Manchester City plot Martin Demichelis transfer as they tire of running into brick wall over Pepe
Argentine who played for Pellegrini at Malaga said to be willing to leave Atletico Madrid without ever playing for them
Manchester City are lining up a cut-price £3million move for Argentine stopper Martin Demichelis after Real Madrid refused to sell Portuguese hard-man Pepe.
New City boss Manuel Pellegrini is desperate for central defensive cover after losing Matija Nastasic for the first six weeks of the season with an ankle problem.
Pellegrini, who let Kolo Toure leave for Liverpool, has only skipper Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott as experienced centre-halves for the start of the Blues' season.
The Chilean could deploy Yaya Toure, Javi Garcia or Micah Richards there, but his move for Pepe - behind Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane - signalled Pellegrini has concerns, which were intensified by a 3-1 friendly defeat by Arsenal in Helsinki last weekend.
Real, though, told City that Pepe is not for sale and Pellegrini has turned to Atletico Madrid - and former Bayern Munich - man Demichelis.
The 32-year-old played for Pellegrini at Malaga for the past two years before moving on this summer, and is understood to be ready to leave Atletico without playing a competitive game for them.
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Wenger told to forget City striker Dzeko in further transfer blow for Arsenal
Manchester City will provide Arsene Wenger with another transfer headache by telling Arsenal their striker Edin Dzeko is not for sale.
The Gunners have turned their attention to the Bosnia forward as they accept they are unlikely to land Liverpool’s rebellious frontman Luis Suarez, who has been their No 1 transfer target.
But City boss Manuel Pellegrini has no intention of parting with Dzeko, having been impressed by the 27-year-old since his arrival at the Etihad.
One reason Pellegrini decided not to follow up his predecessor Roberto Mancini’s interest in the Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, then with Napoli, was due to his faith in Dzeko.
Whether a huge cash offer from the Gunners is enough to change City’s mind remains to be seen.
Liverpool prepare for Manchester City raid for Daniel Agger
LIVERPOOL are ready to fight another battle to keep star defender Daniel Agger at Anfield.
Barcelona and Manchester City are looking at Daniel Agger
Barcelona made a £15m bid for the centre-half last week, which Liverpool turned down.
But now Manchester City are preparing their own advance for the Denmark international.
City have had a £20m offer for Real Madrid ace Pepe rejected.
“Agger would be open to a move away but will not push for an exit”
They are now abandoning their pursuit of the Portugal man and could now focus on Agger.
City tried to lure the 28-year-old to the Etihad last summer but had their attempts knocked back.
It's understood Agger would be open to a move away but will not push for an exit in the same manner
Aston Villa turn down Gareth Barry loan deal
Aston Villa are believed to have turned down the chance to take former midfielder Gareth Barry back on loan.
The 32-year-old, who left Villa Park for the Etihad in a £12m deal in 2009, has one year left on his current deal and is not thought to feature in the plans of new manager Manuel Pellegrini.
A number of clubs - including North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal - have been linked with the England international, who has expressed his disappointment at not being offered a new contract.
According to talkSHIT, the City have been in contact the Villans about the possibility of taking him on loan for a season, but that offer has been rejected by Paul Lambert.
Barry started 27 league games under Roberto Mancini last season.
England stopper Joe Hart backs Worcester's Matt Burton in fight against cancer
ENGLAND goalkeeper Joe Hart has given a cancer sufferer the goal of facing him in a penalty shoot-out as inspiration in his fight against the disease.
Manchester City ace Hart, aged 26, laid down the challenge to 20-year-old Matt Burton, from Worcester, when the pair met ahead of England’s 3-2 win over the auld enemy, Scotland, at Wembley last night.
The pair came face-to-face as the Premier League keeper dedicated his performance in the match to Mr Burton, as part of a fund-raising initiative by the Football Association in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
And Hart was so keen to take on the Worcester man that he even gave him a pair of his boots to practise in, branding him “truly inspiring”.
“In his 20 years, he has battled against the odds,” said the star.
“What I find extraordinary is how Matt retains his zest for life and sense of humour during difficult times.
“His courage, drive and independent spirit are truly inspiring.
“One day, when his legs are stronger, I look forward to Matt returning to St George’s Park to face me in a penalty shoot-out.”
Matt, who met the football ace at England’s training camp at St George’s Park in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, vowed to return and face the stopper.
“He was so chatty and he even challenged me to a penalty,” said Matt, who has soft tissue sarcoma and is receiving intense chemotherapy treatment for tumours on his legs and chest.
“Unfortunately, my health isn’t up to scratch at the moment so I promised to come back once I’m better and take him up on that.
“He said he’d wait for me, and in the meantime gave me his boots so I could practise.”
SNUB COUNT: 482
Financial Fair Play is making the rich richer and keeping the poor in business
Huge spending from Manchester City, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco has cast fresh doubt on the regulations, but Uefa insist clubs are cutting their cloth accordingly
It was brought into football amid massive overspending by billionaire club owners and the debt-ridden downfalls of some of the sport’s most cherished outfits, yet Uefa’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) model has been the centre of much controversy over recent weeks.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed Real Madrid’s mega-money pursuit of Gareth Bale "makes a joke" of FFP, while others in the game have pointed to the huge outlays of the likes of Manchester City, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain this summer as further proof that the system is flawed.
But is it? Uefa was at pains to stress upon its implementation that FFP had been welcomed by all of the game’s biggest clubs, and there are signs that its effect has been largely positive despite the continued escalation of transfer fees involving football’s most prominent names.
"We’re seeing evidence that clubs are starting to take FFP seriously and beginning to change their behaviour in response to the rules," Goal was told by Trevor Birch, a partner at BDO accountancy firm and former chief executive at Chelsea and Everton. "Our most recent survey of football club finance directors found that 83 per cent of clubs are planning to spend less or the same on payroll costs this coming season; of these, 42% revealed that their decision was influenced by FFP, and FFP was a factor for 86% of Premier League and 77% of Championship teams.
"It’s tempting to see high-profile transfers like those made by Man City, PSG and Monaco as examples of clubs flouting FFP, but the reality is considerably more complicated. For example, clubs typically account for a signing over the life of the contract, so the financial impact is spread over several years. Plus clubs are increasingly looking to offload players to make way for their marquee signings – look at Tevez leaving Man City or Higuain going from Madrid."
Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino also insists that the positives of the system are already in evidence.
"FFP is working very well," claimed Infantino to AFP. "It has been in place for a while and has become the bread and butter of everyone in football. People in the game realise that we've got to do something to stop the spiral of losses. Payment arrears have already gone down by 40% between 2011 and 2012."
There was originally a common conception that it was due to the introduction of free-spending owners at clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea that Uefa had been moved to act, but Infantino is keen to stress that that was never the motivation.
"The FFP rules have been introduced and implemented not to punish the clubs, but to help the clubs. We said a year ago that this was the last wake-up call for clubs and that the rules have teeth, and the clubs are into it. They are implementing the rules not because there are sanctions, but because at the end of the day it is better for them as well to have a sustainable business model.
"Every club is free to act according to the revenues that it generates. The system has to be sound. Insofar as a club is able to make transfers and pay salaries while respecting the rules there's no issue. If they have not generated enough revenue to be able to perform these transfers then there could be sanctions, sanctions which can be anything from a warning to a fine, to a restriction on registering new or current players, and finally an exclusion."
However, Faye Bargery, senior associate and sports finance specialist at leading law firm Thomas Eggar LLP, is concerned that FFP may have significant negative effects for football.
"The various concessions in the rules, together with big clubs extracting as much money out of commercial opportunities as possible, may mean that the rules impact on the smaller clubs more than those they were designed to restrict," Bargery told Goal.
"The ability of clubs to amortise transfer fees over the term of players’ contracts and the increase of huge sponsorship deals is likely to mean clubs who may have initially been concerned about FFP are continuing to splash the cash. Uefa has promised it will scrutinise sponsorship deals such as Man City's £385m Etihad deal, but proving what is 'market rate' at a time when sponsorship deals for the bigger clubs seem to be increasing year by year will not be easy.
"It seems the FFP rules may turn the football world into an even more uneven playing field, with the smaller clubs – with their restricted commercial income – struggling to compete against bigger clubs and their huge commercial potential."
So while Malaga, Rapid Bucharest and a number of other clubs sit out this year’s European competitions as a result of FFP breaches, Man City, PSG, Real Madrid and Monaco continue to spend heavily, knowing that their revenues over the length of their stars' contracts should be enough to cover their massive outlays. Yet Birch believes it is time to back the powers-that-be in their drive to rid the game of its previous boom and bust sensibilities.
"We have to give Uefa the benefit of the doubt and believe their actions were driven by the fact that the existence of so many clubs throughout Europe was at risk because of the losses they were incurring," says Birch. "The need to ensure the future sustainability of the football business drove the process as much as sporting equality and integrity."
This could, in time, force more clubs to look for creative ways to increase their incomes, whether that be through commercial avenues or by increasing ticket prices, in order to challenge at the top. However, the early signs are that the very threat of sanctions are forcing some notable names to fall in line with the new rules until such time as revenues are increased.
And, for now at least, it is the giants of the game with the biggest commercial pulling power who will reap the rewards of a system which puts the emphasis on spending only what you have.
GIANNI INFANTINO
"Big clubs as well as small clubs, the rules are there," Infantino told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"A year ago, we warned that this is the last wake-up call for the clubs and that the rules have teeth.
"The break-even rule will enter into force next season, taking into account the figures of this season and last season.
"The clubs know the rules. If they haven't generated enough revenue to perform these transfers, then there will be sanctions - sanctions which could be a warning or a fine or a restriction on registering new players or, finally, an exclusion.
"The Financial Fair Play rules have been introduced and implemented not to punish clubs but to help the clubs."
[spoiler]Irina Shayk - Her sexiness and immense beauty has just earned her $3.3 million for featuring in a cover page.
[/spoiler]Real Madrid are confident they will land Gareth Bale, 24, for a world-record £81m. But the Spanish giants believe Tottenham will make them wait till just before the transfer window shuts on 2 September. Sun
Meanwhile, Tottenham are plotting moves for Roma's 21-year-old forward Erik Lamela, Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen, 21, and Anzhi Makhachkala's 25-year-old winger Willian. Daily Express
Manchester United are prepared to offer up to £40m for Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 26, as manager David Moyes refuses to concede defeat in his efforts to sign the Spain international. Daily Telegraph
Arsenal target Luiz Gustavo - Bayern Munich's 26-year-old Brazil international midfielder - is set to join Wolfsburg for £12.8m. Bild
Arsenal have not given up hope of signing Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 26, and are considering a final bid of £49m. Daily Telegraph
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, 32, is still keen to be reunited with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho but has claimed that Manchester United are also eager to sign him. Eto'o currently plays for Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala. Daily Mirror
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claims the Blues will not sell 26-year-old defender David Luiz, regardless of any offers that may arrive from Barcelona. DSSC
Former Wigan striker Franco Di Santo, 24, has reignited his dream of playing for Argentina at the World Cup by joining German side Werder Bremen on a three-year deal. Sun
Everton boss Roberto Martinez is claiming victory in his attempts to prevent Manchester United from signing 28-year-old left-back Leighton Baines - but the Toffees are prepared to do business with United over 25-year-old midfielder Marouane Fellaini. Daily Mirror
Wales manager Chris Coleman, who spent time managing in Spain, believes winger Gareth Bale would adapt well to life at Real Madrid if the 24-year-old joins the La Liga club from Tottenham. Independent
Swansea's Dutch keeper Michel Worn says he would not be able turn down Spanish giants Barcelona if they came looking for him. The 29-year-old Dutch goalkeeper was linked with Barca last summer as a possible replacement for Victor Valdes. Daily Star
Manchester United are preparing a bid for Real Madrid's German playmaker Mesut Ozil, 24, according to Spanish TV. Intereconomia
The agent of Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, 26, has made enquiries with Paris St-Germain over a possible move for his client. Marca
Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma, 18, has attracted interest from Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray, according to his legal representative. RTP
Sevilla have reached an agreement with Spanish midfielder Vicente Iborra, 25, and are waiting for approval from Levante to complete the transfer. AS
Former Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, who retired from football after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia, has called on the club's fans to end their chanting of his name in the 19th minute, saying: "We all have to move on." Guardian
New Fulham owner Shahid Khan, who also owns the NFL franchise the Jacksonville Jaguars has said he will not rebrand the London club as the Fulham Jaguars. Daily Star
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