Krong Angkor

De Rossi warns Inter and praises Ranieri

2010-02-03T05:38:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Daniele De Rossi still believes Roma can mount a title challenge despite an eight-point gap with league leaders Internazionale.

Roma are back on track after a struggling start of the season and are unbeaten in seventeen games.

"It's an incredible thing," Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Many factors have tied in together: a maturation of character, serenity, results. It's credit to the group.

"Other teams would have beaten someone up in the dressing room. Instead we always remained united. We are healthy. Sure, Inter are too, but the Champions League could bother them later on.

"The table says that, together with Milan, we are the anti-Inter. Let six or seven games pass and then we'll see. Also because there is still a match to play against them at home."

Asked to explain the difference Claudio Ranieri made since he took over from Luciano Spalletti De Rossi said: "He is an expert. He never gives up the charge.

"Claudio has given us the compactness that we needed. And it's not true that he doesn't love good football. Look at the games against Fiorentina and Genoa.”

Finally, De Rossi outlined his ambitions this season: "I would like to win the Europa League, but our objective now is to finish third and return to the Champions League without the preliminaries.

"It's too important for us as a window and for the club on an economic level."

Hargreaves looks set for United return

2010-02-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Finally, there's light at the end of the tunnel for Owen Hargreaves. The Manchester United midfielder has been recovering from various knee injuries for almost one and a half year now and should've been fit for a while.

At last, his return looks to be in sight: the Mancunian aims for a comeback against Milan, later this month.

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes Hargreaves will be available to him for the first time in seventeen months.

"But we won't rush him," insisted Ferguson. "We are being patient with the rehabilitation following his knee operations and he is alternating his training with the reserve and first-team squads, working for two days and then resting a day.

"It's a matter of him regaining his confidence and, when he is able to train every day, that will be the moment for him to return to match play."

Hargreaves has gone through a hard time the last months. The former Bayern Munchen man played his last league match on September 21, 2008 against Chelsea. After that he was troubled by various knee problems and he received surgery on both knees in December 2008 and January 2009.

Several setbacks have lengthened the recovery time.

Ancelotti backs Terry as Chelsea held by Hull

2010-02-03T05:36:00.000-08:00

HULL (AFP) - Carlo Ancelotti has backed John Terry to come through his personal crisis and lead Chelsea to the title despite his side's disappointing failure to overcome Hull City in a 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium.

Terry's week of woe showed no signs of improving as he was subjected to abuse on Humberside on Tuesday evening.

And just to make matters worse he was booked before having to watch his side drop two crucial points against Phil Brown's struggling team, blowing their chance to open up a four-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.

Terry had to run a gauntlet of hate from the home supporters that promises to become a regular event for the defender, but Ancelotti insists his captain can handle the flak and will carry on playing.

Terry will meet England manager Fabio Capello later this week to discuss his future as his country's captain following reports of his affair with the former girlfriend of international team-mate Wayne Bridge.

But he has the backing of Ancelotti, even if the Italian admits he might give the centreback a family holiday later this month when Chelsea face Cardiff City in the FA Cup fifth round at Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti said: "Nothing can distract our concentration in this competition. In every game the Chelsea team has good focus and we can play good football.

"Concentration is always on top. This is an issue for me and John Terry. I think it's not a problem. You can see the line-up against Cardiff.

"If he needs a holiday he will have one and if not, he will play against Cardiff.

"I don't like to speak about this. It's not a question I want to speak about.

"For him (Terry) nothing has changed. He continues to play a very good game and every game he's living a good moment.

"He's doing his best. The atmosphere in the team is the same. There has been no change.

"We are in a good position now. We are top. We know Manchester United are very good and it will be a long race until the end of the season.

"We are happy to have a two-point lead. This was an opportunity, but it's impossible to win every game."

Chelsea had to rely on Didier Drogba's clinical free kick to salvage a point for the league leaders. It was his 20th goal of the season and cancelled out Stephen Mouyokolo's opening goal for Hull, his first for the club.

Ancelotti praised the impact Drogba had on his return to the side following international duty at the African Cup of Nations and believes his form and fitness will be key as the season enters its final third.

Ancelotti added: "It's an important moment for us, but we need to have all the players in good condition between now and the end of the season."

Hull rode their luck at times with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill once again impressive but Brown is convinced this result can provide his side with the belief that they have what it takes to go on and avoid relegation for the second season in succession.

