Victor Moses’ Chelsea transfer intensified

Nigeria and Wigan Athletic playmaker Victor Moses has resolved to move to Chelsea even when there were claims that the deal has been knocked off.
Wigan became the first casualty of the Stamford Bridge club over the weekend with a 2-0 defeat with new man Eden Hazard assisting in both goals while Victor Moses kitted up for his club Wigan Athletics against his dream club on Sunday as Wigan boss Roberto Martinez insisted the Nigerian forward’s future ‘would no longer be an issue’ before the transfer window closes as it has been settled.
Meanwhile, there intense monitoring of Victor Moses’ game by Chelsea management in Sunday’s game and Moses displayed beautifully enough to make Chelsea even more intent on adding Moses, 21, to their recent transfers with the likes of Eden Hazard and Brazilian ace Oscar.

US women beat Ghana 4-0

Maya Hayes scored a hat trick to lead the United States over Ghana 4-0 on Monday in the Americans’ opener at the Women’s Under-20 World Cup.

Kinda Addai’s own goal in the 20th minute put the U.S. ahead. Hayes doubled the lead five minutes into the second half, heading in a cross from Kealia Ohai, and made it 3-0 in the 74th with a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area. She completed her hat trick two minutes into injury time.

Germany beat China in the other Group D game on goals by Lena Lotzen, Anja Hegenauer and Luisa Wensing and an own goal from Lin Yuping. The U.S. plays China on Thursday and finishes the first round against Germany next Monday.

In Group C, Canada routed Argentina 6-0 with Adriana Leon’s hat trick and goals by Shelina Zadorsky, Jaclyn Sawicki and Catherine Charron Delage. Yun Hyon Hi scored twice in the first half, and Kim Un Hwa and Kim Su Gyong had second-half goals to lead North Korea over Norway 4-2.

Spurs close in on £20m Willian... and fellow Brazilian Damiao could be next

Tottenham are close to capturing Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk for £20million as they reignited interest in Leandro Damiao in an attempt to add Brazilian flair to their strikeforce.

For the opening game of the season Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas was severely lacking in attacking options, with Jermain Defoe his only  established first-team striker.
But he is close to adding Willian and Damiao to the squad after securing Emmanuel Adebayor on a permanent £5m deal on Tuesday.

Big move: Willian (above) is set to join Tottenham for £20million

 

Willian, 24, was upset with Ukrainian club Shakhtar when they rejected an offer from Chelsea earlier in the summer. Roman Abramovich thought Shakhtar’s demands were too high. But Spurs appear to have satisfied Shakhtar and are close to bringing him to White Hart Lane.

The Brazilian told Sportsmail last August he would love to play in  London and that if he joined Tottenham his mission would be to secure a return to the Champions League, after the club reached the quarter-finals in 2011.
Willian compared himself to  Luka Modric — which would make him the perfect replacement for the Croatian if his transfer to Real Madrid goes through — and spent the year having English lessons to make a transition to a Premier League club easier.

Next up? Brazil's Leandro Damiao (right) could also join Tottenham

He can play in behind a striker or as a winger — his main role for Shakhtar. He scored 19 goals in 129 games and won three league titles, four Ukrainian cups and one UEFA Cup at the club. 
Villas-Boas also hopes to land Brazil striker Damiao from Internacional after interest was registered earlier in the month.
The 23-year-old striker won a silver medal at the Olympics and was tournament top scorer with six goals. Tottenham signed midfielder Sandro from Internacional in 2010 and hope that deal will help smooth Damiao’s transfer.

Done deal: Emmanuel Adebayor has finally completed his move to London

If the deals are completed it would give Villas-Boas four attacking options — in addition to Defoe and Adebayor — instead of the one he had when Tottenham lost 2-1 at Newcastle on Saturday.
Adebayor, 28, accepted a reduction from his £170,000 salary at Manchester City, which had held up his deal. He said: ‘I’m back. Tottenham here I come. I’m hungry for goals, get ready.’

McDermott: Reading wanted Hazard before Chelsea... but we had no chance!

