Newcastle are battling it out with Juventus for the signature of Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko, according to reports from talkSPORT.
The Magpies have been tracking the French international for some time and could make a move during January with manager Alan Pardew keen to bolster his squad in a bid to improve their Premier League form.
Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala were thought to be front-runners for his signature, but reports have now emerged that Juventus are Newcastle’s main opponents.
Sissoko is a key member of the Ligue 1 outfit’s squad, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, a transfer appears to be on the cards.
It’s unclear whether the St James’ Park club will look to force through a move in January, or simply attempt to agree a pre-contract agreement for a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
The Frenchman has made over 150 appearances for his current club since breaking into the first-team set-up during 2007.
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He has been on the radar of many of Europe’s top clubs for some time, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool having been linked with moves on numerous occasions.
Manchester United are set to reap the rewards of mammoth sponsorship deals when they collectively combine for the 2014/15 season. And with Tottenham also having dipped into the idea of two separate sponsorship deals, it would benefit Premier League clubs to explore this avenue of increased revenue.
We shouldn’t be too surprised that United are the first team to really use their status to exploit this market. Their partnership with DHL sees the club bring in £10million-a-year over a four-year period for their training kit alone, while their most recent big move will see them pair up with American car giant Chevrolet in 2014. But United aren’t the party that’s necessarily asking around all the major companies for partnerships: the global brands are falling over themselves to sponsor the club.
Manchester United have consistently been at the top of Forbes’ most valuable sports clubs, while their current value is in the £2billion mark. United are a footballing product that sweeps well beyond the boundaries of just English football. They’ve seen evidence of their popularity in places such as South Africa and East Asia while on summer tours, and the club are rightly taking advantage of a colossal stream of income that is readily available.
But the biggest clubs in the Premier League have a significant advantage over those from La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga. While those leagues on the continent have their merits, none can claim to be the powerhouse of a sports product that the Premier League is. There’s no value in companies pairing themselves with clubs like Valencia or Sevilla when their successes seem insignificant in comparison to Barcelona or Real Madrid. But the Premier League’s biggest clubs can boast notable and high-profile success. Following Chelsea’s Champions League and FA Cup double last season, shouldn’t they look to explore opportunities for greater income?
The dual sponsorship also plays a hand in clubs who don’t have the capability to move into a new stadium in the immediate future, for whatever reason. When Financial Fair Play eventually does kick in, maximising natural streams of income should of course be one of the priorities for clubs. Arsenal and Manchester United may be safe in their modern, moneymaking stadiums, but even the North London club’s revenue streams pale in comparison to that of United.
Obviously, there are notable issues that need to be circumvented with certain clubs. For example, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was dropped from Nike for his involvement in a dog fighting circuit. He spent time in prison and was naturally a player that Nike wanted to alienate themselves from. With the non-football related stories that continue to arise in English football, many clubs are doing themselves no favours when there is an opportunity for further natural growth.
Tottenham’s idea to split sponsors from Premier League matches to cup matches is an idea that many others should bring in, especially those without the backing of big stadiums. But why are there only a small group of clubs who are taking advantage of this?
In Tottenham’s case, there’s always the fear from the sponsors point of view that the club may not advance very far in cup competitions. But Manchester United’s deal with DHL has caught plenty of attention and is looking to be a success for the club.
Liverpool’s partnership with Warrior highlights the vast amount of possibilities Premier League clubs have, even regardless of where they’re placed in the league table. It was a move that saw them join United in one of the league’s most lucrative kit sponsorship deals, yet the Manchester club are the ones who continue to impress right across the board. Due to their American owners, United are rightly looking to set up camp on the American east coast in order to further maximise their potential from a country where football’s profile continues to grow. The commercial team in place at United is noticeably taking full advantage of the club’s global appeal.
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The next move for Manchester United is their negotiations with Nike in February, as the club look to approach a deal worth £1billion from the kit manufacturer, a sizable increase from their current £303million deal.
They have the brand power to command such deals, but surely there are many more in the Premier League who can take similar advantage—albeit on a smaller scale—of their position in European football.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin has accepted his time away from the German top flight could have gone much better.
The playmaker decided to leave Borussia Dortmund to join Real Madrid back in 2011, before making a loan move to Premier League outfit Liverpool earlier this season.
Sahin is still contracted to Real but is currently on an 18-month loan spell back at Dortmund, after spells at the Santiago Bernabeu and Anfield.
The 24-year-old has admitted he enjoyed working under Madrid boss Jose Mourinho but has accepted his time away from Germany did not go as he would have wished.
He told Sport Bild: “It was an honour to work with Mourinho. He was always honest to me and treated me fairly. He always said everything to me in private.
“From the outside, people will perhaps say that I failed abroad. It was simply not meant to be, though, and I also played my part in it.”
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Everton forward Kevin Mirallas has played down hopes of the club challenging for a Champions league place this season, claiming ‘there is still a long way to go’, reports Sky Sports.
David Moyes’ side continued their fantastic start to the season with a 3-1 victory over Southampton at Goodison Park, which saw them climb to second place in the Premier League table, just three points behind leaders Chelsea.
And summer signing Mirallas has started to make a significant impact on the team’s form, scoring his first goal for the club in the previous weeks 3-0 win at Swansea, before providing two assists against the Saints.
The Belgian international is loving life on Merseyside so far, but is keen to play down the expectation his new side could be in the same position come May.
“Before I signed, I was looking at the Europa League being a more realistic ambition,” he told the Liverpool Daily Post.
“But certainly now as the season has got underway, we have got a good crop of players here and are playing some really nice football.
“It’s fantastic that we are second and our ambition now has to be to stay up there and put pressure on those around us. It’s a long season though and there’s a long way to go, so we’ll have to see what happens.”
Mirallas has also admitted to being surprised at how quickly he has settled at Goodison Park.
“It’s going a lot better than I could have hoped for. The settling in period has been a lot shorter than I thought it was going to be.
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“That’s because of various reasons. My team-mates are really cool with me, they have been great with me. They talk to me a lot and support me a lot. The other big factor is that I’ve spent a lot more time on the field and played in more games than I thought I might have done at first.
“I’m still not quite there physically. I still need a good run of games to be 100 per cent fit. I had a chat with the manager when I first came here and he was fully aware that I hadn’t a full pre-season because I’d had a problem with my knee. I’m trying to catch up on that by playing games,” he added.
Swansea City midfielder Leon Britton is adamant that he can still earn his place within the England set up, despite being 30 years old.
Britton feels he has now adapted to the Premier League and if he can keep up his good form then he can earn international recognition in a similar manner to 31-year-old Everton midfielder Leon Osman.
The Swansea ace is now looking to make an impression on Roy Hodgson and believes that if he is delivering for his club it does not matter what age he is.
Osman was the third oldest debutant since 1954 when he pulled on the Three Lions shirt on Wednesday night, and Britton feels this is encouraging for players such as himself.
“The manager is showing if you are playing well in the Premier League, he will pick you, whether you are Leon Osman at 31 or Raheem Sterling at 17,” Britton told Alan Brazil’s Breakfast show on talkSPORT.
“It gives everyone hope out there that it is never too late or it is never too early. If you are playing well week in, week out in the Premier League there are people watching the games and there is always an opportunity.
“I’ll never give up, I’ll try and do well for Swansea and if something comes from that then I’ll be absolutely over the moon.”
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Leon Britton will be looking to consolidate his bright start in the Premier League at St James’ Park this weekend, when his Swansea side take on Newcastle United.
Pepe Reina’s agent has dismissed speculation linking the Spaniard with a move away from Anfield, reports Sky Sports.
Reina has long been one of Liverpool’s stand out performers since he joined the club from Villereal back in 2005.
However, Reina endured his worst spell of form at Liverpool during last season, making several mistakes in a campaign that saw the Reds record their worst ever Premier League finish.
Unfortunately, not much has changed under new manager Brendan Rodgers, as Reina has dropped three clangers already this season in the home matches against Manchester City, Hearts and Arsenal.