"Against the quality of the opposition, that performance is right up there. I'm just disappointed we can't perform like this on a more regular basis," said Brown.

Ferguson wary of Beckham 'media circus'

2010-02-03T05:35:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - David Beckham's return to Old Trafford will add some spice to the confrontation between Milan and Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson will warn his players not to get caught up in the 'David Beckham media circus'.

"Our job is to concentrate on the football match and let the David Beckham media circus carry on," Ferguson told United's club magazine. "He's such a high-profile celebrity - not just a high-profile footballer - and we haven't really seen anybody else return to the club in that situation."

Beckham is in his second loan spell at Milan. The 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy player hopes his performances will persuade England boss Fabio Capello to include him in the squad for this summer's World Cup.

"I think I told him myself last year when I saw him before our game against Inter that he should be thinking about getting back to Europe if he wanted to go to the World Cup," said Ferguson.

"It looks like he might just get his wish now. He had a good spell with Milan last time, so it made sense to me to see him back there again."

Manchester United and Milan will face each other on February 16 and March 10. United starts with an away match. "The European Cup is always special to us and we've had some marvellous nights at Old Trafford. I just hope we have another one.

"We're away from home in the first leg, which won't be easy, but I'm certain the tie will be decided back at Old Trafford."

Gago and Real blast Manchester City

2010-02-03T05:34:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Fernando Gago is very disappointed that his move to Manchester City was cancelled right at the end.

The Real Madrid midfielder hoped to boost his World Cup chances by leaving Real this winter but his move to City was stalled at the last moment. "They used us," said Gago's agent Marcello Lombilla.

Manchester City launched their first bid on Gago last week and the Argentine midfielder felt the deal would be settled. However, City manager Roberto Mancini opted to move for McDonald Mariga, the Kenyan midfielder who signed for Internazionale at the last day of the transfer window.

The Citizens then returned to Real Madrid for Gago but it was already to late. They could not complete the deal until they had an official agreement from club chairman Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who they could not reach in time.

"They had nothing prepared, not even one document signed," Real's sporting director Jorge Valdano told El Pais. "They had not reached an agreement with the player and they would have had to have done everything in 40 minutes."

Lombilla is very angry at City, considering his client might miss the World Cup.

"This has never happened to me before," the agent told radio station Onda Cero. ""I don't want to talk about the figures that City were offering because they approached Madrid without even knowing there wasn't physically enough time to put something together."

Lombilla insists that Gago will now concentrate on getting his Real career back on track.

"Despite the fact he went from being 'untransferable' to suddenly 'for sale', he will always continue to work hard," he stated.

Injury heartache goes on for Fulham's Johnson

2010-02-03T05:33:00.000-08:00

LONDON (AFP) - Andy Johnson, Fulham's former England striker, will be out of action for at least three weeks with a knee injury that is threatening to rule him out for the rest of the season.

Johnson, who has made only 13 appearances in the current campaign as a result of a dislocated collarbone and a groin strain, is to have exploratory surgery to determine the gravity of the injury.

"If they find that the problem is as major as it could possibly be, then he would need an operation that would keep him out for the rest of the season," Fulham boss Roy Hodgson said, adding that the 28-year-old had been "shattered" by the latest setback.

"If we're lucky and the major operation is not needed, and it's something wrong with the cartilage, then he might be back earlier.

"At the moment we're talking three to four weeks, and the worst-case scenario is the rest of the season and him being fit to join us in pre-season."

Hodgson is already without Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera because of their knee injuries and he admitted he would not have let Diomansy Kamara go to Celtic on loan earlier this week if he had been aware of Johnson's latest problem.

"One of the reasons why we let Diomansy go was because we didn't think the problem with Andy was anywhere near as grave," Hodgson said.

"I was concerned that I would not be able to give Diomansy regular games, so when a club of Celtic's stature comes in for him, it is very difficult for me to say 'you have to stay'."

Hodgson added: "Andy is shattered. He's devastated. If it's as serious as it could turn out to be, it needs to be put right for the start of next season."

Fulham were due to face the Premier League's bottom side, Portsmouth, on Wednesday with the west London club aiming to end a run of five straight defeats.

"At the moment I can divorce performances from results, but if you keep losing you will get dragged down there and get into a relegation battle," Hodgson warned.

"I'm hoping that won't happen and in the not-too-distant future we will have a squad of players together who are more competitive than we currently are."

