Monthly Archives: June 2013

Agent backs Chadli for Premier League switch

The Belgian’s representative has revealed that a number of big clubs are chasing his client’s signature and admitted that he expected interest from the English top flight

Twente winger Nacer Chadli’s agent, Daniel Evrard, has revealed that his client could make a move to a Premier League club this summer.

The Belgium international has been linked with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool and Evrard admitted that Ajax were pursuing the 23-year-old’s signature.

Chadli’s representative noted, however, that an opportunity to leave the Netherlands for a major European league would be attractive and identified the Premier League as the player’s preferred destination.

“Of course Ajax is a beautiful club and Nacer has the chance to play in the Champions League but there are big clubs interested in the big leagues,” Evrard told De Telegraaf.

“It seems difficult for Ajax to financially compete. Nacer wants to play in the Champions League, but is also attracted to English football.

“But first he must concentrate on this very important match [against Serbia] with the Belgian team. Nacer is in a great position. Both sporting and in terms of contract.

“I expect clubs do not want to wait that long and there is certainly a decision [to be made] this month.”

Liverpool set to join race for €8.2 million Tevez

The Anfield club are already making contingency plans in the event that Luis Suarez leaves this summer and have added the Manchester City striker to their wish list

EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart

Liverpool are considering an audacious swoop for Manchester City star Carlos Tevez as they continue to make plans should Luis Suarez force a move away from Anfield this summer.

Udinese frontman Luis Muriel is a prime target of the Reds’ should Suarez, who spoke of his desire to leave amid interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, force through a move away from Anfield.

But Liverpool have long admired Tevez, have made two approaches to sign him on loan in recent seasons and are now ready to reignite their interest in the Argentine, who could be available for as little as €8.2 million.

Manchester City are ready to take a huge hit on Tevez, who cost them at least €28m back in the summer of 2009, as the 29-year-old has just one year left on his €232,000-a-week contract and could leave for nothing next year.

Reports in Italy have suggested that Juventus are in pole position to land the former West Ham forward having already agreed personal terms, while the player has opened the door for a lucrative move to big-spending Ligue 1 sides Paris Saint-Germain or Monaco.

Liverpool would not be able to match Tevez’s salary but would be willing to offer him a long-term contract worth more than €117,000-a-week to lure him to Anfield.

City are yet to formally offer Tevez a new deal and, although the forward is excited by the prospect of playing under soon to be confirmed new manager Manuel Pellegrini, the club intend to sell him if he does not put pen to paper on a new contract this summer.

After they finished second in the Premier League last season, City are planning a major summer overhaul of their squad, with the arrivals of Jesus Navas and Fernandinho already confirmed from Sevilla and Shakhtar Donetsk respectively.

City’s number one target for the remainder of the transfer window is Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, with Edin Dzeko likely to leave the Etihad Stadium.

Deschamps admits Suarez was the difference between Uruguay & France

The Liverpool striker came off the bench to hit the winner in Montevideo in a friendly encounter that failed to hit the heights

France boss Didier Deschamps admits Uruguay’s introduction of Luis Suarez was decisive as les Bleus’ winless run in South America continued.

Defeat in Montevideo means the visitors have still not won in the continent since 2001 after the Liverpool striker’s 50th-minute effort sealed a narrow 1-0 triumph for Oscar Tabarez’s men.

Deschamps believes the game was an even encounter which was settled by a moment of quality from Suarez and was not too disheartened by the loss after fielding an experimental side.

“We had opportunities in the first half to take the lead but then they brought on a player like Suarez,” he said to TF1 after the match.

“That changed things a lot. Even though he changed things and they some created chances, we kept up our levels of effort. After the goal they slowed the game down but we still had the opportunity to equalise.

“There were a lot of changes made on both sides. It was a pretty even game all things told and one moment from Suarez made the difference. “

France get another opportunity to break their winless run in South America when they go on to face Brazil on Sunday as Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side make their final preparations ahead of the Confederations Cup.

On the back of their confidence-boosting win, Uruguay play Venezuela in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Tuesday before meeting Spain next weekend as they kick off their own Confederations Cup campaign.