Tottenham

The White Hart Lane chief is trying to strengthen his squad ahead of the Champions League qualifier and former Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder Parker is one of his targets (Tottenham 3/1 – Top 4 Finish).

However, Hammers co-owner David Sullivan is unhappy with Spurs’ pursuit and insisted the the combative ace would not be sold by the east London outfit this summer.

West Ham also released a club statement which read: “The club informed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy prior to him making the offer that we would not welcome any approach to unsettle the player.”

However, Redknapp insists Spurs have acted in the proper manner and hinted there could be more to it than has been revealed.

He asked rhetorically: “Who made it public that we made an offer?

“You can make an offer for a player if you want to. You can make an offer for anybody.

“I’m sure the chairman must have got some encouragement or he wouldn’t have made an offer. So I’m not sure the full story has been told about that one.

“The chairman wouldn’t have made an offer unless he thought there was a chance that they wanted to do something.”

Sullivan is stuck between a rock and a hard place over Parker who just missed out on making England’s World Cup squad.

At the end of last season Sullivan insisted he would not allow the 29-year-old to leave, despite putting the entire squad – including the England trio of Rob Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole – up for sale.

At the time Sullivan said: “If we get the right bid we will sell any player, apart from Parker.”

He added: “Parker is not for sale. He has several years left on his contract and has intimated on several occasions he wants to stay.”

Meanwhile, former England captain David Beckham has told the Hammers they have no chance of landing him on loan in the middle of the 2010/11 Premier League season (West Ham 7/2 – Top-half Finish).

The LA Galaxy midfielder is closing in on a return following Achilles trouble but with no major tournament next summer, the 35-year-old is likely to have a break following loan spells with AC Milan during the last two Serie A campaigns.

A spokesman for Beckham told PA Sport: “Whilst it’s flattering to hear of interest there has been no contact with, or offer from, West Ham.

“David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on August 9.”

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Stuttgart

The 23-year-old impressed during the recent World Cup in South Africa, when he played a big role in helping Germany reach the semi-finals.

After hearing of Real’s interest, Khedira had expressed an interest to move to the Bernabeu and Stuttgart ‘reluctantly’ allowed him to leave.

The German club’s managing director Fredi Bobic accepted: “We can understand Sami’s wish to further his career at Real. We wish him great success with his new challenge in Madrid.”

Khedira, who came through the ranks at his home town club Stuttgart (20/1 to win 2010-11 Bundesliga), is set to become Real’s second major capture of the summer, since the arrival of Jose Morinho

The new coach has already made his stamp on the squad, with the capture of Angel di Maria from Benfica and the departures of veteran duo Raul and Guti.

More new signings are expected to follow soon, with the likes of Inter Milan full-back Maicon and Juventus striker Amauri.

Meanwhile, the Spanish giants have arrived in the US for their North American pre-season tour and Cristiano Ronaldo says the squad is feeling upbeat.

The Portuguese ace said: “We are very excited and working very hard. We have to keep this level of excitement up in order to win titles.”

Ronaldo has been handed the number seven shirt this season, after it was vacated by Raul’s departure.

The former Manchester United man has been full of praise for the Spain striker, who he describes as “a great professional”.

Ronaldo added: “I would like to have the number 7 shirt and I’m sure Raul would be happy if I had it because he knows how I am and how I think.”

Real (Evs to win 2010-11 La Liga) will play their next pre-season friendly on Wednesday, when they come up against Mexican outfit Club America.

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Bristol City

The deal will keep the former Portsmouth captain at Ashton Gate for a year with an option for an additional 12 months.

Earlier in the week it looked as though the 39-year-old would be moving to Scottish giants Celtic when he was set to go up to Glasgow to discuss terms.

However he failed to agree terms with the club, who then decided to state that they were no longer interested in the keeper just hours before he was confirmed as signing for City (11/2 to win promotion from the Championship) on Friday.

James was also linked with Premier League side Sunderland but the type of deal the Robins offered and the proximity to where the former Liverpool player lives seems to have been the deciding factors for the move.

The veteran keeper revealed that he had offers from clubs in the top flight but decided to take up the challenge at Ashton Gate.

He said: “I’ve had offers to stay in the Premier League but it is more important that I play football – which I love – for the right club and be a family man.

“I had a long conversation with the chairman Steve Lansdown yesterday and I liked what he said about the club and his ambition. I know all about the plans for a new stadium and desire to win promotion to the Premier League.

“The club is ambitious and that’s what I am. The South West has not had a club in the Premier League and that needs to change,” he added.

James played in three of England’s four World Cup games in South Africa this summer as he battled for a starting place with Robert Green and Joe Hart.

After Green’s mistake in the opening game against the USA, which ultimately cost the Three Lions the win, James was brought in and performed well in the remaining group fixtures.

The player’s contract will begin on August 1 after he completed a medical at the club on Friday.

Bristol City begin there campaign to try and reach the top flight against newly promoted Millwall at Ashton Gate on August 7.

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Puyol’s fellow Barca and Spain team-mates, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, have already gone on record over their desire to see 23-year-old don the famous blaugrana shirt – and now Puyol has also come out to lend his support.

Arsenal are understood to have already rejected a bid from Barcelona for their captain who moved to north London as a teenager in 2003, going on to make almost 200 appearances for the Gunners (Arsenal 7/1  2010/11 Premier League Outright).

Arsenal’s fans are hoping Fabregas is still on board to make many more appearances for them, but he won’t be if Puyol and co get their own way.

Speaking to The Sun,  versatile defender Puyol said: “He is having to stay at a club where he no longer wants to be for another year.

“I wonder how intelligent it is keeping a player who doesn’t want to be there.

“After seven years of great service, I thought Arsenal could have granted him his dream move.

“Cesc has given everything to Arsenal to try to win a trophy but they haven’t matched his expectations.

“I won’t say he is in a prison, as we know how privileged we are as football players.

“But after how clear Cesc made it that he wanted to be in Barcelona, I thought they would have granted him that.”

Whether or not Fabregas is still a Gunner by the end of the transfer window remains to be seen.

But if he is, boss Arsene Wenger has told the midfielder he stands a chance of playing his part in taking the Premier League title back to north London for the first time since 2003/04.

The Frenchman told Arsenal’s website: “We know in England that the Premier League is the biggest league in the world and everybody invests a lot of money.

“We invest in our work, in our beliefs, in the quality of our behaviour and I am confident that will pay off.

“We finished third last year and we hope we can improve on that – but the race will be tough.”

The Gunners host the Emirates Cup again this weekend, kicking off against AC Milan on Friday night.

Arsenal (7/4 – 90 Minutes) kick off the season at Liverpool (5/4) on August 15.

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Tottenham

Woodgate has not featured for Spurs since November last year and is looking likely to miss out on the 25-man squad that Redknapp will need to select ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

The squad must be selected by the end of August, according to the new guidelines, and the defender is on the verge of missing the cut.

The 30-year-old has had a career which has been marred by injury, which also affected the amount of appearances he has made at international level with England.

Woodgate’s current contract at White Hart Lane is due to run out at the end of this season and Redknapp believes that he may have to look for a replacement central defender, if the former Leeds and Middlesbrough player cannot recover in time.

The Spurs boss admitted: “Woody’s nowhere near at the moment. Nowhere near. It must be really hard for him. He’s nowhere near kicking a ball.

“He’s been out for a year, been in America and Australia, but he’s still nowhere near. I just couldn’t put him in my 25. It’s impossible at the moment.”

Woodgate’s groin injury meant he only featured on three occasions for Spurs last season and was forced to miss the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Redknapp, who also has doubts over the fitness of Ledley King, insists the ex-Newcastle man is facing a race against time to make the Spurs squad.

The manager added: “If he doesn’t start playing before the start of the season he’s got no chance.

“You can’t have somebody in who’s never going to play. He’s got to really prove it (that he will be fit) between now and the start of the season.”

Spurs (9/1 to be the highest finishing London club in the Premier League) will look to continue their strong form from last season, which saw them finish fourth in Premier League and secure them a place in the Champions League qualifying stages.

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Liverpool

The tough-tackling midfielder has been linked with a summer move away from Liverpool for some time and now Hodgson has revealed the player has expressed his desire to move on.

“Yes he wants to leave the club. He’s made that perfectly clear,” said Hodgson.

“I think he wanted to leave a year ago. He wants to leave now as well.”

Italian giants and European champions Inter Milan have been linked with a swoop for the 26-year-old, where he would link up with former boss Rafael Benitez.

However, despite Mascherano’s desire to leave Anfield, Hodgson refused to rule out the possibility that the Argentinean will stay and is adamant the club will make the final decision.

He added: “The mere fact that the player is a little bit unhappy with his situation and will prefer to leave doesn’t necessarily mean he will leave.

“Yes, it disappoints me, but it’s not unusual. I think in every football club through the Premier League and all throughout the world there will be players playing in a team that would prefer to leave.

“Some are allowed to, some are not allowed to. So that’s the situation with Mascherano.”

Mascherano still has two years left on his current contract at Anfield and Liverpool will not allow the midfielder to leave on the cheap.

There has also been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of striker Fernando Torres.  The former Atletico Madrid man is a known target of Manchester City, with boss Roberto Mancini confirming his interest earlier in the week, and it is thought current champions Chelsea are also chasing the Spanish star.

Hodgson is desperate to retain the services of the talented striker and the former Fulham boss believes Torres is happy to remain a Liverpool player (Liverpool 12/1 to win the Premier League).

“He’s spending a lot of time with his family. As far as I know he’s keeping a very low profile and not really speaking to anybody. But he has told us that he’s looking forward to Monday and getting back to work,” said Hodgson on Torres.

“He’s looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season. That’s what I know and I would suggest that any other reports are erroneous.”

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Roy Hodgson

The former Fulham boss, who took charge at Anfield earlier this month, has opted not to risk the majority of the Reds’ senior players in what is his first competitive game in charge of the club.

Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Lucas, David Ngog and new recruit Milan Jovanovic are the only experienced players who could be on show.

However, England quartet Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson have not travelled, despite returning to training since last week.

Javier Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez only came back this week while Fernando Torres, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are still on holiday following their World Cup exploits.

So Diego Cavalieri, Martin Kelly, Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing are all set to feature against Rabotnicki and will be charged with keeping Liverpool’s Europa League bid (11/1 Outright) on track.

The likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Nathan Eccleston, Peter Gulacsi, David Amoo, Lauri Dalla Valle and Tom Ince have also travelled to Macedonia and could play a part.

Hodgson said: “It is not sink or swim – it would be very harsh to write off a player’s chances of becoming a good player on the evidence of a game.

“I think it is more an opportunity to swim than to fear for them sinking.

“But we are obliged to put our European fate into the hands of many inexperienced players.

“We can only hope that, because they have got talent, they will come through these ties against an experienced and well-versed team in European football like Rabotnicki.”

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Mark Hughes

Fulham have opted for the former Manchester City boss to replace Roy Hodgson, who was allowed to leave to take over at Liverpool earlier this summer.

The Cottagers took their time with the appointment and several candidates were in the frame, in particular former Tottenham boss Martin Jol, who decided to stay at Ajax.

Hughes his since emerged as the man owner Mohamed al Fayed wanted to continue the good work Hodgson did at the club during his two-and-a-half-year reign at Craven Cottage.

The former Manchester United striker has big boots to fill, such was Hodgson’s reputation in west London, but many believe he was unfairly dismissed by the Eastlands club as they looked to appoint Roberto Mancini.

Before that, Hughes was also respected for the job he did while in charge of Blackburn between 2004 and 2009 and is expected to be able to attract some talented new players to Craven Cottage (Fulham 1/18 to stay up this season).

The Welshman has been tipped to raid City for several players, including the likes of strike duo Roque Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy, who he knows very well, while other targets are likely to emerge in the next month.

Hodgson led Fulham, who finished 12th last season, to the Europa League final in May and, while Hughes does not have European football this season at the Cottage, he would do well to emulate his predecessor and guide the club to another top-seven finish like in 2009.

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Manchester City

City have been strongly linked with Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner during the off-season.

The Eastlands club have already added to a squad which looks like one of the strongest in the Premier League on paper.

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, Jerome Boateng and David Silva are three of the big signings that have joined the club this summer.

Mancini is also hoping that the former Real Madrid playmaker Robinho, who left City on loan last season, will return to the club for the Premier League campaign.

He said: “The situation is that Robinho will finish his contract with Santos. After that he will stay in Brazil for another week, play for the national team and after that he will return to Manchester City.”

The Blues boss has stated that whether or not Robinho stays at the club is up to the player, but the manager will hope the player returns after the 26-year-old performed well at this summer’s World Cup.

City have been trying to bring in former Leeds and Newcastle star James Milner to the club after the midfielder had a strong campaign with Aston Villa (7/1 to finish in the top four) last season.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill has stated that the two clubs are at a stalemate over the valuation of last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year, but he does not know whether their key man will be at Villa Park at the start of the season.

O’Neill said: “The latest stage of play seems to be Man City feel as if they have gone as far as they want to, but we will wait with baited breath on that one.

“I think obviously the overriding opinion of all Villa fans is that they would love James to stay at the football club. But as I speak here now at this minute, my honest opinion, I cannot guarantee that but we will see.”

Speculation has suggested that Milner would welcome a move to the Premier League’s big spenders as they push for a top four finish in the league.

City will begin their campaign against Tottenham as they look for revenge against the London side, who beat them to the final Champions League place last season.

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Aston Villa

The former Leeds United academy player has been linked all summer with a move to Eastlands and there have been suggestions that the attacking midfielder wants to leave Villa.

City had an initial £20m bid for Milner turned down as the Midlands club believe the player to be worth at least £24m.

Villa manager O’Neill has stated that the two clubs are at a stalemate over the player and is uncertain of what might happen in the future.

He said: “The latest state of play is Manchester City have gone as far as they want to.

“We’ll wait with baited breath on that one, myself included.”

Milner had an excellent season last year at Villa Park and was reported to have attracted interest from other Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Manchester United.

Villa will be desperate to keep hold of the England international who was one of only a few players to impress in the Three Lions’ dismal World Cup tournament.

O’Neill is keen to see the goalscoring midfielder as Villa (16/1 to win the FA Cup) continue to push for cup honours and compete in the top half of the Premier League.

He said: “I think obviously the overriding opinion of all Villa fans is that they would love James to stay at the football club.

“But as I speak here now at this minute, my honest opinion, I cannot guarantee that, but we will see.”

Villa have not yet made a move in the transfer market this summer and fans will be hoping the club can keep hold of their best players and add to the squad.

O’Neill is aiming to ensure that the likes of Ashley Young and Milner stay, but he does appreciate why players move on to the big clubs.

He said: “I can understand totally that players would be affected by offers from Manchester City, particularly in this day and age where it looks as if they can get who they want.”

Villa begin their Premier League campaign when they take on West Ham United at Villa Park on August 14.

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