Latest Football Transfer News

Manchester United have made an enquiry for Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov, according to the player's agent.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol admitted earlier on Friday that he had received an approach for the Bulgarian ace, but that the enquiry was rebuffed.

Jol also insisted he 'would rather die than sell Berbabtov' after he was asked about the player's future.

Berbatov's long-term future at White Hart Lane has been the subject of speculation for the last few weeks, amid reports of a bust-up with Jol.

Both Jol and Berbatov have played down talk of a rift as Spurs look to keep hold of their star man.

United have held a long-term interest in Berbatov and they have been linked with a move for the former Bayer Leverkusen forward all summer.

Berbatov's agent Emil Danchev claims he held talks with Spurs over United's interest and that a decision is expected to be made on the player's future early next week.

Meeting

"We had a 90-minute meeting with Tottenham's chairman Daniel Levy and with sporting director Damien Comolli over Dimitar's future," Danchev told Bulgarian Darik radio.

"They informed us that there's a query from Manchester United about the possibility of Berbatov joining them.

"They (Tottenham bosses) let us believe that they want Dimitar to stay for another season because they have ambitions to finish among top four teams in the Premiership but they told us they'll have a meeting in the next day or two to decide his future."

Skysports.com

Skysports.com understands Manchester City are weighing up a move for Julio Baptista as they look to ease their striking problems.

City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is searching for a new forward after losing summer signing Valeri Bojinov to a long-term injury.

A host of players including Nicolas Anelka and Nuno Gomes have been linked with City and now Baptista is believed to have come under Eriksson's scrutiny.

Baptista last season on loan at Arsenal and it is not known if he features in the plans of new Real coach Bernd Schuster.

Baptista nicknamed 'The Beast' failed to shine at Arsenal, but the striker enjoyed a good summer helping Brazil win the Copa America and Eriksson sees the striker as the ideal replacement for Bojinov.

City are pondering making a loan move for the burly forward as they look to add to their attacking options.

A snag could be that Real are only thought to be willing to sell the burly forward rather than sending him out on loan again like they did with Arsenal last season.

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I think Ayeigbeni has made the right choice going to Everton

Obagoal made the right choice by staying at Castle.

Everton's bid to sign Middlesbrough's Nigerian striker Yakubu for £11.25m has encountered a hitch after the 24-year-old was refused a work permit.

He opted out of playing for Nigeria in 2006, so fails to meet the Home Office requirement of playing in 75% of his country's games in the last two years.

Everton have appealed against the home office decision and will hear the result on Wednesday.

The Toffees agreed the fee with Boro to sign Yakubu earlier in the week.

Yakubu is second only to Thierry Henry in the Premier League goals over the last four years.

Portsmouth were also said to be interested in re-signing Yakubu, who they bought from Maccabi Haifa in 2003, before two years later selling him to Boro, where he clocked up 29 goals in 65 Premier League games.

Yakubu featured in Boro's opening two Premier League games of the season but the missed the next two games against Fulham and Newcastle.

BBC Sport

please can you confirm where this information is coming from?

yeah bbc.com sunday's gossip and transfer news

well its just a rumour innit, should have said so in ur first post.

Lazio have expressed an interest in signing Internazionale striker Adriano.

The Brazilian is considering his future at Giuseppe Meazza ahead of the close of the transfer window on Friday.

Inter are prepared to sanction a loan deal for the forward, but Adriano is only keen to leave on a permanent basis.

Arsenal have turned down the chance of a deal, while West Ham United have made an approach for Adriano.

Manchester City have also been linked with a bid, but Lazio could offer the burly front man the opportunity to stay in Serie A.


Important player


Speaking after Lazio secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League group phase with victory over Dinamo Bucharest, Delio Rossi acknowledged his interest in Adriano.

However, the Lazio coach also warned that the player must show the correct attitude to secure a move to the Italian capital.

"Adriano is an important player," Rossi told Rai TV. "I wish he would come to Lazio.

"But, if he comes, he should come with the right spirit."

Skysports.com

Everton have completed the signing of Yakubu Aiyegbeni after he was granted a work permit.

Yakubu has tied up his £11.25million move to Goodison Park after being granted a work permit on appeal by the Home Office.

The former Portsmouth striker was initially refused a work permit because he has failed to play 75 per cent of Nigeria's games in the last two years.

Everton had agreed a deal with Middlesbrough last week and the Nigerian has signed a five-year contract.



European ambition


"I have always said that I want to play for a club that plays in Europe," the striker told Everton's website.

"I think they have the ambition to move forward and they want to finish in the first four and the Champions League and Uefa Cup and for me that is my dream.

"I chose to go to Middlesbrough because they were in Europe.

"At the moment they are not doing it. I think I made the right decision to come to this place."

