Rabu, 06 Februari 2013

Transfer news: Mamadou Sakho wants out of Paris St Germain in the summer

Mamadou Sakho: Has opened the door to a summer switch

The highly-rated defender is a product of PSG's academy system and was considered to be an integral part of their future not all that long ago.

Times have changed at Parc des Princes, though, with the club now in a position to spend big on any player that takes their fancy.

That approach has left Sakho frustrated on the bench and the 22-year-old has made it clear that he is not prepared to stay there.

Numerous Premier League clubs are reported to have expressed an interest in his services in the past, and the France international admits he would welcome the opportunity to turn out in England.

"I will do everything to play at the 2014 World Cup, but I need to be playing week in, week out," said Sakho.

"I cannot accept playing just a few minutes this season and next because this is a decisive moment in my career.

"At the end of the season I will sit down with my agent and club officials and clear up the situation.

"If I have to leave PSG to keep my place in the France national team, then I have no choice but to leave."

On the rumours liking him with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, Sakho added: "I adore the English Premier League."

Transfer news: Emmanuel Emenike paying little attention to Premier League rumours

Emmanuel Emenike: Has caught the eye at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations

The Nigeria international has seen his profile rise considerably during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

He has found the target on three occasions at that tournament, helping his country to the semi-final stage.

It is now being suggested that Emenike could be the next Nigerian to grace the Premier League.

Reading, Liverpool and Arsenal are all said to have sent scouts to watch the 25-year-old in action, but he is paying little attention to the speculation at present.

"I am playing in Russia at the moment and I have a contract that I intend to respect," said Emenike.

"But to be linked with the Premier League is a dream come true.

"I would love to play there in my career. There are many great clubs there."

Selasa, 05 Februari 2013

Allen looking to improve form

Allen: Form has been below par for Reds

The 22-year-old midfielder enjoyed an impressive start to life at Anfield after completing his 15million summer move from Swansea.

But a failure to maintain those high standards has seen the Welshman relegated to a place on the bench in recent weeks.

Allen came in for particular criticism from Reds fans after a poor display in the defeat against Manchester United, while earlier in the season Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer accused him of being too "safe" in his approach.

Allen is honest enough to admit some of the flak that has come his way has been justified, but is hoping to bounce back when he wins his 13th cap at the Liberty Stadium.

He said: "Everyone knows my form hasn't been great. That goes without saying. It's been disappointing not to have been involved in every game and play every game.

"But it's up to me now to work hard and get myself back in the team and improve my level of performance.

"It happens to every one in football. We all have highs and lows. But I'm excited and looking forward to turning that around at some stage in the near future.

"I'm delighted to be back with the Wales squad, I am looking forward to hopefully being involved on Wednesday and I will try to put in a good performance if I do play."

Of his criticism from former Blackburn striker Shearer back in the autumn, he added: "Alan Shearer's career and Premier League experience was incredible. When he speaks, people listen.

"I think I can use it as a springboard to help improve my game. It's always interesting to see what those players have to say.

"I want to improve all aspects of my game. I'm a perfectionist and maybe that's part of my problem.

"Sometimes I get frustrated and disappointed when things aren't perfect. In terms of what Alan said, I can try and learn from it.

"It's difficult because at the time I thought I was playing well but people can have their own opi nions."

While Allen is hoping to reverse his fortunes, his Wales team-mate Gareth Bale will be hoping for more of the same.

The 23-year-old Tottenham winger has been in sensational form of late, grabbing stunning goals in each of his last two games against Norwich and West Brom.

His scoring exploits have been such that Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is considering moving Bale up front, with Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor unavailable.

And Wales manager Chris Coleman admits it is an option he is considering, given Bale has scored the only three goals of the former Fulham manager's reign.

"Gareth will not start up front against Austria, but it is something I'm actively considering for the future," said Coleman

"You have to score goals to win matches and it's a role he could perform, without any shadow of a doubt.

"I do think about these things. Can I surprise Scotland or Croatia by playing someone like Gareth out of positi on?

"He could even perform this role of a false nine, so to speak, the system Spain have used, and Barcelona also play that way from time to time with Lionel Messi.

"Could I see Gareth doing that for us, too? Yes I could."

Players urged to blow whistle - PFA

Gordon Taylor: Match-fixing high on PFA's agenda

Advisers from the PFA visited every club and the dangers of become involved in such activities were spelled out clearly.

It comes after Liverpool insisted on Tuesday they have had no contact from Europol or any other body in connection with match-fixing allegations against 2009 Champions League opponents Debrecen.

The European law enforcement agency said one Champions League match played in England is under investigation - and according to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, Europol sources said they are looking at Hungarian side Debrecen who lost 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in 2009.

There is no suggestion that anyone at Liverpool was involved in any wrongdoing.

PFA boss Taylor said the issue of match-fixing was "very high on our agenda".

He said: "At the beginning of the season we had a team going out to all the clubs telling the players there should be no betting on any competition they have any association with, and that any approach es should be reported to the authorities.

"We have had some problems with one or two games in the recent past where players at Accrington Stanley and Bury were charged and sanctioned, so although it is not commonplace in our country we are not complacent or naive.

"We need to be vigilant at all levels of the game."

The Europol investigation is centred on the Debrecen keeper Vukasin Poleksic, according to Ekstra Bladet, who in 2010 was banned for two years by UEFA for failing to report an approach to fix matches for a betting syndicate.

But a Liverpool spokesman said: "We have had no contact from Europol or any other organisation over this."

Debrecen said they will not respond to the allegations.

"Neither DVSC or the player wants to react to this news. Everything on this matter has been dealt with in 2010," said a statement on the Hungarian club's website.

Poleksic failed to report that fixers approached him before playing Fior entina in October 2009 - the Hungarian champions conceded four first-half goals to lose 4-3 - and the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the ban. It said it could not prove the result was manipulated, but UEFA rules require players and officials to report corruption attempts.

Europol have not detailed exactly which Champions League match in England is under investigation but that it took place "in the last three to four years" and is one of 380 games being studied.

However it emerged on Monday neither the Football Association nor UEFA were aware of any such probe.

Wales manager Chris Coleman said he had been staggered at the number of matches revealed to be under investigation and that it reflected badly on professional sport.

He told a news conference: "I am gutted if I am honest with you, I am disappointed at the level of it. It is staggering, sad.

"When I worked abroad I saw one or two things that made me raise my eyebrows but the ext ent of this is really very sad.

"I have been in football a long, long time and never doubted any referee, opposition players, and certainly not my own. I've seen a ref have a bad game, but never thought it was because of corruption.

"I've worked abroad in two different countries and things have happened on occasions and I have looked and thought that was not quite right, never my own team, but maybe a referee's decision, or something an opposition manager did.

"But when you look at the extent of the allegations it is sad. It is not good.

"It is not just football, we had the thing with rugby a while back when they cheated with blood on the pitch which was disgraceful, and we've had drugs with cycling, Lance Armstrong is an absolute sporting legend and we find out what happened there, now there all these allegations.

"Professional sport is not in a good place, and people are looking at us as role models for kids."

Transfer news: Balazs Dzsudzsak claims Dinamo Moscow blocked move to Liverpool

Balazs Dzsudzsak: Claimed Liverpool were interested in him

The Hungarian midfielder only moved to Russia in January 2012, but was open to the prospect of completing another switch 12 months on.

The chance to turn out in the Premier League appealed to him greatly, but Dinamo were unwilling to discuss a deal.

Dzsudzsak is disappointed to have seen one opportunity pass him by, but believes there will be more to come.

He told Nemzeti Sport: "I stay, but it wasn't up to me.

"Dinamo didn't let me go, not even to Liverpool. I can't say any more because it is not my position to do so.

"I want to say that in Hungary people have written me off, but it seems that some respectable teams still believe in me.

"I am not that disappointed. What I couldn't do during the winter transfer window can be done in the summer. It's also a nice feeling that in Moscow they have faith in me."

Senin, 04 Februari 2013

Daniel Sturridge to miss England's friendly against Brazil

Daniel Sturridge: Liverpool striker greets England boss Roy Hodgson prior to wit

Sturridge reported for duty at St George's Park on Sunday evening with the remainder of the squad but was unable to take part in training on Monday morning and returned to his club Liverpool for further treatment.

The 23-year-old was injured during the first half of Liverpool's 2-2 draw at Manchester City, shortly after scoring the Reds' opening goal, but was not substituted until the closing stages of the game.

Sturridge's withdrawal leaves England boss Roy Hodgson with only two fit strikers at this stage - Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck - after Tottenham's Jermain Defoe pulled out with an ankle problem, although Hodgson does also have the option of playing Theo Walcott up front.

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick also dropped out on Sunday with a hip injury.

Only 12 England players trained normally on Monday morning as the remainder who were in action on Sunday did a warm-down session instead.

Pepe Reina says Liverpool can't compete in Premier League title race

Pepe Reina: Liverpool goalkeeper facing his most testing campaign yet

The Reds are currently 26 points adrift of leaders United in the Premier League table and remain 17 behind champions City following Sunday's thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers' side held a 2-1 lead against City going into the closing stages, before Reina's ill-advised rush from his line allowed Sergio Aguero to score a spectacular equaliser.

And the shot-stopper believes that the difference between the financial muscle and squad strength of the Premier League's leading trio and Liverpool has reached a significant point.

Reina told Marca: "Right now we can't compete with the big guns. They have a big edge over us at the moment, both financially and squad-wise.

"There's a reason they are so many points ahead of us, and it's not because of one or two better players."

The Spain international has come under the spotlight personally this term, with his standards having slipped from previous seasons.

R eina admits this has been the most testing campaign for himself and the Reds since he moved to Anfield in July 2005, but defended his displays and insists the club need to be given time under Rodgers.

He added: "It's been a strange season for me because I've missed lots of games with injury.

"Some people say I've had a bad season, but honestly I think I only had three poor matches, at the beginning of the year.

"This has been the most unsettled season, both personally and as a team, since I joined the club.

"Liverpool is going through a transitional period, with new ideas and a different playing philosophy. That takes time. People have to be patient. It's normal for us to be erratic."