the former Leeds man believes his lengthy absence will pay dividends later in his career.

"I'm in tip-top shape. The 11 months I was out my body could relax and it allowed me to get over the injuries, but I'm back, feeling good and really raring to go," Kewell told the Australian press.

"It was tough, but the manager (Rafael Benitez) supported me through the whole thing. It wasn't something he was happy about, but it happened.

"I've got a year left at Liverpool and I can't wait to get back into it.

"In a way my injuries were a good thing because it gave me the rest I needed, as I was going for a long time up until the injury.

"I had 11 months away from the pitch, although I was working hard in rehab. But to get that rest was perfect and that could prolong my career for another two or three years maybe."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Tom Adams - Created on 26 Jun 2007