Yossi Benayoun and team-mate Gael Kakuta Hints Exit to Olympiakos:
Olympiakos want to sign Chelsea fringe players Yossi Benayoun and Gael Kakuta with cash they raised from selling Kevin Mirallis to Everton.But the Greek side face a tough task convincing the duo to move to Piraeus.Benayoun could net an attractive two-year deal worth £30,000 a week after tax, but he is reportedly discussing with his wife about whether to uproot their family from London.The 32-year-old Israel midfielder seems surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and spent last season on loan at Arsenal. Fulham could be an alternative destination.Chelsea pulled out the stops to sign Kakuta from Lens in a controversial deal five years ago, but he has grown frustrated at his lack of first-team football.However, Marseille are also very keen on the 21-year-old winger and have funds after selling Cesar Azpilicueta to Chelsea for £7million.Lyon are also interested and Kakuta may ultimately favour a return to France if an agreement can be reached.Olympiakos are determined to remodel their midfield after receiving £6m for Mirallis.
Willian Wants Move to Spurs,"let me go":
Willian has begged Shakhtar Donetsk not to block his £20m move to Tottenham.Spurs are hoping to seal Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk after Andre Villas-Boas was left severely lacking in attacking options, with Jermain Defoe his only established first-team striker for the opening game of the season.And Willian, 24, was upset with his Ukrainian club when they rejected an offer from Chelsea earlier in the summer.'I have a proposal, but it is complicated because the board. Here are many players in the same position, most Brazilian. They buy and do not let go,' said Willian.'That's the problem. Everyone knows that I want out, I'm here for five years, won many titles, so I hope you respect my will.'I do not regret coming here, but this situation has been happening, with Chelsea trying to get me in January and now Tottenham, we start to rethink.' The Brazilian told Sportsmail last August he would love to play in London and that if he joined Tottenham his mission would be to secure a return to the Champions League, after the club reached the quarter-finals in 2011.Willian compared himself to Luka Modric - which would make him the perfect replacement for the Croatian if his transfer to Real Madrid goes through - and spent the year having English lessons to make a transition to a Premier League club easier.He can play in behind a striker or as a winger - his main role for Shakhtar. He scored 19 goals in 129 games and won three league titles, four Ukrainian cups and one UEFA Cup at the club. Meanwhile, Tottenham are tracking Malaga midfielder Isco, 20. Assistant coach Tim Sherwood saw him inspire the 2-0 win against Panathinaikos. Spurs also remain keen on Caen striker M’Baye Niang, 17, valued at £6m.
Sunderland have sealed the £10million signing of England winger Adam Johnson.With Scotland striker Steven Fletcher set to make his debut at the Stadium of Light against Reading on Saturday, manager Martin O’Neill has splashed out £22m in 24 hours to address his side’s lack of Premier League firepower.As Sportsmail revealed earlier this week, Wolves forward Fletcher joined after the Midlands club accepted Sunderland’s original £12m offer, with add-ons which could take the deal to £14m.Having secured his priority target, O’Neill immediately pushed through the deal for Manchester City’s Sunderland-born winger Johnson, 24, who had been ostracised by Roberto Mancini, despite being the Italian’s first City signing. O'Neill said: 'Adding quality players to the squad has been our main aim this summer and Adam certainly fits that bill.'He has terrific ability, great delivery and I'm sure he is a player who will excite our fans. I couldn't be more delighted to have him at the football club.'Johnson was left out of City’s squad for last week’s opener against Southampton, four days after winning his 12th England cap.But after unveiling Fletcher, 25, O’Neill met Johnson for talks. The former Middlesbrough academy graduate, who came close to joining Sunderland under Steve Bruce before opting for City, has agreed to take a pay cut from his £90,000-a-week wages at the Etihad after securing a pay-off.
PAOK's Europa League victory over Rapid Vienna was marred by violence after fighting broken out between rival fans.Two sets of flares were fired before kick-off which led to police responding with tear gas.The home fans then descended on to the pitch and threw missiles into the strands, delaying the start of the match.When it finally got underway, goals from Stefanos Athanasiadis and Giorgos Katsikas earned the hosts a 2-1 first-leg win.
Roberto Mancini has told Mario Balotelli it is time to start producing more for Manchester City.Many believed a good Euro 2012 for Balotelli with Italy would prove to be the turning point in his chequered career.But Mancini is not convinced the controversial striker has changed and wants too see evidence of a better attitude on the pitch.Mancini said: “Mario is the same. Maybe he can improve but I don’t think he will change in one month."If he always plays like he did in the European Championships then yes, he will get better.“But he has a big responsibility here, for us. He is an important player who we spent a lot of money on. He can do his job better here.”Bad-boy Balotelli signed for £22million from Inter Milan two years ago. Controversial incidents on and off the pitch have marred his undoubted talent.Tomorrow he returns to the scene of one of his most infamous on pitch flashpoints when the champions take on Liverpool at Anfield.Last season he came on as a 65th-minute substitute but was off within 15 minutes for two bookable offences.He was also red carded in the defeat at Arsenal in April which looked to have finished off City’s title chances and he has not started a competitive game for the club since.The Italian, 22, received a retrospective ban for a stamp on Scott Parker at home to Spurs last season too.Tomorrow he will start after coming on as a late sub in the opening 3-2 home win over Southampton.It is his chance to stamp his mark on the team with Sergio Aguero likely to be out until City face Stoke on September 15 because of a knee injury.However, that is an injury which the Argentine FA seem to have ignored after he was called up for international duty next month.It is a decision which has left Mancini angered.He added: “This is impossible because he is not even going to be able to train for at least two weeks. I know these are the rules, but they are ridiculous rules.“We will have to see what happens in the next 10 days and after that we will make a decision.”
Alex Ferguson hailed Patrice Evra as “an absolute soldier” after unveiling the player bought to replace him.French left-back Evra has been a defensive rock during his six years at Old Trafford but Fergie yesterday warned new £4million signing Alexander Buttner is after his place.The United boss said: “We have to protect the future. That is sensible. Evra is 31 and Alex comes to challenge that position.“But nobody has played more games than Evra over the last five years. He has played with injuries he has guts.“He has been up and down that touchline for five years. It’s 240 games he has played. Patrice has been an absolute soldier.”Evra has made 291 appearances in the last six years following his £5.5m move from Monaco.But Fergie is now ready to start the changing of the guard with Dutch left-back Buttner.The 23-year-old arrived from Vitesse Arnhem and now joins Shinji Kagawa, Nick Powell, Angelo Henriquez and Robin van Persie as the new additions to the United squad.Ferguson added: “We’ve been monitoring Alex for a while. He’s a straight-forward attacking, quick, full-back. He will be a terrific addition to us.“We have to protect the future. That is sensible. Evra is 31 and Alex comes now to challenge that position.”While champions Manchester City are still desperately trying to boost their squad after the addition of only Jack Rodwell, Ferguson insists his spending is now done.Van Persie is the most high profile of the new signings.But his appearance as a substitute on Monday night at Goodison Park failed to turn the tide as United got off to a disappointing start in a 1-0 defeat at Everton.Now the former Arsenal skipper is set to make his home debut against Fulham today from the start and Ferguson is hoping that will spark his team’s season into life.The Old Trafford chief said: “I’m excited myself. He’s a very, very good player and he brings a maturity to us up front.“I am looking forward to starting him... when he starts.“It’s important that he brings something to the team.“His goal record last year was fantastic. I hope he can do this for us and give us more of an edge.”Ferguson is also looking for Wayne Rooney to continue his excellent scoring form from last season and see Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez also do their bit in his latest fab four frontline.He added: “Wayne got 30-something last season and has been improving on his goalscoring for the last two or three years.“We need a contribution from all the strikers. Chicharito is capable and Danny gives us something different.“We have fantastic options and that’s part of the attraction.”While United suffered at Everton, Fulham had earlier savoured an incredible opening-day 5-0 destruction of Norwich at Craven Cottage and Martin Jol’s men will be a test today.Ferguson said: “I went to see Fulham on Saturday, they played very well. The club has grown tremendously since Roy Hodgson got them to the Europa League final.“The place is buzzing, a full house every week, good atmosphere. Their home record is terrific and they’ve got a lot of experienced players six players over 30.“It won’t be an easy game but we’re at home and we have to make an impact quickly after losing Monday night and we expect that.”The signing of Buttner will boost defensive options, which were badly hit by injuries over the last year.Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand are all still sidelined.Ferguson even joked he would have to haul some of the old guard out of retirement. He said: “I’ve recalled Bruce and Pallister! Their terms are ridiculous!”Ferguson had to deploy Michael Carrick as a makeshift centre-half at Goodison on Monday night, something he admits Everton boss David Moyes exploited.He added: “Everton was a hard game. Their tactics made it hard. Fellaini played against Carrick all night. That was a good ploy.”One silver lining from the defeat at Everton was the performance of £12m buy Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund and Ferguson is convinced the midfielder will help with the goals tally as well.Ferguson said: “Shinji was fantastic on Monday, he played very well.“He is a terrific pro, a good footballer, good with two feet, good balance and we’re very happy with him.“His goalscoring record is better than most players in that position. His last two years at Dortmund showed that.“I think that will come for us. He will also create chances as he did on Monday. That shows he has the vision and passing ability to open up defences.”
Nuri Sahin will be Exceptional Move to Liverpool:
Brendan Rodgers is confident closing a deal for Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin.Rodgers is eager to welcome Sahin on-loan."I believe, from the club, everything has been organised and sorted in terms of paperwork so we're hoping in the next 24 hours that can be done," said Rodgers."He is a great technician. He was player of the season in Germany, captain of Dortmund and fantastic at a very young age."He got a move to Real Madrid and obviously through injury it has not quite worked out for him."But he is a wonderful player technically and tactically who understands the game and we hope his extra quality coming in will help the group."
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