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Sports news, commentary and scores with wit and added value. We compare and contrast the best and worst sports reporting in the mainstream press, blogs, TV and online. We love the English Premier League (Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and Manchester City) and all things football but we cover cricket, rugby, the Olympics, tennis, golf, F1 and highlights of the sporting year.

Arsenal makes £40m move to Karim Benzema

Arsenal are making a £40m move for Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

The Sun says Arsenal will make a bid fro the French striker on Monday.

The paper then calls Benzema a “marquee signing”, which is odd because a marquee is a kind of tent. The phrase “marquee signing” is one that irritates like a Brendan Rodger’s press conference or the PA announcer who drown out singing with loud music.

The news is full of these marquee signings of course. Fans demand them. It’s a media obsession.

Arsenal fans will take news of Benzema’s arrival with a mixture of excitement and rolling eyes. But given the Premier League’s vast cash reserves, Arsenal’s prestige and location – London with its large ex-pat communities and status as a world city remains a big lure to the foreign player – Benzema could be on his way to the Emirates.

 

Posted: 17th, July 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Manchester United: Angel Di Maria ‘agrees’ to join PSG for £42m

Angel Di Maria has an “agreement in principle” to quit Old Trafford and join Paris Saint-Germain. Well, so says L’Equipe.

Le Parisien goes further and says PSG have agreed to sign Di Maria for £42 million.

On 25 July, Man United face PSG in Chicago. United gave Di Maria an extended holiday until 25 July following his performances in the Copa America.

It looks like the £60m man has played his last match for United.

Posted: 16th, July 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Aston Villa’s Benteke ‘agrees’ to join Liverpool and Manchester United

Transfer Balls: A look at Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke in the news. These stories are all from today’s media:

The Sun: Benteke is on his way to Manchester United. The Red Devils will pay £32.5m offer for the 24-year-old.

Daily Mail: Benteke wants to play for Liverpool.

Metro: “Christian Benteke agrees deal to join Man United”

(On July 2, the Metro said Benteke had “rejected” Sours to join Liverpool.)

Talksport: “Reaction as Reds reportedly agree to sign Benteke for £32.5m”

Such are the facts.

Posted: 16th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment


Manchester United: Louis Van Gaal sacks Victor Valdes who reacts ‘Come on your Reds’

The Sun says Victor Valdes is finished at Manchester United. Louis van Gaal made his views known at a Press conference in Seattle. Van Gaal is United’s manager. He is also that most rare of creatures: a Dutchman who doesn’t speak English better than the English. Was something lost in translation? Said Van Gaal:

“Valdes is not selected because he does not follow our philosophy. When that is the case, there is not a place for a player. Last season, he refused to play in the second team. If you do not play in the first team, our philosophy is to play in the second team and he did not do that.

“When you’re not willing to follow those principles, there is only one way and that is out.

“It is a pity because we have given him the opportunity to rehabilitate, gave him a contract and then he is fit to play.”

The BBC says Valdes will be sold.

But Valdes, who has a contract with United til next summer, seems happy to stay at Old Trafford, tweeting:

 

valdes

 

The Manchester Evening News adds:

His agent Gines Carvajal insisted the 33-year-old intended to fight for his place at United – but Van Gaal has already decided that he will look for a new No1 if David de Gea signs for Real Madrid this summer.

Says Cavajal to Spain’s AS:

“I’ve been contacted by a series of individuals from Turkey to negotiate a move for Víctor,. But I haven’t spoken with the president of the Turkish club in question.

“I don’t know him. I have no plans to talk with them again as my player has no interest in a move to Antalyaspor. His only wishes are to remain at Manchester United and he has another year left on his contract.

“We don’t see any reason for him to leave the club. United are amongst the top two or three best teams in the world. Víctor is keen to fight for a place next season and wants to help the club as much as he can.”

Valdes arrived at Manchester United content with warming the bench. What changed? When Valdes signed, Van Gaal told us:

“I have said on many occasions that Manchester United will always be interested in the best players. Victor has remained very professional throughout his rehabilitation from injury and has been very impressive during his training sessions with the first team over the past weeks. He joins the club as the number two goalkeeper and is a great addition to the first team.”

Mentions of the second team were there none.

Posted: 16th, July 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment


Manchester United Transfer Balls: Angel di Maria ‘agrees’ PSG deal and Edison Cavani ‘swap’

Transfer Balls: Manchester United are looking to sell Angel Di Maria.

The Times says Paris Saint-Germain will bid £45m for the Argentina winger who hates living in Manchester.

That’s far less than the British record £59.7 million fee United paid Real Madrid for Di Maria last summer.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 15th, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Nicolas Otamendi will only play if Manchester United or Chelsea buy him

Transfer Balls spots Nicolas Otamendi. The Sun says he’s threatened to go on strike at Valencia in a bid to “force through a mega-bucks move to Manchester United”.

Is Otamendi really desperate to play for Man United?

The Daily Express expands the market to both big Manchester clubs:

Nicolas Otamendi set to choose between Man Utd and City as agent flies in for crunch talks

You might suppose the agent is flying into Manchester. He isn’t. The agent is flying into Valencia.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 15th, July 2015 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment


Manchester United: Van Persie was every bit as ruthless as Van Gaal

For all fans of the bigger Premier League clubs, the player who leaves for more money is anathema. Robin Van Persie will always be to Arsenal fans the disloyal, ungrateful arsehat who forced them to choke back vomit as he followed his “inner child”  and signed for Manchester United. To United fans, Van Persie is the star who gave them the title, a man of honour who shows everyone that when United call you answer ‘yes’, unless you’re Gareth Bale, Thomas Muller and anyone else who choses better pay over the ultimate honour.

But why did Van Perise leave Man United? Did his inner child turn suddenly dream of playing in a Turkish tax haven? Is RVP’s inner kid an accountant?

The Sun hears Van Persie creact to life ay Fenerbahce:

“Let me please add one more person to thank: I highly appreciate the work of Ed Woodward in this transfer. He was the man who was very classy in all this. A true gentleman. If you are listening or watching, thank you!”

 

Is that a dig at Louis Van Gaal’s, United’s current stop-gap manager?

“I could see it coming and could get used to the idea for quite a bit.”

So much for the Daily Mirror’s claim that Van Persie only knew he was leaving United last week.

But United fans must wonder where it went wrong. Instrumental in United’s last title win, and with ten goals in 25 Premier League starts in his last injury-hit season at Old Trafford, Van Perie is out.  “I believe,” said Van Gaal when managing Van Persie and Holland at the 2014 World Cup finals, “that Van Persie and Van Gaal share the same philosophy”.

They do: they are both ruthless in pursuit of personal glory.

 

Posted: 15th, July 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment


Liverpool: Raheem Sterling laughs as Manchester City wait to exhale

And so it came to pass that Raheem Sterling completed his move from Liverpool to Manchester City for a whopping £49m and £200,000 a week.

This one had threatened to run all summer, leaving media and fans talking more about the Sterling transfer story than actual football deep into August. Sky Sports would herald the new Premier League season with an M People powered montage of Sterling’s best transfer stories trailed by health warning on the perils of inhaling gas from party balloons.

But  we can now enjoy the sense of freedom as Sterling moves to his dream club [insert name here]. As he held aloft a scarf in City colours, Sterling said:

“I’ve just had to learn to take it all in my stride. I never imagined I’d be at this point at the age I am now and breaking a transfer record fee. You don’t think about it when you’re a kid — but things have come really fast in the last couple of years. It’s a good feeling and a really happy time for me and my family.

“I’m just glad it’s all over and done with and I can’t wait to get on the training field.

“I’d also like to thank all the people around me — my mum and sisters, my management team, and Aidy Ward for helping me focus and get where I am today.”

Sterling’s protracted Anfield exit became increasingly acrimonious. But in the end he won. And his agent laughed all the way to the bank. Who needs laughing gas when you have loadsa money?

 

Posted: 15th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment


Arsenal: Arsene Wenger marvels at Manchester United and says Sterling only left Liverpool for the money

Transfer Balls: A look at today’s Arsenal reporting.

The Times says Arsene Wenger “will only bring in exceptional signing for Arsenal”.

This becomes a “strong hint that the FA Cup winners will not sign any more players during the remainder of the transfer window”.

A bluff?

