Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has played down fears that defender Rio Ferdinand will leave the club when his current contract expires.
United have tended to offer one year contract extensions year after year to their older player and Ferdinand now fits into that category at the age of 34.
Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are in similar positions, but Sir Alex is hopeful that all three will still be in his first team squad come the start of next season.
Ferdinand has impressed this season after recovering from a series of injuries in 2012 and while his England days may be over, he still has a lot to offer at club level.
The former West Ham and Leeds defender has finally rekindled his partnership with Nemanja Vidic at the heart of the Old Trafford back line and Ferguson has never questioned Ferdinand’s ability or commitment to the club.
“Rio has had a great season,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.
“I don’t think there is any reason why he won’t stay.
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“We give players one-year contracts, there is nothing wrong with that. I don’t think players with the reputation and ability of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand should worry about a one-year contract.
Andreas Weimann could be on his way out of Villa Park in the summer, with Italian giants Inter Milan tracking the player.
The Austrian has been one of Villa’s best players this season, scoring 11 goals in the club’s fight for survival. His impressive displays haven’t gone unnoticed either, with reports of Inter Milan scouting the 21-year-old.
Weimann’s agent, Robert Groener, said no formal inquiry had been made, but didn’t rule out a potential move, according to Sky Sports.
Speaking to Interlive.it, Groener said: “At the moment there is nothing concrete. I have not had any contact with Marco Branca or any other Inter director.”
“His contract with Villa expires in 2014, so if they do not renew then he could be sold over the summer. Obviously Serie A is less prestigious than the Premier League, but it would be an honour for Weimann to wear the jersey of a historic and prestigious club like Inter.”
Villa’s victory over QPR last weekend may be the decisive match that sees them avoid relegation this season. But with more competitive teams eyeing the Austrian, it would be difficult for Weimann to turn down deals from higher clubs.
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Villa’s next game is at home to Liverpool after the international break, where the club are continuing to try avoid relegation.
Davide Santon’s agent claims the player will stay with Newcastle next season, despite strong interest from AC Milan.
The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to Italy and the player has been quoted as saying he would jump at the chance of a move to Milan if they made an approach.
Reports have claimed that Milan could make a move in the summer but Santon’s representative Renzo Contract says it is highly unlikely Newcastle will sell as he is a key member of the side.
“I believe that Davide will remain in England because Newcastle want to count on him next season too,” Contract told Radio Crc. “The club believe that he still has great room for improvement.”
Santon still has over three years to run on his current deal so it will take a large fee to land the player if Newcastle were to agree to a move, which looks highly unlikely.
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Whether Tottenham qualify for the Champions League this season remains to be seen; however most Spurs fans will be satisfied with the progress made under Andre Villas-Boas in his first season at the club.
Villas-Boas accepts that it has been a tough season and it has taken time for the players to adjust to his philosophies; however believes that his style mirrors that of the Tottenham way:
“There are always things to refine. It can be difficult sometimes because the nature of the Premier League means it is driven by passion and emotion, it is a game that can be influenced more by aspects of motivation and mindset than any other league in the world; this is what makes the Premier League the product that it is. So, sometimes it can be difficult to set out your philosophy but like every other team we have had great games and bad games, and games where we should have expressed ourselves better. In the end, however, we have always been recognised as a team that has always been very driven, that wants to score and that is the Tottenham way.”
The Portuguese manager is excited about the growth of the club off the field and believes it gives the club every chance to succeed:
“The growth is continuing and I know that the owner and chairman are very driven in achieving the club’s aim of building a new stadium. I think that this wonderful training ground allows the players to further flourish and develop their game. It also allows us to attract better players; it’s a great environment and a great example to the Premier League.”
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For more insight from Andre Villas Boas and other leading managers plus exclusive Premier League highlights go to www.yahoo.co.uk/sport
The next transfer window will be a monumental one for David Moyes. His first as Manchester United boss, the Scot’s decisions during the initial months of his tenure will not only signal his intent for the coming Premier League season and vision for future campaigns, but furthermore present him the opportunity to step out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s shadow and make his own path at Old Trafford.
