News StorysoccerBurnley striker Steven Fletcher is reportedly set to move to Wolves for £7.5million, with two Molineux stars heading the other way on loan.Fletcher joined the Clarets last summer from Hibernian for £3million but following his side's relegation to the Championship last season could now be on his way out of Turf Moor. The 23-year-old Scotland international put in a number of admirable performances for Burnley last term, despite Brian Laws' men going on a terrible run which saw them drop out of the top-flight at the first time of asking. Wolves, on the other hand, found some good form this year and steered clear of the Premier League's relegation zone, finishing the campaign 15th in the table. Manager Mick McCarthy has signalled his intention to strengthen his squad during the off-season, and Fletcher is understood to be high on his list of priorities. Wolves only managed 32 league goals last term - the fewest of any team in the division - and Fletcher could provide the necessary quality to pose more of a threat in the final third. In a struggling Burnley side he managed eight goals in 35 league starts, and is now set for a big-money move to Molineux. And it appears Wolves duo Wayne Hennessey and Chris Iwelumo are set to go the other way and join the Clarets on loan. Goalkeeper Hennessey did make 13 Premier League starts last season but is not Wolves' No.1 stopper, while striker Iwelumo did not find the net once in 17 appearances.Fletcher: Tipped to make Wolves move10/01Steven-Fletcher-Burnley-Premier-League-PA_2413561.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/10/01/800x600/Steven-Fletcher-Burnley-Premier-League-PA_2413561.jpgThu, 27 May 2010 11:04:00

News StorysoccerChelsea star Frank Lampard says the loyal and unswerving support from the club's fans played a huge part in this season's Double achievement.The Blues landed their first-ever Double after following up securing the Premier League title by lifting the FA Cup. While some fans are quick to get on the players' backs if things are not going according to plan, Lampard is pleased the Stamford Bridge faithful have never singled out anyone for criticism. Things have not been so rosy at rival clubs as Emmanuel Eboue has been blasted by Arsenal fans while Dimitar Berbatov has come in from criticism from Manchester United supporters. However, Lampard believes Chelsea fans are different and that having come from the background of Division Two football, they are more appreciative of the team's current success. "I've never heard them get right on someone's back, boo them and destroy them. Never," explained Lampard. "Don't get me wrong, they can moan and groan a little bit but that's normal. We all get upset watching games. "But they are always there, they travel fantastically well and the main thing is that they don't get on anyone's back. "Some clubs, given what we've been given and being elevated to where we are now, would be moaning and thinking: 'We should be winning' after 20 minutes at 0-0. "But Chelsea fans are a little bit different. Probably because they've been through a lot before I was here, where they've sat down and watched a Division Two team in a stand that was 30 yards away from the pitch. "So now they can't believe what's happening here. They go with it and, like me, they think it's fantastic."Lampard: Hails Blues fans10/05Frank-Lampard-Chelsea-Premier-League2_2448618.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/10/05/800x600/Frank-Lampard-Chelsea-Premier-League2_2448618.jpgThu, 27 May 2010 08:51:00

News StorysoccerJose Reina thinks Liverpool will have to forget any thoughts of again becoming a force if the club's co-owners do not sell in the near future.The Spain goalkeeper is currently preparing for the World Cup, but his club's terrible campaign in 2009/10 is still weighing heavily on his mind. Liverpool failed to qualify for next season's Champions League following a succession of on and off-field problems, which only served to increase hostility towards controversial co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks. The American duo have since placed the Reds up for sale, but they are not prepared to accept any cut-price deal - and Reina fears that could mean that football targets have to be adjusted. "As long as we build a competitive squad we do not have to fear anybody," said the shot-stopper, who has committed his long-term future to Anfield, in the Daily Telegraph. "But it is looking like we will not yet. We have to be less optimistic than the last few years and get ready for setting another kind of target. "(The owners) have to move quickly and anything that happens has to be right now."Reina: Feeling 'less optimistic'09/11Jose-Pepe-Reina_2389563.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/09/11/800x600/Jose-Pepe-Reina_2389563.jpgThu, 27 May 2010 09:12:00

