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Lewis Hamilton's championship lead was slashed as he failed to score points in a dramatic European Grand Prix won by his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard took the lead from Felipe Massa's Ferrari with five laps left in a race defined by rain showers.

Hamilton finished ninth and is now just two points ahead of the world champion, with Massa a further nine behind.

Mark Webber's Red Bull was third as Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen retired, dealing his title hopes a heavy blow.

The Finn was in third place behind Massa and Alonso when his engine started to cut out shortly after half distance and he was forced to retire.

Raikkonen remains 18 points behind Hamilton with a maximum of only 70 still available in the remaining seven races.

Hamilton's hopes of scoring points were dashed in a torrential early shower of rain.

After starting 10th following his crash in qualifying, he was up to fourth after the first few corners.

But it was pouring down by the time the cars were halfway around the first lap.

Debutant Markus Winkelhock in the Spyker, who had started from the pit lane on wet tyres, assumed the lead as everyone else pulled into the pits to change to wet-weather tyres.

But the rain was soon so hard that cars were spinning off all over the place and the race was stopped after four laps.

Hamilton was among six drivers - including Honda's Jenson Button - to go off at the first corner, where the track was under water, but he kept his engine running and was able to rejoin the race at the back of the field.


Hamilton survived this moment but it was a bad day for him
The re-start took place under blue skies on a still-damp track, and Massa and Alonso wasted no time in passing Winkelhock.

But Hamilton gambled on using dry-weather tyres at the re-start, and initially it did not pay off - he ran off the track and into the gravel on the first racing lap.

He managed to rejoin, though, and was soon setting fastest laps as he attempted to make up lost ground, prompting the other leading runners to come in to the pits to follow his lead in fitting dry tyres.

Hamilton drove flat out for the rest of the afternoon and had hauled himself up into eighth place when a late shower of rain hit with nine laps to go.

While the other drivers immediately pitted to change tyres, Hamilton stayed out on his dry-weather tyres, hoping to benefit from the others' stops.

But his second gamble of the afternoon also failed to pay off - the rain continued and Hamilton was forced to stop with five laps to go, dropping him to 10th.


Massa held off Alonso for much of the race until a late shower
He gained one place before the end at the expense of Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella.

The battle at the front was equally eventful.

Once the race had settled down after the re-start, Massa led from Alonso and Raikkonen, and the Brazilian slowly began to build an advantage over the McLaren driver.

Massa and Alonso made what they thought would be their final pit stops shortly after Raikkonen's retirement, on laps 37 and 38, and soon the world champion began to make in-roads into the Ferrari's seven-second lead.

Alonso had cut Massa's lead to four seconds when the weather played into his hands.

Much faster than Massa in the slippery conditions, he quickly caught the Ferrari.

The Brazilian earned the world champion's wrath with some robust defensive driving, but the Spaniard finally took the lead with a brave move around the outside of turn five.

"I enjoy this kind of race, it was incredible," Alonso said.

"In dry conditions the Ferraris were quicker than us. The rain at the end helped, our car seems to be quicker in the wet. Always when it rains I am quite happy and I have some fun."

Webber drove a strong race to reward Red Bull with their first podium finish in a difficult season plagued by poor reliability.

The Australian had to fight off a late challenge from Williams driver Alexander Wurz, who used all his experience and guile to take advantage of the chaotic conditions - just as he did in Canada last month - and finish fourth.

Heikki Kovalainen looked set to finish fifth after the latest in a series of impressive races, but he and Renault gambled on stopping early for wet tyres with 10 laps to go.

That dropped the Renault driver to eighth and promoted Webber's team-mate David Coulthard to fifth.

