BIRMINGHAM SWOOP FOR DANN

Birmingham have signed Coventry's 22-year-old centre-back Scott Dann for an undisclosed fee.

The England Under-21 international was also linked with Wolves who beat Birmingham to the Championship title last season.

But Birmingham have won the battle for Dann's signature and describe the undisclosed fee as a club record for a defender.

Dann began his career with Walsall before moving to Coventry in January 2008, playing 49 times for the Sky Blues last season and scoring four goals.

One of those goals was the winner for Coventry against Birmingham at the Ricoh Arena.

BAYERN WARN RIBERY SUITORS

Bayern Munich have warned Franck Ribery's suitors it would take a 'crazy' offer for them to sell the Frenchman.

Ribery's future at the German giants has been the subject of conjecture for the last few months with a number of clubs chasing his signature.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for Ribery as a possible replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, while Real Madrid are also thought to be keen on luring the France international to the Bernabeu.

Bayern are reluctant to sell the talented attacker and general manager Uli Hoeness only a mammoth offer would change their minds.

"We have said that we will only negotiate under certain conditions," Hoeness told Tz.

"Namely, when another club does something crazy."

MARTINS HOPES TO STAY AT NEWCASTLE

Obafemi Martins has revealed that he would be willing to lead Newcastle's promotion push next season.

The Nigeria international had been expected to be among those heading for the exit this summer following the Magpies' relegation into the Championship.

However, he insists that helping the club bounce back into the Premier League at the first time of asking remains his priority.

A hefty salary and mounting interest away from St James' Park could yet see him offloaded but, for now, Martins is planning for life in the second tier.

"I hope I am not sold," he told the Evening Chronicle.

"If the club decides to sell me I have no choice but to go. But my aim is to stay and help get Newcastle promoted next season.

"I love living in Newcastle and there are few better places to live and play.

"I know the club is for sale and that is hard for the fans. Yet I hear there could be some light at the end of the tunnel eventually."

Martins has recently been in Italy for treatment on a groin problem, but insists he will be ready to head back to Tyneside in time for pre-season.

He added: "I have been in Italy for treatment lately.

"There I spoke to a lot of people about Juventus and their demotion to Serie B (in 2006).

"Back then, they still kept very, very good players such as Pavel Nedved, Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon. That helped them get promoted, so I can take a lot of solace from that."

KILMARNOCK TO LET SENIOR TRIO GO

Kilmarnock have revealed that they will not be renewing the contracts of experienced players Allan Johnston, David Lilley and Grant Murray.

The Rugby Park club also confirmed they have released three youth players - Scott Anson, Paul McInnes and Thomas Nolan.

Meanwhile, captain Gary Locke is considering the offer of a coaching role at Rugby Park. A statement released on the club's website however, revealed that the club have no plans to reduce Jim Jefferies' budget for the first-team squad.

"Jim Jefferies has been informed that there are currently no plans to reduce the first team squad budget next season, which has been increased in each of the previous three seasons to its current level of circa £2 million.

"The club wishes to extend its thanks and best wishes to "out of contract" players Allan Johnston, David Lilley and Grant Murray who have been great servants to the club over a period of several years and have always displayed a highly professional approach to their training and playing duties.

"Club Captain Gary Locke is also out of contract but has been offered a coaching role with a view to retaining the benefit of his extensive experience. He is considering his options at present.

"Scott Anson, Paul McInnes and Thomas Nolan joined the first team squad last season having graduated from the club's youth development scheme.

"As part of the planned reduction in the size of the first team squad, they have not been offered new contracts but that should not detract from the undoubted potential which they all possess.

"Everyone at the club who has observed their progress is confident that they will soon find new clubs and continue to play professional football at a high level for many years to come."

SOUTHGATE TARGETS HUNGRY PLAYERS

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is looking for hungry players as he attempts to guide the club back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The former England defender is ready to launch his summer recruitment drive knowing he is likely to lose Turkey international Tuncay Sanli and with Stewart Downing almost certain to follow him out of the club once he has recovered from foot surgery.

Boro have already been linked with hugely experienced Manchester United duo Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, although their rebuilding programme is yet to get off the ground in earnest.

However, Southgate knows exactly what he is looking for as he tries to put together a team which can cope with the very different challenge of life in the Championship.

He said: "It's still very early days and we are waiting for the transfer market to move into gear when people start returning from holiday.

