Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed his ongoing interest in Joe Cole.
The England midfielder is available on a free transfer after leaving Chelsea at the end of last season.
Cole stressed throughout the World Cup finals that he was focusing on England and not his club future.
Redknapp is keen to ensure that future is at White Hart Lane despite reported competition from Arsenal and former club West Ham United.
"We're interested in Joe," Redknapp confirmed to talkSPORT."I know (chairman) Daniel (Levy) was talking to his people and we're interested.
"If the chairman can pull a deal off I'd love to have him at Tottenham.
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"But it all comes down to if we can do a deal. I don't get involved in the financial side, the chairman can do that with Joe's people.
"Hopefully there is a deal that can be done because we would love him at White Hart Lane."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has admitted that Carlos Tevez may be in line for new charges and fines from Manchester City due to his decision to travel back to Argentina.
The South American has had a controversial last year at the Etihad Stadium, handing in transfer requests and on numerous occasions expressing his desire to leave the Premier League club.
The latest indiscretion saw the striker refuse to warm up against Bayern Munich in the Champions League in late September, with City suspending the forward for two weeks and docking him four-weeks wages.
Tevez has been training by himself on his return to the club, but after being denied permission to return to his homeland, decided to go against his employer’s wishes and flew back to Buenos Aires on Tuesday night.
Taylor has tried to defend Tevez in the past, but fears the hot-headed forward may be liable for further sanctions from Roberto Mancini’s side.
“Bearing in mind what has happened recently, and the fact he was clearly told on more than one occasion that he was not to return to Argentina and that he was on his fitness regime here, he has flagrantly breached that instruction and that goes to the heart of the contract,” Taylor told The Telegraph.
“That could be gross misconduct in anybody’s language. I don’t want to predetermine, but I’m very concerned. It is a serious situation and one that the PFA aren’t happy about and, I assume, neither are Manchester City,” he concluded.
The in-discipline by Tevez is sure to influence City’s decision over his future, with a January sale now looking very likely.
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It is likely that in 2013 UEFA will implement a new set of fair play rules. UEFA will stipulate clubs to be more self-sufficient. The result will be that clubs with the largest revenues will be able to spend the most money. This has been seen, in many ways, as a fair system and will prevent rich owners from dramatically changing the face of a domestic football league.
This has been seen in England in the last ten years with the extravagant spending by Chelsea and Manchester City. Roman Abramovich and Sheik Mansour are among the richest men in the world and have had a dramatic effect on English football.
What I want to look at here are the revenue stream of Manchester United. Why is revenue important? It is that figure that will dictate how much money clubs will be able to spend in the future.
What is interesting from the Money League is that Manchester United may be the biggest club in England, but their total revenue is not anywhere near that of top of the list Real Madrid. One reason for this would obviously because of the weakening of the pound against the Euro, but this is not the only reason for disparity.
Total Revenue (£m)
2010
1
R. Madrid
438.6
2
Barcelona
398.1
3
Man Utd.
349.8
4
Bayern
323
5
Arsenal
274.1
6
Chelsea
255.9
7
Milan
235.8
8
Liverpool
225.3
9
Inter
224.8
10
Juventus
205
11
Man City
152.8
12
Tottenham
146.3
13
Hamburg
146.2
14
Lyon
146.1
15
Marseille
141.1
[divider]
Manchester United may be one of the ‘biggest’ clubs in the world but it only generates the 6th highest broadcasting revenue, and generated £40.1m less than Barcelona in 2010 despite playing in the Champions League and coming runners-up the Premiership. This is because Spanish and Italian leagues allow clubs to organise their own private TV deals for domestic League games. The English and German leagues sell their TV rights collectively and split the money between clubs more equally.
Team
Total Broadcasting Revenue (£m)
1
Barcelona
145.8
2
R.Madrid
129.9
3
AC Milan
115.5
4
Inter
112.9
5
Juventus
108.5
6
Man U
104.8
[divider]
Furthermore, in 2005, Manchester United made more money from commercial deals than Barcelona. However, looking at the same side’s commercial revenue from 2010, you see that is no longer the case.
