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Arsenal, Liverpool transfer news: Mannone and Shelvey out

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Arsenal confirmed on Wednesday that unsettled goalkeeper Vito Mannone will make a transfer move to join another English Premier League club, Sunderland for what they say is an undisclosed fee.

Mannone played an important role in the Arsenal first-team squad for much of the campaign last season when both Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski picked up injuries.

He featured in nine Premier League games and four in the UEFA Champions League outings and Arsenal have given their blessings to the talented keeper.

“Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Vito for his contribution to the Club and wish him well for his future career,” the Gunners said on its website at www.arsenal.com.

Meanwhile, another English Premier League side, Liverpool have also confirmed the departure of one of their players to a fellow EPL side, with Jonjo Shelvey completing his transfer move to Swansea City.

The 21-year-old made 69 appearances for Liverpool and scored seven goals since joining the Reds from Charlton Athletic in May 2010, but he struggled to keep a place in the first team.

“Everybody at Liverpool FC would like to wish Jonjo all the best for the future,” the Anfield club said on its website at www.liverpoolfc.com.

Stay tune for more Arsenal and Liverpool transfer news this summer

Arsenal Transfer News: EPL club confirms Yaya Sanogo signing

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Arsenal FC has confirmed the signing of French young striker Yaya Sanogo, who according to the club, “has joined on a long-term contract.”

Sanogo, who is a member of France U20 team, currently in Turkey for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, joins Arsenal on a free transfer deal from Ligue 2 side Auxerre.

The 20-year-old striker made played 24 times in total for Auxerre and scored 11 goals during his time with the club.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been talking up the young forward, who has been in good form so far in Turkey.

“Sanogo is a good young signing for us,” Wenger said on Arsenal official website at www.arsenal.com “He has shown that he has potential with his recent performances for Auxerre and also for the France Under-20 side.

“We are looking forward to Yaya joining us and continuing his promising development.”

The deal for Sanogo, the English Premier League confirmed, “is subject to the completion of formal registration processes.”

He will link up with the rest of the Arsenal players, following the completion of  the Under-20 World Cup.

Mourinho is back! Chelsea confirms Special One’s return on 4-year deal

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Chelsea have announced that Jose Mourinho has been appointed as the new manager, following the departure of Rafa Benitez at the end of the season.

Mourinho, after being away from the English Premier League for six-years, has been reappointed after being sacked during his first spell.

Chelsea announced on their website that Mourinho has been appointed on a four-year contract and returns to the club where he won two EPL titles, two League Cups and one FA Cup between 2004 and 2007.

“I am delighted to welcome Jose back to Chelsea. His continued success, drive and ambition made him the outstanding candidate,” Ron Gourlay, Chelsea FC Chief Executive said on www.chelseafc.com.

“It is our aim to keep the club moving forward to achieve greater success in the future and Jose is our number one choice as we believe he is the right manager to do just that.

“He was and remains a hugely popular figure at the club and everyone here looks forward to working with him again.”

Since leaving Chelsea, Mourinho coached Inter Milan and most recently Real Madrid.

Chelsea target Falcao to sign with Monaco – Reports

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Radamel Falcao
Falcao of Atletico Madrid doubtful for Barcelona clash

MADRID (Sporting Alert) — Chelsea and Manchester City target Radamel Falcao is reportedly set to join French big spenders Monaco, as the Ligue 1 club looks to build for the coming season.

The Atletico Madrid forward has been linked with reveal top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City, but reports are now saying the Colombia forward is set to have a medical exam with Monaco on Monday.

Falcao, according to the reports in Spain, will then make a massive €60 million move to the club, which have already landed the signatures of Porto pair Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez, reports claimed.

“Yes, we are expecting Falcao and four or five other players of his quality,” Monaco assistant coach Jean Petit was quoted as saying, according to Radio RCN on Friday.

“We have spoken and we continue to speak with Falcao and his representatives, negotiations are ongoing. We hope to seal a deal as soon as possible.

“Monaco need a player like Falcao because he can help us a lot and because he can attract other top players, and that’s the best way of confirming out project is big and interesting,” he added.

“Signing Falcao is a big coup on sporting and media levels for French football.”

It was believed that Manchester City and Chelsea were both looking to bring the highly-rated frontman to the English Premier League, but it seems as though these teams have missed out.

Dwight Howard looking for Lakers exit?

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HOUSTON (Sporting Alert) — Dwight Howard has once again put uncertainties his future with the Los Angeles Lakers after declining to commit to the NBA club past this season.

Howard’s future with the Lakers has been in question all season, with several reports claiming Los Angeles, is looking to replace him before the trade deadline, despite only signing him at the beginning of the season.