"But we are focused on what we are looking for. The key element is that we bring in the right kind of character.

"Of course we want to bring in good players, but they have to have a hunger for the challenge of helping to mount a promotion bid.

"If they have experience of the league we are going into, then this will obviously help.

"But that doesn't mean we are ruling out signing Premier League players."

There has been general agreement on Teesside that Boro lacked experience last season as they slipped out of the top flight, and that is an issue which will be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Southgate told the Evening Gazette: "One of the things we need is more leadership in the dressing room and on the pitch.

"We also need to get the balance right between experience and energy."

Boro's scouting team is currently assessing various options with no firm approaches having yet been made.

But much of what they may be able to do could depend upon which members of the current squad stay and which move on.

Tuncay has indicated he wants to stay in England, but that he wants to play in the Premier League, while any hopes of cashing in on England winger Downing in the short-term were dashed by the foot injury which is set to sideline him for between four and six months.

Downing, the subject of a failed £15million bid from Tottenham in January, has been told he can leave if a club comes in with the right offer, although that may not now happen until the new year.

However, it is understood Boro are not looking to cash in on 22-year-old defender David Wheater, who has been linked with Aston Villa.

The Midlanders are reportedly ready to offer £6million plus striker Marlon Harewood for Wheater, although they are likely to receive short shrift if they do.

Harewood is not on Southgate's list of potential targets, while Boro would be looking for significantly more cash if they were to be persuaded to part with a home-grown player who has already committed himself to the fight for promotion.

AGENT: NO INTEREST IN HUNTELAAR

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's agent says there has been no interest in the Real Madrid striker.

The Holland international joined Real from Ajax in January and has recently been linked with a move to Roma after the Spanish giants swooped for Kaka and set up a potential big-money move for Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Huntelaar's agent, Arnold Oosterveer, insists his client will stay with the Spanish giants after bagging eight goals in 20 games for the Bernabeu outfit last season.

"I have not met (Real president) Florentino Perez and (Real sporting director) Jorge Valdano yet, but he is under contract for four years and is part of Real Madrid's plans," he told Calcio Mercato.

"We haven't been told anything by the directors and no meeting has been planned with them.

"I haven't been contacted by Roma. No team have asked for Huntelaar and all the rumours come from the press, including in England."

CALLEJA JOINS OSASUNA

Osasuna have signed midfielder Javier Calleja on a free transfer from Primera Division rivals Malaga.

The 31-year-old, who came up through the youth ranks at Real Madrid and also spent seven seasons at Villarreal, has agreed a two-year contract with the Pamplona-based side with the option of a third.

"Firstly I want to thank the interest of the clubs who have wanted to sign me and also thank Osasuna, who are a serious and responsible club and have shown a lot of interest in me," said Calleja, who has a buy-out clause of six million euros in his contract.

"Everybody I've spoken to has said very good things about the club."

UNITED SWOOP FOR MYRIE-WILLIAMS

Dundee United manager Craig Levein has welcomed the addition of highly-rated Jennison Myrie-Williams to his Tannadice squad.

The Tayside club have completed the signing of the 21-year-old on a two year contract, subject to international clearance.

The former England Under-18 international, who can play in midfield or attack, was signed by Bristol City from their academy, before a series of loan moves led to him falling out of the first team picture at Ashton Gate and being released at the end of the season.

Levein moved swiftly to capture a player he had long admired.

"Jennison is a player I've known about and admired for some time and up to about two years ago I would have said he was one of the brightest prospects in the country," Levein told the club's official website.

"Since then he's lost his way a bit through no real fault of his own and I'm delighted that we've managed to bring him to this club.

"He is a player who will not only excite the fans with his direct, quick running at defences, but he will also add pace to the team and strengthen our options going forward.

"He's still only 21 and I feel we can offer him the type of steady environment where he will now develop and fulfil his early promise.

"I'm excited about this signing and am sure he will develop into a real talent and a valuable asset for Dundee United.

TEVEZ TOPS WISH LIST FOR UNITED FANS

Manchester United fans have demanded all the £80million received from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo is reinvested in Sir Alex Ferguson's team - with Carlos Tevez top of their wish-list.

United have been trying to broker a deal with Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian, who had a meeting with chief executive David Gill last week aimed at resolving the matter.

