Other soccer news in brief
Celtic reject Spartak Moscow's bid for McGeady
CELTIC remain committed to keeping Republic of Ireland international Aiden McGeady at Parkhead after turning down a €10 million bid from Spartak Moscow. Spartak have placed McGeady at the top of their summer shopping list and were prepared to double his current wages of €20,000-a-week.
While interim manager Neil Lennon sees McGeady as key to his rebuilding process, the player is keen to test himself away from the Scottish league despite having three years to run on his current contract.
Birmingham tried and failed to take the winger to the Premier League last January and manager Alex McLeish still hopes to strike a deal with Celtic. It is unlikely, however, that the Scot has the funds at his disposal to enter a bidding war with the cash-rich Russians. Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is also a known admirer although Celtic’s valuation of the player, believed to be in the region of €15 million, is likely to ward off interest from the London club.
Chelsea extend Essien's contract
MICHAEL Essien has signed a two-year contract extension at Chelsea. The new deal will keep the 27-year-old Ghana international at Stamford Bridge until 2015.
“I am delighted because the club has shown a very big confidence and interest in me,” said Essien.
“I’m looking forward to coming back and enjoying my football and winning more trophies with the club. That is why I am here. I think it is one of the most important contracts in my career.”
Essien is currently sidelined with a knee injury that has ruled him out of the World Cup, and he has not featured for the club since suffering a hamstring injury in December.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti welcomed the player’s new deal.
“I am very happy that Michael has agreed to extend his time with us, as it means he will continue to be a very important player for Chelsea long into the future,” said Ancelotti.
Barcelona still in hunt for Fabregas
BARCELONA president Joan Laporta is still hopeful of persuading Arsenal to part with Cesc Fabregas despite having a €35 million offer for the Spain international rejected this week.
Fabregas has long been linked with a return to Barca, the club where he plied his trade as a youngster before moving to the Gunners seven years ago.
The 23-year-old is under contract to Arsenal until the summer of 2015 but last month expressed his desire to head back to the Nou Camp at a promotional event in the Catalan capital.
Laporta said: “It’s a price that we consider to be his market value. Arsenal have rejected it. Now the sporting director (Txiki Begiristain) must decide what should be the next step.
“We are in negotiations and we’ll see how they turn out. . . We have to do everything we can to convince them (Arsenal) that the best thing for all is to reach an agreement.”