The BMW Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica were sixth and seventh.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

European Grand Prix result after 60-lap race:

1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes two hours six minutes 26.358 seconds
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 8.155 seconds behind
3. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault at 1:05.674
4. Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-Toyota 1:05.937
5. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 1:13.656
6. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:20.298
7. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 01:22.415
8. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1 lap behind
9. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren 1 lap
10. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1 lap
11. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1 lap
12. Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri-Honda 1 lap
13. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1 lap
R Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 34 laps completed
R Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 19 laps completed
R Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 18 laps
R Markus Winkelhock (Ger) Spyker-Ferrari 13 laps
R Jenson Button (GB) Honda two laps
R Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker-Ferrari two laps
R Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota two laps
R Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso-Ferrari two laps
R Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso-Ferrari two laps

R = retired

Fastest lap: Massa, 1:32.853, lap 34

doyin13:
And when you see the All Blacks perform the haka, you appreciate the sport

Yeah 

goat

Jermain Defoe says he does not expect to leave Tottenham this summer.

The England striker has been linked with a host of clubs over the summer and fresh reports have claimed that Portsmouth are ready to mount a fresh bid.

However, Defoe, who has just flown to South Africa for Spurs' pre-season tour of the country, has admitted he is not expecting to leave White Hart Lane.

"At the end of the day, if I was going to leave I would have gone by now," he told the Daily Mirror.

"The fans know I love the club, all my friends are here so I am just looking forward to putting on a Spurs shirt and scoring many goals.

"There has been competition for places for the past few years now.

"There's so much quality in the dressing room that it keeps you on your toes so you've got to play well and that is only good for the club."

Skysports

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate remains confident that he will be able to call on Yakubu Aiyegbeni's services next season.

Yakubu is understood to be unsettled on Teesside, but as yet no club have made a suitable approach to Boro.

The likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Portsmouth and West Ham are all thought to be keeping tabs on the situation - but Yakubu has started pre-season with Boro and Southgate wants it to stay that way.

"Yakubu is still part of my plans, absolutely," said Southgate.

"He has been with us in Austria and worked very hard with everybody else.

"I read the speculation the same as everybody else but we have had no contact from any other club.

"Whether people are trying to unsettle the player I don't know, but he seems very happy to be back with us having reported back from Nigeria and we are looking to him as being a big part of our team."

Meanwhile, former Hartlepool boss Martin Scott has been appointed Boro's new Under-18 coach.

"I’m really excited about the chance to work with Boro’s excellent young players," said Scott.

"The quality of players here is excellent and hopefully I can use my experience to help them."

Skysports

Wes Brown says talk that he could leave Manchester United over the summer is 'rubbish'.

The defender has never truly established himself as a regular in the United line-up and is aware of his status in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad.

He has been linked with a move to another Premier League club, but insists he has never considered leaving Old Trafford.

"Talk about me leaving this summer was rubbish really," Brown told the club's official website.

"I love being a Manchester United player and I have never thought about going anywhere else.

"There is always competition for places here. We have brought in some more new faces and the team is looking young and good. It will be great to be involved this season."

The England international also feels quitting the champions would be a step down and he would 'dread' discussing a move away from his only club.

He added: "Throughout my career I've always been a squad player. The manager knows he can pick me and I can do a good job, so I'm very happy here.

"Leaving United is a conversation I would dread to have with the gaffer. I love playing for United.

"It's my home town, so I'm just glad to still be here after all the injuries I've had. Leaving would be a step down."

[url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=477912&CPID=8&clid=1&lid=2&title=Brown:+I+won't+leave+United]Skysports[/url]

Sam Allardyce plans talks with Kieron Dyer to discuss whether the Newcastle United midfielder has been affected by rumours of a move to West Ham United.

Reports have suggested The Hammers are looking to take the England midfielder to Upton Park, although no bid has been lodged to date.

Allardyce admits he would be reluctant to lose Dyer, who finally appears to have overcome his long-standing injury troubles.

But the Newcastle manager concedes he needs to discuss the situation with the 28-year-old to determine if Dyer wants to join West Ham.

"If we are going to hear from West Ham, I would assume it's going to be this weekend," said Allardyce.

"If we get a bid we will take it from there, but I'm not keen to lose Kieron.