Birmingham owner's funds boast backfired: director

2010-02-03T05:32:00.000-08:00

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP) - Carson Yeung's pledge to give Birmingham manager Alex McLeish up to 40 million pounds to spend in the transfer market backfired as rival clubs racked up asking prices for players, a club director has reportedly admitted.

Yeung, the Birmingham owner, made his pledge shortly after taking over the club in October and Birmingham's vice-chairman Peter Pannu believes the Hong Kong businessman would have been wise to be more discreet about his spending plans.

"It was not particularly helpful that our chairman indicated a desire to buy players in January and spend some money," Pannu was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "I think that raised expectations among the clubs that we approached."

McLeish had made a new striker his priority during the transfer window but Birmingham's moves for Germany forward Kevin Kuranyi, Liverpool winger Ryan Babel, Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones and Tottenham's Russian international Roman Pavlyuchenko all came to nothing.

Pannu said the asking price for Pavlyuchenko had gone from 10 million pounds to 15 million plus during the course of negotiations with Spurs while Kuranyi's wage demands doubled.

"We have every support possible from Carson," Pannu stressed. "There is no problem there. The problem we have is the way some of these clubs have behaved. We have been messed around."

Birmingham winger James McFadden meanwhile has backed team-mate Barry Ferguson to make a successful return to the Scotland squad following Craig Levein's appointment as manager.

Ferguson was banished from the international set-up last season following an all-night drinking session between two World Cup qualifiers and a subsequent furore over obscene gestures he made to photographers.

Levein has promised a fresh start however and McFadden believes Ferguson, 32, has earned a recall on the strength of his outstanding form for Birmingham this season.

"Everybody that watches Birmingham can see what a good player Barry is," McFadden said. "In his last year up in Scotland, he was maybe starting to doubt himself a little bit but he has come here and shown everybody exactly how good he is.

"He has been brilliant for Birmingham and a big part of the reason that we've had such a great run.

"I think he's still got a big contribution to make in the international scene. I think it would be great for the country if Barry did come back in."

Van Nistelrooy needs time: Hamburg coach

2010-02-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

BERLIN (AFP) - Hamburg's new star signing Ruud van Nistelrooy needs more time to get fit before making his Bundesliga debut, his coach Bruno Labbadia said on Wednesday.

Having spent most of the season on the bench at Real Madrid before signing for Hamburg 10 days ago, the 33-year-old Dutch hot-shot striker is only 60 percent fit, according to Labbadia.

And it looks as though the striker will sit out Hamburg's Bundesliga game at Cologne on Saturday and needs plenty of fitness work after knee surgery in November 2008 and having played just 127 minutes of football for Real this season.

"We would never put someone under a pressure of time to say when they will be fit," Labbadia told SID, a subsidiary of AFP, with his side fifth in the German league table.

"Ruud is still working his way back to fitness and it is only 60 percent.

"Whether or not he is in the squad, we will decide at the end of the week."

Labbadia says the Dutchman needs "a few more weeks" to return to top fitness.

"We don't want to rush him back too early and risk him getting injured," said Labbadia.

A calf injury meant van Nistelrooy only trained with the squad for the first time on Tuesday.

"He has not played for the best part of a year, it is a different story if a player has just been out for a few weeks."

Van Nistelrooy has signed a contract until June 2011 and Hamburg are reported to have spent four million euros on him.

He has already been crowned the best striker in Holland, having scored 62 goals for Eindhoven between 1998 and 2001, England, having scored 95 goals for Manchester United between 2001-06 and Spain, having netted 46 goals for Real between 2006 and 2010.

Having retired after Holland were knocked out of Euro 2008 by Russia in the quarter-finals, van Nistelrooy has said he would like to play for the Netherlands again at this summer's World Cup.

Barca VP Godall confident of Fabregas return

2010-02-03T05:29:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is continuously involved in speculations regarding a possible transfer to Spain. Real Madrid and Barcelona are both linked with the Arsenal captain.

Now, speculation about Fabregas' future has been stirred up yet again by British tabloid The Sun publishing quotes from Barcelona vice-president Alfons Godall.

Godall is convinced Fabregas will return to the Camp Nou at some point in the future.

The Spain international progressed through the youth ranks at Barcelona before moving to London in 2003.

Arsenal's frustrations in the Premier League, going from top of the league to six points adrift in the space of a fortnight, together with Barcelona's ambitions, have been cited as the catalysts that could ensure a £40 million deal is struck in the summer.