Commercial Revenue 2005 (£m)
Commercial Revenue 2010 (£m)
R. Madrid
83.7
Bayern
141.6
Bayern
79.3
R. Madrid
123.5
Juventus
55.5
Barcelona
100
Man United
48.7
Man United
81.4
Barcelona
42.4
Schalke
64.7
AC Milan
39.1
Liverpool
62.1
Schalke
38.9
Chelsea
56.3
Liverpool
38.3
AC Milan
51.9
Chelsea
37.2
Man City
46.7
Arsenal
29.7
Juventus
45.5
[divider]
In 2005, Barcelona earned less than Manchester United (England’s richest club). By 2010 they earn £20m more. However, unlike with broadcasting deals (where Spanish clubs organise private TV deals), and match-day revenue (where some clubs have old stadiums), the reason for the gap between the best English clubs and their Spanish counter parts is not obvious.
Looking at Barcelona as a brand, they are very individual and marketable. The style of football they play is synonymous with the football club. And it is attractive football. They have also seen more on-field success than Manchester United in the last 5 years. Their rise is due to their own on-pitch success rather than the fault of Manchester United.
The worrying thing for the Premier League is that while the arrangement of individual TV rights exists in Spain exists, teams in England will never be able to compete with biggest Spanish and Italian clubs in terms of TV revenue. Juventus did not qualify for the Champions League this year, but still had a higher total revenue from broadcasting than Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea who have all played in the competition for the last two years.
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So while Manchester United may compete with the biggest clubs in Europe on match-day revenue and, to an extent, commercial revenue, they fall far behind in total revenue due to the difference in structure of the way La Liga organizes broadcasting deals.
Belgian prodigy Romelu Lukaku has attracted admiring glances from all over Europe since bursting on to the scene as a 16-year-old with club side Anderlecht in May of 2009. The 6ft 4in 17-year-old topped the domestic league scoring charts last season, bagging 15 goals in just 25 appearances. Pictures of the youngster sitting in the Stamford Bridge dugout leaked this week, heightening speculation that Carlo Ancelotti is to make a move for the young Belgian. Speaking of Lukaku, current Chelsea striker Didier Drogba said: “I received his phone number from Vincent Kompany.’You should sign for Chelsea,’ I told him.”
Unlike other Premier League sides Chelsea do not have a reputation for nurturing young talent. Would a switch to Stamford Bridge represent a wise move for Romelu Lukaku?
Since the start of Roman Abramovich’s association with the club, Chelsea have financially outmuscled several clubs in order to sign a clutch of talented, young players. For the majority of these players, a move to West London turned out to be a bad decision. The careers of England internationals Glen Johnson, Scott Parker and Shaun Wright-Phillips are all widely considered to have stalled and/or regressed at Stamford Bridge. Having fought tooth and nail to ‘illegally’ procure Leeds United’s youth-team duo Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods in 2006, a succession of Chelsea managers failed to utilise their talents; indeed Taiwo now plies his trade for Carlisle United, whilst Woods languishes in the Chelsea reserves.
The formative years within a player’s career are pivotal to one’s development. First-team football is generally considered to be the best way to facilitate the growth and development of one’s potential, and Lukaku will certainly be more likely to encounter such opportunities at Anderlecht.
Whilst Abramovich has provided signals that he is wishing to eke out the investment-heavy, ‘quick-fix-success’ nature of Chelsea’s existence since 2003, (with this summer’s signings of Tomáš Kalas and Matej Delač supporting the Russian’s assertions), it remains to be seen whether or not this will turn out to be the case. With Abramovich desperately trying to shed the club’s image of one as a trophy-buying, aging club, the signing of players such as Lukaku may be central to his intentions. Whilst a move for Lukaku may help Abramovich to achieve his aims, it may not help the young Belgian achieve his.
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Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer
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Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is pleased that Spurs manager Harry Redknapp believes his side is too good to be relegated.”I’m delighted he feels that we’re not going down and I agree with him,” said McCarthy.”Quite a few managers have said we’re too good to go down – we’ve got to prove it.””Harry’s up front and honest and he’d have said that with one hand and hoping he’ll slap us with the other.” The former Ireland boss admires Tottenham’s brand of football and sees no reason why they cannot go all the way in the Champions League. “They’ve done very well so far. I think they have big-match players that whatever big game is thrown at them they can handle that,” he said.”If they get through that, then why not? Who’s to say who will win it?”For some reason Wanderers have done better against the top sides than fellow strugglers. “Maybe it’s to do with us being the underdogs, but there are all sorts of theories,” McCarthy said. “But I don’t think anyone treats us lightly, not after the results we’ve had.”Teams are all bunching up at the bottom and the subject turned McCarthy to song. “It’s like the old song about 10-in-a-bed – the little one said roll over, that’s what it’s like at the minute,” he said. “Nothing’s sorted, nothing’s settled, everyone is scrapping away and that’s the way it’s going to be until May 22.””If Albion, Blackpool and all the others win their next two games, it doesn’t matter, we could still do it.””It might take 40 points to survive, but it’s not about when you get them – as long as you’ve got more than three other teams before the end of the season, that will fine.” Ronald Zubar will not face Spurs due to a back problem and is likely to be replaced by Kevin Foley. Stephen Hunt is out with a calf injury and Wolves have doubts with Steven Mouyokolo, who rocked his knee in training, and midfielders Dave Jones and Dave Edwards who are both doubtful with leg injuries. Jamie O’Hara, on loan from Spurs, is ineligible.
Outgoing president Joan Laporta believes it is inevitable that Cesc Fabregas will leave Arsenal for Barcelona this summer.
Laporta, who will shortly be replaced in the Camp Nou hot-seat by Sandro Rosell, fully expects the north London club to "give way" and let their captain return to his former club.
Barcelona have already seen one bid in the region of £25million rejected by the Gunners for the 23-year-old midfielder.
That is despite Fabregas reportedly informing manager Arsene Wenger of his desire to return to the Catalan club following seven years in north London.
Meanwhile Laporta, who will leave office at the end of June, fully expects the deal to be completed.
However, he has accepted that the protracted nature of the transfer means it is more likely to be completed on Rosell's watch.
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"We'll keep trying and if it's not us who do it, the new board will, if they feel it's something they want to continue with," he said on the club's official website.
"I think Arsenal will gave way – but I don't know when and we just have to wait and let the professionals who are dealing with it get on with the job they've been given."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
David Bentley will be sidelined for up to six months after undergoing a knee operation, in a further setback in the Tottenham man’s career.
The midfielder found opportunities at White Hart Lane hard to come by last season, and has not lived up to the £15 million price tag that Spurs paid for him back in July 2008.
Bentley was farmed out to West Ham on a season-long loan in the summer, but he will now be out until April after only making five appearances for the Championship team.
Upton Park boss Sam Allardyce has stated his disappointment at the news, and has wished Bentley good luck in his rehabilitation.
“It is a great shame for David as he had settled in well to the squad. We wish him well and hope he has a speedy recovery,” he told West Ham’s official website.
The injury will be a blow for West Ham’s promotion bid; the Hammers currently sit in fourth place, four points behind leaders Southampton.
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What a night it was for Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League last night. They went to the San Siro and not only beat AC Milan, but also kept a clean sheet and go into the second leg at White Hart Lane next month in a great position.
As well as winning, Spurs win clearly got under the skin of their opponents, none more so than Gennaro Gattuso. Rino Gattuso was involved in an amazing scuffle with Tottenham coach Joe Jordan, as the Italian went head-to-head with Harry Redknapp’s assistant.
Afterwards Gattuso said that “I lost control, there is no excuse for what I did. I take my responsibilities for that.” Redknapp made light of the situation saying that “There would be only one winner there – Joe. I’d have my money on Joe. Of all the people to pick on, don’t pick on Joe.” I’d have to agree with Harry…
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Internazionale president Massimo Moratti does not know when Rafael Benitez will be appointed as the club's new coach.
Speaking on Tuesday evening, Moratti revealed he had agreed a deal with the Spaniard to replace Jose Mourinho in the hot-seat following his departure to Real Madrid.
Benitez only left Liverpool by mutual consent last week after six years in charge at Anfield.
However, despite suggesting that an appointment was imminent, Moratti now claims that he is unsure when the former Valencia manager will officially put pen to paper with the Italian and European champions.
"Wait for the club to tell you something, I do not do that kind of work here," he told the club's official website.
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"Wait for (sporting director) Marco Branca and the others to tell you when the time will be and when the new coach will be presented."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
After playing a vital role in the rise and fall of Team GB at the Olympic Games, Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey feels he is still improving as a player and that his best years are ahead of him.
The Welshman’s progress was hampered by a horrific injury after his move from Cardiff to Arsenal, which took him almost a year to fully recover from, but at the age of 21 Ramsey is still considered a youngster in the Gunners squad.
Ramsey returns to his club after a busy summer but despite a crucial penalty miss in the Olympic quarter final, his confidence seems sky high and amidst a real competition for places at the Emirates, he still feels he will improve.
“The best is yet to come from me,” Ramsey told the Daily Star.
“I’m delighted with how it has gone – apart from my injury.
“I missed about ten months, which stalled my progress, but I still think there is a lot more to come from me.
“I’m working hard and wanting to learn more every day to become the best player I can possibly be.”
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