Chelsea threaten to pull out of Cavani and Hulk chases over financial demands

Chelsea are refusing to be held to ransom in their pursuit of long-term targets Edinson Cavani and Hulk.

The South Americans have been on the European champions’ radar throughout the summer transfer window.
But both moves have stalled over financial reasons and the Blues are now threatening to completely withdraw their interest in the attacking duo.

Pricey: Chelsea may pull the plug on their pursuit of Edinson Cavani

As revealed by Sportsmail last month, Cavani has insisted he become one of Chelsea’s top earners should he agree a move to London - demanding a hefty £150,000-per-week.
In addition to his wages, Cavani would cost £35million in transfer fees.

 

And Chelsea are not prepared to give in to the Uruguay striker’s demands and it is understood Blues technical director Michael Emenalo has told Cavani’s advisers that the club will not pursue their interest in the centre-forward until he lowers salary.

Similarly, the Blues are currently unwilling to meet Porto’s asking price for Hulk.
The Brazil international has an £80million release clause written into his contract - but the Portuguese giants will let him leave for £38m.
Talks between both clubs will accelerate in the coming days after Hulk’s Olympics involvement came to an end at the weekend.
But Porto’s valuation is threatening to scupper the transfer despite Hulk’s attempts to force through a move to Stamford Bridge.

Growing gap: Chelsea once seemed close to landing Hulk but talk has quietened

‘I have left the door open to be transferred,’ said Hulk.
‘My preference is to play in England or Spain because they are the most watched league in the world. Now is a great time for me to move.’
Meanwhile, Wigan’s demand that Chelsea pay £7million of Victor Moses protracted £10m transfer fee up front is the key stumbling block towards the completion of a deal.
Moses - who will net in the region of £40,000-per-week if his move to Chelsea goes through - is desperate to quit the Latics.
But Chelsea are keen to pay a smaller initial payment with the rest of the few made up in performance related add ons.
Talks between both club’s are ongoing and a compromise is expected to be reached to pave the way for Moses return to London.

Oh no! Looks like the Italians have found themselves another Pirlo

Having been spared another date with Andrea Pirlo, the architect of England’s Euro 2012 demise, Roy Hodgson is set instead to encounter the teenager hailed as his natural successor.

Marco Verratti, 19, has been compared to Pirlo since Zdenek Zeman used his technique and vision as Pescara’s defensive playmaker. He made his debut for Pescara at 16 and, last weekend, played his first competitive game for Paris Saint-Germain after a £10million move on the same day Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva swapped Milan for the French capital.

Watch out: The talented Marco Verratti (right) at Italy training and in PSG colours (below)

Within Italian football, the move did not go unnoticed, setting off another bout of soul-searching over the drain of young talent.
‘It is a shame we could not keep him in Italy,’ said national coach Cesare Prandelli. ‘Perhaps we should have been a bit quicker to recognise his talent and stop him from ending up abroad. He is very skilful and a strong personality.’
There is concern that Verratti will not be able to polish his skills as the pivot in Carlo Ancelotti’s 4-3-3 formation at PSG, and may be forced wide or, worse still, out of the team. He started against Lorient on Sunday but was replaced with his side losing 2-0 as Ibrahimovic scored twice to salvage a draw.
Italian football has long been accused of having little faith in youth. The academy system has been under scrutiny, technicians such as Gianfranco Zola doubting whether the nation is creating the right type of footballers.
‘In the past, Italy produced good players from the streets,’ Zola told Sportsmail in February. ‘The academies are good but they can’t give you that extra quality and tend to choose young players who are more physical and tactical and sacrifice players who don’t have the physique.
‘I wouldn’t have made it if they were choosing back then by the criteria they use today. I was so little...’
Prandelli wants to forge a young team for Brazil 2014 around Mario Balotelli, who has an eye infection. Twelve uncapped players have been selected for this friendly against England at the Stade de Suisse; the 22-man squad has an average age of 24. ‘The idea is to plan the next two years by finding out which young players have what it takes,’ said Prandelli.

City aim to scoop up English talent with Sinclair, Butland and Caulker targeted to follow Rodwell

Manchester City have hatched an audacious plan to build up a reserve of English talent and are lining up bids for as many as five of the country's top young players.

The £12million arrival of Jack Rodwell from Everton may have raised eyebrows but is just the start of a recruitment drive aimed at giving them an English core that will serve them for years to come.
Swansea’s Scott Sinclair seems sure to be the next capture, while Sportsmail understands England Under 21 keeper Jack Butland, his Birmingham team-mate Nathan Redmond and Tottenham defender Steven Caulker are also under review.

Just the start: Rodwell's signature could herald an influx of young English talent

 

The idea of hand-picking emerging England players and allowing them to develop at City has been discussed between the club’s Arab owners and Etihad-based hierarchy and is seen as a way of building a solid foundation for lasting success.

It has been approved by Roberto Mancini, though the City manager is more concerned about his side’s immediate prospects and bolstering his starting  line-up for an imminent title defence.
The longer-term targets are mostly in the £10-15m bracket and viewed as sound investments who can contribute to the squad now and become key figures later, once their potential has been fulfilled.
As revealed in Sportsmail last week, City have made an approach for Sinclair and  Swansea have already begun the search for a replacement after accepting he will leave.

Who's next? Caulker and Butland could be the next stars targeted by City

Tottenham’s 20-year-old Team GB centre back Caulker has gone straight from the Olympics to the full England squad for this evening’s game against Italy and is coming under increasingly close scrutiny at City.
As the Barclays Premier League  champions consider a bid, they have also concluded that Butland is the country’s outstanding young keeper and heir apparent to Joe Hart.
Birmingham’s financial plight leaves them ill-equipped to fend off bids, but while that may hasten the departure of highly rated 18-year-old winger Redmond, prising Butland away may be a different matter.

Rubber stamped: Mancini has given his approval to the plans

The 19-year-old, due to become England’s youngest ever keeper in Berne, is understood to be aware of City’s interest but is unsure whether he wants to risk spending a decade in Hart’s shadow for club as well as country.
Hart is still only 25, and while City are eager to have England’s first and second-choice keeper on the pitch and bench for years to come, Butland wants a more active role at club level.

Welcome back! Fletcher returns to United team after fears career was over

Darren Fletcher made his Manchester United return following a lengthy lay-off in a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in a benefit match for Dons legend Neil Simpson.

The United midfielder had not played since November 22 last year after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition.
The 28-year-old played the final 30 minutes in front of a packed Pittodrie that saw goals from Jonny Hayes and Joe Shaughnessy give the Dons victory over Sir Alex Ferguson's men, who netted a consolation through Anderson in the closing stages.

Back in the fold: Fletcher returns for United at Pittodrie

 

Speaking about Fletcher's return, Ferguson told MUTV: 'It's been quiet progress for the boy.

'He joined in training a couple of weeks ago and it's one of those situations where you say: "Let's see how he does because he has had a really difficult time in the last year".
'Therefore, I wasn't really placing too much hope in it but let's see how he does. He's got to the stage now where he feels he needs a game. I let him join Scotland this week but he wanted a game so I said: "Come to Aberdeen and join up afterwards".  I'll give him 20 to 25 minutes.'
Simpson, who was a member of Ferguson's Aberdeen team that won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1983, was given a standing ovation as he kicked the match off before being replaced with less than 30 seconds gone.
Nevertheless, his cameo appearance was enough to earn him that man-of-the-match award.

Welcome back: Fletcher acknowledges the fans before making a return to action on the field

He joked afterwards: 'I didn't put a foot wrong so that's probably why I got the award! I would have loved to have played more but I'm getting an operation on my back on September 1 and unfortunately on the surgeon's advice I got told not to bother.
'It was a fantastic night and I absolutely loved it. A few times during the week I was quite emotional about the whole thing. I didn't bubble or anything but there were times that I probably could have.
'The game was like a testimonial game in terms of tempo but it was great to see these type of players at Pittodrie.
'Thirty years ago we were that type of player and playing at the heights of Europe. It was a great night and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
'I'm not that daft to say that there wasn't Man United supporters there to see that team but there was still 21,000 packing out Pittodrie to honour myself, which was brilliant.'
And Simpson was delighted to catch up with his former manager once again.
'He didn't give me any of the hairdryer treatment,' he said. 'He said that I thoroughly deserved it and he said it was absolutely no problem to take his team up.'

Red alert: Fletcher boosted United on his return... but they lost 2-1 to Aberdeen

Mourinho: I have won too much to be the Special One... I deserve to be called the Only One

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is keen to shed his famous nickname of the ‘Special One’ - as he wants it to be upgraded to the ‘Only One’.
Mourinho feels he deserves the new status after becoming the first manager in history to win titles in Europe's top three leagues.
The Portugese manager won La Liga with Real Madrid last season to add to his two Seire A titles with Inter Milan and back-to-back Premier League triumphs with Chelsea as well as winning the league twice in his homeland with Porto, not to mention winning the Champions League twice.

In a league of his own: Jose Mourinho says he should be known as the 'only one'

'Like me or not, I am the only one who won the world's three most important leagues. So, maybe instead of the 'Special One', people should start calling me the 'Only One',' Mourinho said in an interview with Portuguese TV station SIC.
'After having won practically everything, as time has passed I have become less self-centered and egocentric. I have always liked more the joy of other people, those around me. For this, winning with Inter gave me a special pleasure. These are challenges, not personal goals. I also think I could have been a good human resources executive.
'In 2010, I was chosen best coach in the world, in 2011 I was chosen second, now I do not worry about the position I am in.

Blue is the colour: Mourinho won two titles with Chelsea

'The pressure is not the hardest thing about being a manager - the most difficult is that other people do not have a true image of me. I still hope to continue for many years at the highest level, but I also want to enjoy many things in my life.
'I am about to turn 50 years old and I feel as if I were beginning my career as a coach.'

Italian job: Mourinho celebrates winning the scudetto with Inter Milan

Mourinho was nicknamed the 'Special One' by the English press after referring to himself as just that, during a press conference following his arrival at Chelsea from Porto in 2004 where he won the Champions League.
He added: 'At the beginning, I knew I had some qualities, but I was far from imagining I would get to where I am today. I have not raced from eight to 80 - it has been a progressive journey. Winning the Champions League in Portugal [with Porto in 2004] prepared me to go abroad.

The Real deal: Mourinho celebrates winning La Liga with Madrid

'I left prepared and with status. The richness of my development as a man and as a coach has been the result of jumping from country to country. That has made me a much better coach.'
'It is a consequence of the footballing power of the two clubs. The best team from England, or Germany, Holland, or from any other country, the most they could do in Spain would be third place.

Winning the big one - twice: Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto and then again with Inter Milan

'This duel of titans forces the clubs and the players to become better. It is a healthy duel and I enjoy it. The two clubs are fighting for world football hegemony.'
Real Madrid kick off their 2012-13 campaign against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup on August 23.

Sir Alex closes in on deal for Van Persie as United prepare to offer Arsenal improved bid

Manchester United were locked in talks with Arsenal on Tuesday night over what they hope will be a deal-clinching improved offer for Robin van Persie.

Sportsmail exclusively revealed yesterday how the Gunners were expecting a new bid, with sources claiming the move could be sealed by Saturday’s big-kick off.
And United took a significant step towards securing the deal by re-opening discussions with the North London club. Their improved offer, likely to be close to Arsenal’s minimum £20m asking price, is expected to be submitted in the next 48 hours.

United front: Sir Alex is closing on the deal of the summer for Van Persie - who is with the Holland squad

 

United players themselves are becoming increasingly confident that Van Persie will be joining them in the near future.

Meanwhile, Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez will complete a £4million move to United after undergoing a medical.
Sportsmail revealed in June that United had secured first option on signing Henriquez, 18, until 2014 but Sir Alex Ferguson decided to fast-track the deal with his club Universidad de Chile when several rivals began showing an interest.

Final hurdle: The protracted deal could soon be concluded if the Gunners accept the offer for their captain

The teenager, who has been on United’s radar for three years and had previously had two trials spells at Carrington, was seen leaving the Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester following a three-hour medical. 
Darren Fletcher made his first United appearance in nine months last night after taking a break from football to battle a career-threatening stomach condition.
The Scotland midfielder, 28, received a huge ovation when he came on after 59 minutes in a friendly at Aberdeen.

