El Mercurio says Vidal has informed United he wants to join them this summer and it's now up to the fallen English giants to negotiate a fee with Juve.
United's contract offer - worth over twice Vidal's current Juve wages - has turned the Chile international's head.
Vidal has told United he won't force a move and has ruled out making a transfer request. It will be up to United to thrash out terms over atransfer fee with Juve.
Juve have already lined up a replacement for Vidal, with Romulo's move from Hellas Verona due to be confirmed today.
Sportmediaset says Mertens has been urging Fellaini to move to Napolithis summer, bombarding his friend with texts and emails talking up life in Naples.
Napoli are locked in talks with United over a deal for the midfielder.
Rafa Benitez's Serie A outfit would prefer an initial loan arrangement with the option of a permanent deal next June. However, United are pushing for a straight cash sale in the range of £15 million.
Fellaini moved to United last summer from Everton for £27.5 million.
"We still have some positions that we want to fill within the squad so that by the end of August we have a strong group of players to go forward with," he said.
"We've still got some business to do. We've brought in specific players for specific roles, players that have the profile of how we work.
"A lot of the players that have come in, the transition has been very smooth and that should make the adjustment that bit easier.
"Of course some of them are young and coming to a different country, like Emre Can. That will take a little bit of time. The players are transitioning very well, though it will take a little bit of time."
This is the title of the Libertadores final between Cuba and Nacional San Lorenzo and the first leg will be held on 6 August for the second leg on 13 August and the winner will play the Club World
Arsenal have received a boost in their pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.
The Gunners' move for the Germany international appeared under threat after reports emerged of Bayern Munich making a rival offer.
But when asked about the Khedira rumours, Bayern supremo Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insisted: "It's a myth."
Arsenal received a boost in negotiations for Khedira after the Germany international agreed to climbdown over his initial £150,000-a-week wage demands.
Last week, Arsenal attacker Lukas Podolski said: "Sami knows how much fun he would have with me, Mesut Özil and Per Mertesacker atArsenal. We had a great time at the World Cup."
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is keen to bring back QPR striker LoicRemy.
The France international was expected to complete an £8.5million move to Liverpool from Queens Park Rangers, but saw the deal collapse after undergoing a medical.
Pardew said in the Evening Chronicle: “I am surprised about what’s happening with Loic because I thought he was signing for Liverpool and that door was slammed shut.
“I didn’t expect that, and we certainly had no problem with Loic during his time with us.
It has been a while since Yankee Stadium has seen a crowd like the one that is here tonight for the match between Manchester City and Liverpool FC. If one team can be called the 'home' team, it would have to be Manchester City, who have partnered with the New York Yankees to establish next year's newest MLS franchise, NYCFC. But you wouldn't know that from the sea of red shirts and scarves that looks like a sunset rising into a light blue sky.
Last year these two teams finished 1-2 in the Premier League, with Manchester City taking the Premiership title, and now their rivalry is reignited in a pre-season match as the teams compete in the International Champions Cup. The game begins with a coin toss by David Villa, Spain International and the first player signed by NYCFC.
The brown dirt of the infield shows through on the baselines, and the grass that has been laid over it has outlined edges where the squares have been fit together. Still, the outfield is lush and green, striped from the mowing.
In the first half, Manchester City comes on strong, controlling the play and getting in the first real shot of the evening. Now that Luis Suarez has moved on from the Reds, Daniel Sturridge is partnered on the front with Rickie Lambert and the fans cheer them onward down the field to challenge the City goal. In the 26th minute, City's Dzenko shoots, the ball hitting the back of the net, but he is flagged offside, and play moves on.
There is a third factor that is almost as decisive as the performances of the two teams - the field itself. That makeshift pitch, those strips of grass that were laid down over the mound, the first base line and almost all the way over to third base, is causing the players a lot of trouble. The pitch itself is taking out the Manchester City players on the attack and the Liverpool players who are defending. Unfortunately you can't call a foul on the ground, or yellow and red card a strip of grass.
As the half moves along, Manchester City seems ever more in control, while Liverpool's breakaways are thrilling, the crowd rising to their feet, heartbroken each time that the play is broken up or a shot misses the mark. If the half has to go to either side, it is Manchester City. As for stand out players it would the now torn and ripped grass, for its generally bad behavior and unsportmanlike conduct.
When the teams retake the pitch, the advantage that was accrued by each side from learning the pitch is lost when the teams change over, but Manchester City takes the rich, thick outfield grass with them on their attack and score in the 53rd minute, Jesus Navas crossing to Stevan Jovetic, who sends it in. It looks like Steven Gerrard catches a piece of it and helps it on its way, but the goal is credited solely to Manchester City. This goal however, does nothing to dampen the spirits of the Liverpool fans or the team itself, and they immediately go on the attack, and end up rewarded a corner which is headed close. Still, it is doesn't take long for close to become good, and in the 59th minute, substituted on Raheem Sterling sends the ball to Daniel Sturridge. He finds Jordan Henderson, and the game is tied 1-1. Since it is a friendly, both teams use up their generous number of substitutes, but none is more of a game changer than Sterling.
In the 67th minute, Manchester City go ahead again when Jovetic scores his second goal of the game with a ball that just sort of dribbles in past the Liverpool keeper. A substitution in the 69th minute brings on Yaya Toure for Manchester City, his older brother defending for Liverpool just across the pitch, but it is a sub-plot in a game that now sees Manchester City up, Liverpool searching for a goal, and time running out. In the 85th minute, Sturridge sends the ball to Lucas Lieva in the center, and he controls it and drops it over to Sterling, who ties the score at 2.
Since these games are leading to the finals of the International Champions Cup and a winner must be declared, the announcement comes over the PA system that the game will go to penalties if neither team can break the tie before regulation ends. Both sides pick up the pace, determined to end it now, but it is not to be, even with the added two minutes.
Manchester City shoot first and Kolarov sends the ball way over the crossbar, but Sturridge does neither better nor worse, in fact sending the ball toward the same place in the stands with his shot. Yaya Toure is denied, while Emre Can beats keeper Joe Hart, and Liverpool are up. Navas is unable to beat Liverpool keeper Simon Mingolet, but Jordan Henderson gets it past Hart, and even when Kelechi Iheanacho puts it in for Manchester City, all it takes is for Lucas Leiva to put his shot away, and Liverpool wins the game
Romelu Lukaku is set to join Everton on a permanent basis with theChelsea striker flying to Merseyside for a medical on Wednesday, reports The Guardian.
The Toffees are yet to officially confirm the signing of the Belgium international, and maintain that talks remain “ongoing” with Chelsea.
The 21 year old is expected to sign a five-year contract at Goodison Park and the deal will represent a club record transfer for Everton, in the region of £22-25m.
(Reuters) - England midfielder Ross Barkley has signed a new four-year contract with Everton, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
Barkley, 20, enjoyed a breakthrough season under manager Roberto Martinez last term, earning widespread praise for some dynamic performances and a place in England's World Cup squad.
"As soon as I got told about it, I knew I was going to sign," Barkley told the club's website (www.evertonfc.com).
"It means everything, signing the new contract. It is a dream to have been playing for Everton all my life and today is a great thing for me.
"I am settled in at Everton, this is the club I love. I see it as my home, I never think of anything away from Goodison."
Martinez added: "It is a four-year deal, which reflects his new role and his development. This is as big news as we could get."
Barkley's development into one of English soccer's leading talents had led to media speculation that rival clubs, including Manchester United and Manchester City, would bid for him in the close season.
He appeared in each of England's three group games at the World Cup after helping Everton finish fifth in the Premier League last season.
The club's chairman, Bill Kenwright, said: "Everton and Ross have always been the perfect fit - Roberto has made it even more special.
"This was an important agreement and, I have to say, was conducted in a way that showed clearly the devotion to Everton Football Club of everyone involved."
Marouane Fellaini's departure from Manchester United appears to have moved a step closer after he reportedly met with officials from Italian side Napoli.
Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport claim the player and his agent met with representatives of the Serie A side in Brussels recently to discuss a potential move.
United are apparently demanding a fee in the region of £15m.
Napoli, though, are looking to take the player on loan as they look to successfully manage their finances.
Fellaini has become surplus to requirements at Old Trafford as new boss Louis van Gaal looks to reshape his squad for the coming season.
Van Gaal is poised for a major clear-out of the dead wood he inherited at the Old Trafford giants, with Nani, Shinji Kagawa and Anderson also primed to pass through the exit door this summer.
United have already signed central midfielder Ander Herrera and have been heavily linked with a move for Juventus' Arturo Vidal, who plays in a similar position.
Gazzetta dello Sport says United are willing to smash their previous transfer record to lure Vidal to Old Trafford.
It is understood that United have offered Juventus a whopping £47.5m to part with the Chile World Cup star.
United are also willing to double the 27-year-old's current salary, by offering him a bumper four-year £120,000-a-week deal.
Vidal's representative, Fernando Felicevich, will hold crunch talks withJuventus today and, according to the report, will demand they match United's offer or let his client leave.
The People says Nani and Zaha are facing an uncertain future.
The pair have been given major dressing-downs by Louis van Gaal during United’s pre-season tour to the United States and have been left in no doubt they will be on their way unless they buck up their ideas.
Nani, 27, was used sparingly under David Moyes last season while Zaha, 21, spent time on loan at Cardiff City.
Both have been given a clean slate under LVG, but he is already unimpressed with their attitude.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has made no secret of his ambitions to conquer the world of hip-hop, regularly teasing collabs with rappers such as Dizzee Rascal. To prove his love for the genre, the 24 year old striker recently showed off his vocal prowess with a cover of Drake’s ‘Too Much’…
Performing alongside team mate Jordan Ibe, Sturridge showed his versatility off the pitch both singing and rapping along to the Canadian rapper’s 2013 hit. Filmed for Liverpool FC’s official YouTube channel, the clip is a snippet from the club’s Hip-Hop mastermind quiz, according to the Daily Mail online.
The banterous pair are seen joking around in an NY hotel, where the club are currently on their pre-season tour. The Birmingham born striker certainly has big boots to fill, as rapper Drake was recently crowned the king of modern hip hop after scoring his 14th Billboard No.1 single in the US – beating Usher and his mentor Lil Wayne to the title of most number ones on a Billboard chart.
Check out Sturridge’s razor sharp flow below, and check out the full hip-hop quiz clip here.
In a surprise decision the Spanish court in Barcelona rejected the prosecutors notion to dismiss the case against FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi. Messi and his father have been accused of alleged tax evasion, but because the prosecutor argued that Lionel was not aware of any wrongdoing and would only look to push forward with the case against Messi's father, Jorge.
But the court today ruled that Lionel could've known about his father's plans and could've even approved the creation of a web of shell companies in order to evade taxes due on income from image rights. Both Lionel and Jorge have denied any wrongdoing, but the case will continue against both of them. The whole process started last year when the two were accused of defrauding the Spanish state of more than €4 million.
Even though the court has decided to pursue the case against the four time Ballon d'Or winner, disregarding the prosecutors notion, it remains highly unlikely that Lionel Messi will be found guilty in the matter. Considering the prosecutors opinion it is clear that he does not want to continue with the case against Lionel and would rather focus on the father. But for now Lionel will have to continue to endure the silliness of these affairs.
Daniel Sturridge has insisted he is ready assume the goal-scoring crown at Anfield after the summer abdication of the King of the Kop, writes David Maddock in Chicago.
Luis Suarez’s dubious departure for Barcelona has caused much hang-wringing among Liverpool fans, who idolised the Uruguayan even as they despaired at his antics.
Inevitably, his £75million sale has provoked dire warnings that the Reds were flogging the crown jewels... and with them their best chance of finally landing the title after 24 years.
Yet Sturridge begs to differ, arguing that even losing such a rich source of goals – with Suarez incredibly supplying 31 in just 33 Premier League games – will not prevent another title tilt.
The club, Sturridge argued, is bigger than any player, no matter how important they are.
“Liverpool is a huge club, an elite club and people don’t realise that,” he explained.
“This is a huge club, with a lot of players who can step up. Luis has left. That's football, he’s moved on.
“For me, with the signings the manager has made - exciting players, young players, up-and-comers as they call them - we are going to have that winning mentality.
“Players come and go in football, that’s the nature of the game. Some will remain at a club their whole career, like Stevie Gerrard, and some will move.
“It doesn’t matter.
"We will still have the mentality to move forward, be an exciting squad, playing attacking football and that’s the Liverpool way. We will continue to do that.”
Remy looked the ideal replacement for Suarez, so when the news broke at the weekend that the French striker’s £8.5m move was off after he apparently failed a medical, it came as a devastating blow to the club.
Yet even though that means Sturridge will have an even greater burden placed upon him, as the main striker at the club after scoring 26 goals himself last season from seven fewer starts than Suarez, he declared he will wear the responsibility lightly.
The pair formed a deadly partnership which was the most prolific in Anfield history, but he stated: “In terms of next season for the goals, I’ll step up myself and everyone has to.
“It was a unique partnership, and I wish Luis all the best. We shared some good times together. We created history with our goals and became the most successful Liverpool partnership in one season.
“But we will move forward as a team. It’s everyone’s job to do that, the new boys who’ve come in as well as the players who have been there all season.”
The big question mark hanging over Liverpool of course, is whether they will simply prove one-season wonders, or if their stirring deeds for much of the last campaign have laid a platform for glory.
The loss of Remy hardly helps as they begin a new era post-Suarez, but the man who many will now look to as an obvious successor to the South American’s crown is confident a new-look team built on more than £100m of summer signings will be even stronger this time around.
“I’m excited about the new season,” he boldly declared. “Last season it was very hard to take in the Premier League [losing the title in the final days when it seemed in the bag], but you have to move on.
“Whereas last season we were the underdogs, now people expect us to kick on. But it’s a great chance to show what we can do again. Regardless if we are the underdogs or the favourites, it won’t change our mentality.
“We are a young, hungry squad looking to put our stamp down, not just in the Premier League but Europe as well.”
Time will tell of course, but boss Brendan Rodgers has quietly asserted his side will be better without the white noise almost perennially created by Suarez’s excesses.
Perhaps the most impressive performance though, came from Sturridge, who assumed the responsibility of leading the line as the main man with a quiet confidence.
Afterwards, he explained that simply reflects the belief in the squad.
“We will try to move forward with a great manager behind us who has the exact same mentality. He is hungry for success - everyone is. That is the motto and the key point I’m trying to make," he said.
“I will give 100 per cent as I always do and I’m sure the other boys will do the same.
"Whoever is selected will go out there with the right mentality to try and win games for Liverpool – that has always been the way.”
The Potters would like Moroccan international return during the summer transfer window. According to The Sentinel, manager Mark Hughes has decided not to release the song about the former Heerenveen player who has never managed to win at Anfield. "Everyone knows that we are interested," said he dropped. Apparently, the Potters would aim to conclude a definitive transfer to Osama Assaidi. It does not at all part of the plans of coach Liverpool, ie Brendan Rodgers.
Atletico Madrid have announced that they will sign Antoine Griezmann from Real Sociedad pending a medical after an agreement over a transfer fee in the region of €25 million was reached with their Primera Division rivals.
"Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad have reached an agreement for the transfer of Antoine Griezmann," a statement on the official Rojiblancos website reads.
"The young French player will undergo a medical before signing a contract with our club."
The 23-year-old came through the ranks of the Sociedad youth academy and had developed into a key player at the Basque side since breaking into the first team in 2009-10.
Griezmann, who was part of the France squad that made it to the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Brazil, has made over 200 official appearances for Real Sociedad.
The gifted attacker had also caught the attention of Arsenal, Tottenham and Monaco, but will continue his career at the Vicente Calderon side instead.
He will become Atletico's fourth summer signing after the previous arrivals of Miguel Moya, Jan Oblak and Mario Mandzukic.