Godall, who hopes to succeed Joan Laporta as president, believes that even if Fabregas does not make the move at the end of this season he will one day return to Barcelona.

"Sooner or later Cesc will end up coming back," Godall said. "We are a club that can sign players because we are respected and solvent."

Ribery set to decide Bayern future: agent

2010-02-03T05:28:00.000-08:00

BERLIN (AFP) - Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery will decide in the next eight weeks whether or not to stay with the German giants, his agent said Wednesday.

Ribery, 26, has a contract at Bayern until June 2011 but after a series of top class displays for Munich he has been linked to some of Europe's top sides, including Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Although Ribery has struggled with a knee injury since October, he is working his way back to fitness and is widely regarded, alongside Bayern team-mate Arjen Robben, as one of the most creative players in the Bundesliga.

"Franck has a contract until 2011 and so Bayern hold all the cards in their hands," Ribery's agent Alain Migliaccio told German daily newspaper Bild on Wednesday.

"Before we meet with (Bayern's chief executive Karl-Heinz) Rummenigge, (president Uli) Hoeness and (director of sport Christian) Nerlinger, nothing will happen."

Migliaccio also confirmed Nerlinger's rejection of reports that Ribery had been given an ultimatum by Bayern to prolong his contract before the end of March.

"The story about the ultimatum is absolute nonsense, nobody has given Franck an ultimatum," he said.

"We are waiting to see what the club wants to do."

Ribery has won 41 caps and scored seven goals for France and looks set to be a star of the 2010 World Cup which takes place in South Africa from June 11-July 11.

Keane move concludes recession-hit transfer window

2010-02-01T20:58:00.000-08:00

LONDON (AFP) - Robbie Keane gave Monday's transfer deadline day a late twist by completing a loan move from Tottenham to Celtic.

The 29-year-old Ireland captain, who had fallen behind Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe in the White Hart Lane pecking order, has moved north in search of first-team football after Spurs signed Eidur Gudjohnsen, a similar style of player, on loan from Monaco.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp admitted: "Robbie wants to play and I have Crouch, Defoe and (Roman) Pavlyuchenko and I signed Gudjohnsen so it will be difficult to guarantee him a starting place and he has to be playing regularly so I have decided to let him go on loan until the end of the season."

Spurs also released Alan Hutton on loan with the Scotland defender joining Sunderland until the end of the season.

The biggest deal of the day was Manchester City's signing of Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough on a four-and-a-half-year deal, although the reported transfer fee of six million pounds (9.5 million dollars) underlined how the recession and high debt levels have taken their toll on spending at England's leading clubs.

Business advisory firm Deloitte put total spending in this transfer window at 30 million pounds, the lowest total since the mid-season window system was introduced in January 2003 and a huge fall when compared with the 170 million pounds that was spent last year.

Deloitte partner Dan Jones said it was not just the economic climate that had caused the reduction in spending.

"Managers, club owners and directors have become increasingly sceptical of the near-term impact a January acquisition can have," Jones said.

"Therefore, it is unsurprising to see a lack of high value activity, with those clubs that are active preferring loan deals.

"The absence of new club owners and the tightening of club finances and credit availability have helped to accelerate that trend and dampen down the market."

City's acquisition of Johnson came just days after Robinho, who cost them 32.5 million pounds in 2008, was offloaded to Santos.

"We are delighted that Adam has chosen to come here," City's manager, Roberto Mancini, said. "He is a very good player with fantastic potential, and as a club we are always keen to sign British talent."

At the other end of the Premier League's financial spectrum, cash-strapped Portsmouth were given a welcome boost after the bottom of the table side agreed to sell goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to top-flight rivals Stoke City for 3.25 million pounds on a four-year deal.

South Africa's Benni McCarthy completed his long anticipated move to relegation threatened West Ham from Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers.

The 32-year-old striker joined for an undisclosed fee after he became frustrated with his lack of first team football at Blackburn ahead of this year's World Cup finals in South Africa,

He was not the only striker joining West Ham with Egypt's former Tottenham forward Mido arriving on loan from Middlesbrough after cutting short a loan spell with Egyptian side Zamalek. The club also brought in Brazilian Ilan.

Wigan signed teenage forward Victor Moses from Crystal Palace for a reported fee of 2.5 million pounds

Moses signed a three-and-a-half year contract following a sale triggered by Palace's move into administration last week.

The 19-year-old, described as a "special talent" by Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, had also been a target for Championship leaders Newcastle but he has opted to join Wigan's battle for top-flight survival.

The move is the latest chapter in what has been an extraordinary life story for Moses, who came to England as an 11-year-old asylum seeker following the murder of his father, a Christian minister, and mother, during an outbreak of sectarian violence in his home city of Kaduna, northern Nigeria.

Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno joined Wigan on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Fulham had a busy day of transfer activity with manager Roy Hodgson making several signings.

Italy Under-21 striker Stefano Okaka joined on loan from Roma until the end of the season as Diomansy Kamara departed to Celtic on a similar deal.

Fulham also signed England defender Nicky Shorey on loan from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and German utility player Christopher Buchtmann who joined from Liverpool on an 18-month contract.

Egypt celebrate while Ivory Coast ponder the future

2010-02-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

LUANDA (AFP) - Egypt chalked up their seventh Africa Cup of Nations triumph here just as the 'Golden Generation' of the Ivory Coast again departed the continent's biggest football stage empty-handed.

The Pharaohs 1-0 win over a youthful Ghana in Sunday's final made it the 19th match they have gone unbeaten since 2004. It was also their third successive continental title.

Just as it was two years ago in Ghana, the Elephants from the Ivory Coast were again the popular choice to win their second Nations Cup crown, with such stars as Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure in their lineup.

But not many reckoned that a suspect defence would cave in almost too easily against Algeria in the knockout stage of Angola 2010.

After a rather indifferent start, the Desert Foxes of Algeria would now have assured many they will not be making up the numbers at the World Cup in South Africa even after a 4-0 thrashing by fierce rivals Egypt. Egyptians dance in streets for African Cup football triumph

"People did not expect us to be in the semi-finals. We have not reached this stage for a very long time," said Glasgow Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra.

"We're a young team who have made a lot of progress."

Skipper Yazid Mansouri added: "We will move ahead and learn from the mistakes we made at this tournament.

"We have to work very hard to get ready for the World Cup especially in the midfield and attack.

"The Nations Cup has afforded us a chance to know where we have to improve."

Hosts Angola showed a lot of promise two years ago in Ghana reaching the last eight for the first time.

Cheered on by their noisy home fans in Luanda, the Palancas Negras bounced back from an opening day 4-4 draw with Mali in one of the most unforgettable matches of Angola 2010 to again equal their quarter-final finish in the previous tournament.

Most probably their run was cut short by their over dependence for goals on striker Flavio, who battled on despite suffering an injury.

He netted a brace against Mali and was also on target against shock troopers Malawi, who caused one of the biggest upsets by putting three unreplied goals past Algeria.

Part of the magic of this Nations Cup evaporated following the exit of the home team, but before then, it was football fever at its best across this oil-rich country of about 15 million people with long-serving President Eduardo do Santos at all their four games.

Gabon, who will co-host the next tournament with neighbours Equatorial Guinea, promised a lot only to capitulate on the final hurdle in their final Group D match against Zambia and thus miss out on a place in the quarterfinal. The price of this disappointment is that French coach, Alain Giresse, who has been with the Azingo since 2006, will most likely not have his contract renewed when it runs out later this month.

Giresse would be just the latest coach to lose his job following failure at the Cup of Nations.

Already Mali have fired their Nigerian-born coach, Stephen Keshi, and Nigeria, who again failed to live up to their huge potential, will decide this week to do away with coach Shuaibu Amodu.

This would be the second time Amodu will miss out on leading his country to a World Cup after qualifying the team.

He was also sacked when his team stumbled in the semi-final of the Nations Cup eight years ago and his place on the bench at the 2002 World Cup was taken by compatriot Adeboye Onigbinde.

There has been a public uproar back in Nigeria against the performance of the Eagles in Angola with an entire nation apprehensive of how such a team would fare at the World Cup in June against first round foes Argentina, Greece and South Korea.

Skipper Joseph Yobo has blamed Nigeria's underachievement on a lack of continuity in the team.

"We often have different players in and out of the team when we need enough time to train and play together, if we are ever to reach great heights," he argued.

There are now strong indications that his replacement would be the young Frenchman, Herve Renard, who guided Zambia to the quarterfinals for the first time in 14 years.

"I know what I want, I'm very ambitious and I'm not scared to say so. I said even before this tournament, that I wish to be coach of a very top team one day. I'm young but I'm not scared about anything," said the 41-year-old Renard, whose contract with Zambia ends in May.

