First Robinho, now City go for Ronaldo, Torres and Cesc September 3, 2008 Manchester mega-rich new owners revealed the staggering scope of their ambitions yesterday by boasting that they would smash the world transfer record and buy Cristiano Ronaldo from local rivals Manchester United in January for £135m. Having underlined their vast spending potential on Monday by outbidding even Chelsea to sign £34m Real Madrid forward Robinho, Arabian [...]
Setanta’s £125m bet July 1, 2008 Setanta Sports has upped its multimillion-pound gamble to take on the dominant Sky Sports by paying a record £125m for the rights to the Scottish Premier League. The new four-year deal is the largest in Scottish football history and will go through to 2014. It is more than double the £54m Setanta paid for its [...]
Olympics mean it’s time for a punt August 11, 2008 Innovative bets can add interest to the Olympic Games and the football season, says Chris Shillington So, the Olympics have finally begun, and there’s plenty to keep spread betters interested. If there’s one thing that everybody is sure of at the Games, it’s that China ought to improve on the 32 medals that it won [...]
Fergie won’t give up on Berbatov chase August 26, 2008 Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he has not given up the chase for Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov despite watching his side claim their first victory of the season at Portsmouth. United are being heavily-linked with a move for the wantaway Bulgarian, who was left out of Saturday’s defeat by Sunderland by boss Juande [...]
Vaughan fears for future of Test game August 14, 2008 Departed England captain Michael Vaughan admits he has concerns that the emerging impact of Twenty20 cricket may have a detrimental effect on the Test game. The England and Wales Cricket Board have added two new Twenty20 events to the domestic calendar to cater to its popularity and compete with the hugely successful and marketable Indian [...]
Big-spending Villa close on £7.8m Cuellar August 12, 2008 Aston Villa closed in on their third defensive signing in just five days last night after agreeing a £7.8m fee with Rangers for Spanish centre-back Carlos Cuellar. The bid triggered a release clause in the contract of the 26-year-old, who cost £2.37m from Osasuna last summer and won the Scottish Premier League’s Player of the [...]
I fancy Chelsea, but Spurs will trail again August 15, 2008 As a former darling of White Hart Lane, Chris Waddle is well placed to judge whether Tottenham are ready to break the iron grip of the Premier League’s big four. But on the eve of the new top-flight season, the former England winger has a stark warning for Spurs boss Juande Ramos. Waddle believes big-spending [...]
Sir Alex eyes boost to blunt United front August 11, 2008 Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson refused to rule out a move for former Arsenal idol Thierry Henry after seeing his side claim their first silverware of the season at Wembley. United started the new season as they ended the last: with a penalty shoot-out victory against a team in blue and a trophy held [...]
Ferguson won’t panic buy despite injury crisis August 7, 2008 Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is not desperate to sign anyone despite the club’s injury crisis. At least seven United first-team players are set to miss next week’s Premier League opener against Newcastle, including star duo Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. But Ferguson, who has shown interest in Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, [...]
Van Persie: Ade and I can fire Gunners August 5, 2008 A striker with barely a dozen league starts last season and another who flirted with a move all summer may not seem the safest bet to spearhead a title challenge. But Robin van Persie believes he and forward partner Emmanuel Adebayor are primed to end Arsenal’s three-year trophy drought. Van Persie made just 13 Premier [...]