However, the former Orlando Magic center has dismissed those reports, and stated that they are just rumours created to try and unsettled the Lakers.

Still, he is unwilling to commit to the club.

“The only thing that matters is the present, and right now,” Howard said, according ESPN.com

“There’s no need to talk about what’s going to happen at the end of the season. No reason to go back and forth about it.

“I just feel like at the end of the year, I should have my opportunity to make my own decision. I shouldn’t be criticized for waiting for the end of the year.”

It is understood that the Lakers are still struggling to entertain Howard, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on the floor together.

Gasol has been growing increasingly frustrated with Mike D’Antoni’s unwillingness to start him and is looking for a way out.

The Lakers, though, would rather hold on to forward and more Howard, but no one wants to take the injury-prone center off their hands.

Chelsea FC: Players hope Frank Lampard will stay

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) – The players and fans of Chelsea FC are still hoping that Frank Lampard will return to the club at the end of the season, despite the Blues willingness to let him leave.

Lampard seems destined to leave the English Premier League club after it was reported that his services were no longer needed.

It is understood that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is looking for a change in squad and no longer see room for the old players.

With the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, David Luiz, Ramirez and Oscar finding life easier to handle in the English Premier League, Abramovich has no desire to keep the older high wages players such as Lampard around anymore.

However, Chelsea fans are desperate for a change of heart, especially with the England midfielder still banging in goals.

Lampard has been linked with a move to join Manchester United during the summer transfer window, but Chelsea FC goalkeeper Petr Cech is hoping something can be done persuade the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge to keep hold of the midfielder.

“There are still six months to go to the end of the season,” said Cech. “We’ll see at the end of the season whether he stays or not.

“I don’t know, as I’m not a director, but if he keeps playing like that then obviously he will keep asking about the extension.”

He added: “The team changed, his age has changed, but he’s still important for the team. You can see that he might not start every game, he might not play every game.

“But when he plays, he plays well with his quality and his experience. This is something that is great to see.

“I’ve known him a long time. He’s been a fantastic player for the club. He continues to do so, so it’s fantastic for him.

“He’s stayed already for years in the same club, bad times, good times. Mostly good times. That shows the loyalty of the player.

“He could have had another two trademark goals. He had a chance running inside of the box in the first half and then he could have had another one in the second-half.”

Chelsea New Transfer Demba Ba warns Torres he’ll be No. 1

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<strong class='StrictlyAutoTagBold'/><strong class='StrictlyAutoTagBold'>Demba</strong> Ba of Chelsea FC” src=”https://sportingalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/demba-ba-300×168.jpg” width=”300″ height=”168″ /> <strong class='StrictlyAutoTagBold'></strong><strong class='StrictlyAutoTagBold'>Demba</strong> Ba of Chelsea FC[/caption] <h2>LONDON (Sporting Alert) — <span class=Chelsea FC new signing Demba Ba has told Fernando Torres that he’s wasted his chances of being the club’s first choice striker and will soon make the bench his permanent starting place.

  • FC Transfer News: Demba Ba completes Blues move” href=”https://sportingalert.com/2013/01/chelsea-fc-transfer-news-demba-ba-completes-blues-move/”>but did commented that he did not join Chelsea from Newcastle, where he was the top man, to play second fiddle to the Spaniard.

    Ba made a dream debut for Chelsea when he fired in a brace in the Blues’ 5-1 win over Southampton in the English FA Cup third round game over the weekend and has set his sights on adding to the 13 EPL goals he has scored this season as well.

    Ba also revealed how former Blues forward Didier Drogba inspired him to be a world-class front man, but added that his success is base on his own qualities.

    “Every time I arrive at a club, it’s always as the second attacker. But every time, through hard work, I impose myself,” Ba was quoted as telling French newspaper LeParisien.

    “We’re two different players, but I appreciate Didier enormously. It’s difficult to compare oneself to him in view of how much he achieved at Chelsea.

    “He has greatly inspired me throughout my career but I know my own qualities.”

    Ba made a reported £7.5million move from Newcastle United last week, after Chelsea triggered the transfer release clause in his contract.

    Torres transfer fee was £50million and at the time of his move from Liverpool, many had believed he would have been the future striker for the club.

    However, his struggles and lack of confidence in front of goals against the bigger teams, forced Chelsea to look elsewhere for another forward.

    Torres had said he had no problems with another striker’s arrival, but did requested something.

    It is believed that the Spanish international had asked that a none superstar striker be bought in the January transfer window, but Chelsea clearly wasn’t going to miss out on a proven goalscorer in the English Premier League.