There’s no doubt the new recruits will be coming in, the most likely names so far being his former Everton talismen Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini. But to make room for improvements, the surplus to requirements, lukewarm at best and mediocre elements of the United squad must be tossed by the wayside – which will be equally as important to Moyes’ tenure as those he intends to bring to Old Trafford.
We’ve compiled a list of the five Red Devils expected to be jettisoned in the summer, with full details of how and why they will be politely moved on in the coming transfer window.
Click on Ashley Young to reveal the FIVE Man United players to be scrapped this summer
Newcastle are at the front of a long queue for Manchester United youngster Wilfried Zaha’s signature, according to reports from Goal.
The England international arrived at Old Trafford over the summer from Crystal Palace, but is facing an uphill battle to become a first-team regular under David Moyes.
The Scot is yet to be convinced by the man signed by his predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson, and has used him extremely sparingly so far.
Despite Zaha’s limited role, United rebuffed Palace’s attempts to sign the winger on loan for the season.
But, the 20-year-old is believed to be keen to leave on a temporary deal to gain regular action to give himself an outside chance of a spot in England’s squad for the 2014 World Cup.
Interest is high, with the likes of Swansea, West Brom Stoke and Palace all keen, but Newcastle are thought to be Zaha’s favoured suitors.
The deal that took the wide-man to United from the Eagles could rise to around £17m, displaying the level of confidence the Premier League champions have in his potential.
Despite being born in the Ivory Coast, Zaha has opted to pursue his international career with England – winning two caps so far.
Would a loan move to Newcastle suit everybody involved?
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Mesut Ozil’s impact in English football was instant. Upon his introduction against Sunderland following his £42m move from Real Madrid, he quickly gave evidence of his much-publicised locker of creative genius.
Away to Sunderland, the German registered one assist and could have had more had Theo Walcott been more clinical with his finishing. Nevertheless, hyperbole was out the window and accurate reporting of Ozil’s talent was in office.
It’s no surprise, then, that there has been an expectation for more, both from the Arsenal support and the wider Premier League audience.
Indeed, Ozil hasn’t retained the heights of his first few games in an Arsenal shirt, but to label him as either struggling or ineffective would be to completely ignore the style of football in operation at the Emirates.
The lift in morale has been palpable. Arsene Wenger has done a lot to retain the core of his squad and ensure that their confidence was built upon the strong finish of last season. But as is usually the case for teams whose mental fragility is well known, they needed another source of inspiration. Following Ozil’s arrival, the makeup of the entire club has been repainted.
Ozil’s injection of quality – a step up from the fantastic Santi Cazorla last year – has helped Arsenal to realise their potential as technically-gifted footballers. Where in the past the attractive displays were fleeting, it is now a constant theme of this season.
What needs to be said about Ozil is that he’s a player who won’t register a multitude of goals over the course of a season. He’s not a prolific midfield scorer in the way Juan Mata or Marco Reus is; his contributions are found elsewhere.
Of course, the assist is the easiest way to measure how much of an impact he’s having on a game. In his three seasons at Real Madrid, he tallied 31, 26 and 35 in all competitions for club and country. But much of his contribution was in helping the entire team to click. Cristiano Ronaldo may be the most valuable player at the Bernabeu by quite some distance, but Ozil and Xabi Alonso were the conductors of that team. Without them, the quality and fluidity of Madrid’s attack went down a few notches.
That’s why there shouldn’t be too much of a concern for Ozil at present. Yes, he is capable of much more, but such is his talent that even when he’s not quite at maximum output, he’s still better than the majority on the pitch.
His involvement in Arsenal’s best performances this season shouldn’t be undermined. Against Napoli he was at the centre of everything, scoring one of the goals and providing for Olivier Giroud. Much of the same was clear against Norwich. Against Liverpool, however, he wasn’t in the spotlight as much, but nevertheless played a decisive part in Arsenal’s win.
His assist for Aaron Ramsey’s wonder strike was there for all to see. But his deployment out on the flank was also vital for Arsenal’s dominance of the midfield and crucially in Liverpool’s defensive half. He drew defenders out of position. He played rapid one-twos to allow for further uncertainty in the defence. Importantly, he’s a reference to the other attackers further up the field. His ability on the ball can be inspirational, but vitally he keeps the play going, helping to retain the ball in key areas of the pitch.