However, with a world-record fee at their disposal if, as expected, Ronaldo moves to the Bernabeu later this month, United supporters see no reason to stall any longer, while Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Antonio Valencia of Wigan remain major targets.

Most United supporters will be happy to accept Sir Alex Ferguson's judgement on a player who nearly left Old Trafford last summer, since when his elaborate posturing and ego have only increased.

But, as compensation for losing the world player of the year, they want an assurance the massive fee will not be used to pay off part of the Glazer family's £650million debt.

"There is no information that it is anything other than the manager's decision but obviously there is huge pressure on the owners and it is a temptation when you are offered that much money," said Duncan Drasdo, chairman of the Manchester United Supporters Trust.

"That is exactly why we want to see a commitment from the owners that the money is going to remain within the club and available to strengthen the squad.

"We have sold the best player in the world. That is a big disappointment. If the money is reinvested into the club at least it will soften the blow."

Old Trafford insiders have attempted to assure supporters that is the case and also insist no agreement was in place when Ferguson famously declared during a press conference at the Club World Cup in Yokohama last December that "he would not sell that mob a virus".

Since then though, attitudes inside the Red Devils camp have hardened to the 24-year-old.

Ronaldo's disgracefully petulant reaction to being substituted during the victory over Manchester City did not go unnoticed, nor his body language in the immediate aftermath of defeat against Barcelona in Rome last month.

Given it was also apparent Ferguson no longer trusted Ronaldo to do any defensive work, forcing Wayne Rooney to play in a wider position that limits his growing abilities, the United boss simply decided trying to keep Ronaldo was no longer worth it, even if he talent is immense.

As someone whose departure along with Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis in the summer of 1995 led to a newspaper poll calling for Ferguson to be sacked, only for United to respond by landing the double, Mark Hughes knows better than most that Ferguson should not be questioned at this point.

"There has been a lot of speculation about Ronaldo's future for a number of seasons, so that is not so much of a shock as maybe the level of investment Real Madrid is prepared to put in to acquire him," said Hughes.

"As we know, Sir Alex Ferguson makes key decisions very quickly. You suspect he has been involved in this and feels it is the right decision for the team and the club. You have to respect that."

MOURINHO EXPECTS ZLATAN STAY

Jose Mourinho is confident Zlatan Ibrahimovic will still be an Inter Milan player next season.

The Sweden international has been the subject of much transfer talk of late, with Spanish giants Barcelona reported to be keen on the languid frontman.

Some reports claimed the Catalan outfit had already reached an agreement with Ibrahimovic, with a big-money deal imminent.

Those rumours have proved to be wide of the mark, but the speculation surrounding Ibrahimovic's future rumbles on.

The 27-year-old has admitted that he could be tempted to move on this summer, but for now he remains an Inter player and his manager is keen for that to remain the case.

"I am calm about this and my calmness is because I know what football is like," Mourinho told Inter Channel.

"I know this is a market where agents do a lot of work, trying to do impossible things, and to make the world understand this would be impossible.

"I continue to believe that Ibrahimovic will be an Inter player next year. That is my opinion and no-one has told me any different.

"I also think our whole team will be better next season as (Diego) Milito and Thiago Motta are two players with something important to give."

Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, continues to fuel the speculation regarding a possible exit from Giuseppe Meazza by refusing to commit his future to Inter.

"My future? I know where I will be playing next season, but I will keep that to myself," he said while away on international duty with Sweden.

HULL AND BORO EYE HAREWOOD DEAL

Marlon Harewood's agent has revealed Hull and Middlesbrough are just two of many clubs keen on signing the Aston Villa striker this summer.

Harewood failed to start a single Premier League game last season and he is ready to move on in search of regular first-team action.

Hull and Middlesbrough's interest in the 29-year-old was already out in the open but the player's representative, Phil Sproson, says the there are a host of other clubs chasing the forward.

"I think it is most likely Marlon will move on this summer," Sproson told Sky Sports' website.

"He is keen to be playing regular first-team football and he accepts the situation at Villa.

"There are a number of clubs interested in Marlon, including Hull and Middlesbrough, but nothing has been decided yet.

"It depends on whether any interested club can agree a deal with Aston Villa before anything can happe

CANNAVARO VOICES MADRID CONCERNS

Former Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro doubts whether the signings of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo will solve the "internal problems" he believes exist at the Bernabeu.