News StorysoccerMarcos Angeleri's agent is set to discuss Sunderland's bid for the defender with his club Estudiantes in the coming days.Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is mulling over his right-back options having been put off Tottenham's price to secure Alan Hutton permanently. Hutton spent the second half of the season on loan, but Spurs are unwilling to lower their estimated £9million valuation for the full-back. Bruce has now turned his attention to Argentina international Angeleri, who could cost $2.8million (£1.9m) according to South American reports The 27-year-old, who misses out on World Cup glory this summer due to injury, could now be set for a Premier League move this summer. "In the next few days I'll be meeting with Estudiantes' officials to let them know about Sunderland's proposal," explained Pires. "If they agree to transfer the player for the amount that's being offer I'll travel to England to meet with Sunderland's board members."Angeleri: Could be Sunderland bound10/05MarcosAngeleri_2457902.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/10/05/800x600/MarcosAngeleri_2457902.jpgThu, 27 May 2010 10:52:00

News StorysoccerRoque Santa Cruz has urged Stephen Ireland not to turn his back on Manchester City amid mounting speculation over the midfielder's future.Ireland has struggled to find his way into the plans of City manager Roberto Mancini following the Italian's arrival at Eastlands midway through last season. The 23-year-old is just 12 months into a lucrative five-year deal at City but is reportedly eyeing an exit after failing to reproduce the sparkling form he showed during the 2008/09 campaign. Ireland could be used as a makeweight in City's bid to land Aston Villa and England star James Milner. But Santa Cruz believes Ireland still has much to offer City, despite the expected influx of new players this summer. "He is a very nice guy and a fantastic player also, so I think everybody at the club would be very disappointed to see him leaving. He is a great talent," said Santa Cruz. "This season has been hard for him, not finding a starting place in the team, but it is always going to be hard when you are at a team that is always getting new players who start all the time. "It is very hard for everyone."Ireland: A great talent, says Santa Cruz09/10Roque-Santa-Cruz-Stephen-Ireland-Piggy-Back-S_2378108.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/09/10/800x600/Roque-Santa-Cruz-Stephen-Ireland-Piggy-Back-S_2378108.jpgThu, 27 May 2010 07:40:00

News StorysoccerTottenham boss Harry Redknapp has told Manchester United there is "no chance" of them signing £25million target Luka Modric this summer.The Croatian midfielder is believed to be high on Sir Alex Ferguson's shopping list after playing a key role in the London club clinching a place in next season's Champions League. But Redknapp is in no mood to lose one of his prized assets as he looks to challenge the big boys next season. Despite talk of a £25million United raid, Redknapp told The Sun: "There's no chance of it happening at all. Luka's key to everything that's happening at this place. "Everybody knows what I think of him. And if you want to move on to higher levels you don't start flogging off your best players - to anyone." Redknapp says he won't be moving for Manchester City's Stephen Ireland or Bolton defender Gary Cahill. And it appears his biggest summer aim is hanging onto Modric. He added: "I have an excellent squad and - I stress - Luka Modric is going to remain a part of it."Modric: Central to Redknapp's plans09/12Luka-Modric_2401483.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/09/12/800x600/Luka-Modric_2401483.jpgThu, 27 May 2010 07:12:00

