Chelsea beat City and United to sign Cannes starlet Brady

Chelsea have fought off competition from their Barclays Premier League rivals to land George Brady from Cannes.
Both Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Tottenham were all monitoring the 15-year-old starlet, who opted to agree a three-year deal with the Stamford Bridge club.

New signing: Brady will join up with Roberto di Matteo at Chelsea next term

Brady, a 6ft 4in defender, is one of Europe's hottest prospects and is the nephew of West Ham chairman Karren Brady.
The Blues have watched the teenager for the past two years and have paid AS Cannes £250,000 in compensation for his services.

Chelsea fail with £17m bid to lure Leverkusen striker Schurrle to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have had a £17million bid for Bayer Leverkusen striker and Germany international Andre Schurrle rejected.
The 21-year-old joined Leverkusen from Mainz last year and has since established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the Bundesliga.
He has won 16 caps for Germany and was a member of their Euro 2012 squad where he made two substitute appearance in the victories over Denmark and Greece.

Staying put: Schurrle was wanted by Chelsea who have had a bid rejected

Leverkusen chief executive officer Wolfgang Holzhauser said: 'We have received a very concrete offer from Chelsea for Andre Schurrle worth over €20m.
'Both clubs shoved figures back and forth for a while, but we eventually opted to hold on to Andre.'

Eusebio responding 'well' to treatment after stroke

Benfica says Eusebio is recovering and responding 'well' to hospital treatment as the former Portuguese playing great recovers from a stroke.
The 70-year-old Eusebio has been in a Lisbon hospital receiving treatment since suffering a stroke at the European Championship last month.

Legend improves: Former Portugal and Benfica great Eusebio

Benfica says its former player continues to undergo treatment and could be discharged by the end of the week depending on the latest assessment of his health.
Eusebio has been hospitalized four times since December with a variety of ailments.
Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, nicknamed [The Black Panther,[ became a Portuguese superstar after standout performances in the 1960s and was named one of FIFA's 10 best football players of all time in 1998.

Liverpool rebuffed in swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Granero

Liverpool are understood to have had a bid rejected for Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero.
The 25-year-old was a target for Arsenal last season, who have again been linked with Rennes midfielder Tongo Doumbia.

Real (no) deal: Granero has been targeted by Liverpool

Italian job: AC Milan line up move for Liverpool striker Carroll... but only on loan

Italian giants AC Milan are weighing up a loan move for Liverpool’s Andy Carroll.
The strikers’ name came up when the two clubs were talking about midfielder Alberto Aquilani return to Merseyside following a year in Milan.
The son of Milan president and former Italian Prime Mininster Silvio Berlusconi - Pier Silvio – is understood to be a fan of the ex-Newcastle man following his performances at Euro 2012.

Loan move: Andy Carroll came on a substitute in England's Euro 2012 quarter-final defeat to Italy in Kiev

He is reported as saying in The Sun: 'This is a new era for Milan.
'We will continue to get younger while maintaining the culture.

 

'Milan still has its superstars but I’d like to have Carroll at Milan. I was impressed with his strength and his headed goal against Sweden.'
According to reports in Italy, Berlusconi is ‘seriously considering’ taking his son’s advice, especially as Carroll might not feature highly in new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers’ plans for this season.
However one story carried on the website of a TV channel owned by media tycoon Berlusconi Jnr hinted that Carroll’s £35million price-tag would make a permanent move unlikely at this stage.

Target man: AC Milan are interested in signing Liverpool striker Andy Carroll

Swapping kits? Carroll could play in the famous red and black next season

Due to the economic crisis it is thought that any deal would be a loan to begin with and then possibly a permanent one once the San Siro club can sell on Brazilian star Robinho.
The Rossoneri have lost a host of big names this summer with Filippo Inzaghi, 38, Clarence Seedorf, 36, Mark van Bommel, 35, and 34-year-old Gennaro Gattuso all leaving on free transfers.
Former England striker Mark Hateley, who played for Milan for 3 years in the mid-80s believes that a move to Italy would be perfect for Carroll.
‘It would be breath of fresh air for Andy Carroll,' he told talkSPORT recently.

‘It would be great to go away and test himself in a new environment, a new culture and a different way of living.
‘That was key for my development when I was so young.
'They teach you the game inside and out, that’s what they do in these countries, especially Italy. Big strikers have always been a handful. It would be great for Andy and…it’ll be great for England.

High jump: Carroll impressed for England against Sweden at Euro 2012

‘At his age you’re still very young and very raw. He’s got great strengths in his game already but he still has a lot of weaknesses.
‘They (Milan) can deconstruct his game and build it back up again to the way a European centre-forward should be.’

Italian champions Juve willing to break bank in bid to lure Arsenal want-away RVP to Serie A

Juventus are prepared to smash their wage ceiling to win the race to sign striker Robin van Persie. Will Arsenal be able to get someone better than RVP, after scoring so much goals last season, which so them qualify for the champions league. His absence will be very much missed on the field. RVP needs to get himself a certificate before he call football quit, as Cesc Fabregas, who has to himself super cup, and various medals today.


The Italian club are in the running with both Manchester sides to land the Arsenal star, who signalled his desire to leave north London on Wednesday by confirming he will not sign a new deal.
Given their financial clout, Manchester City are viewed as favourites to sign the 28-year-old Holland international this summer.

Join us: Robin van Persie has been targeted by Juventus

 

But sources close to the Serie A club have indicated that the Juve hierarchy are willing to push their financial boundaries to the limit, such is their interest in the player.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is Juve’s highest earner, taking home in the region of £100,000-per-week. But Juventus are willing to stretch to £180,000-per-week — plus a huge signing on fee — to sign Van Persie as they do their utmost to compete with City.
City have stepped up their efforts to offload Emmanuel Adebayor to Tottenham as they look to pave the way for Van Persie and are prepared to offer the Dutchman a whopping £225,000-per-week.

Disappointment: Arsenal fans are as upset with Van Persie's decision as Holland fans were over their poor Euro 2012 campaign

 

Nevertheless, Juventus — who are also interested in Napoli striker Edinson Cavani — are determined to make Van Persie their marquee summer signing. AC Milan are also understood to be monitoring Van Persie’s situation.
Van Persie’s former team-mate Kolo Toure has urged the striker to become the latest Gunner —after Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy, Adebayor and Toure — to leave the Emirates for the Etihad.
‘Robin is a top player. I’ve played with him, I know him and he’s a great man,’ Toure told the Manchester Evening News.

Backed: Yaya Toure told of his admiration for the Arsenal striker

‘At City we have great players and the club does what it wants in transfers. But for me, if Robin comes it’s great because I know what he can do.
‘You have to build your squad every year to do better; to win the Champions League is very difficult as we have seen.’
Meanwhile, Arsenal are interested in Toulouse defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue.

Incoming: Lukas Podolski might have to replace Van Persie

The Frenchman was watched several times by their scouts last season and manager Arsene Wenger is primed to make a £10million move for the 23-year-old, if attempts to land Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila fail.
And former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn has urged Wenger to splash the cash in the hope that Van Persie could be persuaded to stay.
The Gunners have signed Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski, but Winterburn said: ‘Arsenal have bought a couple of players and you can only hope they continue to strengthen. Somehow that might persuade Van Persie this is the right club.’

QPR persuade Park to make shock £5m move to Loftus Road from Man United

Queens Park Rangers have made a £5million bid for Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung.
Manager Mark Hughes is an admirer of the 31-year-old South Korean and has been encouraged to make a move by club owner Tony Fernandes who also sees the marketing potential of signing a player from the Far East.
Park has always been a player Sir Alex Ferguson turned to for key fixtures but over the past 18 months he has played more of a bit part role at Old Trafford.

On the move: Park Ji-sung (left) in action for South Korea on Thursday

 

Fernandes is keen to exploit revenue streams in that part of the world for both the club and his Air Asia airline which operates flights to Seoul.
Park, who won four Premier League titles and a Champions League during his time at United, is understood to have been swayed to join QPR by their ambitious plans.

Pedigree: Midfielder Park has won four Premier League title at Old Trafford

The 31-year-old became one of Sir Alex Ferguson's most reliable players after joining the club in the summer of 2005.
Park began his professional career with Japanese side Kyoto Purple Sanga aged 18 and impressed during Guus Hiddink-led Korea's successful run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2002.
Such performances saw him follow the Dutchman to PSV Eindhoven, where he played for three years before joining United for £4million.
However, after seven successful years in the north west, Park is now set for a move to the capital with QPR.
The Rs return to pre-season training on Monday, when the club have slated a press conference to make a major announcement that they believe could help turn the club into a 'global' brand.
Park would certainly help the Hoops achieve that aim after his success at United, not only on the field but commercially as well.

Ambitious: QPR chairman Tony Fernandes

Rumours of Park moving to the Rs have been around all day and earlier SkyBet even suspended betting on him leaving for Loftus Road.
That move followed reports that QPR would unveil a South Korean player on Monday, although some suggested it could be Celtic's Ki Sung-yueng.
As well as a potential new signing, there have been suggestions Monday's press conference could be about a move to a new ground.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes completed his takeover at Loftus Road less than a year ago and has been quick to try and bring both the playing squad and facilities up to Premier League standard.
The Malaysian businessman revealed earlier this week the club are evaluating three potential sites for a new stadium.
Today he posted on Twitter moments after the west Londoners revealed a major announcement would be made, saying: 'Excellent stadium meeting. Wow. Looks great. Going to make big announcement. Hopefully see amit [Bhatia, vice-chairman] in a few hours to brief him. Wow.'
He then added: 'Stadium will be in west london. Will not lose overall atmosphere. Lots to do and many pitfalls but great first step.'