Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Blackburn ‘Adamant’ On Keeping Newcastle-Target Warnock & Man City’s Top Target Santa Cruz, Bentley To Seal Spurs Deal - Reports

With David Bentley’s move to Tottenham reportedly set to be sealed before the end of the week, Blackburn Rovers are now determined to prevent any more players leaving the Ewood Park.

Left-back Stephen Warnock and striker Roque Santa Cruz are now under the spotlight as their suitors are said to be concentrating on prising them away from Paul Ince’s side.

England international Warnock is a target for Newcastle United, while Paraguay’s Santa Cruz is reported to be a top target for former Rovers boss Mark Hughes, who is now in charge at Manchester City, and also linked with Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham.

However, the Lancashire Telegraph claims the Rovers board are adamant neither Warnock nor Santa Cruz will be leaving.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old England international winger Bentley is reported in The Independent as being on the verge of a medical set for today. Spurs could sign him before travelling to Holland this weekend for pre-season preparations.

West Ham, Man City, Man United, Arsenal & Spurs Looking For Striker Reinforcements – Cisse, Santa Cruz & Bellamy

West Ham United are apparently battling it out with Premiership rivals Manchester City for France striker Djibril Cisse as race for the striker reinforcement heats up while Hammers front-man Craig Bellamy is linked with a move to the Eastlands club.

Cisse, who moved to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille last summer permanently after a career with Liverpool, is now said to be keen to return to England with several clubs reportedly keeping an eye on his situation.

And with City boss Mark Hughes looking to bolster his attacking options Wales ace Bellamy (left) is linked with a reunion with his former boss, if the former Blackburn boss fails to lure Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz, who is also interesting Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham.

The Hammers, who are also said to be interested in Everton’s unsettled striker Andrew Johnson, have been linked with Cisse for some time now, and could be ready to move for the 26-year-old if they miss out on the Toffees man coupled with the departure of Bellamy.

Blackburn Boss Ince Wants To Keep Bentley & Santa Cruz

Newly-appointed Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince has stressed that he does not want to see the best players leave Ewood Park this summer amidst reports that midfielder David Bentley and forward Roque Santa Cruz are being chased by several clubs.

Ince, who succeeded Mark Hughes in the hot-seat after the Welshman went to Manchester City, revealed that he will be speaking to Bentley, who is linked with Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City; and Santa Cruz, who is said to be interesting Arsenal and Man United after a stunning first season.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "Any manager starting his first year in the Premier League wants to keep his best players, so I'll be speaking to Bentley and Santa Cruz, and indeed all of my players, and then we'll go from there.

"It's hard to form an opinion until you've spoken to the players directly, but of course I want to do well this season, and I want to start off well at Blackburn, not just for myself but for the people who have stuck by me, and for the fans. And getting rid of your best players is not the best way to go about that."

Man City:£120 Million=C.Ronaldo

A source close to new Manchester City owner’s ADUG has revealed that Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, spokesman for the group, has told him that he intends to do with City, what Roman Abramovic did with Chelsea.

After signalling their intent with the British record signing of Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5million. They now intend to go after the leading players in the world, with Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo top of their shopping list along with EURO 2008 winners Cesc Fagregas and Fernando Torres.

Anil Bhoyrul, who is the Editorial Director of Arabian Business.com and close friend of The (ADUG) spokesman Sulaiman, told TalkSport, that the group would even pay a staggering £120million to land Portuguese International Ronaldo.

Bhoyrul told TalkSport: “We had a coffee with him [Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim] last night and he plans to do with Manchester City what [Roman] Abramovich did with Chelsea, bid for players he knew he could not get. But he wanted to make a statement.

“I have a list of the players Dr Sulaiman wants to go out and bid for. One is Ronaldo.

“He says he doesn't have a problem tabling a £120 million bid, just to do it and see what the reaction is.

“His tactic is to say to Manchester United and Chelsea, 'hey, we're in town.

“He also rates Torres and Fabregas. With Ronaldo, he thinks they are the three best players in the world.”

Manchester City To Sign 18 Of World's elite in January Kaka, Fabregas, Torres, Ronaldo, Messi.......

Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, head of the Abu Dhabi United Group, who have just bought Premier League club Manchester City, has revealed that he wants to bring in 18 players from the world’s elite to the Eastlands Stadium, according to reports.

Al-Fahim is understood to have told City boss Mark Hughes he can make €80million bids for FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka from AC Milan and Argentine International Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona, when the window opens again in January.

Also on the list are Spanish pair Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal along with Cristiano Ronaldo at local rivals Manchester United.

The ADUG spokesman also outlined another main objective of the group, which is to publicise the UAE and in particular Abu Dhabi to the Premiership.

“Our main objective is to publicise Abu Dhabi as a capital for sports, education and culture in the Middle East, in addition to giving the UAE people and residents the opportunity to train and interact with players from Manchester,” he told the worlds media.