JOHNSON PROUD TO BE REDS

Glen Johnson believes Liverpool can steal the title from Manchester United next season.

 

The Anfield club's new £17m full-back is supremely confident his new employers have the quality to go one better than last season, when they finished as runners-up to the men from Old Trafford.

 

The England defender was unveiled on Thursday as Liverpool's first major signing of the summer.

BOLA BOYZ  LIVERPOOL

DECO TO STAY AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

Chelsea midfielder Deco is prepared to stay at the club after seeing Inter Milan withdraw their interest in him. Deco described last season as the worst of his career and was desperate to join Inter, but the Italians insist they cannot afford him. Now the 31-year-old Portugal international has hinted he may stay at Stamford Bridge for another two years.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

MAN CITY GAVE UP ON ETO'O

Manchester City will renew their search for a new world-class striker on Saturday after ending their interest in Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o.

 

The player, who is about to embark on the last year of his contract at the Nou Camp, felt he should receive a significant portion of the £18m City were willing to pay as he would be entitled to leave for nothing next summer.

 

Blues boss Mark Hughes initially signalled his intention to wait for Eto'o to resolve the wrangle. Yet, as the week has dragged on, the argument has just got more confusing and complicated.

 

BOLA BOYZ

CAMPBELL JOINS SUNDERLAND

Sunderland have signed England Under-21 striker Fraizer Campbell from Manchester United for an initial fee of £3.5m, potentially rising to £6m.

 

The 21-year-old was also being tracked by Hull City, where he enjoyed a successful loan spell during the 2007/08 season, but signed a four-year deal with the Black Cats.

 

Campbell spent most of last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, where he helped the team reach the Carling Cup final before being ruled ineligible to face United - who went on to win on penalties.

 

BOLA BOYZ  MAN UTD

RONALDO BELIEVES HE IS WORTH IT

 

Cristiano Ronaldo believes that the £80million Real Madrid paid for him is a "fair price" and he is more than comfortable with being the most expensive player in the world.

Ronaldo will be officially unveiled as the Spanish giants' latest signing. Despite some disquiet about Real's big-spending policy at a time of economic depression when few other clubs can compete, Ronaldo, never short of self-confidence, believes Madrid are justified in paying the fee - and also feels he can live up to the price tag.

BOLA BOYZ  MAN UTD

MASCHERANO PROUD TO BE LINK WITH BARCA

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has revealed he is "proud" to hear he is attracting interest from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

 

The Argentina international has been tracked amid rumours that Liverpool maneger Rafael Benitez needs sell to buy over the course of the summer, coupled with Liverpool's need to secure extra finance ahead of a scheduled £350m debt payment on July 24.

 

Even so, it is unlikely that speculation over Mascherano's future will go away while he is giving lip service to the rumours.

BOLA BOYZ  LIVERPOOL

WILSHERE STAYS AT EMIRATES

Arsenal have tied up promising teenager Jack Wilshere on a new long-term contract as the Gunners continue to look to the future.

 

Wales international Aaron Ramsey, 18, on Wednesday agreed an extension to his deal, and the Premier League club have been quick to also secure the potential of Hertfordshire-born Wilshere, at the club since he was just nine.

 

Manager Arsene Wenger rates the England youth international highly. Wilshere signed professional terms when he turned 17 on New Year's Day and had became the youngest player to represent Arsenal in both the league and in European competition when making his first-team breakthrough last season.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

STURRIDGE TO STAMFORD BRIDGE

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of striker Daniel Sturridge on a four-year contract.

 

The 19-year-old starlet has joined Carlo Ancelotti's side after Manchester City continued to stockpile strikers with the signing of Roque Santa Cruz.

 

Sturridge will link up with his new team mates for pre-season training next week. He scored four goals in 26 appearances at Eastlands last term.

 

The fee was undisclosed, and settled by a tribunal. Sturridge is the nephew of former Derby forward Dean.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

OWEN TO OLD TRAFFORD

 

Michael Owen has been confirmed as a Manchester United player. The striker has signed a two-year deal to play at Old Trafford and no transfer was paid as the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle forward was a free agent.

 

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson happily confirmed the deal and recognized him as a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level.

 

Owen himself was similarly happy, and admitted that Sir Alex had breakfast with him one expressed about United's interest to sign him. And he agreed immediately.

 

BOLA BOYZ  MAN UTD

REAL MADRID SIGNS BENZEMA

 

Lyon have accepted an offer from Real Madrid for striker Karim Benzema. The striker becomes Real's third major signing after Brazil's Kaka and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Madrid and Manchester United have been vying for the services of the 21-year-old but Lyon continued to insist before today that the France international would remain at the Stade Gerland for another season at least.

 

However, Les Gones announced on their official website this afternoon that they have accepted a fee of at least 35m euros (£30m) from Madrid for the player, with performance clauses set to see that fee rise to 41m euros.

 

BOLA BOYZ

GALLAS STAYING ALIVE AT EMIRATES

 

William Gallas maintains he has no intentions of leaving Arsenal this summer. The central defender, 32 in August, has endured something of a difficult spell since arriving from Chelsea two years ago.

 

Manager Arsene Wenger eventually replaced Gallas as captain with Cesc Fabregas following public criticism of the young squad and reports of a bust-up with centre-half partner Kolo Toure.

 

However, somewhat ironically, the Frenchman then went on to produce a string of consistent displays as the Gunners found some form over the latter part of the campaign before missing the closing weeks because of injury.