Wenger is quoted:

“I don’t close the door if we find any player who can strengthen the squad, but we have already strengthened the squad. I believe part of the success of the squad is also the level of cohesion. We have a good level of cohesion. What is important for myself and the squad is to see how we can carry on and move forward again. We felt at the end of last season that we had moved forward, but it is still not enough. In this preseason we have to move forward again. We have to move forward together, which for me it is more important than dreaming about finding a miraculous player who wins you everything. I believe we have the quality, and it’s now about how much we can be stronger together.”

 

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 14th, July 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Arsenal get Julian Draxler when Stoke sell Shaqiri

Transfer balls: Are Arsenal going to sign Julian Draxler? Yes, says the Metro, Arsenal are “finally” going to get the Schalke flyer.

The Metro’s source is TribalFootball, which reports its own source:

BILD says Schalke may be forced to sell Draxler to fund a move for Xherdan Shaqiri.

Inter Milan midfielder Shaqiri has been linked with Stoke in recent weeks but Schalke want to keep him in the Bundesliga with a £12million bid.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 14th, July 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Liverpool: How Raheem Sterling made a mug of smug Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool sold Raheem Sterling to Manchester City for £49m. But did anyone think to tell Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers?

These are a few of his recent commengts on Sterling:

April 2: “Raheem has two and a half years left on his deal and he’s not going anywhere in the summer…Liverpool are one of the superpowers of football and if the owners don’t want to sell, they don’t have to.”

May 2: “Raheem won’t be going anywhere this summer, even if there’s not a deal agreed.”

May 22: “Raheem has two years left on his deal and I expect him to see that two years through.”

July 13: “The situation currently is simple. The club has agreed with another club a deal for Raheem to be transferred. Subject to a medical, that will go through.”

And not forgetting:

July 14: “Contrary to the last week — in terms of what was written — Raheem and I have always been very strong in our relationship and have been until he left so there is no issue there. I spoke to Raheem at length before I left yesterday so there is no problem.”

Did he tell Raheem he was staying at the club?

Posted: 14th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Manchester United want £50m Arsenal fan Cavani who joined Juventus for £22m

Transfer balls: Manchester United are after Edinson Cavani, a players often linked with Arsenal and Liverpool.

The Sun:

United are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over the £50million-rated striker but the French giants will not sell unless Angel Di Maria is part of the deal.

Adding on Di Maria:

United’s £59.7m British record buy is undecided on his future.

The Mirror says Cavani is now United’s prime target. But the prime target seems to be for a way to get shot of Di Maria.

Talk on Cavani can be taken with a dose of salt. In May the Mirror was telling its readers Cavani had agreed to join Juventus for £22m but would only be allowed to leave if  PSG could hold onto Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

How is the same player now rated at £50m? Are Manchester United now forced to pay huge premiums to get players?

The Metro added that “Arsenal are clear to sign Edinson Cavani”. And the Express said Cavani “is keen on a move to Arsenal”.

Such are the facts.

 

Posted: 14th, July 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment


Watch Robin Van Persie’s inner child cry for Manchester United

When Robin Van Persie was asked whey he was leaving Arsenal for £240,000 a week at Manchester United, the Dutch footballer replied:

“I always listen to the little boy inside of me in these situations – when you have to make the harder decisions in life. What does he want? That boy was screaming for Man United.”

Two years alter and Van Persie is out of Manchester United. He’s listened to that child again, and this time’s it’s told him to collected in excess of £200,000 a week to play for Fenerbahce.

That inner child places a high value on pocket money.

But is the child happy? Let’s take a look:

 

 

No really a video of RVP’s inner child, of course. This is Louis Diamond, “a life-long Manchester United fan”, reacting to news that Van Persie is leaving Man United.

Posted: 14th, July 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Manchester City give Liverpool £49m for Citizens diehard Raheem Sterling

Eric Brook: Raheem's idol

Eric Brook: Raheem’s idol

Transfer balls: Raheem Sterling is on his way from Liverpool to Manchester City for £49m, says the Sun.

Raheem loves City. Sure, there’s £200,000-a-week for the next five-years guaranteed. But it was never about the money. Sterling told us that and who are we to doubt his word?

Remember it was Raheem’s agent, the charming Aidy Ward, who stated that Sterling wouldn’t extend his association with Liverpool for “£900,000 a week”. Liverpool, who had offered Sterling £100,000 a week could have gone to £900,000 plus £1 – borrowing a quid from Arsene Wenger’s old Luis Suarez savings account – but when you’re dealing with principles often nothing but honour will solve the matter in hand.

Raheem can now achieve his dream of winning things and becoming City’s top goal scorer, surpassing the 178 goals scored by… Yes, Raheem. Correct. Eric Brook.

What that lad doesn’t know about City is not worth knowing.

PS: Queens Park Rangers, from whom Liverpool poached Sterling for an initial fee of £600,000 five years ago, will receive almost £10 million after agreeing a 20 per cent sell-on clause as part of that deal.

Posted: 12th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling ‘agrees’ £45m move to Manchester City: now for the wages

Transfer Balls: Liverpool have told Raheem Sterling he doesn’t have to go on their pre-season tour of the Far East. Well, so says the Telegraph:

Liverpool are now in advanced negotiations with City as the clubs edge closer to a £50 million deal, prompting the decision to omit Sterling from the travelling squad heading to the Far East and Australia.

The Mail says Sterling will head to Manchester City for £45m.

City have agreed to pay £45million for the England star, who has been Manuel Pellegrini’s target No 1 summer target.

Now do the tricky bit: what does Raheem Sterling think he should earn every week?

Liverpool fans will be left to wonder why a player poached from QPR was not secured for more money when his last contract was signed. If Liverpool says he’s worth £50m, it’s little wonder Sterling believes he’s worth more than the £100,000-a-week the Reds have offered him? It remains to be seen whether Sterling’s potential bears fruit, but Manchester City clearly think it will.

Posted: 12th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: why ‘betrayed’ Robin Van Persie left Manchester United to earn a fortune in Turkey

Transfer Balls: Robin Van Persie is leaving Manchester United. The Mirror says the former Arsenal skipper is heading to Fenerbahce in a £4.7million deal “after being ordered by Van Gaal to train on his own”.

Robin van Persie will leave Manchester United feeling he has been betrayed by Louis van Gaal.

Betrayed?

The Dutch striker is joining Fenerbahce in a £4.7million deal after being ordered by Van Gaal to train on his own while the rest of his Old Trafford team-mates took part in a full-scale practise match at Carrington on Tuesday.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: 12th, July 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment


Transfer balls: Manchester United will sign Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke unless Liverpool pay up

Transfer balls: Manchester United have joined Liverpool in the hunt United move for Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke. Well, so says one newspaper.

The Sun shouts that “CHRISTIAN BENTEKE is next on Louis van Gaal’s hitlist” because “Manchester United’s boss has made signing a top striker a priority.

Is Benteke a top striker?

The Birmingham Mail announces:

Stats that reveal why losing Christian Benteke would not be the end of the world

So why do Man United want him if, as the Brum Mail says, Charlie Austin’s the better player?

In any case, the Guardian told us on July 6 that Liverpool had agreed to sign Benteke:

So expect all hell to break loose this week as Christian Benteke, with his £32.5m release clause dynamically, explosively and apocalyptically triggered by Liverpool, leaves Aston Villa for a journey of mind and body under Brendan Rodgers, who will apparently make the Belgian his seventh summer signing.

The Daily Express agreed:

 

Screen Shot 2015-07-12 at 06.02.57

 

But they were pipped to the news by TalkSport’s man in the know, who stated on July 1:

“I expect him to sign if not today then certainly in the not too distant future. Liverpool have done their work and have sealed a deal [with Aston Villa].”

But on July 4, the Mail said Liverpool had not triggered Benteke’s £32.5million buy-out clause.

Benteke remains of interest but there has been no dialogue with Villa or bid and that is likely to remain the case unless the Midlands club show a willingness to reduce their valuation.

And, apparently, now Manchester United want the Belgian. Liverpool had best find the money to secure the player or risk losing him to their big rivals. Well, so says the Sun in a story with not a single source. Wonder what Benteke’s agent makes of it all?

No words from Benteke. But Man United and Liverpool fans might care to know what he said before:

“I’m not afraid of making enemies at Villa by saying I love Arsenal… When I joined Villa I didn’t know where they played. I thought they were a London club!”

Such are the facts…

Posted: 12th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph signs for Manchester City in a matter of ‘hours’

Transfer Balls: It’s been a busy few weeks of doing nothing for Aston Villa’s Fabian Villa Delph.

July 10, Daily Mail: “Aston Villa captain Fabian Delph set to complete £8m transfer to Manchester City”

The Mail says that in the “next 24 hours”, Delph will be a Manchester City player.

 

delph agrees aston villa

 

July 10, The Daily Mirror:

The Mirror says Delph is on his way to Man City. But those 24 hours are now 48 hours.

 

Screen shot 2015-07-11 at 21.37.41
July 11, The Sun: “FABIAN DELPH has dramatically snubbed an £8million move to Manchester City.”

England midfielder Delph said: “I want to set the record straight, I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”

Delph stays!

Such are the facts…

 

Posted: 11th, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment


The Ashes: Australia collapse like a Sydney backpacker at a real ale festival

England have thrashed Australia in the Ashes first test. Australia were chasing 412 runs. Victory would only be achived with the third-highest winning total in Test history.

They failed wonderfully.

When the Telegraph’s man in the know opined “This time Australia present an appearance of invulnerability”, he was over-egging the pud. 

Australia collapsed like a Sydney backpacker at a real ale festival.

Aussie skipper Micahel “get ready for a broken fucking arm” Clarke was out-fought and out-thought.

 

Posted: 11th, July 2015 | In: Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Manchester City bid £44m for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling

Transfer Balls: a look at today’s reporting on Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling.

The Daily Mirror says Liverpool’s owners are ready to stick Raheem Sterling, 20, in the reserves rather than allow him to leave for below their £50m valuation. But surely doing that would result in Sterling playing less top-level football, not being picked for England and a reduction in any transfer fee.

Steven Gerrard has heard enough, telling Sky Sports:

“I’m not happy with all that carry-on and I don’t think there’s any need for it. They all need to be men about the situation. Raheem needs to go in and speak to the owners [Fenway Sports Group] and to Brendan himself, tell them what he wants and go about it that way. You don’t have to throw illnesses in and refuse to go on tour. There are millions and millions of Liverpool fans around the world who are itching to see Raheem Sterling in a Liverpool kit. So I don’t think it’s fair on them if he is behaving like that.”

The Times hears more from the former Liverpool skipper:

However, the 35-year-old said that Sterling, who is under contract until 2017 at Anfield, compared unfavourably with [Jordan] Henderson. “Raheem and Jordan are at different ends of the scale,” the former England captain added. “Jordan’s so professional, he’s a winner, a great lad. I don’t think there’s a more fitting player to take that armband off me. I see a lot of my game in Jordan’s game and what I like about him is he’s very humble.”

The Guardian says Sterling is now feeling much better. He’s presented his off-games not to Mr Rodgers and after two days in front of daytime telly returned for pre-season training. Will he now take part in Liverool’s pre-season tour?

The Liverpool Echo says he could be. Sterling’s name has been included in Lvierpool’s 30-man squad to tour Australia and the Far East. However, the Echo concedes “it is still unknown, however, whether Sterling will actually join up with the squad”.

The Telegraph says the Professional Footballers’ Association has volunteered to mediate between Sterling and Liverpool.

As the Times notes, the PFA did that when Arsenal came knocking for Suarez:

The situation is not a new one for Liverpool, who were faced with a similar predicament two years ago during Arsenal’s unsuccessful pursuit of Luis Suárez.
At the time, Suárez’s attempts to force a move were faced down by Liverpool and after joining up with his club’s pre-season tour of Australia, the Uruguay striker ended the summer training alone before reluctantly accepting that he would not be allowed to leave.

The key difference with Sterling, however, is that Liverpool will sanction his sale at the right price but, unless a deal is struck with City before this weekend, Rodgers will expect the former Queens Park Rangers player to be on the flight to Bangkok with the rest of his team-mates.

But no need to worry the Mirror says Manchester City have bid £44m for Sterling.

It is set to be £40m cash with add-ons which may still not be enough for Liverpool to accept as they are holding out for £50m. The clubs have opened dialogue about Sterling and must try and resolve it in the next 24 hours.

