Carragher close to new Reds deal Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is in talks over a new contract at Anfield and confident he will soon commit his future to the club.Carrager put contract talks on hold earlier this year, but new Reds boss Roy Hodgson has made it one of his top priorities to sort out the 32-year-old's situation. The defender, who celebrates his testimonial this weekend against Everton, has held positive talks with the club's hierarchy and is hopeful it will get resolved later this month. "I have spoken to the ... Read More

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City not ready for success - Zlatan Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he was not interested in joining Manchester City this summer as they are not yet ready to challenge for big prizes.Ibrahimovic joined AC Milan initially on loan with a view to a permanent move last week after an unhappy spell at Barcelona. City were reported to be interested in signing the Sweden international after Barcelona made it clear they were willing to offload the skilful attacker. However, Ibrahimovic has hinted he rejected a move to Eastlands with Roberto Mancin... Read More

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Marshall signs one-year Villa deal Aston Villa have re-signed Andy Marshall on a one-year contract to provide cover for first-choice goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan.Marshall initially left Villa in June, but has now been brought back to the club by Kevin MacDonald to offer back-up to Friedel and Guzan. The 35-year-old did not make a first-team appearance for Villa last term and trained with Colchester during pre-season. A return to Villa Park had been discussed in recent weeks and Marshall is happy to have taken up the op... Read More

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Donadoni interested in Villa job Roberto Donadoni's agent says the former Italy chief dreams of coaching in England and is "very interested" in the vacant Aston Villa job.Donadoni, who led Italy to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, has been out of work since leaving Napoli last October. Aston Villa are currently conducting interviews as they seek a replacement for O'Neill and the 46-year-old has thrown his hat into the ring for the position. Donadoni's UK representative, Charles Collymore, has confirmed the Italian's interest in... Read More

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Fletcher keen to replicate United form Darren Fletcher has admitted he has not replicated his Manchester United form for Scotland - and he wants to put it right against Lithuania.Fletcher has established himself as one of United's most important players in recent seasons, but has struggled to make the same impact in a Scotland shirt. The midfielder is aware that his performances for the Premier League giants raise the level of expectation when he turns up for Scotland duty. And, ahead of the country's opening Euro 2012 qualifier agai... Read More

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Giggs happy with United options Ryan Giggs feels Manchester United's squad is looking "really strong" as Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Anderson prepare to return.Ferdinand played for the reserves last night against Oldham, the first time the defender had been in action since he suffered a major knee ligament injury in a freak collision with Emile Heskey on day one of World Cup training with England in South Africa. Anderson, who played 90 minutes in the Oldham game, and Neville are also close to making their United comebacks... Read More

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Carragher sets sights on cup final Jamie Carragher has set his sights on a domestic cup final this season after admitting Liverpool are highly unlikely to win the Premier League.The Reds slipped to their lowest finish - seventh - for a decade last season and Carragher accepts a championship title, which he has never won in his 14-year professional career at Anfield, will probably have to wait. "People have said 'You've done this and that for Liverpool' but we've not won a trophy for four years and that is annoying me a little bit... Read More

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Di Santo: Lack of action forced me out Wigan striker Franco Di Santo admits limited opportunities at Chelsea forced him to leave Stamford Bridge in the search for regular football.The 21-year-old's three-year contract with the Latics was completed minutes before the deadline closed on Tuesday. Di Santo arrived in England from Chilean side Audax Italiano in 2008 for £3million but made just 16 appearances for Chelsea - and never started a game. He went on loan to Blackburn last season, playing 22 times in the Barclays Premier Leag... Read More

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Mourinho: Milan are CL contenders Jose Mourinho believes AC Milan are now Champions League contenders following the arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho at the San Siro.Milan signed striker Ibrahimovic on loan from Barcelona and acquired Brazilian forward Robinho from Manchester City on the final day of the transfer window. Mourinho has been paying close attention to Milan's transfer dealings as his Real Madrid side will face the Rossoneri in Champions League Group G, where Auxerre and Ajax also lie in wait. "With Ibrahimo... Read More

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Bougherra happy with Ibrox life Madjid Bougherra claims he is happy to have seen out the summer transfer window as a Rangers player, despite being linked to Arsenal.The Algeria international was strongly linked with a number of clubs over the past few months, with a switch to the Premier League regularly touted. The Gunners were just one of the teams reported to be keen on the former Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday centre-half, before eventually turning their attention to Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci. In fact, no... Read More

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Masch: Reds didn't fulfil promise Barcelona new boy Javier Mascherano has accused former club Liverpool of lying about his motivations for leaving Anfield this summer.The Argentina captain sealed a £20million move to the Nou Camp last week after being denied a transfer to the Catalan giants in the summer of 2009. Mascherano's final weeks at Liverpool turned sour amid reports that he had refused to play in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City to force a route out of England for family reasons. But the 26-year-old West Ham flop ... Read More

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Poulsen vows to 'get even better' Liverpool midfielder Christian Poulsen admits he needs to play more matches with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard before he fully settles in.The Denmark international played his first game alongside the club's two biggest stars in Sunday's victory over West Brom, having previously featured in the two-legged Europa League play-off against Trabzonspor. He acknowledges being in a team with Torres and Gerrard involves certain requirements. "I feel comfortable here. The match against West Brom was ... Read More

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Lotito fine over failed Roque bid Lazio president Claudio Lotito does not consider it a failure the club did not secure the services of Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz.The Paraguay forward came close to joining the Serie A outfit but the deal fell through earlier this week. Despite also being linked with Fulham, the 29-year-old Santa Cruz remained at Eastlands. "It's not a disappointment," said Lotito. "We decided to take some time and wait for the winter transfer market in order to evaluate whether to make that signing... Read More

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Chelsea name reduced squad Chelsea have included just four 'home-grown' players in their 19-man Premier League matchday squad for the 2010/2011 season. Under new rules this campaign, Premier League clubs must register a minimum of eight players who have trained for three years with any English or Welsh outfit before the age of 21 if the full 25-man quota is used. Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has instead submitted a reduced party in which John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Ross Turnbull are the only 'home-grown' name... Read More

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Villa name 22 in Premier League squad Aston Villa have submitted their final squad for the Premier League campaign, using just 22 of the 25-man allocation.New rules introduced this season mean all top-flight clubs must register a maximum of 25 players with the Premier League following the close of the summer transfer window. Villa caretaker-manager Kevin MacDonald has not used up the full allocation available to him, with three slots left vacant. Changes can be made to the squad when the transfer window reopens. Summer recruit Steph... Read More

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PL approve Spurs' van der Vaart swoop Tottenham have confirmed the £8million signing of Rafael van der Vaart from Real Madrid after the Premier League approved the deal.Spurs had been sweating on clearance to bring the 27-year-old to White Hart Lane after technical difficulties hampered their efforts to submit the relevant paperwork for the move before Tuesday's 6pm transfer deadline. But after investigating the club's claims that there were difficulties involving computer servers used in the transaction between themselves and ... Read More

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