Talisman: Van Persie bagged the vast majority of Arsenal's goals last season

Aberdeen 2 Manchester United 1: Fletcher return boosts Red Devils despite stumble

Scotland skipper Darren Fletcher made his comeback as Manchester United lost at Aberdeen in a benefit match for Dons legend Neil Simpson.

Former Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson included Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand in a star-studded side as he returned to the Granite City for the match in honour of his former player, who is currently the head of the Pittodrie youth academy.

Nice to have you back: Darren Fletcher takes the captain's armband

MATCH FACTS

Aberdeen: Langfield; Anderson, Reynolds, Naysmith, Simpson; Milsom, Osbourne, Clark, Hayes; Magennis, Paton

Substitutes: Rae, Considine, Vernon, Bell, Low, Hughes, Rogers, Shaughnessy, Brown, Rougvie, Irvine, Tosh

Goals: Hayes 37, Shaughnessy 70
Manchester United: De Gea; Michael Keane, Thorpe, Ferdinand, Blackett; Powell, Anderson, Scholes, Giggs; Macheda, Bebe

Substitutes: Johnstone, Cole, Blackmore, Fletcher, Fortune, Januzaj, Yorke

Goal: Anderson 81
Referee: Kevin Clancey

Fletcher, who is on the road to recovery from a chronic inflammatory bowel condition, featured for United for the first time since a Champions League match against Benfica last November, coming on a second-half substitute.
Simpson, part of Ferguson's Aberdeen side which won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1983, was given a rousing reception by the sell-out crowd as he kicked the match off before being promptly replaced by Stephen Hughes with less than 30 seconds on the clock.
Former Old Trafford favourites Dwight Yorke, Clayton Blackmore and Quinton Fortune all made cameo appearances, while the home support were also treated to a trip down memory lane with Brian Irvine, Dougie Bell, Doug Rougvie and Steve Tosh all donning an Aberdeen top once again.
The Dons had an early scare when Giggs curled an effort off the post from the edge of the area with his weaker right foot after 11 minutes before Nicholas Powell fired over from the edge of the area.

Tucked away: Jonny Hayes opens the scoring and is congratulated (below)

Good job: Hayes (centre) is congratulated by his team mates after opening the scoring for Aberdeen

However it was the hosts who took an unexpected lead after 38 minutes when Jonny Hayes pounced on a rare lapse by Scholes when he dispossessed the midfielder and coolly slotted the ball past David De Gea.
The visitors should have restored parity just after the break but Powell headed wide from a perfect cross from Blackmore.

Can't break through: Ryan Giggs struggled to make an impact

Decent: Fletcher impressed given his long absence

Fletcher was introduced just before the half-hour mark to a warm reception from the Pittodrie crowd before Aberdeen doubled their lead when Joe Shaughnessy turned the ball home from an Andrew Considine pass after United failed to deal with a Rob Milsom corner.
Yorke had a strike ruled out for offside before Anderson pulled a goal back for United after 81 minutes with a neat finish.
But Aberdeen held on for a surprise victory against the English Premier League giants.

Look who's back: Darren Fletcher signs autographs

Out they come: Aberdeen assistant manager Archie Knox (left) makes his way out of the tunnel alongside old friend Sir Alex Ferguson

Tussle: Federico Macheda (left) challenges for the ball with Aberdeen's Isaac Osbourne

All for you: Neil Simpson applauds the fans who turned up for his testimonial

Scary: A young Aberdeen fan with a Wayne Rooney mask

Everton ready to pounce for £5m Belgium star Mirallas using Rodwell windfall

Everton are ready to immediately reinvest a chunk of the money they received for Jack Rodwell by completing a shock £5.3million deal for Kevin Mirallas.

The Olympiakos striker has been a target for a number of clubs this summer, including Arsenal, but Everton boss David Moyes, who only sold Rodwell to Manchester City for £12million on Sunday, has moved swiftly for the Belgian.
Mirallas is currently with the Belgium national side for their friendly with Holland, but, once that game is over, it is expected he will travel to Merseyside in the next 24 hours to complete the formalities of a medical and personal terms.