Maybe…

 

Posted: 11th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Manchester United and Arsenal in desperately slow race for Morgan Schneiderlin

Morgan Schneiderlin.

 

Transfer Balls: having read reports that Morgan Schneiderlin has joined Manchester United – pipping Arsenal to his signature – all papers bring news that he hasn’t. Morgan Schneiderlin still plays for Southampton.

What say the papers today?

The Sun: “[Manchester United] are ready with a new bid for Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin. The club had one of £20m turned down and are ready to up it to £25m.”

But the Express sys United don’t want the Fernchman:

Manchester United could end Schneiderlin pursuit after agreeing Schweinsteiger deal

They could. And, then again, they could not. Maybe.

The Mirror confirms that there is no news:

Southampton have confirmed that Manchester United are yet to make another bid for midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.

Which just leaves the Daily Star to report:

Arsenal free to complete swoop for Man United target Morgan Schneiderlin

In other words, the Press have no idea.

Such are the facts.

Posted: 11th, July 2015 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Manchester United ‘sign’ Bastian Schweinsteiger

Transfer Balls: Manchester United have signed Bastian Schweinsteiger. Well, maybe.

The Sun: “Bastian of hope United to land £15million Schweinsteiger”

MANCHESTER UNITED are on the brink of landing Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. The Red Devils are understood to have had a bid of £15million accepted for the Bayern Munich star.

Schweinsteiger is 30. He’ll be 31 next month. He had one year left on his Bayern Munich c0ntract.

Sky Sports says negotiations for the German are ongoing.

Negotiations have reached an advanced stage, but no deal has been struck yet.

But the Daily Mail says the deal has been done: Bastian Schweinsteiger has agreed a £3-year contract worth £7.2million a year.

Such are the facts.

Posted: 11th, July 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Arsenal are after Karim Benzema

benzema agrees liverpool

 

Transfer Balls: Arsenal are after Karim Benzema.

Well, so says the Metro. The newspaper quotes Spanish journo, Paco Gonzalez, who claims that Arsene Wenger has phoned the £42million-rated Real Madrid star in an attempt to convince the French international to move to the Emirates.

Only a year ago, the Star said Liverpool had signed Benzema for £38m.

But this is kosher. The Telegraph says Paco Gonzalez is a man referred to as a “respected Spanish journalist” by at least four different news outlets.

But what says Karim about the British media’s speculation?

Nothing.

 

M❤️

A video posted by Karim Benzema (@karimbenzema) on

Posted: 10th, July 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Chelsea ‘sign’ Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic (Liverpool never did)

Transfer Balls:  Chelsea are poised to sign Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic for £8 million.

The Telegraph says the transfer will go through today. Marco van Ginkel will head to Stoke City as part of the deal.

Begovic will earn £75,000 a week at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, this is transfer balls, where we keep track of dire football reporting.

Two years ago, Begovic was on his way to Liverpool, sais the Sun:

STOKE keeper Asmir Begovic is set to follow boss Tony Pulis out of the club — and sign for Liverpool. 

Such are the facts…

 

Posted: 10th, July 2015 | In: Chelsea, Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Manchester United make unconfirmed £57m bid for Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller

Transfer Balls: The Star leads wirth news that Thomas Muller is heading to Manchester United.

 

Screen shot 2015-07-09 at 22.39.46

 

How Muller will replace striker Robin Van Persie is a moot point.

But the Metro says Man United have lots of money for the excellent Muller:

Manchester United ‘have £57.4m Thomas Muller bid rejected, transfer talks are ongoing’

…according to L’Equipe, United upped the ante of those talks by tabling a £57.4m bid for the 25-year-old.

The French newspsper says Untied have made no such offer. But it does say that they might.

Manchester United would be prepared to offer 82 million euros to recruit Thomas Müller, German international striker of Bayern Munich.

L’Equipe’s source is Sport1.de, on which you can read that the apparent £57.4m bid is “not confirmed”, Muller saying he’s happy at Bayern and Bayern Munich’s Karl-Heinz Rummenigge saying of Muller to Man United:

“I have no desire to deny stories every day. That’s part of my bedtime reading. I go to bed always amused.”

Such are the facts…

 

Posted: 9th, July 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment