West Ham United's hopes of signing Everton striker Yakubu appear to be slim, after Irons co-owner David Sullivan put a value of less than £2million on the Nigeria international's head.
The Toffees are reported to want up to four times the amount that Sullivan is prepared to pay, meaning that a deal is highly unlikely.
He told the Daily Telegraph:"We have cooled on Yakubu. When you have a good, hard look at him, we want younger and quicker and better.
"Everything has a price. You want to get Yakubu for £1-2million and they are quoting £8million and that is far too much.
"They have to be more realistic. If they said £1-2million we might go back.
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"We bid more at the start of the summer because we had more flexibility but, at this moment in time, having spent some of our money on other players we want him for £1-2million."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The Premier League’s global popularity is unquestionable, its total income from foreign rights deals from 2010-13 inclusive will be £1.437bn, or £479m a year – four times that of La Liga, more than six times what Serie A earns annually and almost fourteen times the foreign income of the Bundesliga. So it is perhaps no wonder Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are maximising their potential with pioneering deals that could well see other clubs follow suit.
Manchester United recently announced a deal with Hong Kong-based telecommunications giant PCCW who will broadcast the club’s television channel, MUTV, in addition to making content available online, through mobile phones and its EYE2 portable media centre and the lucrative nature of such a deal could instigate a flurry of similar deals in the future.
United’s commercial director Richard Arnold said: “We continue to support the collective bargaining because it makes the Premier League incredibly competitive,”
“But there are other rights that centre around the club and players, where our access is not paralleled anywhere else. It would be very surprising not to put into place something that allowed you to communicate with fans all over the world.”
And such a deal may well open upon untold possibilities for both the club and the Premier League, as well as alleviating the debt amassed by the Glazer family since their controversial takeover in 2005.
Premier League clubs may be able to inflate their income through hi-tech media in other major countries where there is high demand for coverage and media has certainly become the lion share of ticketing, sponsorship and media.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have announced a sponsorship deal with specialist banking and asset firm Investec who will be their second sponsor for Champions League and domestic cups and this more set a trend whereby other Premier League clubs split sponsorship in order to maximise profits from shirt sales throughout the season.
Spurs fans will now have to purchase a different shirt as a token of their Champions League adventures and cutting their sponsorship cloth a different way may see a change in football shirts over the next few years if the venture is successful. Football shirts may become more like Rugby shirts with numerous sponsors on the sleeves – such is the popularity of the Premier League many companies would be more than happy to participate.
A sponsorship consultant said: “I think that other clubs may now look at ways of increasing the value of their shirt sponsorship.”
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It is highly likely that we see Daniel Levy’s clever ploy to earn more money from sponsorship around the country, the only question that would remain is whether fans would fork out their hard-earned cash on two shirts a season.
Birmingham City fans are dismayed at the lack of availability with regards to their new Xtep shirt due to the China floods and they try to exploit the Asian market with Carson Yeung at the helm and it is likely it will not be in shops until October. Although it is rare, such problems can arise and with the prices of football shirts around £40 for a few months of football before it is inevitably changed come the summer – two shirts may be that step too far.
Another exciting weekend of Premiership football awaits, the highlight undoubtedly being the North-West derby between Manchester United and Liverpool.
Chelsea welcome newly promoted Blackpool to Stamford Bridge and will be looking to keep up their flying start to the season.
The Sunderland vs Arsenal game promises to be a thrilling affair and we will see if Tottenham can adapt to playing Premiership football after their travels in Europe.
Here are my predictions:
Stoke City v West Ham
The Hammers will be without their manager Avram Grant as he observes Jewish holy day Yom Kippur.
Stoke should have the wind in their sails after coming from behind to beat Aston Villa last Monday.
West ham have now gone twenty games without an away win in the Premiership and I can see it being twenty one the game at the Britannia Stadium this weekend.
My prediction: 2-0
Aston Villa v Bolton
Bolton are without suspended Gary Cahill and Jussi Jaaskelainen for this match which leaves their defence weakened.
The last three meetings between these two sides at Villa park have been high scoring victories for the home team.
This is caretaker manager Kevin Macdonalds last game in charge for Villa, before Gerard Houllier takes the reigns. The game may not be a high scorer, but I think Macdonald will end on a high note.
My prediction: 2-1
Blackburn v Fulham
Mark Hughes returns to the club where he earned his managerial trade this weekend and will be looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season following Fulham’s win over Wolves.
Fulham will still be hurting from the loss of their star player Bobby Zamora, which is a massive blow for their team.
Blackburn are difficult to beat playing at home and I can see this game ending in a draw.
My prediction: 1-1
Everton v Newcastle
Everton have had their poorest start to the season in years, securing only two points from their first four games.
They are starting to show definate signs of improvement though, following an epic comeback against Manchester United last weekend.
I can see Everton getting their first win of the season against Newcastle on Saturday.
My prediction: 2-0
Tottenham v Wolves
Tottenham will have to adapt to playing Premiership games in the aftermath of midweek Champions League games this season.
Many clubs performances can be seen to dip with the onset of a ‘Champions League hangover’.
We saw them slip up against Wigan following their last game in Europe, so could be a tricky fixture against Wolves.
My prediction: 2-0
West Brom v Birmingham
Birmingham are currently unbeaten in the Premiership and sitting at the dizzy heights of fifth in the league.
Not bad for a newly promoted team, though we know all too well from the likes of Hull that early promise can turn sour very swiftly.
West Brom have also had a decent start to the season, but I expect Birmingham will be the better team in this match.
My prediction: 1-2
Sunderland v Arsenal
Arsenal are enjoying their best start to the premiership since 2007, despite having the Premierships longest list of injuries.
They will be looking to keep the momentum going after a magnificent mid-week Champions League victory.
Fabregas looks to be getting back to his best and Arsenal will want to keep the pressure on Chelsea at the top of the league, though Sunderland won’t make it easy for the Gunners.
My prediction: 1-2
Man Utd v Liverpool
Following a spate of not so great results for United in the Premiership and Europe, Fergie’s hairdryer is sure to have gone into overdrive.
United have been unfortunate with some of their results so far this season and it has taken the shine of some otherwise very good performances.
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I think it wil be close, but United will win this one.
My prediction: 1-0
Wigan v Man City
City have had some underwhelming results of late, despite the overwhelming array of talent in their star studded squad.
Having failed to deliver in their previous two Premiership matches, this is a must win for City and Mancini to avoid coming under further scrutiny.
Wigan’s defence has major problems which will be exploited by City. I can only see one team winning this match.
My prediction: 0-2
Chelsea v Blackpool
Despite any fatigue from playing midweek in the Champions League, I expect Chelsea look to keep up their 100% win streak with yet another high scoring victory over Blackpool.
Blackpool provided a surprise result with last weekends away victory against Newcastle as they continue to exceed expectations in the Premiership, but the chances of them coming away from Stamford Bridge with any points are extremely slim.
Chelsea have conceded just one goal in their last seven games in the Premiership and I dont think they will leak any goals against Blackpool.
We may not be a two man team that our critics love to point out, however our over reliance on Fernando Torres to put the ball in the back of the net has been highlighted on numerous occasions this season. We haven’t got a Plan B upfront and subsequently we have struggled as a result.
It has been a problem for a couple of years now and Roy Hodgson’s failure to improve the attack in the summer certainly caused a little confusion. Whether Hodgson believed that Milan Jovanovic would produce more of an attacking threat may have swayed his thinking, but it was a huge error on his part, given it was a lack of potency in the final third that cost Rafa dear last season.
David N’Gog has certainly improved this season, but is he really the answer long term? Hodgson, like Rafa, clearly doesn’t believe that Ryan Babel should be given the opportunity to stake a claim for a striking role, therefore we are rather stuck and subsequently short of options. The longer Fernando Torres continues to fire blanks, the longer our pain will go on.
There have been reports in the papers today that we are sniffing around Zenit St Petersburg striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov. The Russian has been in top form this season bagging 10 goals in 22 games and is reportedly Roy Hodgson’s top target in January. £6m is certainly a snip for a player of Kerzhakov’s class, and would provide us with the ideal Plan B for Fernando Torres.
Watch Aleksandr Kerzhakov in action below
[youtube vN61Uli3AXU]
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Putting two and two together and making five, whether it is seeing your best friend and your ex cavorting in a club, or making assumptions about that Playstation shaped gift under the Christmas tree, is something we’ve all done. But, however damaging some of these postulations can be, we come to these innocently misguided conclusions only on an occasional, or at least part-time basis. However, in certain sections of the media they seem to have entire teams of people, operating on permanent contracts, dedicated to getting mathematical problems wrong. The problem is, with the considerable weight and influence behind these often illogical conclusions, what at first may seem to be a wholly false assumption, could very well turn into a tangible reality.
Take today’s rumours for example; in Metro they lead with an article entitled “Michael Carrick ‘to be offered back to Spurs’ as United prepare £100m spending spree”, in which they state; “according to reports, he [Carrick] may be lined up for a return to his old club Spurs – potentially as a makeweight in negotiations for their star man Gareth Bale”. Clues as to the validity of this rumour can be found in the title, with ‘to be offered back to Spurs’ in quotation marks, steering the finger of blame for this rumour firmly away from the writer and paper to an anonymous source. The fact this quote is then not corroborated with any anecdotal evidence from the text, and there are in fact no citations to be found in the article whatsoever, combined with qualifying statements such as “according to reports” and “potentially”, means this rumour is tenuous to say the least.
The way this rumour seems to have materialised, is one of combining several different story strands and trying to come out with a completely original yarn. First, you have the story that having spent a reported £200,000 on a weekly contract for Wayne Rooney, the Glazers have given Sir Alex Ferguson a £100m transfer kitty. Second, you have the current form of Tottenham Hotspur wunderkind Gareth Bale, and third, you have Michael Carrick’s lack of form and present status as benchwarmer at Old Trafford. If you then throw these ingredients together, and sprinkle the herbs and spices of plausibility on top that not only has Carrick played for Spurs previously, but that he came through the youth system at West Ham under the guidance of current Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, then you have a rumour fit to dine on.
And I have no doubt the media will dine out on this rumour; it’s got legs, at least until the January transfer window is firmly shut anyway. But is there any problem with letting the media have a little artistic licence with their transfer rumours? The problem lies in the round-a-bout way these articles sometimes make the leap from fiction to fact. It has been seen before, and will no doubt be seen again, that articles of this nature can in fact facilitate moves for players, turning what was originally conjecture into a reality, essentially creating truth from what ultimately can be seen as lies.
I am not suggesting in any way that this proposed deal between United and Spurs will go ahead, but some aspects of it may well become true, for example Michael Carrick making the move back to White Hart Lane. It is indeed highly possible that Carrick’s agent did in fact release information to the press that the 29 year-old midfielder wanted a transfer, and the media filled in the blanks, in which case, with all the recent condemnation concerning agents power within the game on the back of the Rooney saga, the media surely provides yet another string to the agents’ already fairly extensive bow.
But while football continues to be the money-spinning enterprise that it is, and football rumours sell papers, media agencies will have carte-blanche to write pretty much what they want and continue to influence the game. The ‘unsettling’ of players has become a big inter-club issue and with the media lubricating transfer rumours, articles of this nature merely exacerbate the problem.
It seems the spreading of rumours is not confined only to OK magazine and all-girl teenage cliques, and is rife within the football-related media, and like those teenage girls who have been told how damaging their rumour spreading can be, the media outlets know exactly what they are doing.
If you liked this and wish to read more, then why not read my other blogs, or follow me on Twitter.
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Football FanCast has teamed up with the excellent IM Scouting to bring you their expert analysis on five strikers that Liverpool should look to target in January.
Liverpool’s woes this season have been well documented. With the club finally having secured new owners, Anfield boss Roy Hodgson has been quick to pinpoint the need to add to his squad, particularly the purchase of another striker.
Last week, Hodgson bemoaned the lack of front men at the club, saying “A club like Liverpool shouldn’t have to rely on non-specialists like Dirk Kuyt or Ryan Babel ‘doing a job’ up front when they are primarily wide players.
“In training, I can’t have practice games where each team plays a 4-4-2 because I don’t have the front players to do that.”
With Liverpool’s new owner John Henry meeting this week with Hodgson, there is every chance that a variety of names have been mentioned as potential partners for Fernando Torres in attack.
Although it remains unclear how much money Henry and his NESV group will plough into Hodgson’s squad in January, it is likely that the funds won’t be in place to purchase the planet’s top strikers such as Luis Suarez and Edin Dzeko. Nonetheless, there are plenty of other worthwhile and cheaper options who might be available.
IMScouting takes a look at five strikers in that bracket that are worth Liverpool considering
Click here to see IM Scouting’s analysis
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that his side had enjoyed a 'good day' after they saw off Wigan Athletic 2-0 to draw level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.
United took advantage of their rivals losing 1-0 at Birmingham City, with their win over the Latics at Old Trafford also seeing Wayne Rooney return to action as a substitute.
Ferguson told MUTV:"While it wasn't a great performance, it was competent and if you'd asked me at the start of the day, would I have taken joint top spot at the end of it, I would have said yes.
"It's been a good day for us, no question about that. This league is without doubt a high-quality league now. All the games you play are very difficult.
"You saw that last week when a young Aston Villa team came out and set about us. It was the same again today.
"I think we know ourselves that come the second half of the season we'll definitely get better.
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"At this moment in the time, we just need to be in that bit at the top of the league. We're joint top with Chelsea now."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Crouch began his career at White Hart Lane and he apparently hopes to end it there. His first stay at the Lane as a teenager ended without him making a first team appearance. After moving about a fair amount, he found his way back to Tottenham once more with a move from Portsmouth in 2009. He’s now a Spurs regular and is keen for things to stay that way.
“I’m so happy here that I want to be here for the rest of my career,” Crouch told The People.“For a time at Liverpool, I didn’t think I would ever leave there – but eventually felt I had to move on. Here I am so settled and there is no limit to what we can achieve. Unless they kick me out, I’ll be hanging around!”
Although he looks back at his time with Liverpool with something approaching affection, he’s clearly very happy at Tottenham. Of course, players show a different face to the media than they do when it comes to contract negotiations, but Crouch seems to be sincere. Will the news that Crouch is willing to commit to Tottenham for the long-term have fans jumping for joy?
Now I’ve always thought that Crouch was underrated striker. He has a great touch, is dominant in the air, and does chip in with the goals. When things go right for Crouch, he’s as good a striker as anybody else in the Premier League. He has been England’s most consistent striker for the last couple of years. Yet, some might say that that reveals more about the state of England’s attack than Crouch’s ability.
There is room for criticism – does Crouch score enough goals? He has played 62 games for Tottenham and scored 21 goals. Not the best return for a striker. In his time at Portsmouth he scored 11 goals in 38 appearances. Whilst at Liverpool he scored a measly 22 goals in 85 appearances. Whilst these stats aren’t bad per se, they aren’t particularly prolific either.
If Spurs really are ready for the big time as Harry Redknapp and a number of pundits seem to be claiming, they are going to need strikers that provide the goods. At the moment too much of the goal-scoring burden is put on midfielders like Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale. If Spurs are going to contend for the title, they desperately need a 20+ goals per season striker. Perhaps this man could be Defoe, but it certainly doesn’t look to be Crouch.
Whilst his comments are flattering for Spurs fans, the cold hard truth of the matter is that Crouch either needs to raise his game or consider his future. As Spurs aim for glory, certain players will get left behind as others go onto great things. I hate to say it, but at the moment, Crouch looks more likely to get left behind, rather than swept along with the tide.
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Tonight West Ham and Birmingham City are set to do battle at Upton Park in the first leg of the semi-final of the Carling Cup. For both teams who face the threat of relegation from the Premier League, the Carling Cup provides them with the opportunity to get to Wembley and the possibility of winning some silverware. With just two matches standing between the Hammers and the Blues and the final, which players will prove to be the tie winners?
After resting several key figures in the FA Cup fixture at the weekend, West Ham will bring back the likes of Matthew Upson and Frederic Piquionne into their starting XI. They will perhaps be most greatly boosted by the inclusion of Scott Parker, their midfield talisman. Parker has been immense for West Ham this season and this is reflected in the Picklive stats, where he’s the Hammers’ third top points’ scorer with an average of 51.
This is only bettered by fellow midfielder Mark Noble, who is leading the way for West Ham in Picklive this season, and Danny Gabbidon who has netted 54 points per game. With Birmingham likely to be on the defensive in the first leg, it is fairly likely that West Ham could earn a clean sheet and thus Gabbidon would be a wise selection. Picking Scott Parker for your Picklive Trio is a must, as if you’ve seen West Ham play this season, you’ll know just how important Parker is to Avram Grant’s side.
For Birmingham, getting to the Carling Cup final would prove to be an achievement that Alex McLeish and his side can be proud of. After the side’s 4-1 drubbing of Millwall in the FA Cup they should be full of confidence and looking to continue their good cup form. One man in particular who that applies for is Matt Derbyshire, and after limited game time this season, he will not want to pass up another opportunity should he be rewarded for his brace on Saturday.
Birmingham’s top Picklive points’ scorers this season have been Barry Ferguson, Liam Ridgewell and Roger Johnson, scoring an average of 56, 45 and 44 points per game respectively. This makes Ferguson a sensible selection, but with West Ham hardly prolific in front of goal, the choice of Johnson in your trio could well be a good one.
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So when you settle down to play live fantasy football tonight, who will you select as your Picklive trio? May I suggest Danny Gabbidon, Scott Parker and Roger Johnson. Make sure you join us for the match later by clicking the link below and proving you’re the fantasy football king!
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Love fantasy football? Love live footy? You’ll love live fantasy football! Take part in the West Ham v Birmingham match and play Picklive for FREE Go on, give it a go!
Hamburg striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will leave the club at the end of the season after being denied a return to Real Madrid, his agent says.
The 34-year-old Dutchman has been the subject of two transfer bids from former club Real this month, both of which have been rejected by Hamburg.
As a result, Van Nistelrooy’s agent, Rodger Linse, says that his client will not extend his contract at Hamburg when it runs out at the end of the season.
“A contract extension with Hamburg can now be ruled out. This is not possible any more,” Linse told the Hamburger Morgenpost.
“He cannot understand it (why Hamburg did not let him go) and he has got a problem with it. It is very, very painful,” Linse said.
“It is sad because Hamburg have no idea what they are doing to Ruud with this decision.”
A prolific goalscorer at former clubs PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United and Real, Van Nistelrooy netted 46 goals in 68 games during his three-and-a-half-year stay in the Spanish capital.
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He made the switch from Real to Hamburg in January 2010 and has scored six goals in the current Bundesliga campaign, which sees Hamburg sit in sixth position, 17 points adrift of leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Real are eager to sign a striker as cover for Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, who is out for several months following back surgery.