Fabregas stay at Arsenal!!

Cesc Fabregas insists he is "100 per cent focused" on playing for Arsenal after the London club rejected two offers from Barcelona this summer.

The 23-year-old Gunners captain's future has been the subject of speculation all summer, with Barca making clear in public terms their desire to bring him back to the Nou Camp after coming through the Catalan club's academy.
However, his immediate future now appears to be at the Emirates Stadium and he said on Friday: "I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal's prerogative not to sell me.
"I owe a lot to the club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal.
" I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended I will be 100 per cent focused on playing for Arsenal."
Fabregas admitted a move to Barca had been an appealing prospect, but that he respected the club's decision to hold on to a player who is under contract until 2014.
He added: "Firstly I would like to apologise to all the Arsenal fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known what I was going to do until this moment.
"I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me. This was the club where I learnt my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing.
"There are not many players in the world who would not want to play for Barcelona.
"I have had many conversations with Arsene Wenger both in person and over the phone over the last few months and although the content of those conversations will remain private, the conclusion is that Barcelona have had two formal offers rejected by Arsenal.
"I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about.
"I am looking forward to the start of the season and putting this speculation behind me."
Arsenal announced on June 2 that they had rejected an offer from Barcelona for their midfield star, insisting they had "no intention of selling him".
Barca president Sandro Rosell then warned on July 6 that his club would not be held to ransom for Fabregas, saying a fee of 50 or 60million euros was far more than they were prepared to pay.
Rosell told radio station RAC1 at the time: "The whole world knows he wants to come and that we want to sign him.
"It is a topic that has become so public and that is the worst thing you can do with a transfer, because it makes the selling club raise their expectations and you end up paying over the odds."
Fabregas came through Barcelona's youth ranks before joining Arsenal at the age of 16.
He returned to Arsenal on Thursday after an extended break following his part in Spain's World Cup success, featuring in the official team photograph and participating in an open training session at the Emirates.

Chelsea and City lose in Germany

Chelsea and Manchester City both went down to pre-season friendly defeats in Germany on Wednesday, while Manchester United won 7-1 in Dublin.

Frank Lampard's goal could not prevent an almost full-strength Chelsea from slipping to a 2-1 pre-season friendly defeat away to Hamburg.
The England midfielder put the Blues ahead in the 24th minute, tapping Michael Essien's unselfish square pass into an empty net, but Mladen Petric capitalised on a mistake by Yury Zhirkov, on at left-back for Ashley Cole, to beat Ross Turnbull with 18 minutes to go.
Worse was to come for the Premier League champions as Heung Min Son won it for Hamburg with three minutes to go, inflicting Chelsea's third successive loss of the summer following defeats to Ajax and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Carlo Ancelotti named a strong side for the game in Germany, with John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, John Obi Mikel, Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda all also featuring from the start, while Didier Drogba played the second half, his first pre-season outing following hernia surgery.
Manchester City also lost to German opposition, going down 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion.
Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios put Dortmund ahead with a ninth-minute penalty only for Jo, who spent time on loan at Everton and Galatasaray last season, to level two minutes later.
Joe Hart ensured City went into half-time on level terms by diving to his right to keep out a casual Barrios penalty.
But the Germans restored their lead five minutes after the break through Shinji Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski wrapped up the win in the 81st minute.
Javier Hernandez cost Manchester United barely two percent of the £350m spent to build the Aviva Stadium but the Mexican looks set to be regarded in as much affection as Ireland's impressive new home after another pre-season goal in Dublin in a 7-1 victory over a League of Ireland XI.
In front of 49,861, Hernandez scored with his first touch to launch a second-half rout of the best Ireland's domestic campaign can muster, his third in as many games - one of which was against his new club - that offer huge promise for the 22-year-old nicknamed "Little Pea".
Michael Owen also found the net on his first appearance of pre-season but there was nothing for Wayne Rooney during a typically industrious 45-minute display.
United's opener arrived in suitably farcical manner when Gavin Peers cut out a Park Ji-sung cross bound for Rooney at the far post then got himself in a complete mess as he decided what to do next.
By the time Peers made his mind up, Park had closed in. The South Korean stuck out a leg to block the attempted clearance and the rebound looped in.
There was a touch of class about Owen's effort though as he tried to nick the ball away from Ken Oman inside the hosts' box, then calmly lobbed into the net when he was presented with a second chance thanks to a kind flick off the defender.
The interval exit of Rooney and Owen offered a chance to Dimitar Berbatov, the record signing with so much to prove, and Hernandez.
Resistance was ended by Valencia just before the hour, with Park, Jonny Evans and a Nani penalty adding further efforts, although St Patricks' Dave Mulcahy probably enjoyed the greatest moment of his career when he drilled home the hosts' consolation.
Wigan lost 3-1 to Real Zaragoza at the DW Stadium.
The La Liga side's 34th-minute opener came when Steve Gohouri's sliding clearance rebounded off Marco Perez who raced into the penalty area only to be brought down by goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.
Jorge Lopez converted from the spot but an even worse error led to the equaliser seconds before half-time when Carlos Diogo rolled a free-kick straight into the path of Ben Watson.
After moving the ball on the midfielder eventually laid on the pass for Charles N'Zogbia to round goalkeeper Leo Franco. However, 15 minutes from time Braulio Nobrega capitalised on a quick ball forward to clip past Kirkland before Gabriel Fernandez smashed in an unstoppable 35-yard effort.
Jermaine Beckford and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov struck as David Moyes' Everton continued their pre-season preparations with a comfortable 2-0 win over Everton of Chile.
The pair were on target in the second half as the Merseyside club took on the South American side named after them for the first time in an historic friendly.
Chile's Everton were founded in 1909 after the original Everton made a positive impression on a pioneering tour across the Atlantic.
The Scot will have been pleased with a lively display from new signing Beckford and a first run-out for Marouane Fellaini since injuring his ankle in a Merseyside derby in February.

Fee agreed for Ramires' Chelsea move

Benfica have confirmed they have reached an agreement to sell Ramires to Chelsea for £18.2million, subject to the midfielder passing a medical.

The deal will be completed once Ramires undergoes a medical and pens a contract with the Premier League champions, something which is expected to take place in the coming days.
The 23-year-old will become the second addition to Carlo Ancelotti's squad following the arrival of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool.
Benfica announced the deal with a statement on the website of the Portuguese Securities Market Commission.
It read: "Benfica, in compliance with Article 248, of the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, hereby inform that they have reached a agreement in principle with Chelsea FC for the transfer, on a permanent basis, of the sporting and economic rights of the professional footballer Ramires Santos do Nascimento for the value of 22million euros.
They also inform that the said transfer agreement will be formalised once the athlete completes the medical examinations which he will undergo, with the consent of Benfica, and it will be concluded with the signing of a contract of employment between the aforementioned athlete and Chelsea FC."
Ramires joined the Portuguese giants last summer from Cruzeiro, in his homeland, penning a five-year contract with a release clause of 30 million euros.
There were fears the deal could hit a stumbling block over third-party ownership, but those appear unfounded.
Kia Joorabchian, the football businessman who brought Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the Premier League, does not own any direct stake in Ramires.
Joorabchian helped to fund Benfica's purchase of the hard-working Brazilian for around £6million last summer.
Like any bank loan, Joorabchian would expect to be repaid when the deal goes through with Chelsea but he has no direct input into the arrangement.

Spurs want Portuguese striker Yannick Djalo

TOTTENHAM are ready to offer £6million for Portuguese striker Yannick Djalo.

Two Spurs directors held talks with Djalo, 24, and his model wife Luciana Abreu in a Lisbon hotel yesterday.
A source close to the player confirmed: "Everything indicates that the transfer to Spurs can take shape in the coming days."
Djalo has been at Sporting Lisbon all his career but wants to play in the Premier League.
He hit just six goals in 26 games last season but is fast and technically gifted. He is seen as the ideal replacement for Robbie Keane if he joins Aston Villa.
Djalo's agent Lionel da Silva said: "Tottenham looks like the most likely destination."

Liverpool aim for Dane Christian Poulsen

LIVERPOOL have paved the way for Javier Mascherano's Anfield exit by opening talks with Dane Christian Poulsen.

New boss Roy Hodgson wants Juventus star Poulsen to bolster his midfield and the clubs are negotiating a £6million move.
Once the Denmark international's signing is confirmed, that could see Argentine hardman Mascherano packing his bags to link up with former gaffer Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan.
Mascherano, 26, told Hodgson last week he wanted a move but the Reds - who have slapped a £25m price tag on him - want a replacement sorting out first.
Poulsen, 30, has worked under Hodgson before and won the Danish title with him at Copenhagen nine years ago.
And he would be the Englishman's first signing as summer arrivals Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Danny Wilson and Jonjo Shelvey were all lined up before he took charge.

Torres stay at Liverpool

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres says he is "really happy" at Anfield and as committed to the club as he was on the day he joined.
Torres, who returned to training on Monday after winning the World Cup with Spain in South Africa, has been the subject of persistent speculation this summer.
However, the 26-year-old has moved to quash suggestions he wants to quit Anfield.
"I am really happy to be back, really happy to stay with all my team-mates,'' he said on the club's official website.
"My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed.
"I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.''
In the second half of last season Torres claimed Liverpool needed to sign four or five players in order to meet his ambitions in terms of challenging for honours.
A disappointing seventh-placed finish in the Premier League, which meant no Champions League football for the forthcoming campaign, intensified rumours he was ready to walk away - with Chelsea and Manchester City poised with British transfer record bids.
However, the former Atletico Madrid star is keen to fire them back into the top four and begin challenging for trophies again.
"This is the best club in the country so the targets and expectations are always high," he added.
"Hopefully we can stay at our level. At Liverpool the aim is to fight for every title.
"It was difficult last season but we are sure we can improve this season."
Torres has always felt a love for, and loyalty to, Liverpool and has no intention of turning his back on the Merseysiders after one difficult campaign.
"From my first day I got the same welcome as Stevie (Gerrard) or Carra (Jamie Carragher) or players who have been here for a long time," he said.
"I felt at home from the first day, I feel the fans love me and everyone knows I am really happy here and really happy to play at Anfield.
"I'm looking forward to starting the season and playing with my team-mates and for the fans."
Torres' commitment to remain with Liverpool follows that of Gerrard, who made a similar pledge when he returned after the World Cup.
The only one of Liverpool's senior stars who does not want to stay on Merseyside is Javier Mascherano, who asked Roy Hodgson to allow him to leave when he came back to Melwood a week ago.
Argentina's captain is looking for a reunion with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan but Hodgson will not allow the midfielder to leave unless it suits the club.
It is likely to take a bid in excess of £25million to persuade the 62-year-old Englishman to part with one of his key players but he is already reported to be lining up a replacement, with Standard Liege's Steven Defour and Juventus' Christian Poulsen suggested alternatives.

Spurs to step up Stipe chase

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is ready to step up his bid to sign Stipe Pletikosa after David Button joined Plymouth on a season-long loan.
Redknapp has been attempting to secure Croatia goalkeeper Pletikosa in recent weeks and is expected to try to seal a loan deal following the departure of youngster Button.
Any move could involve an option to sign Pletikosa from Russian side Spartak Moscow permanently.
The 31-year-old, who reportedly came close to joining Tottenham last summer before suffering a knee injury, would provide cover for Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini, the latter of whom has only recently recovered from a serious motorcycle accident.
Meanwhile, Spurs could be set to allow Morocco international Adel Taarabt to join QPR on a permanent basis.
Tottenham signed Taarabt from Lens in 2007 for £3million but he has failed to make an impact and has played just nine times for the club.
The 21-year-old was loaned out to QPR a year ago and he may return to Loftus Road in time for the start of the npower Championship season this weekend.