Yakubu could go straight into the squad and make his debut this weekend against Bolton.


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Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has admitted that the UEFA Champions League is the club's 'elusive competition', in the aftermath of Thursday's draw in Monaco.

Jose Mourinho's side were drawn in Group B, alongside Valencia, who they knocked out of the competition last season, Schalke and Rosenborg.

After reaching the semi-final stage twice in the last four years, Kenyon admits the club are desperate to reach a final.


Seeded

"The big difference for us this year is we're seeded. We've been in two semi-finals in the last four years and got through the group stages every year," he said.

"It's the elusive competition for us really but there's a determination and that is fuelled by a squad we believe we've strengthened.

"It's not frustrating at all (to have missed out on a place in the final) but there's a huge expectation within Chelsea to get to the next stage.

"We've had our share of semis, so obviously the next stage is to get to the final.

"This is clearly a big ambition for us and one we'D like to pull off."


No signings

Kenyon continued to reiterate the club's stance with regards their reported pursuit of Barcelona's Ronaldinho.


Earlier in the day Kenyon stated his belief that Chelsea would not bring in any new faces before the close on the transfer window on Friday, and after the draw, nothing had changed his mind.


"There's been no discussion (about Ronaldinho)," he said.


"Yes, there's been a lot of speculation, as there continually is around Chelsea.

"Players of that calibre don't move in January. One, they're cup-tied (for the

Champions League) and two, they are not the transfers you do in January.

"We had a set of targets and we've concluded them, to be fair. What we've brought in is what we've targeted."


Kenyon would, though, concede that full-back Glen Johnson may be on his way out of Stamford Bridge.


"Our plans are complete but there may be a couple of players leaving.

"That will become evident within the next 24 hours. Glen may be one of those who is looking to move on."


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Birmingham City have bolstered their numbers with the loan addition of Olimpia midfielder Wilson Palacios.

The 23-year-old has initially joined until the end of December, although manager Steve Bruce could retain Palacios until 2010 with the choice of an additional two-year option.

Palacios is the second midfielder to join the Blues on transfer deadline day following the arrival of Spanish international Borja Oubina.

City's new signing, who has more than 40 caps for Honduras, featured in this summer's Concacaf Gold Cup.

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Wolfsburg have signed Brazilian attacking midfielder Grafite from French side Le Mans for a reported fee of 8 million euros (£5.4 million).

The 28-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal with the Bundesliga side.

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath spoke of his delight at sealing the transfer just hours before the transfer deadline.

"I'm delighted to get this deal done, almost at the last minute. Grafite is a powerful, classy forward," Magath said.

Skysports.com

Aston Villa have signed Togo international Moustapha Salifou for an undisclosed fee.

The midfielder becomes Villa manager Martin O'Neill's third acquisition during the last 48 hours.

Salifou, 24, has moved to Villa Park from Swiss outfit FC Wil on a one-year contract.

Salifou played in all three of his country's group matches in the 2006 World Cup in Germany alongside Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebeyor.


Determination

He follows defenders Zat Knight and Curtis Davies into Villa Park to take O'Neill's summer signings to six in total.

O'Neill said of Salifou: "He has great determination to succeed at this level and may well prove to be an excellent asset."

Villa owner Randy Lerner has now spent more than £40million on new players since taking control of the club 12 months ago.

Skysports.com

Hey i heard we got Diarra from Chelsea

West Ham left it late on transfer deadline day before sealing the signings of Nolberto Solano from Newcastle and Henri Camara from Wigan.

Senegal striker Camara, 30, signed a season-long loan deal.

Peruvian international Solano, 32, joined on a one-year contract, with the option of another year.

Solano had informed Newcastle he wanted to move closer to London to be near his wife, from whom he is separated, and their children.

BBC Sport

Middlesbrough have completed the signing of Gary O'Neil from Portsmouth for a fee believed to be £5m.

"I didn't think he would be available but he has now become available for various reasons at Portsmouth," said Boro boss Gareth Southgate.

"He's somebody I've been an admirer of for some time," added Southgate.

O'Neil, 24, started out as a trainee at Pompey and only signed a new five-year deal with the Fratton Park outfit in July 2006.

He made his debut for the club at 16 against Barnsley and had been a first-team regular for the past few seasons.

But Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp's need to raise money to complete other deals saw O'Neil being allowed to leave and the right-sided midfielder has been snapped up by Southgate.

Redknapp signed Glen Johnson and Papa Bouba Diop on transfer deadline day.

"I attempted to sign him when I first got this job this time last year and I tried again earlier this summer but I really didn't think we were going to be able to get him," said Southgate.

"But Harry Redknapp needed some money to buy another player he wants and that's worked in our favour."


BBC Sport