SOCCER: A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Neuer moving to Bayern Munich
GERMANY and Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will join Bayern Munich next month on a five-year deal subject to a medical.
Bayern, long-time admirers of the Schalke talisman, also announced the signing of Brazilian defender Rafinha from Italy’s Genoa on a three-year deal.
Neuer (25), is considered one of the best goalkeepers in Europe and was linked with Manchester United.
'Catch 22' for McCarthy
JAMES McArthur is not convinced Wigan team-mate James McCarthy will leave this summer – even if bigger clubs come calling.
Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for the 20-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder, who has made more than 50 appearances for the Latics since moving from Hamilton two years ago.
“I’m sure he’ll be tempted if there are offers there,” McArthur said. “To be linked with teams like Liverpool and Arsenal is very tempting but I’m sure he’ll want to keep playing. So it’s a Catch 22 and a hard decision for him again.
“I always believed he would play in the Premier League and when I saw him make his debut and he was doing so well, I knew he would kick on, and he has.
“Playing with him this season has been brilliant, he is one of our top performers.”
Hughes favourite to replace Houllier
FULHAM are confident they will be able to hold on to Mark Hughes as manager and remain convinced he will sign a new two-year deal despite the prospect of an approach from Aston Villa and a break clause in the Welshman’s contract that the Midlands club may seek to exploit.
Hughes is the leading candidate to replace Gerard Houllier, who has reached an amicable agreement with Villa over the terms of his departure. The Frenchman is leaving by mutual consent, bringing to an end his turbulent nine-month reign, after Randy Lerner, Aston Villa’s owner, felt there was no other option because of Houllier’s health. Although keen to return, he has accepted the situation and a seven-figure settlement will soften the blow.
The process of appointing a successor will lead to Villa exploring the possibility of bringing in Hughes, who would have taken over from Martin O’Neill last summer had he not accepted the Fulham position.
Owen deal bad news for Berbatov
ALEX Ferguson appears to have nudged Dimitar Berbatov (30), closer to the Manchester United exit door after handing Michael Owen a one-year contract.
It was widely assumed Owen would leave Old Trafford this summer after making only 17 appearances this term, which yielded five goals. Instead, Ferguson values the 31-year-old’s contribution enough to reward him with an additional season.
Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney have established a potent partnership and Danny Welbeck is due to return from Sunderland.
In addition, it is anticipated the United manager will add to his reserves of strength by making at least one additional signing in the striking department.
If a new face does come in, it is difficult to see where there would be room for Berbatov, who was left so devastated by his omission from United’s Champions League final squad at the weekend.
Fernandes makes new bid for West Ham
NEW West Ham manager Sam Allardyce may have walked straight back into another boardroom takeover battle after Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes claimed he had made an offer to buy the club.
Just hours after Allardyce was confirmed as the new Upton Park manager on a two-year contract, Fernandes, who attempted to purchase the Hammers last year, wrote on his Twitter feed: “For all you West Ham fans an offer has gone to the present owners of West Ham. Let’s see if they accept.”
Hammers co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan claim no formal offer has been made to them and branded Fernandes’ decision to utilise social media to announce his intentions as “bizarre”.
Balotelli to miss Ireland friendly
MANCHESTER City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli will miss tomorrow’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Estonia and Tuesday’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Liege after suffering a knee injury in training.
The 20-year-old reported a recurrence of a problem with his right knee minutes into a training game against the Italy Under-18 side on Tuesday.
Prof Enrico Castellacci, the doctor who assessed him, said Balotelli “would not recover in time for Friday’s game against Estonia and to play against Ireland would be an unnecessary risk”.