This has led to rumours Rodgers is looking to replace the Spaniard with Dutchman Michael Vorm, who performed exceptionally for Rodgers at Swansea last season.
However, Reina’s agent Manuel Garcia Quilon has moved quickly to dismiss the speculation, claiming the 30-year-old will soon be back to his best.
“He is not having an easy time. The team has not started the season well and liability is falling on him,” he said.
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“But this will end when he returns to form. He has four years to run on his contract and rumours of leaving Liverpool
It was announced yesterday afternoon that Hearts have been issued with a winding-up order over an unpaid tax bill of £450,000, but in total The Jambos have generated a debt of over £2 million.
The Scottish club have a week to pay or face being closed down and will be the second team in the SPL in a matter of months to file for bankruptcy following the financial demise of Glasgow Rangers, who were officially liquidated in June.
The board have released a statement urging fans to contribute what they can in order to ensure the club’s survival. One of the initiatives suggested is for investment from supporters into a recently launched share-issue or to buy tickets in advance for future games such as the clash with champions Celtic at Tynecastle on November 27th.
The club’s official website reads: “Without your help now, we could be entering the final days of the club’s existence. There are limited options for the Board of Directors to take to avoid the catastrophic consequences that a funding shortfall would mean for the club.
“The power is still in the hands of every Hearts supporter and for that reason we want to be as honest and transparent with you in the hope that you, too, believe that this club is worth saving.
“Now please make every effort you can to take any or all of the four steps outlined above and help this great sporting institution survive.”
The club will also be hit with a 17 point deduction should they be forced to file for bankruptcy, which would further damage Hearts’ chances of survival.
A journalist for Scottish Newspaper the Daily Record, told talkSPORT this afternoon: “We are in a very, very serious situation with Hearts.
“Hearts have a week to pay the best part of £500,000.
“They don’t have the money to pay, and unless the fans come up with the money the club will close down.
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“They have no money to pay for it, it must come from supporters
“It is catastrophic for Scottish football” he added.
Well 2012 has been an eventful year for Coventry City Football Club both on and off the field.
On the field the Skyblues have been relegated from the Championship, have changed their manager and had a high number of players both depart and arrive at the club.
Off the field the delicate relationship between Coventry’s owners Sisu and the fans hit melting point with weeks of protests taking place against Sisu’s running of the club. Sisu’s other relationships fared no better with discussions over the Ricoh breaking down resulting in unpaid rent and a row which is going to stretch into the new year.
Looking at the facts and 2012 looks like a very bad year in Coventry City’s history. I however am beginning to think that it could in fact be the year that started the revival of the club.
The clubs form on the field over the last couple of months has been second to none and we have been steadily climbing the table to finish the year in 9th a mere 2 points off of the playoff positions. In my eyes it is the beginning of a new era at Coventry City. Now I never thought I would say that with Sisu still having ownership of the club but they look like they are genuinely beginning to turn things around.
Yes people can point to the Ricoh row as a sign that this isn’t the case and Sisu are in fact as inept as they have ever been. I believe they are turning the corner and have genuinely learnt from previous mistakes. I also still firmly believe a deal will be struck which will allow Coventry to continue playing at the Ricoh Arena and doing so for a drastically reduced price which everyone must agree is in the clear interests of the club going forward.
The pivotal moment now is January. For me January will be what defines our season as a whole. Bailey’s initial loan spell has come to an end but thankfully the club have wasted no time in snapping him back up on loan until the end of the season along with Moussa. This is a big step towards a successful end to the season and the next step is to keep players like McGoldrick and Adams. These players have brought so much to this team and the club needs to do everything in its power to keep them here for as long as possible be it on loan or permanently.
We are perfectly poised to mount a serious promotion challenge and Saturday’s victory over the Mk Dons showed we are ready for it. Mk Dons are one of the outstanding sides in League One and are certain of a top six finish. They have quality throughout their side which is complemented by a manager who clearly knows what he is doing. Everything is in place for that club to be a huge success and I can only see good things in their future.
We however went to their place full of confidence with five away wins on the bounce and nine games unbeaten. These were records that you could clearly see the players wanted to extend. It was a game blessed by two of the best sides in League One and this was clear for everyone to see with some real quality football on show.
Coventry fell behind relatively early on and for the first time ever since I have been a Coventry City fan I actually wasn’t worried. I had complete belief that we would get back into it and even go on to win it. My new found confidence was rightly placed as the Skyblues fought back and ended up winning the game 3-2 thanks to 2 goals from Stephen Elliot along with a brilliant goal from Frank Moussa. There were plenty of nervy moments but to go to a team like Mk Dons and come away with the 3 points is a fantastic achievement and I think truly showed how far Mark Robins has brought us in such a short space of time.
We now look like a side who is hungry for success and is no longer content to under achieve. Long may this continue and it was clear on Saturday that the fans are responding. 4,988 was the official figure for away fans and that is a truly incredible following. I would just like to say a huge thanks to everyone who travelled down and made it a match to remember. That sort of support could carry us all the way, the fans being a 12th man is a disputed notion but it is one that I have full belief in. If we can get a few more down at the Ricoh for the home games and make it a noisier and more intimidating place to come then we are definitely onto a winning combination.
I for one cannot wait for 2013 and what it might bring for Coventry City fc. The prospect of going to Wembley not once but twice is enough to make any football fans mouth water. It is now a distinct possibility and the time is now to start believing. We are good enough to do it that I am sure of but what I am not sure of is whether Coventry’s usual bad luck has gone or if it is lurking just round the corner waiting to pounce and destroy our dreams once more.
Bad luck was the story on new year day as we fell to a 1-0 defeat to Shrewsbury. It wasn’t a bad performance by any means but it wasn’t at the level we have been at. This is going to happen from time to time but the positive was that we still created a lot of chances which we should have at least taken one of. It was just one of those days and one which we should be able to move on from quite quickly. Bring on Spurs!
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident that the returning Fabio Borini from injury can make an impact on his side and add a spark to their attack.
Borini is nearing a return to full fitness following three months out after surgery on a fractured foot, and Rodgers believes the Italian can add fresh impetus to the Liverpool attack along with new signing Daniel Sturridge, who scored on his debut in with FA Cup victory at Mansfield on Sunday.
Luis Suarez has been in scintillating form for the Reds this term, surpassing his league goals tally of 11 for the whole of last season, with 15 already this time around.
Rodgers is now excited about the prospect of having a full compliment of forwards to choose from and was quoted by the clubs official website as telling the Liverpool Echo:
“Other clubs have the depth to bring people off the bench and make an impact.”
“We have been unable to do that in the opening months of the season, which gives incredible credit to the players who have kept us going until now.”
“We have Daniel here now and will have Fabio fit soon and that will give us that spark.”
“Hopefully over the years Fabio can develop into a top performer which I think he can be.”
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Borini is only 21-years-old so still a young prospect, and everyone associated with the club will hope he is able to fulfill the potential that Rodgers believes he has.
Alan Hutton has thanked Real Mallorca for giving the Scotsman a new lease of life, reports The Sun.
Hutton claims that he was “wasting away” during his spell at Villa Park and that he was frozen out by current manager Paul Lambert when he took over as manager in the summer.
The defender saw his Villa hell end as he secured a deal away from the struggling Midlands club in January, after they agreed to loan the former Tottenham player to Spanish club Real Mallorca.
” I can savour these times more because of the frustrations I’ve been through. I was training with the kids at Villa and thought ‘What am I doing here?’ said Hutton.
” To go from doing nothing at Villa, feeling as if I was wasting away, to be playing Real Madrid the next minute, makes it more special.” he added.
The Scottish defender faces Gareth Bale at Hampden tonight and admits that his run of first team games has saved his International career.
“When I was joining up with the Scotland squad I knew it was getting to the stage in the season where, if I wasn’t playing for my club, I couldn’t expect to turn up and play for my country, so I knew I had to do something,” said Hutton.
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Hutton will be hoping to fare better than he did against Ronaldo and co last weekend as his Real Mallorca side went down 5-2 away at Real Madrid.