Just warming up: Eden Hazard in training

Brian McDermott doesn’t need anybody to tell him about the mercurial talents of Eden Hazard —he found them for himself on a dark, cold November night nearly six years ago.
Reading’s manager was working as the club’s chief scout and used to take himself off on the Channel ferry for weekend jaunts to France — about as near as the Madejski Stadium budget then got to a continental network.
‘I would go to three games over the weekend starting on Friday night and one of them on this particular trip was at Lille,’ he recalled.
‘Hazard was just playing his first games in the team. He was still only 16, I think. I hadn’t gone there to see him, just to take in the fixture, but he stood out within minutes like the proverbial sore thumb.

 

‘He could just go down the side of people — and on either side — and he had such great, quick feet.

‘I earned my living then by wandering in search of players, and I might have asked about him, but no way was he available. I remember discovering Marouane Fellaini when he was still a teenager, too, and being quoted £7million.

Debut to remember: Hazard cut Wigan to shreds on his Premier League bow

‘These guys know when they have a special talent on their hands — you can’t turn up at a place like Lille and just go, “We’ll take your best player”. It just doesn’t happen.’

 

Fast forward to 2012 and it is Chelsea who have finally prised away the 21-year-old, already capped 29 times by Belgium, and been forced to cough up £32m for the privilege.

McDermott will get a close-up of exactly how the talent he spotted — but couldn’t afford — has matured when he takes Reading to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
He said: ‘Everyone in Europe knew what a talent he was going to be. How old is he? Just 21? He’s incredible.

Eye for talent: Reading manager Brian McDermott (right) scouted Hazard

‘I went to see Chelsea’s game at Wigan on Sunday and he was terrific. Not just him but also Juan Mata, you saw the little interplays between the two of them — and then they could bring on Oscar too.
‘It seems like he’s a good lad and is going to handle the physicality of the League no problem. I gather he’s said he isn’t frightened of being kicked out of the Premier League, but you can’t do that now anyway.
‘Going back to when I played you could, but in this day and age, thank God, there isn’t a place for it. Make one tackle now and you get booked. In a way that’s why the flair players thrive and that’s a good thing.
‘But don’t think we don’t go there thinking we can win. We’ll have a way of playing.
‘I’m not going to give my team away, but we have always at Reading tried to take each game on its merits and try to do the best for our team. We will have a plan, we do that for everybody.’

Manchester United aiming to beat Liverpool to £10m Mexico midfielder 'Zorro'

Manchester United are considering a £10million move for Mexico's Olympic star Hector Herrera.

The 22-year-old midfielder was the inspiration behind Mexico's gold medal victory and has been on United's radar for over a year with Liverpool also very keen.
Pachuca sporting director Andres Fassi has announced they had had a fresh approach from United requesting permission to approach the starlet who is nicknamed 'Zorro'.

Olympic hero: Hector Herrera was the inspiration behind Mexico's gold medal

 

Fassi said: 'There is an official interest. We have the document, but there’s nothing else to add at this time.'

Herrera is recovering from an ankle injury but United see him as a decent replacement for former transfer target Lucas Moura who moved to Paris St Germain.

In demand: Herrera (left) is wanted by both Manchester United and Liverpool

United, who have also gained a work permit for Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez, are understood to be exploring the possibility of taking defender Phillipe Mexes on loan from AC Milan.
The 30-year-old has also been offered to Arsenal in discussions over Nicklas Bendtner.

Helsingborgs 0 Celtic 2: Hoops grab vital away goals to edge closer to group stage

Celtic took a giant step closer to the Champions League group stages with a superb win over Helsingborg in the first leg of their play-off at the Olympia Stadium in Sweden.
Kris Commons, who grabbed a last-gasp equaliser at Ross County in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday, volleyed the visitors into the lead with less than two minutes on the clock following a cross from Georgios Samaras.
Hoops goalkeeper Fraser Forster made a series of saves as the Swedish champions fought back but in the 75th minute Samaras put Celtic in the driving seat for next week's second leg in Glasgow when he headed in a Commons corner.

Party time: Celtic celebrate Kris Commons' opening goal in Sweden

MATCH FACTS

Helsingborgs IF: Hansson, Atta, Christoffer Andersson, Wahlstedt (Accam 63), Uronen, Sadiku, Mahlangu, Gashi,Bedoya, Sorum (Dos Santos 65), Djurdjic.
Subs Not Used: Daniel Andersson, Nordmark, Bouaouzan, Edman, Baffo.
Booked: Gashi,Dos Santos.
Celtic: Forster, Matthews, Izaguirre, Mulgrew, Rogne, Brown, Commons (Watt 89), Ledley (Wilson 65), Kayal (Forrest 46), Samaras, Hooper.
Subs Not Used: Zaluska, McCourt, Lustig, Chalmers.
Booked: Mulgrew,Forster,Rogne.
Goals: Commons 2,Samaras 75.
Att: 12,200
Ref: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal).

Neil Lennon's side might have rode their luck at times but they could have won by more in the end and now face the tantalising prospect of mixing with the elite clubs in Europe for the first time since the 2008/09 season.
There were significant changes to both line-ups as skipper Scott Brown and striker Gary Hooper shrugged off their respective hip and hamstring injuries to start for Celtic, while defender Thomas Rogne replaced Kelvin Wilson.
Serbian striker Nikola Djurdic, who signed for Helsingborg on loan from Norwegian side Haugesund yesterday, made his debut for the hosts while former Rangers midfielder Alejandro Bedoya started in midfield.
However, all of Age Hareide's pre-match plans went up in the air when Celtic stormed into an early lead.
Samaras picked up a pass from Joe Ledley on the left and, when his cross came into the middle, the unmarked Commons slammed it past the helpless Par Hansson from 12 yards.
The strike changed the whole complexion of the tie, although the Parkhead side were fortunate to have their lead intact by the time the interval whistle sounded.
It was the 12th minute before Helsingborg really threatened Forster, although the Hoops keeper dealt with Djurdic's angled shot from 14 yards with ease down at his left post.

Opening salvo: Commons scores early on in the game with a great acrobatic effort

 

Four minutes later the Geordie made a more impressive save with his feet from Bedoya's low drive after the United States international had been put through by Thomas Sorum.

It was another warning for the Celtic defence and in the 21st minute Forster had to come to the rescue again when Sorum was played in by Christoffer Andersson, the keeper this time blocking the striker's all-too-casual chip.
There was more concern for Lennon three minutes later, following a Celtic corner which had been cleared, when hesitant Hoops defender Adam Matthews was robbed by May Mahlangu on the halfway line, leaving the Helsingborg midfielder to go clean through on goal.
However, Mahlangu slowed down as he entered the box, allowing the Wales international to atone for his mistake with a great saving tackle.

Double trouble: Celtic striker Georgios Samaras makes it 2-0 to the visiting side

As the noisy home support kept up their encouragement, Bedoya headed an Andersson cross wide of the target before Djurdic fired over from 16 yards after Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal was careless with an attempted clearance.
Forster was then booked by Portuguese referee Olegario Benquerenca for time-wasting at a goal-kick, joining defender Charlie Mulgrew who had been cautioned for a foul on Djurdic.
Winger James Forrest replaced Kayal for the start of the second half, with Commons moving into the middle to support Hooper. However, the pattern of the first half continued and in the 50th minute Forster had to deal with Mahlangu's 25-yard drive before Andersson fired just wide with a shot from a similar distance.
The hosts still looked vulnerable in defence, though, and when Forrest picked out Ledley with a cross the Welsh midfielder skimmed the crossbar with a header from six yards.

Pure delight: Samaras (right) celebrates his goal with team-mate Charlie Mulgrew

Just after the hour Rogne was booked for handling the ball when Sorum tried to flick it over his head 25 yards out, but Jere Uronen's free-kick was comfortably saved by Forster.
After Ledley picked up an injury and was replaced by Wilson, Helsingborg substitute David Accam ballooned the ball over the bar from 14 yards.
In the 73rd minute Forster made yet another save from Bedoya, this time from a header from Uronen's cross.
Celtic's sucker punch came when Commons' corner from the right was met by Samaras at the back post and he headed past Hansson from a couple of yards to double the visitors' lead.

Job well done: Celtic celebrate their victory in Sweden against Helsingborgs

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Helsingborg, who should have been dead and buried three minutes later when Samaras ran through on goal but the Greece striker curled his right-footed shot wide of the far post.
In the 86th minute Commons released Forrest and he slammed his angled shot straight at Hansson, before the Scotland winger set up Mulgrew who curled a right-footed effort off the top of the bar.
However, Lennon will be more than happy with the two-goal lead which surely makes Wednesday's return game in Scotland a formality.

United wrap up Henriquez signing after Chilean striker granted work permit

Manchester United have confirmed Chilean teenager Angelo Henriquez has been granted a work permit which will enable him to complete his move to the Red Devils.
The 18-year-old Universidad de Chile striker underwent a medical last week and has now been given the green light to join the Barclays Premier League outfit.
A United statement read: 'Manchester United is pleased to announce that Angelo Henriquez, 18, has been granted a governing body endorsement which will allow him to register and play for the club.

New arrival: Henriquez (right) says he's fulfilling a dream after completing his move to Manchester United

 

'He will play his final game for Universidad de Chile tomorrow and a further announcement on him joining United will be made in due course.'

Speaking last week to Chile paper La Tercera, Henriquez touched on his bewilderment at the speed of the deal.
'I am super happy to get to Manchester United. I'm fulfilling a dream,' he said. 'I am going where I wanted.

'You look on television and see the outstanding players, scoring spectacular goals. I cannot waste this opportunity.
'It is not clear what will happen with my future. 'I want to play in the first team of Manchester United. That's my first thought.
'If they decide to send me on loan, I would prefer to continue at Universidad, although I will do whatever United deem appropriate.'

Adebayor seals £5m Spurs return as AVB finally signs a striker

Emmanuel Adebayor declared he is 'hungry for goals' after finally completing his permanent transfer to Tottenham.

Manchester City and Adebayor came to an agreement on the terms of a pay-off on Tuesday afternoon, allowing the Togo striker to complete his permanent move to White Hart Lane for a reported fee of £5million.
The 28-year-old's arrival is a huge boost to Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, who until Tuesday had only one recognised out and out striker in Jermain Defoe.

Bring it on: Emmanuel Adebayor has secured a permanent move to Spurs

 

Despite spending three and a half years at bitter rivals Arsenal, Adebayor became a fans' favourite at Tottenham last season, mainly because he scored 18 goals and struck up a sound understanding with Rafael van der Vaart while on loan at the London club.

The Togo hitman vowed to continue his goal-scoring spree at the club on Tuesday after sealing his return to Spurs.
'I'm back!!!! Tottenham here I come!! I'm hungry for goals...Get ready,' Adebayor tweeted.

Arsenal old boy: Adebayor won over Spurs fans with 18 goals last season

'I am pleased to be signing for Spurs on a permanent basis after finally agreeing my departure with Manchester City,' he added later on Spurs' website.
'It may have taken longer than expected but I am delighted to be back at Tottenham Hotspur.
'I really enjoyed my time here last season and I am hoping we can achieve great things together again.'
Adebayor spent three years at City but fell out of favour upon Robert Mancini's appointment as manager and spent the last year and a half on loan at Real Madrid and Spurs.
With 10 days to go until the close of the transfer window, Villas-Boas is starting to put the finishing touches to the squad he wants to win a trophy this season.
Adebayor joined on the same day Spurs sold out-of-favour centre-back Sebastien Bassong to Norwich and it may not be long before another Tottenham defender, Michael Dawson, leaves the club after QPR made a bid for the England international on Tuesday.

