Tag Archives: switch

Gallas completes Spurs switch

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Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of former Arsenal (11/2 to win the Premier League) captain William Gallas on a one-year-deal.

The Frenchman became a free agent when his contract ended at the Emirates and the defender has decided to make the short journey across North London to Spurs.

Gallas underwent a medical on Friday but the deal was finally completed on Sunday after the player agreed terms.

The 33-year-old was offered a new deal at rivals Arsenal however the player has taken a cut in wages to join the White Hart Lane club.

Spurs (10/1 to win the Carling Cup) boss Harry Redknapp has insisted that the player has not moved to the club for a big money deal and thinks he will be a good addition to the squad.

He said: “He’s a no-brainer on a free transfer.”

“He’s never asked for big money here. The chairman’s agreed a one-year contract with him and the wages are more than reasonable,” he added.

Redknapp has been looking for cover in defensive roles throughout the summer as Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate have ongoing injury problems.

Michael Dawson, Sebastien Bassong and Younes Kaboul have all been battling for a place in the starting eleven and Gallas will add more experience to the defence.

The outspoken player has played plenty of matches in the Champions League with the Gunners which will help Spurs if they manage to qualify for the group stages of the competition.

Tottenham lost the away leg against Swiss side Young Boys 3-2 and will be hoping to overcome the deficit when the two sides face each other at White Hart Lane.

Gallas could feature in that match if King’s knee problems rule him out of action for the game.

Arsene Wenger has thanked his former skipper for his efforts in the last four years at the Emirates.

He said: “At the moment he’s looking for a club, he’s free. He has chosen the best possible option for him.

“We are thankful for what he has done for us and we wish him good luck in his new club.”

Spurs picked up their first win of the Premier League season on Saturday when they beat Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

The North London side will be confident of picking up another three points this weekend when they take on a struggling Wigan Athletic side who have conceded 10 goals in their first two Premier League games.

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Bradley open to Villa switch

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USA coach Bob Bradley has admitted he would be open to a move into European club management in the wake of Martin O’Neill’s decision to step down as Aston Villa boss (Villa 15/8 to secure a top-six finish).

O’Neill made the decision to quit the club after four years in charge at Villa Park and as yet no reason has been given for his departure, just days before the new season kicks off.

It has been speculated the former Celtic and Leicester boss may have stepped down over the club’s sale of James Milner, with the England midfielder expected to sign for Manchester City after the Three Lion’s friendly with Hungary on Wednesday for a fee of around £24million.

Tottenham are also said to be keen on Villa winger Ashley Young and although little is known about any potential deal involving Young, the wider media have suggested that O’Neill is said to be disappointed the club are planning to sell his star players without giving him a sufficient budget to draft in replacements.

Villa’s American owner, Randy Lerner, is now on the look-out for a replacement and his compatriot Bradley is among the early contenders to take over at Villa, with the USA coach admitting he would welcome a move to Europe at some point.

“I have said over and over as well that I am always excited about new and different challenges,” said Bradley.

“Certainly coaching in Europe at some point is something that I would love to do.”

However, Bradley did not rule out the possibility that he would remain with the USA and lead them through their qualification campaign for the 2014 World Cup.

The USA take on Brazil, who will host the 2014 tournament, in a friendly on Wednesday and Bradley is expected to make a decision regarding his future following the tie (USA 3/1, draw 9/4, Brazil 4/5).

He added: “At the same time, I also consider it a challenge when you finish one (World Cup ) cycle and begin the process of working on another one. From the time one World Cup ends, you begin to go through the process of assessing where you are.”

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has also been linked with the vacant manager’s position at Villa Park, while Martin Jol and Slaven Bilic have also been suggested as possible candidates.

Reserve team coach Kevin MacDonald will take charge for Villa’s season opener against West Ham (Match Betting – Villa 8/11, draw 12/5, West Ham 16/5).

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Milner set for City switch

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Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill appears to have conceded defeat over the future of James Milner and the England winger looks set to bolster Manchester City’s top-four hopes by completing a move to Eastlands in the next few days (City 13/10 – Premier League w/o Man United and Chelsea).

Villa were held to a goalless draw by Spanish side Valencia on Friday in their latest pre-season friendly and Milner was left out of the squad with question marks over his future.

The former Newcastle and Leeds star has expressed his desire to join mega-rich City, who are 13/8 to be top north west club this season, ahead of the new campaign and O’Neill is ready to reluctantly accept that outcome.

“We didn’t play him primarily because there could be something happening in terms of the transfer,” O’Neill said after the Valencia game.

“I thought it would be the best thing to do not to play him in case something develops over the weekend or Monday or Tuesday.”

Milner is set to move to Eastlands in a deal that could see City midfielder Stephen Ireland go the other way with the Eastlands club also paying up to £25million for his services.

O’Neill was frank when asked about the situation and admitted it was probably best for all parties for the transfer to now go through as soon as possible.

“I think there’s been fresh contact,” he added. “I couldn’t tell you whether there’s been a renewed offer.

“I think there is something in that there now, yes (getting it concluded quickly). I agree.

“I think that’s for everyone’s benefit really, it’s probably time to get something done if it’s at all possible.”

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Toure set for Man City switch

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Yaya Toure is set to link-up with his brother Kolo at Manchester City and could complete his move to the Premier League big-spenders within days. (Man City 6/1 to win title outright)

Barcelona cleared the way for the Ivory Coast midfielder to move to Eastlands after confirming his departure on Monday and Toure is expected to be the first of a number of big-money signings by City manager Roberto Mancini over the next month.

Toure was expected to seal a move to City earlier this month but the deal was held up by the player’s participation in the World Cup and a change of presidents at Barcelona.

But new Barca chief Sandro Rosell takes over at the Spanish champions from outgoing president Joan Laporta on Thursday and Toure’s agent anticipates the transfer being finalised soon after that following the confirmation that the midfielder and teammate Thierry Henry will be leaving this summer.

Agent Dimitri Seluk told Sport: “I think we will have a solution this week. In fact, I would say that (it will be done) on the first or second of July – maybe on the second because the first will be a very busy day at Barca with the change of president.

“Yes, we have to talk, but of course, the reality is not going to change in one moment.

“Yaya wants to play the important games and he knows that he will be an important player at Manchester City.

“It is not a money problem, as I have said 1,000 times, but a problem of (the lack of) confidence (that Barca have in him).”

Seluk admitted that nothing has been signed yet but said that Toure?s wage demands are not excessive and he does not expect anything to hold up the deal.

He added: “I haven’t signed anything. However, Yaya doesn’t have an astronomical salary, not at all, so it won’t be difficult to be reach an agreement.”
Toure could be joined at Manchester City in the near future by Valencia striker David Silva and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.

Silva, who is also wanted by Premier League champions Chelsea) has been given permission by his Spanish side to open talks on a possible £29 million move, with striker Roque Santa Cruz possibly moving in the opposite direction as part of a swap deal.

Milner has been a target for Mancini all summer and is expected to hold urgent talks with Villa at the start of next month following England?s disappointing World Cup exit.

City kick-off the 2010/11 season with a visit to Tottenham and Mancini would like to have all three players available for the clash at White Hart Lane (Man City 7/4 to win, Tottenham 5/4, 9/4 draw)

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Henry keen on US switch?

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Barcelona star Thierry Henry could be set to join MLS side New York Red Bulls after the World Cup, according to compatriot David Trezeguet. (France 16/1 to win World Cup)

Henry has been tipped to leave the Nou Camp this summer after falling down the striking pecking order and with David Villa now on board with the Catalans.

Former club Juventus have been linked with the Arsenal legend, while Premiership side West Ham United have also shown an interest in the 32-year-old, with club co-owner David Sullivan saying he has made the player an offer which would make him the highest-paid player in the club’s history.

But rumours of a switch stateside will not go away and Trezeguet, who is currently with Juve to play against the Red Bulls in an exhibition match, revealed that his former France team-mate has always been keen to play in the USA at some stage of his career.

“I actually don’t know very much about it. I know that he wanted very much to have an experience here in the United States,” he said. “I don’t know if it will be next year, but in any event, I definitely wish him all the best.”

France kick off their 2010 World Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 11 and are the even money favourites to win that clash with the South Americans on offer at 13/5 and the draw priced at 9/4.

Henry is by no means a certainty to start for the French in South Africa as he has failed to recapture his Arsenal form at Barcelona, and it may be that he is used as an impact player from the bench towards the end of matches.

Another star who has been tipped to move to America is Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero, but the 35-year-old made it clear that he has no intention of leaving Juventus just yet.

When asked if he could return to New York as a player in the near future, Del Piero made it clear that he will still play in Turin next season.

“I have no idea; perhaps I will come one more time here on holiday,” he said. “For sure I know that next year I will be wearing the Juventus jersey. But, who knows. Anything can happen.”

Italy are priced at 12/1 to defend their World Cup title this year but will be without Del Piero, whose international days are now behind him, and he can bask in the glory of scoring a penalty in the shoot-out that won the Italians the sport’s most prestigious prize four years ago.

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