Goal Zone

Friday, April 03, 2015

Liverpool demand £50m for Raheem Sterling

Liverpool have reportedly slapped a £50m price tag on Raheem Sterling in order to stop the winger from leaving the club this summer.

The 20-year-old's Anfield future is looking increasingly bleak after he admitted this week that discussions over a new £100,000-a-week deal have been put on hold.

Publicly, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Sterling will not be going anywhere at the end of the season no matter what the fee, although The Telegraph suggests that the Merseyside outfit do in fact have a price in mind.

It is claimed that Liverpool's owners will not buckle under any demands made by Sterling with regards to a new contract, and they intend to keep him in place until the end of his current terms, which have a little over two years left to run.

Club chiefs value Sterling at £50m, which they believe is out of reach for the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea - all of whom have been linked with the Englishman in recent weeks.

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, Olivier Giroud scoop Premier League awards for March

Arsenal duo Arsene Wenger and Olivier Giroud have been rewarded for their impressive form by scooping the Premier League's monthly gongs.

Wenger has been named Barclays Manager of the Month for March, while Giroud has won the Player of the Month award for his prolific form in front of goal.

Wenger, who has been honoured with the award 14 times in his career, guided the Gunners to four successive wins in the league last month, including a 3-0 win over West Ham United.

Giroud found the back of the net five times in four matches, two of those goals coming in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Newcastle United prior to the international break.

Arsenal are now third in the table and will take on top-four chasers Liverpool at the Emirates on Saturday.

Newcastle United confirm Massadio Haidara will miss rest of season

Newcastle United manager John Carver has confirmed that Massadio Haidara will not play again this season.

The 22-year-old was expected to spend a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery.

The Frenchman picked up a knee injury during Newcastle's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on March 4.

Now, Carver has told reporters: "Sadio Haidara had a cyst taken off his knee last Thursday in France and he won't be available for the rest of the season."

Newcastle are preparing for Sunday's Wear-Tyne derby against Sunderland.

Kolo Toure: 'Raheem Sterling needs to stay at Liverpool'

Liverpool defender Kolo Toure has urged Raheem Sterling to stay at the club, amid reports that the youngster is considering looking elsewhere.

The England international has put contract talks on hold until the end of the season, prompting suggestions that he could leave in the summer.

The 20-year-old has two years remaining on his current deal, but has admitted that he is 'flattered' by reported interest from Arsenal, while reigning Premier League champions Manchester City are also said to be keen on the starlet.

"I'm not surprised there's speculation because everybody would want to have a player like him but he needs to stay here," Toure told the Liverpool Echo. "Liverpool is a great place for him.

"This is definitely the best place for him to continue his development. At Liverpool, he's beginning to be one of the most important players. He's playing every week.

"If he went to another club there would be big challenges he would face. He wouldn't be the most important player."

Sterling has already rejected an offer of £100,000 a week from the Reds.

Miralem Pjanic: 'Manchester City's Edin Dzeko wants to move to Serie A'

Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic has revealed that Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko wants to move to Serie A in the future.

The 29-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium after making just 10 Premier League starts this season.

Pjanic, who is rumoured to be a target of Liverpool, is hopeful that his fellow Bosnian will join him at Roma.

"We are friends and he has told me that he would love to play in Serie A," Pjanic told La Repubblica. "He is closely following Roma. It would be great if we could one day play together both for the national team and here at Roma."

Dzeko's contract at City runs until June 2018.

Manchester United 'interested in Simon Kjaer deal'

Manchester United have reportedly emerged as a possible destination for Lille's Danish defender Simon Kjaer.

Kjaer's form at the Ligue 1 club is believed to have caught the eye of several European sides, including Italian champions Juventus.

However, The Express cites reports in Denmark as saying that Kjaer is on United manager Louis van Gaal's radar.

It is thought that the ex-Wolfsburg centre-half is seen as a viable alternative to Mats Hummels, who has recently denied that he had promised the Red Devils that he would join them at the end of the season.

United are currently fourth in the Premier League table.

Toby Alderweireld part of Atletico Madrid's plans for next season

Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero has dented Toby Alderweireld's hopes of remaining in the Premier League next season by revealing that the defender is part of Diego Simeone's plans.

The 26-year-old has impressed during his loan spell on the South Coast with Southampton, and has previously hinted that he would like to stay in England beyond the end of this campaign.

However, Atletico are keen to integrate Alderweireld into their first-team plans next year, along with fellow loanee Oliver Torres who has spent the season at Porto.

"Our coaches follow a detailed monitoring of all the players that are loaned to other teams," Caminero told Atletico's official website.

"We are very pleased with their performance and growth in general. Oliver [Torres] and Alderweireld, for example, are finishing a very good season with Porto and Southampton and we are counting on them for the next campaign."

Tottenham Hotspur are among those reportedly interested in signing Alderweireld, who is under contract at the Vicente Calderon until 2017.

Frank Lampard: "I will always be a Chelsea boy"

Frank Lampard has insisted that moving to Manchester City earlier this season has not tarnished his legacy at former club Chelsea.

The ex-England international linked up with the Blues' big title rivals after being shown the exit at Stamford Bridge last summer, which left many supporters of Chelsea feeling somewhat betrayed.

Lampard is due to join Major League Soccer side New York City FC at the end of the season, and as he looks to bring down his glittering Premier League career on a high, the 36-year-old insists that his relationship with those inside his former club still remains as strong as ever.

"I had 13 years at Chelsea and I will always be a Chelsea boy because I played there and have so many memories," he told Channel 4. "They decided I was moving on and at 35 you are not going to fight that. If they want you to move on you move on.

"Then Manchester City came in for me. It was too good to turn down. At 36, not many people get asked to play for the champions of England at the time for five months.

"I have got such a great relationship with the Chelsea fans. It hasn't broken it. I still have my main house in Chelsea and I go back to London a lot, I hope I won't ever lose that, I don't think I will."

Lampard has appeared 30 times for City this season, scoring a total of seven goals in all competitions.

Frank Lampard hails "brilliant" Jose Mourinho

Frank Lampard has revealed how his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho played a huge part in developing him into one of the most successful players in Premier League history.

Mourinho opted against offering the Blues legend a new contract last summer, bringing to an end his 13-year stay at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard has since linked up with title rivals Manchester City, a decision that he does not believe has tarnished his legacy at Chelsea, and the former England international insists that he holds no grudges against Mourinho.

"He is brilliant. If you wanted to bottle a manager and get all the good bits in it, he has got them," he told Channel 4. "I say that because he helped me in my career a huge amount.

"When he came I didn't have that self-confidence, I was 25, and he brought that out of me. And he does that with all the players he works with.

"He is very good at gauging a player and he knows if you need a [lecture] he will give it to you individually or as a team on a day but if you need a little bit of love and niceness he does that as well."

Lampard will join Major League Soccer side New York City FC once the Premier League season comes to a close next month.

Tottenham Hotspur interested in Petr Cech

Tottenham Hotspur have joined the clubs interested in signing Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech this summer, according to reports.

The arrival of Thibaut Courtois last year has forced Cech to serve as understudy at Stamford Bridge this season, and the 32-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move to Arsenal in recent weeks.

According to The Mirror, Spurs are monitoring the veteran's situation in case they are forced into a battle to keep Hugo Lloris when the transfer window reopens.

Despite reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, Spurs are keen to retain the services of the Frenchman, but will consider turning to Cech if an offer is tabled which is too good to turn down.

Cech has made 12 appearances in all competitions this season.

Inter Milan chief: 'Yaya Toure transfer fee may be too expensive'

Inter Milan general director Marco Fassone has admitted that the club may be priced out of a move for Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure this summer.

The 31-year-old is reported to have held talks with former manager Roberto Mancini over a potential switch to San Siro during the off-season, although the star player still has two years remaining on his current contract with the Citizens.

That means a deal could cost somewhere in the region of £44m, which Fassone acknowledges will be a "big obstacle" for the fallen Italian giants to match.

"Who doesn't dream of having a player like him?" he told Tuttosport. "Toure would give our midfield line something that we are lacking. But his wages and City's asking price might be a big obstacle."

Mancini has previously claimed that, should Toure move to Serie A, Inter would be his desired destination.

Roberto Martinez "not concerned" by Romelu Lukaku future

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that he is "not concerned" by recent rumours surrounding the future of Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian international switched agents this week, ending a long-term arrangement with Christophe Henrotay to instead sign up with Mino Raiola.

Raiola, who has the likes of Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his books, suggested earlier this year that Lukaku could play a big role at Juventus.

Despite the change in agent, and the increased transfer speculation that comes with it, Martinez remains confident that his star striker will remain at the club beyond this season.

"Rom has changed his agent but we are not concerned. He is entitled to do that," the Spaniard is quoted as saying by ESPN. "Everyone speaks about the colourful character that Mino Raiola is but he has a lot of players who are happy to stay at one club.

"I dealt with Mino Raiola at Wigan and not many people know that he had Danny de Ridder or Vladimir Weiss, players who have been happy to stay at a club. I don't think there is anything to read into that.

"It has been a very interesting season from Rom's point of view. At the age of 21 he had to cope with coming back from a World Cup and it affected his physical level until January. Since January he has been very consistent and he probably hasn't been given the credit his performances deserve. He has been performing really well."

Lukaku, who has scored 18 goals for Everton this season, joined the Toffees on a permanent basis from Chelsea last year for a club-record fee of £28m.

Manchester United hold talks with Nigel de Jong

Manchester United have reportedly opened talks with Nigel de Jong ahead of this summer's transfer window.

The Dutch international, who was linked with Louis van Gaal's side last year, is due to become a free agent when his AC Milan contract expires in June.

According to The Express, the 30-year-old has met with United and agreed a wage of £4m per season.

De Jong, who has made 20 appearances for Milan this season, has previously indicated that he would be keen to agree a new contract with the Serie A side.

Queens Park Rangers interested in Sam Allardyce

Queens Park Rangers have reportedly identified West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce as a target ahead of an uncertain summer for both clubs.

Despite impressing with a new-look Hammers squad, reports in recent months have suggested that the club could decide against offering Allardyce a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

As a result, Allardyce has already been linked with Sunderland, but The Mirror claims that QPR officials are interested in bringing him across London to take charge at Loftus Road.

Chris Ramsey was given the job for the rest of the season after Harry Redknapp resigned in February, but doubts remain over whether he will be considered for the job on a full-time basis, and the club could be tempted to turn to a more experienced manager even if they do succeed in their relegation battle.

QPR have also been linked with Brentford boss Mark Warburton, who will leave the Championship side at the end of the campaign.

Javier Pastore plays down interest from Roma

Javier Pastore has insisted that he will ignore interest from Roma to stay at Paris Saint-Germain for at least another season.

Reports in Italy have suggested that Roma are interested in bringing the former Palermo midfielder back to Serie A, but Pastore is keen to remain in the French capital with just over a year remaining on his current deal, despite admitting that he does speak to Walter Sabbatini, the club's sporting director.

"I still have one year left on my contract with PSG," the 25-year-old told Corriere dello Sport. "But I often speak with Walter Sabatini. It was he who brought me to Italy. I have great respect for him.

"I have to finish the season in France and then I'll see. But I am sure that I am going to stay with PSG."

PSG and Pastore's representatives are believed to have been negotiating a new contract for a number of months, but he has not been a guaranteed starter in Laurent Blanc's side this season.

Friday, April 03, 2015

Thursday, April 02, 2015