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For those who need something more substantial, it is likely and certainly hoped that Theo Walcott’s return from injury will see Ozil in full flight. He was described by Jose Mourinho as the best No.10 in the world while at Real Madrid, obviously because of what he provided for Ronaldo and co. Creating for others is clearly his greatest asset, and that’s the job he was brought in to do. Thus far, Arsenal haven’t had the forward runners available that allowed for Ozil’s wizardry to become so prominent in the past.
Lukas Podolski, upon his return, should also be a boost. He’s a far more natural goal scorer than Olivier Giroud and certainly better than Walcott. Giroud deserves to be commended for his efforts, but bringing the other two forwards into the team will give Ozil the tools he needs to silence his doubters.
The winter transfer window is suddenly looming in the near future, and considering the make-up of the Premier League’s summit at the moment, it could prove to be a vital one for all clubs involved in the English title race.
One of the leading stories in the tabloids preceding the market’s reopening in January has been Arsenal and Tottenham’s hunt for a new centre-forward.
Both North London outfits are lacking in quality in depth in the final third, with the Gunners needing an adequate deputy for the in-form Olivier Giroud (that isn’t Nicolas Bentdner) and Spurs desperate to sign any striker who can find them a Premier League goal in open play.
Various names, ranging from Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema to Burnley’s Danny Ings, have been floating around in the backpages, but there’s a simple solution for both clubs right under their Premier League noses – Aston Villa star Christian Benteke.
Arsenal and Tottenham were both linked to the beastly Belgian in the summer, following reports that he’d handed in a transfer request at Villa Park, but eventually abstained from the opportunity to snap up one of the Premier League’s rising stars for a reported £20million.
With glaring flaws in their strikeforces in the first half of the season however, both clubs should look to revive their interest in January.
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Benteke burst onto the Premier League scene last season after Paul Lambert signed him for just £7million from Belgian side FC Genk. The nominal fee for the forward powerhouse has proved to be a real coup, with Benteke netting 19 times in his inaugural Premier League campaign and emerging as a talismanic force in the Birmingham outfit’s top flight survival last season, all at the tender age of 22.
Amid Arsenal and Tottenham’s brief interest in the summer, many fans rejected notions that the Belgian hitman was ready for the step up to a Champions League club, claiming Benteke was simply the ‘flavour of the month’ and landing him with the rather unenviable ‘one-season wonder’ tag.
But yet again, Benteke’s quality has shone through; despite battling with injury, he’s found four goals in nine starts this term. Before his brief stint on the sidelines, the Villa star’s early season four-goal haul made him the Premier League’s top scorer since the turn of the year, coinciding with his club’s continual rise in form.
Not that he’s all about goals. Benteke measures in at 6 foot 3 and bares pace, power and mobility. As well as being a lethal threat in the air, he’s comfortable with his back to goal and bringing others into play. A strong understanding with strike partner Andreas Weimann last term also showed the Villia talisman’s more cultured side, perhaps best portrayed by the duo’s fine combination play against Liverpool last December, with Benteke’s back heel flick leading to the Austrian’s cool finish in a 3-1 win, the other two goals from the Belgian himself.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means declaring the 22 year-old is the finished product. A 57% pass completion ratio this season suggests obvious weaknesses to the technical side of his game, and a red card at the end of last term showed the Villa forward requires maturity; had it not been for Wigan’s defeat to Arsenal a week later, Benteke’s self-created absence could have well cost his club their Premier League status.
But if we extrapolate his efforts in the English top flight thus far over the next ten years, it’s glaringly obvious Benteke has all the raw ingredients to become one of the division’s flagship stars.
He’s already a regular fixture for the Belgium national team, and the 2014 World Cup could well prove to be the tournament in which the Aston Villa man truly comes of age, although the monumental rise of the almost identical in style Romelu Lukaku could stand in his way.
Furthermore, the kind of service Benteke provides is what both North London clubs should be searching for in January.