Two's company: Jermain Defoe (centre right) has a strike partner at last

Although he is the club's captain, Dawson was left out of the squad that travelled to Newcastle at the weekend, hinting that the centre-back may be surplus to requirements under Villas-Boas.
There is likely to be further transfer activity at White Hart Lane before the window shuts.
Tom Huddlestone has been linked with a loan move to Stoke and fellow squad players David Bentley and Giovani Dos Santos may depart.
Tottenham also remain in talks with Real Madrid over the protracted sale of Luka Modric.
Villas-Boas will also be looking to add to Tottenham's ranks, with Manchester City midfielder Adam Johnson the latest player to be linked with the north London outfit.

Exclusive: Frankel's a major star... but he's no Brigadier

It’s some admission from a man whose opinion should be respected — if  Frankel can win the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on his first race over 10 furlongs, he can justifiably be rated the equal of the great Brigadier Gerard. 
Equal, mind. Not better. 
In truth, nothing on four legs will ever rate higher with former jockey Joe Mercer than the 1970s icon he still calls the ‘Big Fella’, who galloped into racing folklore by carrying him to  victory in 17 of his 18 races.

Stunning: The unbeaten Frankel is rated the best racehorse of all time

‘You earned your plaudits more in the old days,’ says  Mercer, whose career brought him close to 3,000 winners and eight British Classics. 
‘Maybe Frankel is the greatest at the present and the best for 20 years, but not the best ever. He has not proved it yet. He’s as good as The Brigadier but not the greatest ever as they classify him. That’s OTT.
‘Everybody asks how Brigadier Gerard and Frankel compare and last year, for a bit of fun, I said he would have made a good lead horse for The Brigadier, who achieved so much in his lifetime it was amazing.
‘He had ability and courage and a lot of both. He was a big, handsome horse and his racing weight never changed from two to three to four years old. He was a perfect physical  specimen and his attitude was that he knew it.
‘It’s the horses who finish behind you that count. Frankel has had the same horse (Excelebration) behind him four times. He’s a fabulous horse, who would have probably been the best miler in the world if Frankel hadn’t been around.

One of the best: Brigadier Gerard won the 2000 Guineas in 1971

‘The ones that Brigadier Gerard beat came out and won everything — they were horses like Mill Reef, who went on to be a champion; Faraway Sun, who was a good French horse he beat five lengths in the Sussex Stakes, wasn’t beaten again that season.’
A shoulder problem might  be hindering his golf swing, but at 77, Mercer still cuts the same dapper figure as in 1979 when, as stable jockey to Frankel’s trainer Sir Henry Cecil, he was champion jockey. The pipe, which earned his nickname Smokin’ Joe, is by his side and Mercer’s admiration of Cecil’s colt is genuine, not grudging.
But looking at The Brigadier’s record, even the fully paid-up members of the Frankel fan club must respect his verdict.
Timeform rate Frankel — who is estimated to be worth £100million and who may run only once more after Wednesday’s race — the best horse they have ever assessed, three pounds better than Dick Hern-trained Brigadier Gerard,  who is equal third-best on their all-time chart.

In the know: Joe Mercer

There are close  parallels between the two. Frankel was a devastating six-length winner of last year’s 2,000 Guineas and The Brigadier emerged on top in one of the best runnings of the race in 1971, beating  subsequent Arc and Derby hero Mill Reef, plus outstanding French colt My Swallow. Both were career-defining victories.
‘I had never been so confident before a race, particularly when Duration won the apprentice race beforehand,’ says Mercer.
‘He was one of the horses Brigadier Gerard had been working with and he’d been slaughtering him.
‘We knew we had a good horse the first time he ever ran, at Newbury. He was last with two furlongs to go and finished 10 lengths in front of them.’
Both horses also had scares in Royal Ascot’s St James’s Palace Stakes, Frankel hanging on by three-quarters of a length from Zoffany after an injudicious mid-race move by his jockey Tom Queally; Mercer blamed himself for Brigadier Gerard’s narrow success from Sparkler.
Mercer said: ‘At Ascot last year, my heart was in my mouth. I could have killed the jockey — he went three furlongs from home. Frankel lasted out but only just. That’s guts.
‘The Brigadier only beat  Sparkler a head in the St James’s Palace and I blamed myself because I used to ride him in all his work and I don’t think I did enough with him.’

