Newcastle agree terms with youngsters

4 July 2013 13:48

Newcastle have agreed contract extensions with six young players.

Goalkeepers Jak Alnwick and Jonathan Mitchell, defender Paul Dummett, midfielders Conor Newton and Michael Richardson as well as forward Alex Gilliead have all put pen to paper on new deals to extend their stay with the Premier League club.

They have all signed one-year extensions, having impressed in Newcastle’s reserve and Under-18 sides.

Dummett and Newton have enjoyed successful loan spells and were part of the St Mirren side that won the Scottish League Cup last season.

Richardson was also loaned for a brief stint at Gillingham last season, where he helped the club to win the League 2 title.

It has mainly been a summer of departures for Newcastle, with Steve Harper retiring, Danny Simpson joining QPR after his contract expired and James Perch being sold to Wigan.

Pique: Rooney ideal fit for Barcelona

4 July 2013 13:44

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique believes that Wayne Rooney would be an ideal signing for the Spanish champions.

The 28-year-old’s Manchester United future has been shrouded in doubt after retired manager Alex Ferguson revealed that he handed in a transfer request at the end of last season.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with a move for the England international.

But Pique thinks the former Everton forward has the attributes required to play for Tito Vilanova’s side.

“I know he has what’s needed to be one of the three best players in the world. He’d fit well with Barcelona,” Pique told Sport.

“He can adapt to many positions. He’s best as the centre-forward, but we have seen him on the left or right side.

“He is very versatile, strong, fast and has great technique. I don’t think he would have any problems adapting.”

Rooney scored 12 Premier League goals as United claimed their 13th Premier League title.

Flamini heads for Milan exit

4 July 2013 13:18

Mathieu Flamini is set to depart Milan after refusing a new contract at the Serie A club.

The Frenchman joined the San Siro outfit on a free transfer from Arsenal in 2008 but was frustrated by the offer of a two-year extension.

Flamini will now consider his options ahead of his next move.

“I’m not going to accept the offer of only two years,” Flamini told Corriere dello Sport.

“At 29, after five season with the Rossoneri, and after the four important goals I scored last season, I deserved different treatment.

“I am disappointed, and I’m going on my own way.

“My future? Anything is possible.”

CSL Preview: Evergrande keen to march on

4 July 2013 13:13

Guangzhou Evergrande will aim to extend their unbeaten start to the Chinese Super League season when they meet Shanghai Shenxin on Saturday.

Marcello Lippi’s men are in complete control at the top of the table, sitting 11 points clear after winning 13 of their first 15 league games.

The big-spending Asian giants are hard to stop and their goal difference of +35 this season highlights their dominance.

Evergrande have scored 42 goals and conceded just seven, with Brazilian forward Elkeson the league’s top-scorer with 17.

Lippi’s side could build such a healthy buffer at the top that they may be afforded the luxury of resting players when their AFC Champions League campaign resumes in August.

Shanghai Shenxin, their hosts at the weekend, are struggling after losing four of their past five matches and, should they win, it would be one of the upsets of the season.

Guizhou Renhe will be fighting to stay in touch with Evergrande when they travel to take on sixth-placed Qingdao Jonoon on Friday.

Qingdao Jonoon’s chances of claiming an AFC Champions League place would be dealt a huge blow if they lose at home.

They need a top-three finish to play in Asia’s premier club competition and sit six points behind third-placed Guizhou Renhe ahead of the meeting.

Shandong Luneng, winless in their past four league matches, take on Dalian Aerbin on Saturday, while Beijing Guoan travel to Shanghai SIPG on Sunday.

Beijing are fourth but face a dangerous Shanghai SIPG side, who have won three of their past four league matches to move into ninth.

Tianjin Teda will be eyeing an opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone when they host Shanghai Shenhua.

A six-point deduction handed to the club for match-fixing has hurt their chances of survival, sitting three points behind 14th-placed Changchun Yatai.

In other matches on Saturday, Liaoning Whowin host Guangzhou R&F, Changchun Yatai take on Hangzhou and bottom side Wuhan Zall meet Jiangsu Sainty.

Coventry close to Northampton groundshare

4 July 2013 12:55

A deal that would see Coventry groundshare with Northampton is on the cards, according to the League Two side’s chairman.

Financially troubled Coventry will no longer play at the Ricoh Arena and Northampton chairman David Cardoza confirmed that a deal could be done to share Sixfields.

Cardoza told BBC Radio Northampton: “There’s some legs in this, but it’s not near done and dusted.

“As soon as it is or isn’t I will let everybody know.

“It’s speculation at the minute, but we’ll see where this goes. I’m a little bit surprised about some of the stuff that’s been said.”

Coventry have been in administration since March and have struggled to finance rental payments on their current stadium.

The Ricoh’s owners, Arena Coventry Ltd, also offered the club the option of using the venue for a season rent-free.

Coventry’s future is believed to depend on whether they can prove to the Football League that they can come out of adminstration.

The Football League are set to meet on Thursday in order to discuss the proposals with Northampton.