Football,transfer,epl

Benzema unveiled by Real
French striker presented after passing medical
Karim Benzema has been officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player having completed his 41million euros move from Lyon.
The 21-year-old striker's six-year contract has taken Real's spending to nearly £200million this summer.
Presented as Madrid's latest 'Galactico' on Thursday, Benzema admitted a childhood ambition to play at the Bernabeu.
Delighted with the move, he described Real as the 'best club in the world' in his speech to yet another packed crowd.
Honoured
"I'm absolutely delighted to become a Real Madrid player, the best club in the world," he said.
"I'm delighted to be able to play for the same club as two of my idols played for, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo."
The France international will cost Madrid an initial 35million euros, rising to 41million euros dependant on performances.
Real's medical chief Carlos Diez told the club's official website: "The player is in peak condition to play sport at the highest level.
"He has arrived in very good shape after the summer

WIGAN AGREE SCOTLAND FEE
UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, Wigan Athletic have agreed to pay £2million for Swansea striker Jason Scotland. Wigan have also offered Scotland a three-year deal.
June 19th, 2009 According to Swansea City’s official website, Burnley have made a bid for Jason Scotland. Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins said,
“Burnley have made an approach for Jason Scotland, but our valuation for a player who has finished as our top scorer for the last two seasons is miles apart.”

“We value Jason very highly; after all he has scored 53 goals in the last two seasons for us.”
June 16th, 2009 According to Tom Kell at Setanta Sports, Burnley and Wigan Athletic are interested in Swansea City striker Jason Scotland. His agent Mike Berry said,
“I’ve heard nothing official but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if [Wigan manager] Roberto [Martinez] came in for Jason because he has had him before.”
“I know that Roberto rates Jason very, very highly and thinks that he can play at the highest level so it’s a case of ‘watch this space’ really.”
“The other interesting one is Owen Coyle at Burnley who I know is very, very interested in Jason having had him before at St Johnstone. Once again, it’s a case of watch this space.

COLE SIGN NEW DEAL
According to Simon Johnson at the London Evening Standard, Chelsea winger Joe Cole is set to sign a new four-year deal with the club

Blackburn are interested in Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones.
Sunderland are currently in the market for another striker and have been linked with Darren Bent of Tottenham and Peter Crouch of Portsmouth.

Middlesbrough Want £20m For Tuncay & DowningJuly 8th, 2009
According to Bill Howell at the Birmingham Post, Aston Villa are interested in Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing and Tuncay Sanli. However Middlesbrough want £20million for the pair.
It is also reported that Everton made an informal bid for Tuncay that was rejected and Tottenham are also interested in Downing

Stoke City & Liam Lawrence Not Far Apart With New DealJULY 8th, 2009
According to Richard Bailey at Sky Sports News, Stoke City winger Liam Lawrence admitted that he and the club are not far apart in working out a new deal. He said,
“I just want to get signed to stay at Stoke for the next four years … It has been a long, difficult process and could go either way. We are not far apart but the next two days are crunch time.”


Arsenal Board Reject Usmanov’s Proposal To Create FundsJuly 8th, 2009
According to Nick Szczepaniak at TimesOnline, the Arsenal board rejected a proposal from billionaire shareholder Alisher Usmanov to create new shares to raise funds for the transfer window and to reduce the club’s debt.
The reason for the rejection was largely due to the fact “that the plan would require existing shareholders to take up their full allocation of new shares or face their stake being diluted when the process is completed.”
Posted in Arsenal Rumors Comment Here »
Tottenham Interested In Bellamy & Possibly DunneJuly 8th, 2009
According to the Manchester Evening News, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is interested in Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy. It is also reported that Redknapp might join in the hunt for defender Richard Dunne.
Posted in Manchester City Rumors, Tottenham Rumors Comment Here »
Official: Celtic Sign Marc-Antoine FortuneJuly 8th, 2009
According to Celtic’s official website, Celtic have signed Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune. Fortune agreed to a three-year deal with the club. Hull City, West Ham United, and Portsmouth were all linked with the striker.
Posted in Hull City Rumors, Portsmouth Rumors, West Ham United Rumors Comment Here »
Official: Sevilla Agree To Deal For ZokoraJuly 8th, 2009
UPDATE: According to Tottenham’s official website, Sevilla have agreed to a deal for Tottenham midfielder Didier Zokora.
June 8th, 2009 According to Laurent Picard at Setanta Sports, Sevilla are interested in Tottenham midfielder Didier Zokora but he isn’t their main priority. Sevilla manager Manolo Jimenez said,
“Obviously he [Zokora] is a footballer that we like, but he is not at the top of our list … He is an option. I can tell you for sure that he is not in pole position and to my mind we are searching for a different profile of player.”
Posted in Tottenham Rumors Comment Here »
Bolton News: Robinson, Bodde, Greening, FernandesJuly 8th, 2009
According to Sky Sports News, Bolton boss Gary Megson admitted that he has made bids for West Bromwich defender Paul Robinson and Swansea City midfielder Ferrie Bodde.
He also admitted that he is not interested in Manchester City midfielder Gelson Fernandes and West Bromwich midfielder Jonathan Greening. Megson said,
“Paul is a West Brom player at the moment. We have made an offer and we will wait and see what happens with that.”“We have made an offer for Ferrie … We are where we are with that one and if Swansea do want to do business it will be on the price we have last done at.”
“Otherwise we will move on because we have got one or two midfielders here that I am pleased with and every player has their price so we won’t go above what we have offered so far.”
“Fernandes is very similar to a player we have got here so we are not involved in that one … We have not been involved with Jonathan Greening either. We could go on and on because I think we were linked with about 300 players last summer.”
“We’ve brought Sean in and I’d like to get six more players … I don’t want to be a football club like we were last year when we turned up at the Emirates with only two or three subs