"Kieron is a player who is an integral part of my plans, but, like everything else, I will need to have a chat with him.

"I think Kieron has had his unhappy days here, which he will never forget and for which he will never forgive some people.

"When you're somewhere for nine years, you have your good times and your bad times, and you remember the bad times as much as you remember the good.

"I don't know if he is unhappy here or whether the speculation about West Ham has had any effect.

"I will have a talk with him next week and see where we stand. It would take a very sizeable offer to even tempt me to let him go."

Skysports

Arsenal youngster Carlos Vela has agreed to join Osasuna on loan next season.

The Mexican teenager is yet to play for The Gunners as the Under 20 international does not quality for a work permit.

He has already been out on loan at Celta Vigo and Salamanca, and was wanted this summer by Levante and Almeria.

But Vela's agent Eduardo Hernandez has revealed the forward has agreed to join Osasuna for a year, with the option of a second season.

"It is a fact, the player goes away to Osasuna," Hernandez told Marca.

"The negotiation has been closed for a loan for a year and with the possibility that it is extended to two, but an option to buy has not been contemplated.

"For Arsenal, it interests them that he plays regularly and he will do that in Osasuna.

"Vela is very happy, it is incredible what he has done. At 17 years, he played in the second division and at 18 in the first with Osasuna

Skysports

Sir Alex Ferguson does not currently have a back-up plan, if the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_T%C3%A9vez]Carlos Tevez[/url] deal falls through.

Manchester United are trying to push forward with a deal to sign Tevez from West Ham United before the close of the transfer window.

The matter has been referred to Fifa, with Football Association officials, and possibly Premier League representatives, due to meet world football's governing body on Monday to discuss the transfer.

United boss Ferguson remains hopeful that the champions can conclude a deal for the Argentina striker before 31st August.

But Ferguson acknowledges that, should the move falter, he will have to revise his plans as he does not have a fall-back.

"I am confident Carlos Tevez will sign and I am happy to wait until clearance comes along," said Ferguson.

"If it became obvious the situation wasn't going to turn our way we would have to reconsider our plans.

"But I have nothing as a fall-back position at this moment in time."

Red Devils chief executive David Gill added: "It is a complicated matter being worked on by all the parties involved and we hope for a positive resolution in the course of the next few weeks.

"We are in discussions with the FA and Fifa on the matter. It is moving to the appropriate body."

Skysports

Robbie Fowler has agreed to join Cardiff on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old striker was released by Liverpool at the end of last season and has rejected moves to Leicester City and Sydney FC in Australia's A-League.

Fowler will be re-united with Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale, who was in charge at Leeds when he signed from Liverpool for £11m in November 2001.

He is expected to be officially unveiled at a news conference in Cardiff early next week.

"It's taken a lot of hard work but thankfully it's done now," Cardiff manager Dave Jones told BBC Wales Sport.

"I met Robbie on holiday in America, just a chance meeting, and asked him what he was doing.

"He wasn't sure so I went on the internet to check his record and found he wasn't a bad player so I thought we might chase him.

"Peter [Ridsdale] has worked really hard on it and I'm glad he's decided to we are the club he wants to join."

Fowler's arrival at Ninian Park comes just over a week after Cardiff sold last season's top scorer Michael Chopra to Sunderland for £4.5m.

Jones revealed he would have signed Fowler even if Chopra had stayed, and stressed the former England striker still has the hunger to be successful.

"He's certainly got that, that's not in question," added Jones. "And to bank £4.5m for Chopra and then to get Robbie Fowler on a free transfer is good business.

"It puts the club in a healthy position, which is what we've been fighting for over the last 12 months."

Sydney FC had hoped to lure Fowler, and the former England striker was impressed with the set up after travelling to Australia for talks.

But his representative George Scott revealed Sydney were unable to compete financially with the other offers for Fowler.

"The only thing against them is that Robbie is a Premiership player and he is used to Premiership money," said Scott.

"The Premiership is unique in terms of the crazy money it generates and there is nothing in the world that replicates it, not even Spain. That money is well beyond Sydney and the Australian league and we know that.

"It is really a battle between money and quality of life and believe me, quality of life counts for a lot of money. All the money in the world is not going to buy your family's happiness."

Fowler becomes Cardiff's sixth summer signing of the summer, following Trevor Sinclair, Gavin Rae, Steven MacLean, Tony Capaldi and Michael Oakes to Ninian Park.

Jones revealed he still wants to bring another goalkeeper and a striker before the start of the season, but categorically dismissed reports that Cardiff had agreed a £1m deal to sign Blackburn's Francis Jeffers.

"That is a total fabrication of a story," said Jones. "I just do not know where these people get it from.

"Someone asks you a question, you give an answer and all of a sudden two and two becomes 10. It's totally untrue and I find it absolutely amazing."

Fowler made his Liverpool debut as an 18-year-old in 1993, scoring 171 goals in 330 games before joining Leeds for £11m in 2001 and then Manchester City for £6m in 2003.

Fowler returned for a second spell at Anfield in January 2006, although his starting appearances were limited.

BBC Sport

thanks for the appreciation .

21

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster remains adamant that the Spanish champions 'will obtain' Chelsea winger Arjen Robben.

The Dutch international has been targeted by Schuster since the German took over at the Bernabeu from Fabio Capello earlier this summer, even though he is currently on the Blues' pre-season tour of the USA.

Reports today suggest Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has insisted the 23-year-old will not be sold at any price.

But Schuster told Spanish television: 'I think we'll succeed.

'It doesn't worry me if Arjen arrives tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, or even if he's not here for the first Liga game, because he's already in pre-season training and thus we won't see any physical problems.'

On Wednesday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho stated he wanted Robben to stay at the club.

He said: 'At the moment he is a Chelsea player with two more years of contract and he is working well. For me, he is a player like (John) Terry or (Frank) Lampard with two more years of contract.'

Other reports this morning suggested Robben will have to request a transfer from Chelsea formally if he is to force through a move to Real Madrid before the window closes at the end of next month, with the Premier League club still steadfastly resistant to him leaving Stamford Bridge.

ESPNsoccernet

Bolton boss Sammy Lee has pledged to bring in even more new faces following Heidar Helguson's arrival at the Reebok Stadium.

Helguson will link up with fellow new-boys Gavin McCann and Jlloyd Samuel next season after agreeing a three-year deal to move north from Fulham.

Trotters supporters will hope Helguson will have as much impact as another Iceland international, Eidur Gudjohnsen, did at his time with the club.

However, with a UEFA Cup campaign looming and a top-six spot to defend, Lee knows he needs a few more players yet before he can be totally satisfied heading into the new campaign.

'We have not finished adding to the squad yet,' he said.

'You have to be looking to improve things on a daily basis and I feel we are still one or two components missing.

'Hopefully we will find them before the beginning of the season.'

With his side on the brink of netting £1million in prize money should they emerge triumphant from tomorrow's Peace Cup Final with Lyon at Seoul's World Cup Stadium, Lee has made an impressive start to life as Sam Allardyce's replacement.
And the former Liverpool player has admitted Helguson is a player he has admired for some time.

'I have always been an admirer of Heidar's ability to score goals in vital games,' said Lee.

'He has a number of qualities, that will add to this club.

'He has a great work ethic and an excellent first touch. He rides a challenge extremely well and his aerial prowess is better than people give him credit for.'

ESPNsoccernet

Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal are not about to sign Nicolas Anelka - or any other striker.

Anelka - now 28 and with Bolton - enjoyed a successful spell with the Gunners in helping fire them to the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998 before joining Real Madrid for £22million a year later.

Wenger had been linked with a swoop for Anelka - who also had spells at Liverpool and Manchester City - following the departure of captain Thierry Henry to Barcelona.

However, with recent acquisition Eduardo da Silva now on board - the Brazil-born Croatian forward having made his debut against Turkish side Genclerbirligi in Austria last night - the Arsenal manager insists he is no longer in the market for an attacker.

Asked whether he was set to move for Anelka, Wenger replied: 'No. We have signed Eduardo. We do not collect strikers, we buy the strikers we need.

'This season, we also expect Nicklas Bendtner to step forward and show us some aspects of his talent,' Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

Wenger, meanwhile, could be set to add South American teenagers Angel Di Maria and Pedro Silva to his squad, following impressive reports from scout Gilles Grimandi.

Arsenal's two-match tour is completed against Salzburg next Wednesday, before they host the Emirates Cup on July 28 and 29, ahead of the Amsterdam Tournament ahead and then the domestic campaign opener against Fulham on August 12.

ESPNsoccernet

Manchester United chief executive David Gill is confident the Carlos Tevez affair will be settled before the transfer window closes at midnight on August 31.

FIFA, football's world governing body, have been asked to break the contractual impasse which has blocked Tevez's proposed move from West Ham to Old Trafford.

With the transfer deadline looming, Manchester United want the case heard on an ``expedited basis''.

And Gill expects FIFA's disputes resolution panel to have reached a decision before the window closes.

``What you find in these situations is that FIFA and the necessary bodies try to make sure the player can play, whether it's for Manchester United or for West Ham,'' said Gill, who is on United's pre-season tour of the Far East.

``I would have thought they will do everything they can to make sure the decision is made within the appropriate period.''

Even if the issue does stretch beyond August 31, Tevez would still be allowed to move to Manchester United if FIFA determine he is an effective free agent.

The same situation applied to Tevez's fellow Argentina international, Javier Mascherano, when he moved from West Ham to Liverpool earlier this year.

West Ham, Manchester United and Tevez's adviser Kia Joorabchian were all keen for FIFA to be called in to settle the complex situation.

The row is over who owns the player and therefore who Manchester United do a deal with and in recent days has led to a an outbreak of mud-slinging between West Ham and Joorabchian.

West Ham insist Tevez is contracted and registered with them while Joorabchian and his company MSI claim to own the Argentina striker's economic rights.

The Premier League have demanded West Ham must receive the bulk of the £30million-plus transfer fee if they are to sanction the move.

Gill added: ``The issue is effectively who owns the economic rights to the player, who owns the registration of that player, and therefore what happens to any monies that we might pay.

``Can he unilaterally terminate his registration? Can he move on? That's the fundamental issue.''

West Ham insist they will be bound by FIFA's verdict and will not take the matter further.

ESPNsoccernet

Former Italy striker Christian Vieri has signed for Fiorentina on a one-year deal, the Serie A side said on Friday.

Vieri, 34, had been looking for a club since his release by Atalanta at the end of the season and will now try to fill the boots of Luca Toni, who has left for Bayern Munich.

"Fiorentina announce the signing of attacker Christian Vieri on a one-year deal," a statement read on the club's website.

The much-travelled Vieri was let go by Atalanta after making just seven appearances in an injury-hit year, and media reports have said many Fiorentina fans are unhappy with coach Cesare Prandelli for signing him.

Vieri, who bagged 49 caps for Italy scoring 23 goals, had the most success at Inter Milan between 1999 and 2005 but also played for Juventus, Lazio, Milan, Atletico Madrid and Monaco.

Fiorentina qualified for this year's UEFA Cup through Serie A last season despite being deducted 15 points for their role in Italy's match-fixing scandal.

The club also brought in Chievo midfielder Franco Semioli on Thursday.

ESPNsoccernet

MADRID, July 20 (Reuters) - Valencia have signed Spain centre-back Ivan Helguera from Primera Liga rivals Real Madrid, the two clubs confirmed on Friday.

The 32-year-old negotiated a release from his contract with the Spanish champions, which still had a year left to run, and signed a three-year deal with Valencia.

Helguera, who has been capped 47 times for Spain, won three league titles and two European Cups after joining Real from Espanyol in 1999.

He was overlooked at the start of last season by coach Fabio Capello, who reversed his decision to bring him back in from the cold to give him 21 starts during their victorious league campaign.

But the arrivals of Bernd Schuster as replacement for Capello, and two new centre-backs in the shape of Christoph Metzelder and Pepe in the close season, left Helguera surplus to requirements.

Valencia will be glad to pick up an experienced defender after losing Argentine stalwart Roberto Ayala to Real Zaragoza.

ESPNsoccernet

Veteran Spanish striker Ismael Urzaiz has signed a one-year contract with Ajax.

Urzaiz ended his lengthy association with Athletic Bilbao at the end of last season and had been keen to move to England.

But the 35-year-old admits the chance to play UEFA Champions League football with Ajax was too good to refuse.

"For me it is very attractive because I will play in the Champions League again," Urzaiz told the Spanish media.

"After leaving Athletic, my dream was the Premier League, but the offers were not interesting.

"I have spoken with the coach (Henk) Ten Cate and he has convinced me to accept this adventure.

"I am very impressed with the project and it was nearly impossible to reject this chance."

Ajax coach Ten Cate could make it a double swoop after confirming his interest in Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto.

Ten Cate told Highglow.nl: "He is a good player, a very good player.

"It's about how much that boy wants to come and Ajax reach an agreement with his club.

"He's a good player, you don't have to have doubts about that. He is a technically skilled player for who people come to the stadium to see."

[urlhttp://home.skysports.com/transferarticle.aspx?hlid=477732]Sky Sports[/url]

Middlesbrough have agreed a fee of £2.5m with Championship side Charlton for defender [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Young_%28footballer%29]Luke Young[/url].
The England right-back's move to the Riverside is subject to a medical while personal terms have yet to be agreed.

The 28-year-old has made over 200 appearances for the Addicks since signing from Spurs for £4m in 2001.

Last week, Charlton manager Alan Pardew said he would not prevent Young from leaving The Valley should a Premiership club come calling.

He said: "I've got a lot of time for Luke and I appreciate he wants to play in the Premier League.

"If a decent club comes in and I thought the fee was right I'd let him go.

"I've obviously brought in a replacement already in Yassin Moutaouakil, who I feel is going to give real competition to Luke if he stays."

Pardew added: "I know that if we don't get the right offer then he'll stay and be as professional as he is. There is no bad feeling and he's not being difficult."

BBC Sport

Jerzy Dudek has signed a two-year deal with Spanish champions Real Madrid.
The 34-year-old Pole was released by Liverpool at the end of last season after failing to dislodge Pepe Reina from the first-choice spot at Anfield.

He will be the reserve keeper at Real, behind Spain international number one stopper Iker Casillas.

After giving Dudek a medical, Dr. Del Corral told Real Madrid's website: "He is 34 but he is as fit as a young player. He is a true athlete."

Dudek joined Liverpool from Dutch club Feyenoord for £4.85m in August 2001, but last season his relationship with coach Rafael Benitez became been strained.

BBC Sport

Gabriel Heinze will have to defy Sir Alex Ferguson to secure a £7m move from Manchester United to Liverpool.
Liverpool have met the fee that would secure the 29-year-old Argentine defender's release - stated in a letter from United to Heinze's agent.

Ferguson, however, has insisted Heinze would not be sold to their arch-rivals.

But BBC Sport understands the letter does not preclude Liverpool from buying Heinze, and he could fight United to secure a switch to Anfield.

The fee, believed to be higher than the £6.8m mentioned, is not in Heinze's contract, it is contained in the letter to his agent.

Heinze is keen to leave Old Trafford, and Juventus and Real Madrid are also monitoring his situation.

Liverpool are not in dispute with United, having seen their offer turned down, but now the onus is on Heinze to push for the move and risk fierce antagonism from Ferguson and United's fans.

Ferguson said: "I can assure you Liverpool will not be getting Gabriel Heinze.

"We have had a couple of offers for him and we have turned them down."

Heinze has become a firm favourite with the fans at Old Trafford but told Ferguson earlier this month that he wanted a move.

He has been in action for Argentina in the Copa America, denying Ferguson the opportunity to speak to him face-to-face.

But Ferguson insists that if Heinze is to leave, it will be on United's terms.

He stated: "Heinze's agents are rolling the ball all the time but no matter what his agent thinks, we are in the driving seat.

"I don't exactly know what Gaby thinks because it is all coming from his agent but this has been going on for a year-and-a-half now."

The deadline for Heinze to invoke a buy-out clause is also reported to have expired, and Liverpool will have no further involvement in any deal unless it is revived by the defender's own desire to switch to Anfield.

Had the Argentine stated his intent to pay up the remainder of his two-year contract, Ferguson could not have stopped him moving to Liverpool.

Ferguson is unlikely to allow any of his top players to join Liverpool - one of United's fiercest rivals.

Only Phil Chisnall in 1962 has travelled the route in modern times.

BBC Sport

Birmingham have agreed a £6m deal with Spurs for striker [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mido_%28footballer%29]Mido[/url].
The 24-year-old Egyptian star had been expected to move to Birmingham on a one-year loan deal after struggling to make an impact at Spurs last season.

But now a permanent move has been struck, subject to Mido agreeing personal terms with Birmingham and passing a medical.

Mido will be Birmingham boss Steve Bruce's biggest buy of the summer so far if the deal goes through.

He is now further down the pecking order after Spurs signed Darren Bent.

Birmingham boss Bruce has also made an enquiry about Mido's Egypt and Spurs team-mate, Hossam Ghaly, as he looks to build on the squad that earned promotion last season.

BBC Sport

Charlton winger Dennis Rommedahl has joined Dutch side Ajax for £680,000.
The Denmark international, who has signed a three-year deal, signed for the Addicks in 2004 from PSV Eindhoven for £2m and made 84 appearances.

"Ajax fits me perfectly. I hope that Ajax think the same. I wanted to return to Holland very much," said Rommedahl.

"I played a lot of years in the Dutch Eredivisie, and I love the positive football that is played there. That absolutely counts for Ajax."

He added: "They play on the attack and always play for prizes. But since I went to England I became more of an all-round player."

He scored six times for Charlton, including a double in the FA Cup third-round win over Sheffield Wednesday in 2006.

Rommedahl has won 67 caps for Denmark, scoring against France in the World Cup finals of 2002.

BBC Sport

Everton have agreed to sign Borussia Dortmund's South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar on a one-year loan deal, BBC Sport understands.
The move is subject to a work permit, with the outcome set to be revealed next week.

Pienaar, who has one international cap, joined Borussia from Ajax last summer when Tomas Rosicky moved to Arsenal.

However, the 25-year-old has struggled at the Bundesliga club and failed to find the net in 25 league appearances.

BBC Sport.

sin city

the temptations

pursuit of happyness.

Its his choice.  I never really gave much attention to him being linked to us.

well it might turn out to be a good move in the long run. So many things he has to consider as a player. There is playing in Europe which he wouldn't enjoy had it been he stayed in lille, this can improve a players price and reputation thats if he does well then there is wages, I'm sure they offering a much larger weekly wage and bonus than his previous club and also maybe other clubs that were interested in him. Hes half Russian so I think adapting to the place won't be that difficult, I'm assuming he knows the language (so no language barrier) and also he has stayed there before so the weather might not be much of a problem.  It might turn out to be a positive move if he has a good run in the uefa cup, this will improve his reputation has a quality striker and might earn him a move to one of the big clubs but I've got to admit there is a very limited chance of that happening.

good to hear Van persie is scoring goals as we look forward to him getting the goals in the coming season. wish i could see the goals.

like movies.

I'm an Arsenal fan and admire the other big teams in the premiership, chelsea (most especially for their determination) Man u and liverpool that is.

hate the News.

Love electronics.

Speak French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.