A round-up of other soccer news in brief
Chelsea 'will have to pay huge fee' for Aguero
CHELSEA have been told they will have to pay a huge fee if they want Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero.
Atletico delegate general Miguel Angel Gil Marin claims Chelsea made a summer offer of around €45 million for the Argentina international, who played in the defeat to Carlo Ancelotti’s men last week at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. Gil Marin told Marca: “If they want to make a better offer, Atletico will assess it.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Joe Cole is happy with how contract talks are developing about staying at Chelsea beyond the end of the season when his current deal runs out.
Cole, who stepped up his rehabilitation after being out of action for eight months with a knee injury with an appearance against Blackburn on Saturday, said: “We’re talking at the moment. I love it here. The club want me to stay, so there should be no problems and I feel like this is my home. I am so excited about just playing football for Chelsea and England.”
Blackburn game to go ahead
THREE Blackburn Rovers players and two members of staff have caught swine flu but tonight’s League Cup fourth-round match against Peterborough United will go ahead as scheduled, the Premier League club said.
Manager Sam Allardyce said yesterday that three players had contracted the virus.
“We have had more cases this morning, one more player and there are a couple of staff.”
** DERRY City’s skipper Peter Hutton (36) will leave his home town club at the end of the season after being told his contract would not be renewed. “I was informed by Stephen Kenny that my contract would not be renewed come the end of the season. It was like a bolt out of the blue and while I was obviously disappointed, I’m long enough in the game to understand, but that’s football.” He has played 661 games for Derry scoring 60 goals.
Strachan set sights on promotion
GORDON Strachan has set his sights on guiding Middlesbrough back into the English Premier League at the first attempt after being unveiled as their new manager yesterday. The 52-year-old has signed a four-year deal with the Championship club and succeeds Gareth Southgate, who was sacked following last week’s victory over Derby. Strachan returns to the game after leaving Celtic in the summer and is relishing the challenge of guiding Boro back into the top flight.
The former Coventry and Southampton boss takes over at the Riverside with Boro fourth in the league. Asked if he believes promotion is an attainable target, Strachan said: “Of course I do. I feel I can make the people who I work with better, one way or another, and if I can do that we have a chance.”
Strachan revealed the reputation chairman Steve Gibson has for backing his managers was a major factor in his decision to replace Southgate.
Robinho 'happy about' Barca interest
ROBINHO believes his ambition to be the best player in the world would be better served playing for Barcelona than Manchester City, although he insists he is not trying to force a move away from the Premier League side.
Robinho, who only joined City just over a year ago for a British record €35.5 million from Real Madrid, has been closely linked with a move back to Spain over the last few months with Barca confirmed admirers. The Brazil international has already admitted he would relish the chance to play for Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side, and, in his latest comments, he also feels that by representing Barca he will have a better chance of achieving his long-held goal of being the best player on the planet.
Robinho told Brazilian radio station Radio Bandeirantes: “I’m very happy about the interest that Barcelona have in me, playing in the Nou Camp it is much easier to be the best player in the world than at City.” However, Robinho also said: “I’m not forcing a hypothetical exit from England and neither do I have problems with my coach.”
CSKA part with Ramos
CSKA Moscow have parted company with coach Juande Ramos after less than seven weeks in charge. Ramos, who was handed the reins last month, has since overseen an inconsistent run of results.It was Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at home to FC Moscow in the Premier Liga which spelled the end of Ramos’ stay in Russia. CSKA are fifth in the league, 10 points behind leaders Rubin Kazan and in danger of not qualifying for Europe next season.
AC Milan say Beckham will return
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is “100 per cent certain” David Beckham will return to the San Siro outfit in the winter transfer market.
The England midfielder has been strongly linked with a second loan spell at the Rossoneri to improve his chances of making Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.
Galliani told the Italian media: “Beckham’s arrival is certain to happen, 100 per cent.
“The agreement is done and all that is missing are the signatures.” The 34-year-old Beckham returned to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer after a successful six-month loan spell with Milan, where he helped the Rossoneri finish fourth in Serie A with two goals in 18 league appearances.