Hannover sign Sevilla's Kone

2010-02-01T20:56:00.001-08:00

(GSM) - Bundesliga side Hannover 96 have beaten off competition from two Premier League clubs to sign Sevilla striker Arouna Kone on loan until the end of the season.

The relegation-threatened Bundesliga side have agreed a deal with the Ivory Coastinternational.

The 26-year-old was linked with potential moves to Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City earlier in the season.

Kone, who is under contract at the Primera Liga side until 2012, has struggled to make an impact in Andalusia since joining from PSV Eindhovenin 2007.

He has started just five matches for Manolo Jiménez's men this season.

Arshavin refuses failed title bid

2010-02-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Arsenal playmaker Andrey Arshavin admits his side's title bid has faltered over the past week but has refused to throw in the towel.

The Gunners were held to a goalless draw at Aston Villa last weekend before being beaten 3-1 at home to champions Manchester United on Sunday.

The North London giants are in the middle of a season-defining quartet of fixtures, with first Chelsea and then Liverpool next on their agenda.

Arsene Wenger's men were being tipped as outsiders for the Premier League crown after charging back into contention, but results against the top sides have seen their cause deteriorate.

The United defeat, their fifth in the league this term, leaves Arsenal five points behind leaders Chelsea, who also won at the Emirates in November.

However, while Arshavin admits their title chances have taken a big knock he insists the side will look forward and not back as they prepare for their visit to Stamford Bridge.

"It is getting even harder to believe that we can win first place after such defeats," the Russian said on his personal website.

"I divide the games with Aston Villa, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool into two parts - the first part has been held, there are still two more games, I hope we will conduct them better."

Milan make loan swoop for Inter's Mancini

2010-02-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Internazionale full-back Amantino Mancini has switched to city rivals AC Milan on a six-month loan deal.

The Serie A rivals opened negotiations last week over a trade in personnel, with Milan full-back Marek Jankulovski a target for Inter.

Inter's Mancini eventually agreed a six-month loan deal with Leonardo's side, who have the option to buy half the Brazilian's playing rights at the end of the season.

Jankulovski, meanwhile, was expected to head in the opposite direction as part of the deal but the Czech Republic international is still mulling over a switch.

The 32-year-old's hesitation failed to halt Mancini's loan move, and Inter boss Jose Mourinho is still thought to be keen on landing the player.

Reports in the Italian media suggest Jankulovski will reject any further advances from table-toppers Inter as he is happy with the Rossoneri.

FA say TerryÂ´s England captaincy in CapelloÂ´s hands

2010-02-01T20:54:00.001-08:00

LONDON (AFP) - England manager Fabio Capello alone will make a decision on John Terry's future as England captain, the Football Association (FA) said on Monday.

The 29-year-old Chelsea defender's position has been called into question following reports the married father of twins had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former team-mate Wayne Bridge.

There are now concerns the issue could have a damaging effect on England's bid to win the World Cup in South Africa later this year but the FA were adamant they would leave the matter to Capello.

"Fabio Capello alone will make the decision about John Terry's position," said an FA spokesman.

"Fabio is fully up to speed with developments regarding John Terry.

"He spoke with our chairman Lord (David) Triesman and chief executive Ian Watmore today (Monday), who both backed him to make the best decision for England on footballing grounds.

"Fabio is dealing with the matter in his own way using his extensive experience as a football manager."

Capello is due to return to England later this week and will travel to Warsaw for the Euro 2012 qualifying competition draw this weekend.

Hammers and Pompey contact Kezman

2010-02-01T20:54:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Premier League duo of West Ham United and Portsmouth have reportedly made contact with Paris Saint-Germain striker Mateja Kezman.

The former Chelsea man has recently returned to the French capital after a loan spell at Zenit St Petersburg.

However the 30-year-old striker is thought to be not part of Antoine Kombouare plans.

The Hammers are in the market for strikers after missing out on Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eidur Gudjohnsen and are therefore thought to have made enquiries, despite an imminent deal for Benni McCarthy.

The Hammers' Premier League relegation rivals Portsmouth are also believed to have approached Kezman with a view to securing additional attacking options.

Any move would come late on transfer deadline day but the 30-year-old would bring experience of England's top flight.

Kezman played for Chelsea during the 2004/05 season after a £5million move from PSV Eindhoven, although his time with the Blues failed to meet expectations as he scored just four league goals in 24 appearances.

Barca's Keirrison completes loan move to Fiorentina

2010-02-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Barcelona's Brazilian striker Keirrison will join Fiorentina on loan until June 2011.

The Serie A outfit have confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Barcelona to bring Keirrison to Florence.

A statement from Fiorentina read: "Fiorentina announce they have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the temporary acquisition of Keirrison for the next two seasons.

"The deal will be completed after the player passes a medical in the next few hours.'

The 21-year-old Keirrison joined Barcelona last summer on a €14 milllion transfer deal from Palmeiras, but he was loaned to Portuguese side Benfica earlier this season.

The South American is under contract with the Primera Division champions until June 2014.

Wigan land Bolivian ace Moreno

2010-02-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Premier League side Wigan Athletic have signed Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno on loan till the end of the season.

Moreno has become Wigan's second signing on transfer deadline day as the 22-year-old joins on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, subject to visa and international clearance.

His arrival follows the earlier deal for 19-year-old forward Victor Moses who joined from Crystal Palace for a fee of around £2.5million.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said: "We knew we needed more competition in the forward area, and now we have Victor Moses and Marcelo Moreno.

Jorgensen returns home after Italian exile

2010-02-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Veteran Danish international midfielder Martin Jorgensen returned to his first club, Danish First Division side Aarhus, on a one year contract on Monday from Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

The 34-year-old - capped 93 times scoring 12 goals - began his career with Aarhus where he played from 1994-96 before leaving for Italy, playing for Udinese from 1997-2004 and since then with Fiorentina.

"It has been a long birth," said Jorgensen, referring to the drawnout talks between Aarhus and Fiorentina over the transfer.

"I am happy that I will be able to play more football here than I was getting in Italy," he added.

Jorgensen, who has appeared for Denmark at two World Cup finals and two European championship finals, is desperate for regular first team football so he can make the 2010 World Cup finals squad having started just twice for Fiorentina this season.

Manchester City swoop for Johnson

2010-02-01T17:37:00.000-08:00

MANCHESTER (AFP) - Cash-rich Manchester City signed winger Adam Johnson from second-tier outfit Middlesbrough on Monday's transfer deadline day for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club announced.

The 22-year-old former England Under-21 international, who has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, has gone straight into the squad for Saturday's match against Hull.

Although the fee was undisclosed, it was reported City had paid six million pounds up front for Johnson, with further payments to Boro to follow based on appearances.

Johnson, who scored four goals in 19 games for England's Under-21 side, scored 13 goals in 96 appearances for 'Boro.

He made his senior debut for Middlesbrough in a UEFA Cup tie aged 17 and his Premier League debut six months later in a 2-1 home win over Arsenal.

"I've been at Middlesbrough for my whole career but I can't wait to get started," Johnson told Sky Sports. "I'm an ambitious person. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity I couldn't turn down."

City, bankrolled by Abu Dhabi based billionaire Sheikh Mansour, have become known for spending big on high-profile foreign signings such as Brazil forward Robinho, who joined for a British record 32.5 million pounds from Spanish giants Real Madrid but last month returned to Santos, his first club.

But City manager Roberto Mancini, speaking to City's website on Monday, said: "We are delighted that Adam has chosen to come here. He is a very good player with fantastic potential, and as a club we are always keen to sign British talent."

City are currently sixth in the Premier League, a point outside the Champions League places.

McDonald leaves Celtic, Keane set to be cock-a-hoop at move

2010-02-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

GLASGOW (AFP) - Australia striker Scott McDonald left Celtic for English Championship side Middlesbrough on Monday's transfer deadline day as boyhood Hoops fan Robbie Keane prepared to join the Glasgow giants.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp confirmed on Monday the London club has given 29-year-old Republic of Ireland captain Keane permission to talk to Celtic about a loan deal until the end of the season.

"I don't think it's been sorted yet but it looks like it probably will happen," Redknapp told Sky Sports.

With the likes of Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe at White Hart Lane, Keane has found first-team football hard to come by and Redknapp added: "It's a good move. Robbie needs to play.

"He's too good a player not to be starting here regularly. He wants to play all the time.

"It's been difficult to guarantee Robbie a starting place at the moment.

"He's not a happy man when he's not playing regularly.

"But he loves his football; he's a great trainer, a great man about the place.

"To go to Celtic is a dream come true for him anyway. I think it's a move that appeals to him.

"He's a big Celtic man and he'd like to go up to Celtic and play like Roy Keane did.

"The Irish lads, it's in their blood and they dream of playing for Celtic one day.

"This opportunity is one they want to take and we don't want to stand in his way, because we're strong in that position."

Keane, who follows in the steps of former Irish stars such as his namesake Roy Keane, Tony Cascarino, Packie Bonner and Mick McCarthy, is set join Diomansy Kamara and Edson Braafhield as transfer deadline day arrivals at Celtic, 10 points behind arch-rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premier League table.

McDonald became the fifth former Celtic player to join ex Hoops boss Gordon Strachan at Middlesbrough.

He completed on Monday a permanent move to the north-east side but the fee was not disclosed.

Melbourne born McDonald scored 50 goals in 88 league appearances for Celtic after joining the club before the start of the 2007 season from Motherwell.

Inter loan out Brazilian striker to bitter rivals

2010-02-01T17:34:00.001-08:00

ROME (AFP) - Serie A's runaway leaders Inter Milan permitted experienced Brazilian striker Mancini to move on loan to bitter city rivals AC Milan on Monday with an option to buy him outright.

The 29-year-old has failed to break into the Inter first team since arriving from AS Roma in the summer of 2008 and has appeared only seven times for the Italian champions this season all as a substitute at the end of the matches.

Mancini, who was also strongly courted by French giants Marseille, came to Inter on the back of several impressive seasons at Roma where they had twice finished runners-up behind Inter in the title race and reached the last eight of the Champions League on two occasions.

Mancini will join several compatriots at AC - who are second in the league table eight points behind Inter - such as goalkeeper Dida, central defender Thiago Silva, strikers Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato, as well as coach Leonardo.

Stoke sign Begovic from Portsmouth

2010-02-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

(GSM) - Stoke City have completed the protracted signing of Asmir Begovic from Premier League rivals Portsmouth for a fee believed to be £3.25million.

The Potters appeared to have missed out on the Bosnian keeper earlier on Monday, with Pompey believed to have snubbed an offer from Tony Pulis' side.

However, a deal has now been pushed through and Begovic has penned a four-and-a-half year contract at the Britannia Stadium.

The agreement went through shortly before the 5pm deadline, with the 22-year-old left sweating on where his long-term future would lie.

All parties are now delighted to have seen the switch completed, with Pulis of the opinion that he has landed one of the most promising keepers in the English top flight.

"Asmir is someone we have been tracking for some time and we believe that potentially he is the best young keeper in the country," he told the club's official website.

Begovic joins Stoke from Pompey

2010-02-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

LONDON (AFP) - Stoke signed goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Premier League rivals Portsmouth on Monday's transfer deadline day for a fee of 3.25 million pounds, the buying club announced.

The 22-year-old Bosnia international signed a four-and-a-half-year contract shortly before the window closed and his move is set to see some much needed funds find their way to Fratton Park where cash-strapped Portsmouth, bottom of the top flight table, face a winding up order from British tax authorities.

"Asmir is someone we have been tracking for some time and we believe that potentially he is the best young keeper in the country," said Stoke manager Tony Pulis.

Last month Pulis tried to sign another Pompey goalkeeper in David James but the loan deal collapsed over the issue of the England international's wages.

Begovic will compete with Danish international Thomas Sorensen for the starting XI spot.

Sorensen was in fine form later on Monday as Stoke eked out a 0-0 draw with Sunderland in their Premier League clash and Pulis made clear that Begovic was not going to be an automatic starter.

"He (Begovic) is a great addition to the squad," said Pulis.

"Thomas Sorensen did very well tonight (Monday).

"He (Begovic) is going to be part of the squad and if he gets a chance it's up to him, to take it."

Calgiari coach beats Â´special oneÂ´ Mourinho to award

2010-02-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

ROME (AFP) - Cagliari's Massimiliano Allegri won the coach of the year award for the 2008/09 season on Monday easily beating quadruple defending Serie A champions Inter Milan's Jose Mourinho.

Allegri, 42, won the award with 40percent of the vote of his fellow coaches after guiding Sardinia-based Cagliari, who are regarded as one of the lesser lights in the league, into a respectable ninth place in last year's championship.

Mourinho, who refers to himself as the 'special one', received just 20percent of the vote.

Allegri arrived at Cagliari in 2008 after coaching lower division outfits Grosseto (2005-2007) and Sassuolo (2007-2008).

Keane move concludes recession-hit transfer window

2010-02-01T17:15:00.000-08:00