    Another EPL side, Arsenal was also in the race to sign Ba, but Arsene Wenger’s slow approach saw Rafa Benitez beating him to the signature.

Arsenal Transfer News: Wenger says Henry will not return on loan

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ST MARY’S (Sporting Alert) – Arsene Wenger has revealed that Thierry Henry would not be making a third return to Arsenal in the January transfer window, despite rumors linking the Frenchman with another loan spell with the London club.

Wenger made the comment following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Southampton.

He did, however, confirmed that he would like to sign a few players in this transfer window as his squad certainly needs strengthening.

“No [it is not happening],” Wenger said.  “He is not ready, he has just come back from holiday anyway.”

“At the moment we are not on that case,” he added on the club’s official website at www.arsenal.com.

“But I will be active [in the January window] yes.

“We are looking everywhere. We are open-minded.

“We want to strengthen the squad everywhere.”

After beating Newcastle 7-3 over the weekend, Arsenal failed to spark at St Mary’s against Southampton and are Wenger believes his side was lucky to come away with a draw.

“Considering our performance I don’t think we deserved more today. It is two points dropped if you look at the target we set ourselves over Christmas,” he said on Arsenal.com

“It is frustrating and disappointing because we did not create a lot and if you considered we scored five at Reading and seven against Newcastle.

“When you sum up the goal chances there is not a lot. We lacked purpose, penetration and speed. All qualities we have usually but lacked tonight.”

Wenger gave Arsenal credit for holding on for the tie after the home side made a late push and almost got the winner towards the end of the game.

He added that the Saints also deserves some credit for their performance.

“Southampton deserve some credit as well. They fought for every ball, they were on their toes but they just did not have quite enough quality to take advantage of it,” the manager said.

Wenger also refused to criticize Theo Walcott, who failed to offer any offensive threat at central forward.

He said, “It is hard to single out anyone. Nobody was put in good conditions to express anything decent offensively.”

Philadelphia Eagles confirmed the sacking of Andy Reid

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(Sporting Alert) As was reported on Sunday, Andy Reid has been fired after 14-years as head coach, the Philadelphia Eagles announced on Monday morning.

The Eagles’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Lurie will hold a press conference at noon Monday at the NovaCare Complex to talk about moving forward with the club.

“Andy Reid won the most games of any head coach in Eagles history and he is someone I respect greatly and will remain friends with for many years to come,” Lurie said on www.philadelphiaeagles.com.

“But, it is time for the Eagles to move in a new direction.

“Coach Reid leaves us with a winning tradition that we can build upon. And we are very excited about the future.”

The Eagles, in the final game in the regular season, were hammered 42-7 by the New York Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, condemning the club to a 4-12 record in the 2012 campaign.

“The search for the new coach of the Philadelphia Eagles will begin immediately,” Lurie added.

Chelsea FC Rumors: Blues want legend Lampard out in January

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — As the transfer gossips in football deepens with the new market set to open next week, Chelsea FC have reportedly confirmed that Frank Lampard is no longer needed at the club.

According to The Sun, the man who captained the Blues to their only Champions League crown last season was told that his services were no longer needed and he was free to find a new club in the January window.

The news at first seems as though they were just Chelsea rumors, but apparently there is some truth to the story.

After leading Chelsea out in the 8-0 hammering of Aston Villa on Sunday, Lampard was left on the bench for the Boxing Day fixture at Norwich, despite having an impressive showing and scoring a goal.

He did come on to make a second half appearance when replacing John Obi Mikel, but it is still believed that the Blues have no plans to keep the England international.

The Sun quoted one of their source as saying: “Frank is absolutely distraught. He wants to keep playing for Chelsea but they’ve told him to find another club in the January transfer window.

“He can’t believe it. All he wants to do is play for Chelsea. This club means everything to him.”

Many have tried to deny the report, but Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez has admitted to meeting with the experienced midfielder.

Benitez said: “From my position it is very easy — it is a private conversation between Frank and the club. That’s it.

Frank <strong class='StrictlyAutoTagBold'>Lampard</strong> of Chelsea” width=”620″ height=”376″ class=”size-full wp-image-24252″ /> Frank <strong class='StrictlyAutoTagBold'>Lampard</strong> of Chelsea[/caption] <p>“He is a player under contract, he is a g<span class=ood player and I will try to bring the best from him.”

The  34-year-old contract runs until the summer Chelsea have no plans to keep him at  Stamford Bridge past January 1.

With the transfer market set to open next week, Chelsea have been rumored to be interested in several players, with strikers dominating the list.