News StorysoccerLiverpool co-owner Tom Hicks says Rafa Benitez will be able to keep all his top players this summer and spend "significant" money on new ones.The Texan and fellow American George Gillett decided last month to sell up at Anfield after more than three tempestuous years of infighting and fan protests. But despite mounting criticism over the way the pair have conducted their affairs since taking over in March 2007, Hicks claims Liverpool have actually improved under their leadership. Having posted their worst Premier League finish for 11 years - seventh - speculation has grown about the futures of Benitez, striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard. However, Hicks says he and Gillett do not want to cash in on their prize assets - despite the debt of parent company Kop Holdings rising to £351million last summer - and are prepared to invest heavily in the squad. "We have no intention of selling any of our top players and we have a substantial transfer budget in place," said Hicks. "There's so much misinformation about transfer spending. It's more than doubled under the ownership of George and myself from the previous three years and we will make a significant investment this summer. It's really about getting the right players. "There's been so much misinformation put out by people who have their own agendas and it's unfortunate. But the truth is the club is much better off than it was three years ago. "We've done our best. I'm disappointed on a personal level that are efforts have not been received as well as I wish they had have been." Benitez has suggested he needs at least £50million to get the club back on track in terms of challenging for the Champions League places never mind the Premier League as they did in the 2008/09 season. Torres has also called for "four or five" quality signings this summer. Hicks said he was prepared to make allowances for one season. "We're all disappointed with where we finished this year," he added. "People forget that we almost won the Premier League last year (finishing a close second to Manchester United with a record 86 points). "We had injuries and players performing below their level of expectation." Only today former chairman David Moores admitted he "hugely regrets" selling to the Americans. Back in 2007 they paid £470million for Liverpool. But having incurred so much debt in the purchase and subsequent running and still failed to start work on the promised stadium in Stanley Park many potential investors baulked at the astronomical asking price of almost double that set by Hicks last month. However, the Texan believes that could be a fair price for a club which has reached two Champions League finals, winning one, since 2005. "I think I have said £600-800million is not an unrealistic value range, but the market's the market. We'll see," he told Sky Sports News. "We will sell the club. We're not going to sell it to the wrong group, we're not going to sell it for the wrong price, we're going to do it in a very thoughtful way. "I don't anticipate it will be done necessarily before the beginning of the next season. We hope it gets done by the end of the calendar year. "We're more concerned about finding the right next owner, somebody that can make the investment in the club to get the stadium built, and to let Liverpool be the best possible football club in the world. "The new stadium is fully designed now and the global financing markets are back so I think with the change of ownership coming we'll be able to have the new stadium built for Liverpool."Hicks: Will make allowances for next season10/04Coowner-Tom-Hicks-Liverpool-Europa-League-Qu_2440586.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/10/04/800x600/Coowner-Tom-Hicks-Liverpool-Europa-League-Qu_2440586.jpgWed, 26 May 2010 20:53:00

News StorysoccerBirmingham have completed the signing of giant Valencia forward Nikola Zigic for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £6million.Zigic is understood to have undergone a medical at St Andrew's on Tuesday and the Serbia international has now put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the ambitious Premier League outfit. Blues have not disclosed the amount they have paid for the 6ft 8in 29-year-old, but it is widely reported to be around £6million - taking the club's early summer spending well past the £10million mark following the captures of Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster and Spanish midfielder Enric Valles. Zigic, who will lead the line for his country at the World Cup, made his name with 71 goals in 110 games for Red Star Belgrade and was named Serbia's player of the year in 2003, 2005 and 2006. In 2006 he moved to Spain, scoring 11 times in his first season for Racing Santander before Valencia signed him for around £13.5million. That move did not yield the same glut of goals, but Zigic again proved his quality with 13 goals in 19 outings when loaned back to Racing last term.Zigic: Agreed four-year contract09/07Nikola-Zigic_2334964.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/09/07/800x600/Nikola-Zigic_2334964.jpgWed, 26 May 2010 20:07:00

News StorysoccerFormer Liverpool owner David Moores has admitted his mistake in selling George Gillett and Tom Hicks and urged them to "let the club go".Moores insists the correct procedures were undertaken to allow the two Americans to effect their takeover, although he admits more could have been done to look into Hicks' background instead of just allowing Gillett to vouch for his business partner. However, he blames the pair for going back on assurances made at the outset and also claims Liverpool may have had a "lucky escape" in not selling to Dubai International Capital, who were the preferred bidders until Hicks and Gillett came in with a better offer. The American pair assumed control at Anfield in March 2007 with promises to bring improvements without loading huge debt on the club and build a new stadium in Stanley Park. However, Liverpool now have debts of £237million (the debt of parent company Kop Holdings is £351million) and a new ground is no nearer being constructed. "I have always acted with the very best interests of the club at heart and if I've made mistakes - which I know I have, and not solely with regard to Gillett and Hicks - then they have been honest mistakes," Moores said in a letter to The Times. "We looked long and hard for the right person or institution, we followed up every lead. "It would have been easier just to take the money, cross our fingers tight and hope things worked out, but we dug deep into every file and asked all the tough questions, knowing the answers might scupper any deal." The DIC deal collapsed because they were unhappy Liverpool were still listening to offers despite their bid being named as the preferred option on December 1, 2006. On January 30, 2007, Gillett and Hicks' offer was accepted by the board and Moores went to DIC to inform them he wanted 48 hours to mull things over. When Moores refused their request for an immediate resolution they pulled out, leaving the way clear for the Americans. "With hindsight, we may have had a lucky escape there as Dubai is not the buoyant market it was in 2007," added Moores. "We moved ahead with Gillett and Hicks with all due speed (even now I cannot accept that we were hasty), and here is an element of the process I accept we could have handled better. "We had looked into George Gillett's affairs in detail, and he came up to scratch. To a great extent, we took Tom Hicks on trust, on George's say-so. "Gillett and Hicks produced a very substantial offer document containing all the key assurances re debt, the stadium, investment in the squad and respect for Liverpool FC's unique culture, traditions and legacy. "It was impressive stuff and it did the trick. "We retained Price Waterhouse Coopers to advise us on the deal and they received assurances from Rothschilds, one of the most respected and respectable names in global finance, who vouched for both Tom Hicks and George Gillett. "Could we have done more? Probably, though under those circumstances, in that time frame, probably not. "We did our due diligence on Messrs Gillett and Hicks and if we're guilty of anything it is that, after four years searching, we may have been too keen, too ready to hear the good news that George and Tom had passed their tests. "Ultimately, the deal we signed up to was laid out in unambiguous terms in the share offer document. That is a matter of fact. "At the end of the day you can carry out any number of checks with infinite degrees of scrutiny and certainty, but I doubt there's any procedure available that will legislate for a guy you've come to trust looking you in the eye, telling you one thing and doing the exact opposite." Moores "hugely regrets" selling to the Americans - who last month put the club up for sale with a reported asking price of £600million - and called on them to stop "punishing" fans and bring their tenure to a swift end. "In holding on and holding out, they risk damaging a sporting institution of global renown," added the former chairman and lifelong Reds fan. "If they have any conscience or nobility they will stand aside and allow new owners to take over the club for its future benefit and that of its lifeblood, the club's fans. "I believe that, at best, they have bitten off much more than they can chew. "Giving them that benefit of the doubt - that they started off with grand ideals that they were never realistically going to achieve - I call upon them now to stand back, accept their limitations as joint owners, acknowledge their role in the club's current demise and stand aside, with dignity. "Take an offer, be realistic over the price, make it possible. Let the club go."Gillett and Hicks: Time to go10/04Tom-Hicks-George-Gillett-Liverpool_2442950.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/10/04/800x600/Tom-Hicks-George-Gillett-Liverpool_2442950.jpgWed, 26 May 2010 17:18:00

News StorysoccerDamien Duff is hoping Fulham can head off interest in Roy Hodgson this summer amid reports Inter Milan could target him as their next manager.Hodgson has found himself at the centre of speculation that suitors could be beating a path to his door after he guided the Londoners to the Europa League final, where they lost narrowly to a Diego Forlan-inspired Atletico Madrid. Republic of Ireland international Duff, who had previously worked under the Englishman as a young player at Blackburn, is desperate for Hodgson to remain at Craven Cottage. He said: "He's done a great job there so far and I still think there's an awful lot more to do. "I would say the thinks he's got unfinished business there and I think we can go from strength to strength, so hopefully he will stay. I think he will. "I started off in the first team 12, 13 years ago with him, so I have always thought the world of him. "It's great working with him and anyone who has worked with him, he is a top coach, they will tell you. "He's great, and you can see what he has done with the team this season." Hodgson's achievements have rightly won him plaudits across the board, and Duff believes that is nothing more than he deserves. He said: "A million per cent. He's a top coach, as you can see by his CV, the teams he has managed. "He has managed Inter Milan twice, so you needn't say anymore."Hodgson: Has a huge fan in Duff10/05roy1_2452580.jpghttp://clientimages.teamtalk.com/10/05/800x600/roy1_2452580.jpgWed, 26 May 2010 20:08:00