Cannavaro has spent the past three seasons at Madrid but, having not been offered a new contract, will return to his previous club Juventus for the 2009/10 campaign.

And he is not convinced acquiring two world stars will help the club close the gap on treble winners Barcelona.

"The club is going to have to do more because these players will not solve the internal problems," said Cannavaro, who is currently with the Italy squad in South Africa building up to the Confederations Cup.

"The most important thing for the team is to achieve a group mentality."

Madrid have come under fire for spending 166 million euros on two players in the current economic climate, but Cannavaro is not surprised they have targeted the best.

"They are incredible figures, astronomical ones, especially in a world crisis as we are experiencing now," he said. "But those figures reflect the club culture of always being accustomed to being the best."

And Cannavaro expects Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's shopping spree to continue.

"I think Madrid need five signings," he said. "Most of them in attack, as that is Real Madrid's playing mentality."

Should be a post for each rumour :nono:

Last time I did that James locked the thread, so I post a few in each post now.

This news is critcal for all football fans.

Would it be better if he just posted the links instead of the actual reports?

Rory i missed a rumour

can i post one more?

Thanks Rory. :bigsmile:

Ronaldo is in America right now, he should agree with Real Madrid.. £200,000 per week?

Been reading the Football news that's been posted, great stuff.

Football posts in a football thread, always on topic, unlike one other thread.. "ILY" "OMFG" quick posts just to drum up posts for the thread.

This was the one i missed

It's all happening at the Bernabeu today with Kaka cast in the centre of the drama. The Brazilian playmaker is expected to complete his transfer from AC Milan to Real Madrid later today, with reports that the world record deal is in place.

Also, the Merengues have completed a lower key deal to resign Alvaro Negredo from Almeria. The fee there is considerably less than the €67 million required for Kaka. It's in the region of €5m.

One player who could be on the way out of the Bernabeu is Ruud van Nistelrooy; accoding to reports, the Dutchman could move to either Fulham or Tottenham Hotspur.

Madrid's great rivals, Barcelona, have also been linked with a number of moves. Apparently, Pep Guardiola has sounded out Javier Mascherano of Liverpool, while Franck Ribery and Cesc Fabregas have both been touted as Camp Nou targets.

Meanwhile, Luis Enrique has encouraged David Villa to transfer to the European champions but Eidur Gudjohnsen and Alianksandr Hleb both look set to depart. Panathinaikos and Marseille are reportedly tracking Gudjohnsen while Stuttgart would have Hleb back in a heartbeat, provided they could match his wage demands.

Bayern Munich's Franz Beckenbauer has demanded action over Ribery; the Kaizer wants the Frenchman to either sign a new, extended deal at the club or else be gone.

Arsenal are close to wrapping up a deal for Thomas Vermaelen, of Ajax; the player disclosed details of the transfer earlier today.

North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur are allegedly seeking John Carew and Ashley Young of Aston Villa. Villa's Emile Heskey has confirmed that he would relish the opportunity to hook up with Michael Owen, out of contract at Newcastle.

Champions Manchester United needn't worry about losing Nemanja Vidic to AC Milan or Barcelona; the Serb's agent has stated that he will be staying at Old Trafford. However, Carlos Tevez's future remains up in the air. He has consulted his national team manager, Diego Maradona in the hope that his fellow Boca Juniors alumnus can help him decide his fate.

In Italy, David Trezeguet of Juventus has sparked a bidding war; the striker has alerted Roma, Milan and Lyon, according to various reports. Conversely, Gaetano D'Agostino is looking forward to completing his inevitable move to the Old Lady from Udinese.

Finally, the veteran Hernan Crespo has disclosed his intention to do well at his new club, Genoa.

Aye

Exactly i think the mods need to check the britney thread more
and let us be in our thread

Should be a good photo shoot having Kaka and Ronaldo together wearing the Real Madrid shirt..

Ronaldo should sign for the club in next few days.

That thread has gone downhill, bit back if a member posted a non britney post it was "Get out!" but now since the football thread has gained more posts it has became anything goes in there, only because one member wants that thread to have more posts than any other thread, hence the "ILY"
again and again and again..

I have told the mods about their dirty tricks, plus only a britney fan is reporting this thread, twice it has been locked and they continue to post non-britney bs in the thread just to drum up posts.



Anyhoo back on topic, Everton have got rid of two players!