For Arsenal, he’d bring a similar skills set to the final third as current front man Olivier Giroud, albeit rather rougher round the edges. Using his powerful frame, the Villa Park star would act as a pillar to instigate attacks and bring the Gunners’ incredibly talented midfield into play, a method in which, through the hard graft and guile of Olivier Giroud, has spawned 15 of the Emirates outfit’s 24 Premier League goals this season. He may be yet to claim an assist, in comparison to the Frenchman’s four, but it’s worth noting Benteke is currently averaging 2.1 key passes per game, according to Whoscored.
And for Spurs, Benteke would provide a much-needed variation in style from Jermain Defoe and Roberto Soldado, who both decisively belong to the ‘poacher’ category of striker. With neither Tottenham forward measuring in at above 5 foot 10 or donning any physical prowess, the Lilywhites’ need for something different up top has become glaringly obvious by the fact they’ve averaged just 0.75 goals per game this season.
That’s what the 22 year-old can bring to the table – he’s a natural target man, an individualist type of striker, capable of leading the line on his own with enough athleticism to physically dominate two opposing centre-backs. He’s also a useful tool outside of the box – unlike Soldado – often instigating Villa counter-attacks by beating defenders to the ball on the break, be it on the ground or in the air.
Perhaps most importantly however, Benteke has developed an astute knack of scoring against the Premier League’s bigger sides – something which will be vital for both Spurs and Arsenal this season if they’re to achieve their ultimate aims, and an issue that’s continually haunted them in the past. He’s already bagged a brace at the Emirates this year and got on the score sheet against Chelsea, whilst last season he netted twice against Liverpool and Everton.
Benteke is a player for the future capable of have an immediate effect. Furthermore, he’s already established himself at Premier League level, and clearly has all the characteristics to remain an effective target man in the English game, regardless of the recent slump in his goal-scoring form since picking up a knock in late September.
In my opinion at least, the risk for Arsenal and Tottenham is slim, but as a result, Benteke’s price-tag could be a monolithic stumbling block. Having snubbed the chance to snap him up in the summer, Villa can now hold potential suitors to ransom after tying down their star striker to a long-term deal at the start of the season, especially if they’re to let him join another English club mid-campaign.
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Considering he was valued at £20million six months ago, before he signed a new contract and carried his goal-scoring form into the current term, Benteke’s price-tag could well have risen to the £30million mark.
But that doesn’t take away from the fact the 22 year-old is obviously a safe investment, that will not only contribute Tottenham and Arsenal’s aims this season but also help them build for the campaigns to come.
I strongly urge both clubs to make a move for the Aston Villa ace in January whilst the iron’s still hot, and before his price further escalates at the 2014 World Cup.
Should Spurs or Arsenal snap up Benteke in January?
Manchester City midfielder James Milner says that despite a lack of regular first team football he wants to stay at the Etihad, as reported by Sky Sports.
Milner has been a bit-part player under Manuel Pellegrini and has lost his place in the England squad because of that.
City are only going to strengthen their side further in the summer and so Milner could continue to slip down the pecking order.
However the 28 year old is not worried about that as the success of the side is so much that he can play a bit-part role and still be involved in celebrations.
“I want to play every game but I know that’s not possible at Manchester City,” Milner told the Sunday Mirror.
“I love being here, even though there is great competition for places, and I would love to stay.
“I’d love to stay at the club, but that’s a decision for the club to make and me as well.”
Milner has less than 18 months left on his current deal so will be hoping for discussions over an extension to begin shortly.
Gary Neville has caused a bit of a stir on Twitter by promoting simulation in football.His comments came after West Ham’s Matt Jarvis decided to stay up in the penalty area, despite Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna tripping him on Tuesday night.Sky Sports pundit Neville admitted after the game that Jarvis did the wrong thing and should have gone down, pointing at the way the game has changed in recent years and that now it is acceptable to dive.But many fans are defending Jarvis’ honesty, despite the Hammers winger potentially costing his side the match, with the Hammers going on to lose 3-1.And the debate moved over to Twitter afterwards, with Neville answering fans’ questions…