Catch me if you can: Frankel ridden by Tom Queally wins the Lockinge Stakes

Frankel and The Brigadier have also been successful in the Lockinge, Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. 
But whereas Frankel victories range from seven furlongs to a mile, Brigadier Gerard won at five furlongs, took in two Champion Stakes and an Eclipse over 10 furlongs and his stamina was eked out to land the 1972 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes over Ascot’s mile and a half.
That is why the International Stakes is, arguably, the most  significant race in Frankel’s career since he blasted his way up Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in the 2,000 Guineas.
We’ve been reminded in six races since of his brilliance and Usain Bolt-like acceleration. But a victory at a longer  distance would add significant lustre to a glittering record.

In front: Brigadier Gerard (left) ridden by Joe Mercer wins the King George VI

That opportunity comes in the one race that eluded Brigadier Gerard 40 years ago.
In 1972 the three-length defeat by Vincent O’Brien’s Derby winner Roberto, brilliantly ridden from the front by South  American jockey Braulio Baeza in the inaugural running of a race then known as the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup, silenced the Knavesmire crowd.
Mercer is adamant that the real Brigadier, who started 1-3 favourite, did not turn up that day, despite Roberto breaking the course record.
‘Everything to look at was  perfect and his work was as good as ever but the stable was under a very big cloud,’ he recalled. ‘Two and a half out, he was hacking behind them, but he never picked up and I accepted it half a furlong out. I wasn’t going to knock the c**p out of him.
‘I wasn’t concerned about the crowd reaction — it’s not in your mind, just in your heart, and that felt horrible. Dick Hern’s face was just blank.
‘When he came back after the race dear old Buster Haslam, who was our travelling head man, said, “Don’t let him put his head down, keep it up”.

‘They let him after he had left the winner’s enclosure and the mucus just ran out of him. You could have filled a bucket. But he came back and won both his races afterwards.’
Mercer sees little prospect of Frankel’s exalted status being dented at York. 
‘I’ve been to see Frankel run and seen his development. He’s some racehorse, no doubt about it. I’d love to ride him. I’d give my right leg to do it. I  bet Lester Piggott would say the same.
‘He’ll stay a mile and a quarter on a flat, galloping track like York, but he’ll never race over a mile and a half.’
The unspoken words to finish the sentence are, of course, like the Big Fella. 
‘No-one can ever beat The Brigadier in my heart and we can’t have a re-match,’  Mercer smiles. 
That’s one race Smokin’ Joe could never imagine losing. It would be some match-up, though.

Pietersen needs to say sorry to Strauss properly - and in person

I've heard both sides of the story now - from Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss at Lord's, and now from Kevin Pietersen.
The buzzword has been trust. And if I had to trust anyone, it would be Flower and Strauss to do the right thing.

Telling it like it is: Nasser Hussain talks to Kevin Pietersen before Surrey's CB40 game at The Oval on Tuesday

 

Kevin is totally apologetic for what he's done and rightly so. He's willing to admit he's got things horribly wrong. He wants to make up for it.
But he also feels some of what has been reported has been blown out of proportion. As Sportsmail explained on Monday, Pietersen did not, for example, tell South Africa's bowlers in the texts to go round the wicket.
He does, though, admit he sent some stuff he shouldn't have and he knows the one person he feels he shouldn't have hurt is Strauss.
But he must also realise, as Flower said on Tuesday, that this is not just about texts. He needs to have a good long look at himself. The last thing he'll want to do is look back in a few years' time and realise he could have saved his career by going out of his way to say sorry - properly, and in person.
I just hope the three of them can sit down together - and that means no agents or so-called representatives - and thrash it out. Because to say England may never pick him again is a big thing. Never is a long time.
But it will still be up to Flower and Strauss to decide if they believe he can change his ways. As an England fan, I want to see him back in the team. But only if he genuinely wants to be part of it.