 

Gunners boss Wenger, though, continued to give Gallas his full support, denying suggestions Gallas had played his last game for the Gunners.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

DOOR IS OPEN FOR RIBERY

 

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has left Real Madrid with a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of Franck Ribery, but reiterated that it will take "something crazy" for them to consider a sale.

 

Speaking on the day Louis van Gaal was officially unveiled as the Bavarians' new coach, Hoeness revealed what he had told Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in their last telephone conversation.

 

BOLA BOYZ  MAN UTD

LYON CONFIRM BENZEMA BID

 

Lyon have confirmed that they have received a bid for Karim Benzema from an unnamed club, but insist that any agreement over the France international's transfer is yet to be reached. The side in question is thought to be Real Madrid with strong reports in both Spain and France linking them with a £35million move for the 21-year-old.

 

The striker is also been rumoured to have interested Manchester United with manager Sir Alex Ferguson said to be a big admirer of the gifted youngster. The Premier League champions have £80million burning a hole in their pocket after the confirmed sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real and know that they must find someone to take on the scoring burden left by the Portugal winger.

 

BOLA BOYZ  MAN UTD

SIR ALEX HAILS VELENCIA

 

Sir Alex Ferguson believes new signing Antonio Valencia can help Manchester United to a record fourth consecutive league title. Having sold World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a record £80m, United are believed to have reinvested around £16m on the Wigan Athletic winger.

 

Valencia, 23, is likely to be the first of a handful of new arrivals at Old Trafford as Ferguson seeks to replace the attacking threats of Ronaldo and striker Carlos Tevez, who has opted not to join the Red Devils permanently.

 

But despite the prospect of more new names on the way, Ferguson is already convinced he has secured a player who can have a big impact on next term's title defence. If nothing else, Valencia's arrival ensures Wayne Rooney should be given the more central berth he craves next season as the Ecuador star is unlikely to venture into the middle quite as much as Ronaldo.

BOLA BOYZ  MAN UTD

VAN PERSIE REJECTS MOVE TALK

 

Robin van Persie has rejected speculation linking him with a move away from Arsenal, insisting he wants to stay at the club. The Dutchman is yet to sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium, despite being locked in talks over a contract extension for the last few months.

 

Manchester United have been linked with a shock move for the forward, but van Persie plans to stay at Arsenal and is determined to establish himself as the best player in the world at the club. Van Persie is desperate for success at Arsenal after only lifting the FA Cup during his first five seasons in north London.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

BRAZIL 3 - USA 2

 

Brazil produced a stunning second-half comeback to beat USA 3-2 in the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa. Having knocked out Spain in the semi-finals, USA appeared set to cause another shock after taking a 2-0 lead into the half-time interval.

 

Luis Fabiano struck early in the second period before the striker equalised on 74 minutes and captain Lucio headed a dramatic winner six minutes from time. Fulham attacker Clint Dempsey provided USA with a dream start as he helped Jonathan Spector's cross into the net after just 10 minutes. And it got better for USA on 27 minutes after Landon Donovan drilled home a low shot following a quick counter-attack from the edge of their own box.

 

Brazil got back into the game within the opening 60 seconds of the second half when Fabiano turned sharply on the edge of the area before firing a shot beyond Tim Howard. The reprieve lasted until 16 minutes from time when Fabiano pounced on the loose ball to nod home from close range after Robinho's close-range effort came back off the bar. With just six minutes left on the clock, Brazil claimed the trophy when Lucio rose powerfully at the far post to head Elano's corner beyond a helpless Howard.

 

BOLA BOYZ

SOUTH AFRICA 2 - SPAIN 3

 

Xabi Alonso's free-kick in extra-time enabled Spain to see off the plucky challenge of South Africa and clinch third place in the Confederations Cup.

 

European champions Spain, whose 35-match unbeaten run came to a shock end against the United States in the semi-finals, were lethargic for much of the encounter and appeared to be heading for another defeat when Katlego Mphela put Bafana Bafana ahead after 73 minutes.

 

But two goals in the final three minutes from substitute Daniel Guiza turned the match around only for Mphela to send the game into extra-time with a blistering free-kick.

 

Spain sealed it when Liverpool midfielder Alonso curled a 107th-minute free-kick from the left into the area which eluded everyone and ended up in the bottom right-hand corner.

 

MAN UTD   ARSENAL  LIVERPOOL CHELSEA

ARSENAL ENTER RACE TO SIGN BENZEMA

 

Arsenal are reported to be in the race to sign Lyon striker Karim Benzema, as they look to replace Emmanuel Adebayor should he leave for AC Milan this summer. The highly-rated Benzema has been linked with Manchester United for the past six months, but the News of the World claim that the striker is now subject of interest from Arsene Wenger.

 

Should the future of £25m Togo striker Adebayor be decided in the next few weeks, Arsenal will be keen to bolster their strikeforce and a £30m bid for Benzema could be accepted.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

A "STRATOSPHERIC" OFFER FOR ETO'O

 

Barcelona president Joan Laporta claims that Manchester City have made a ''stratospheric'' offer to sign Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o. Speculation has been rife about where Eto'o will be next season as, with his contract set to expire next summer, Barca were keen to either tie him to a new deal or cash in on the Cameroon striker.

 

Reports suggest the Catalan giants have accepted a 30m euro bid from City and Laporta believes the temptation of a mega salary would prove too much for Eto'o. Eto'o contributed 36 goals last season as Barca claimed an unprecedented Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble.