Toon boss may keep Routledge

Routledge: Could yet have a Newcastle future

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has hinted that winger Wayne Routledge could still have a future on Tyneside, despite interest from several clubs.

A permanent return to QPR fell through last month while Nottingham Forest, Birmingham and Cardiff are all understood to be interested in the 26-year-old.
Routledge starred for the Magpies as they romped to the Championship title in 2009/10 but failed to continue that form in the Premier League last season and was sent on loan to QPR.
However, it is thought that Routledge, who is under contract until 2013, would prefer to stay at St James' Park and fight for his place.
And while Pardew is still willing to sell the former Crystal Palace trainee, he has indicated that he will give Routledge a chance to impress after he returns for pre-season training on Monday.
He told the Chronicle: "Has Wayne a future here? Wayne is still a Newcastle United player and he is under contract.
"He comes back on Monday. After that we will just have to go from there."
The arrival of Sylvain Marveaux means Routledge will face even greater competition with Jonas Gutierrez, Joey Barton, Dan Gosling and Danny Guthrie are capable of playing out wide.
Pardew has also made Leon Best, Nile Ranger and Alan Smith available for transfer.

MADRID CAPTURE DEFENDER VARANE

Real Madrid have signed teenage defender Raphael Varane from Lens, the Primera Division club have announced.
The 18-year-old centre-back was in Madrid on Monday and passed his medical with the Spanish giants before penning a six-year contract at the Bernabeu.

 

Varane - Madrid switch.

Madrid announced on their website: "Real Madrid and Lens have reached an agreement for the transfer of the French player Raphael Varane, who will be tied to the club for the next six seasons."
Varane made 23 appearances for Lens last season but could not prevent their relegation to Ligue 2.
Varane becomes Madrid's fourth new addition this summer following on from Turkey international duo Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, and Espanyol winger Jose Maria Callejon.
Borussia Dortmund playmaker Sahin, 22, agreed a six-year deal with Madrid while 28-year-old Altintop moves to Madrid on a four-year deal after leaving Bayern Munich.
Callejon re-joined Madrid, where he came up through the youth ranks before moving to Espanyol in 2008, on a five-year contract.
Madrid won the Copa del Rey last season in Jose Mourinho's first campaign in charge while they finished second in the Primera Division and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Reina rejects Atletico talk

Reina: No Atletico Madrid move

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has moved quickly to reject rumours linking him with a switch to Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid.

The Primera Liga outfit are set to find themselves without a first-choice goalkeeper once David de Gea completes his proposed move to Manchester United.
The youngster arrived in England on Monday to undergo a medical and is close to putting the finishing touches to a big-money transfer.
Speculation has already begun to circulate regarding who may be drafted in by Atletico as his replacement.
Liverpool number one Reina has been touted as a possible candidate, after spending the last six years away from his homeland.
The Reds ace has given short shrift to the rumours, though, by insisting that he remains fully committed to the Anfield cause.
He told La Gaceta: "I know Atletico are looking for a goalkeeper, but I won't be changing colours.
"I have a five-year contract and I'm happy at Liverpool."
Reina will come into direct competition with De Gea next season and he believes the 20-year-old will be a resounding success at Old Trafford.
He said: "I very much welcome this news because David is a great keeper.
"When it becomes official he is going to start working to prove in the Premier League what a good goalkeeper he is."

Cesc will go, if price is right

Fabregas: Wanted by Barcelona

Arsenal would be willing to sell captain Cesc Fabregas to European champions Barcelona if they can agree a fee, according to reports.

The 24-year-old World Cup winner is continually linked with a move back to his boyhood club during every transfer window.
Last summer, the Gunners rejected a £30million offer for their inspirational skipper.
However, with Fabregas appearing more determined to rejoin the club he left as a teenager in 2003, Arsenal are said to be ready to allow the deal to go through, if Barcelona improve their £27million bid.
BBC Sport quote a senior Arsenal official as saying: "The offer was made formally in writing to our chief executive (Ivan Gazidis), and we said no straight away."
When asked if the club expected an improved offer this week, the source added: "Possibly yes, and if it's enough then I expect we'll have to sell."
Last week, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell claimed the European champions would not break the bank for Fabregas, of whom he said: "It is clear that this year his value is less."
During the 2010 summer transfer window, Arsenal released a statement confirming their captain was not for sale. However, so far, there has been no official comment from the Premier League club following renewed speculation over Fabregas' future.

Agent: Diarra happy in Madrid

Diarra: Wants to stay at Real

Lassana Diarra's agent insists the midfielder is happy at Real Madrid and has no intention of leaving despite interest from European clubs.

The France international moved to the Bernabeu in January 2009 from then Premier League side Portsmouth and had initial success.
However, the 26-year-old struggled to hold down a starting spot last season under Jose Mourinho and has been constantly linked with a move away.
Premier League pair Manchester United and Tottenham as well as Serie A side Juventus
have all been linked with the player, but his agent John Williams has dismissed speculation Diarra will quit Real this summer.
He told French magazine Le 10 Sport: "Contrary to what is being said, Lass does not want to leave Real Madrid,.
"He has two years left on his contract and is feeling well in Madrid.
"I have not opened negotiations with any club in either England or Italy, but if there is a great offer then we'll study it."

Five-year United deal for Young

Young: Joins champions on five-year deal

England winger Ashley Young has signed a five-year contract with Manchester United after the champions agreed a fee with Aston Villa.

The 25-year-old underwent a medical on Wednesday and the transfer, reported to be worth between £16million to £20million, has been finalised.
He becomes Sir Alex Ferguson's second signing of the summer after the capture of England Under-21 international Phil Jones from Blackburn for £16.5million.
"The opportunity to come and play for one of the biggest clubs in the world is one I couldn't turn down," Young told MUTV. "It's a chance to hopefully become part of the history by helping to win the 20th title.
"It's a prospect I always looked at from being a child - to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"I've got that opportunity now so I've just got to take it with two hands."
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson will hope Young can play a key role as he begins overhauling the squad which won a record 19th title in May.
The forward scored 39 goals in 193 appearances but, significantly, in the last five Premier League seasons only Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has provided more assists.
Despite United finishing nine points clear of second-placed Chelsea last season, Ferguson always knew he would have to make changes to the playing staff.
The retirements of midfielder Paul Scholes, right-back Gary Neville and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar left huge holes in terms of experience while other exits - such as defender Wes Brown - are expected.
Injury-plagued Owen Hargreaves' release this summer freed up another place in the squad while veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs will be 38 in November and centre-back Rio Ferdinand has struggled with his fitness over the last couple of years.
To that end the Red Devils boss has moved quickly in the transfer market by bringing in two of England's brightest talents.
In doing so he has also stolen a march on arch-rival Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, who was interested in both Young and Jones.
The spending will not stop there, however, as next on the list is the replacement for Van der Sar.
It seems likely Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea will be the one to fill that key position, with Ferguson revealing a few weeks ago United had been working on the transfer for some time.
The 69-year-old Scot is also keen to add more creativity to his midfield as, despite comfortably winning the 12th Barclays Premier League title of his tenure at Old Trafford, his side were comprehensively outplayed by Barcelona in last month's Champions League final at Wembley.
United have been linked with both Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez - although Barcelona still seem favourites to clinch that deal - and Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
Villa, who signed Young from Watford in January 2007 in a deal eventually worth £10million, were resigned to losing one of their prize assets as he had only a year left on his contract and had made it clear he was not interested in renewing it.
"Ashley has made a terrific contribution for Villa over the past four-and-a-half seasons and everyone at the club wishes him the best for the future," said new Villa boss Alex McLeish.
"He has become an important player in the England team during that time and I'm sure he will be looking forward to this new challenge."

Vela is not Gunner be sold

Vela: Part of Wenger's plans, says agent

Arsenal will not sell Carlos Vela this summer, says the Mexico international's agent, who claims Arsene Wenger is a "demanding coach".

The 22-year-old was loaned out to West Brom for the second half of last season, but failed to make a major impact, scoring just twice in eight Premier League appearances.

The pacy Mexican was expected to be one of several players allowed to leave as Arsene Wenger revamped his squad following another campaign which promised so much but failed to deliver.

However, Vela's agent Eduardo Hernandez maintains Vela is still very much part of Wenger's plans.
He told ESPN Radioformula in Mexico: "I have had eight conversations with Arsenal, the most recent was last Friday, and Carlos is an Arsenal player, he will stay at Arsenal and is not for sale.
"The process with Carlos is a little bit slow.

"Arsene Wenger is an extremely demanding coach, he sent him on loan for six months to West Brom not with the results he wanted, but, nevertheless, everything is going very well."
Wenger may so far have added only promising young defender Carl Jenkinson from Charlton, but Arsenal are determined to do more business before the summer ends.
Deals for Blackburn defender Christopher Samba and Ivory Coast forward Gervinho are understood to be close to completion, while the arrival of Southampton starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to be confirmed at the start of July ahead of Arsenal's Far East tour. Everton's £15million-rated centre-half Phil Jagielka is another reported target.

Despite the claims of Vela's agent, there are set to be departures.

Full-back Gael Clichy, the last surviving member of Wenger's Invincibles squad from 2003/2004, is coming towards the final year of his contract, and is expected to leave, with both Liverpool and Roma offering a fresh start, while Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner is also likely to head for the Emirates Stadium exit door.

Speculation continues over whether France midfielder Samir Nasri will commit to a new deal or be sold, while the future of captain Cesc Fabregas once again is uncertain under renewed interest from boyhood club Barcelona - but not at the £30million offer they made last summer.