Target: Belgium's Kevin Mirallas (left) playing against England

Moyes, who had been considering rivalling Liverpool for Fulham’s Clint Dempsey, has been looking for a versatile forward this summer to ease the burden on Nikica Jelavic, whom he brought to the club on deadline day in January.

Given that he can operate on both flanks and through the middle, the 24-year-old, who was the top scorer in the Greek league last season as well as the Player of the Year, fits the bill and he would link up at Goodison Park with his compatriot, Marouane Fellaini.
When asked at Belgium’s training camp on Monday whether he would be interested in playing in the Barclays Premier League, Mirallas said: ‘Moving to England would be good for me. It would be good for my family and a good opportunity.’

Support: Steven Naismith (right) is another summer signing

Having completed deals for Steven Naismith and Steven Pienaar already, the imminent addition of Mirallas would offer further proof of how Moyes is reshaping Everton’s squad after sanctioning the sales of Rodwell, Tim Cahill and Joseph Yobo.
Everton’s manager is looking to strengthen his midfield and has considered bidding for FC Copenhagen’s left-back Bryan Oviedo. Moyes has also expressed an interest in M’Baye Niang, Caen’s exciting 17-year-old forward, who has been courted by Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City.

Two French football stars to face trial for 'soliciting an underage prostitute'

Two french football stars are to face trial for allegedly paying an underage prostitute £1,500 for a night of sex.
Married Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema have been under investigation since 2010 in connection with the affair in which they are accused of paying Zahia Dehar, for sex in 2009 and 2008, respectively, while she was under 18-years-old.
The Moroccan-born call girl, now 19, shot to fame following the allegations and this year launched a lingerie collection at Paris Fashion Week, but insists the players did not know her age.

French midfielder Franck Ribery and team mate Karim Benzema will both stand trial accused of soliciting an underage prostitute

Ribery, 29, is alleged to have paid Dehar to fly to Germany to spend the night with him when she was 17 - below the 18-year legal age for prostitution in France.
Dehar, who is now 19, has already testified that she charged 1,500 pounds for the night.

She claimed Benzema, 24, also paid for sex with her in 2008, when she was just 16.
A third French player, 32-year-old Sidney Govou, also had sex with her in March, but she was then an adult.
Ribery and Benzema are set to play for France against Uruguay on Wednesday in a friendly international at Le Havre, the team’s first game under new coach Didier Deschamps.
The scandal gripped France ahead of the 2010 World Cup and further tarnished the image of the French squad, whose reputation was already battered by internal bickering and a 2-1 loss to South Africa.

Zahia Dehar, pictured left and right, broke her silence when the investigation was launched in 2010 and said the players were not aware of her age at the time

The players were detained as part of an investigation into an upmarket brothel on the Champs Elysee, along with seven other men including the owner of Zaman Cafe, a nightclub which was alleged to have provided clients with prostitutes who were minors, and a pimp suspected of supplying celebrities and sportsmen with prostitutes.
Dehar, who has insisted the players did not know she was a minor, told Paris Match, that the married Ribery put her on a first class flight to meet him in a five-star hotel on his 26th birthday on April 7 2009.
‘I was Ribery’s birthday present,’ she said. ‘Franck approached me in a Paris club. He booked me and flew me to Munich to celebrate his 26th birthday.
‘He made reservations at a luxury hotel in Munich. We had sex and he paid me. I was a lovely little present, wasn’t I?’

Ribery, bottom row second from the right, and Benzema, top row third from the left, pictured with the France football team last year, will represent their country against Uruguay on Wednesday

Ribery has admitted to police that he had sex with Dehar, but denied paying her or knowing she was only 17. Benzema also denies the allegation.
Investigators want to know whether he personally made her flight reservations to Munich, as this would have given him access to her date of birth via her passport details.
Ribery converted to Islam after marrying Wahiba, his childhood sweetheart and mother of his two children.
If Ribery and Benzema are convicted of soliciting and paying for sex with a minor, and knowing she was underage, they face three years in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros.