West Ham/Man United and Tevez saga continues…

As reported earlier in Goalpost Online, interest in Tevez from Manchester United and the debate over the ownership of the player has culminated in the possibility of a High court writ against West Ham United.

The Argentine striker wants to secure a move to United and there were pictures of him seen in Manchester. If a deal was to go through for the transfer of Tevez to Manchester United it would be highly contested who United should pay the fees to, as both West Ham and Kia Joorbchain (pictured) claim to own the player.

As this dispute has been going on since early July , yesterday the FA and Premier League asked FIFA to settle the dispute. However FIFA has recommended that the ‘Court of Arbitration ‘ (C.A.S.) deal with the matter, claiming that going through CAS will be:

“the fastest way to solve this impasse”

Joorabchin yesterday, has decided to take matters into his own hands  and issued a writ against West Ham in order to speed up the Argentine’s transfer to United before the August 31 deadline.  

Filed under: West Ham, football, manchester united, soccer

Liverpool/Man U and Heinz saga continues…

“We sent in an offer and they rejected the offer. Now the lawyers need to talk.” said Benitez in a Sky Sports interview.

Tensions between Manchester United and Liverpool continues its momentum over the future of Argentinian defender Gabriele Heinze with legal proceedings expecting occur.

Alex Ferguson is willing to let go of the 29 year old defender on the condition that he is only sold for a £6.8 million fee which was negoiated with Heinze’s representatives Soccer SA.

However, when Liverpool approached to sign Heinze with the stipulated fee, Alex Ferguson refused their offer on the basis that he didnt want to sell to his arch rivals.

He was also reported saying in one of the tabloids that he will never sell to Liverpool as long as he is at the club.

Benitez said of the conflict and of Heinze that :

“It’s clear that he is a player we like and he is a very good player. That is the reason that they dont want him to leave for us”

Benitez has sent for lawyers to handle the case and to discuss the valuation letter which they claim does not hold restrictions on which club Heinze is sold to.

Ferguson on the other hand will be undertaking proceedings of his own, claiming that Heinze was illegally touted for a move to Anfield by Soccer SA and Liverpool

Filed under: football, liverpool, manchester united, soccer

Ljunberg joins Hammers

Freddie Ljunberg has gone to Upton Park today in a deal that could be worth up to £3 million and signed a contract that would keep him at the club for four years.

Ljunberg spent nine years with Arsenal, costing the club £3 million from Halmstads. In that time he played 325 times for the Gunners, scoring 72 goals along the way, and picking up 3 Premiership titles and four FA cups.

However for the last couple of seasons Ljunberg’s career at Arsenal were dampered by injuries and with the current run of new young players at the Emirates, the 30 year old Swedish captain was not gaurantied a regular place in the squad.

Speaking of the move Ljunberg declared:

“Two years ago, when i signed my last contract we talot about the future and about bringing great players to the club”

“Despite building the new stadium we wanted to stay top in England and do well in Europe. For me that didnt really happen. I stayed because i wanted to stay loyal to Arsenal. But when Henry left this summer i felt like all the unbeaten players (from Arsenals 2003/04 unbeaten side) had left. I wanted to be loyal but i felt like it was the right time.”

Ljunberg has become West Ham’s fith signing this summer, which has included major transfers such as Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker and Julien Faubert. Ljunberg is optimistic about his move to Upton Park and spoke of the signings the Hammers have made.

” I’m coming here because i want to build a great team. And why i want to join is because of Magnusson…He is willing to go to the transfer market to buuy top players and mix them with youth players. West Ham have a great academy”

Filed under: West Ham, arsenal, football, soccer

Fowler heads to Cardiff

Robbie Fowler will join Cardiff city this summer after rejecting offers from Sydney FC in Australia’s A League and Leiscester City.

He is has accepted a two year contract with the Welsh club and is expected to be unveiled sometime next week.

The former England international and Liverpool legend will once again team up with chairman Peter Risedale, who was also in charge of Leeds United when they had brought Fowler from Anfield to Leeds.

The aquisition of Fowler has come after the club lost its most prolific and valuable striker: Michael Chopra to Sunderland.

Fowler was released by Liverpool at the end of last season after spending 10 years there, with spells at Manchester city and Leeds in between this tenure.

Filed under: Cardiff city, football, football transfers, liverpool

Goalpost Online

Goalpost Online

Filed under: football

Mido to move to Birmingham for £6 million

It has been reported that Egyptian strker Mido will move to Birmingham for a £6 million fee. Initially Mido was scheduled to move to Birmingham for a one year loan deal after struggling to make an impression at Spurs last season.

But with the arrival of Darren Bent from Charlton this summer and having to compete with Robbie Keane, Berbatov and Jermain Defoe up front, his move to Birmingham is likely to turn permanent.

If the deal goes through, subject to Mido agreeing personal terms and passing a medical it will be Steve Bruce’s largest buy of the summer.

The Birminghma manager is also reported to be interested in Mido’s Tottenham teammate and compatriot Hossam Ghaly

Filed under: birmingham, football, football transfers, soccer, tottenham

Shady goings on at Newcastle

Mike Ashley the now owner of Newcastle United who had taken over from  Freddy Shepard is facing a daunting task of keeping the name of Newcastle United clean. Yesterday, officers from the City of London police had been searching the Newcastle ground for clues regarding the transfers of two players: Jean Alain Bomsong and Amady Faye in January 2005 from Glasgow rangers and Portsmouth respectively

A spokesman for the Tyneside club stressed that :

“the club itself is not the subject of the investigation”

Ashley’s regime does not seem to be under “investigation” entirely as the deals were secured before he took over the Tyneside club. The two transfers in question, were the two Lord Stevens felt  unable to ’sign off’ in his recent report. The Boumsong deal in particular was held highly suspicious.

Graeme Sousness, four months after taking over Bobby Robson as manager made his first purchase. Boumsong was bought for £8.2 million from Glasgow Rangers and was seen as a direct replacement for the departed Johnathan Woodgate, who had just joined Real Madrid.

The two criteria that earmarks this deal as highly suspect are as follows: the first involves Newcastle’s lack of competition form other clubs in obtaining the Frenchman’s signature. The second, concerns the availabilty of Boumsong sixth months prior to his move to Newcastle. Boumsong was available on a free transfer whilst at Auxerre, and Bobby Robson the then manager had shown a keen interest in him; even travelling to France to watch the player. However he neglected to sign him; even with the option of a free transfer. Rangers took the player on a free then sixth months later he was sold to Newcastle.

City of London police claimed that no arrests were made but:

“We can confirm that search warrants were served at three football clubs and the homes of two individuals in connection with corruption in football and its impact on owners and shareholders”

Filed under: football, newcastle

Arsenal secure Sagna

Arsenal have completed the signing of French defender Bacary Sagna from Auxere today on a long term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Speaking from Arsenals website, Wenger showed that he was delighted with the arrival of the 24 year old

” He is a very capable defender and has played consistently well fro Auxerre in recent seasons. He plays mainly at rightback but can also play along the defence or in midfield. He is strong quick and enjoys defending but alkso has a good offensive side to his game.”

Sagna ’s arrival at the Emirates could prove beneficial to a team that has lacked a sufficient defence since the Tony Adams left and also the departure of Sol Campbell. The North London club let in 35 goals last season and Wenger was looking for a suitable partner and defensive cover at the back for Kolo Toure and William Gallas.

Facts about Sagna from arsenal.com

Filed under: arsenal, football, football transfers