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Gareth Bale: Real Madrid and Spurs talks at advanced stage
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Tottenham and Actual The city are in innovative speaks over a cope to take winger Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu.
The exchange has yet to be decided, but it could occur in the future and is set to surpass the £80m globe history fee Actual compensated Birmingham U. s. for Cristiano Ronaldo during 2009.
Wales worldwide Bale, 24, is identified to be a aspect of the Language team.
Analysis
Image of Mike Shearer Mike Shearer BBC Sport
“When I was the most costly gamer, I liked it. I finalized up with Newcastle for £15m from Blackburn in 1996. I believed it was a insane sum of cash, as it is now with Gareth Bale, but you are value it if someone is ready to pay that for you.
“I took excellent assurance from that. I didn’t experience a pressure. I liked the concept that I was the most costly gamer. I liked the concept that everything I did was under the microscopic lense and would be evaluated more so than ever and that will occur to him if it goes through. ”
He has not journeyed for Thursday’s Europa Group tie with Dinamo Tbilisi in Atlanta because of a feet issue.
It is an damage that kept Bale out of most of Tottenham’s pre-season program and their Major Group operator at Amazingly Structure.
Any cope will not be declared before Real’s helpful with Qatar aspect Al Sadd on Friday. The coordinate will indicate the come back of Actual tale and leading scorer Raul, who now performs for Al Sadd.
The variety 11 clothing, which Bale would wear at White-colored Hart Road, has been remaining empty at Actual The city in the anticipations their new history deciding upon will take it on his appearance.
To help make up for his possible leaving, Spur have twice damaged their past exchange history this season, hiring Paulinho from Corinthians for about £17m and Roberto Soldado from Valencia for £26m.
The extra buys of Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue have taken their complete expenditure to about £60m, while Anzhi Makhachkala enemy Willian is in speaks over a £30m shift and Roma playmaker Erik Lamela is also stated to be aspect of Spurs’ programs.
Bale finalized up with Tottenham for £10m from Southampton in 2007 and obtained 26 objectives for the northern London, uk aspect last season.
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Gareth Bale will not remain at Spur – Robbie Keane
His amazing shows led to him being known as gamer of the season by both the Expert Footballers’ Organization and Soccer Authors.
Bale’s camping informed Spur at the end of This summer that he desired to talk with Actual.
Real trainer Carlo Ancelotti’s following declare that they were “in speaks to discover a solution” to the exchange angered his Tottenham version Andre Villas-Boas.
But it looks progressively likely that Bale will become Real’s fifth summer season deciding upon.
Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi and Malaga playmaker Isco have came for revealed charges of £34m and £23m respectively while Dani Carvajal has finalized from Bayer Leverkusen and Casemiro has been given a lasting cope after a loan magic from Sao Paulo.
Wayne Rooney; Chelsea delay third bid until after the Man Utd game
Several weeks administrator Jose Mourinho says the group are likely to create a third bid for John Rooney – but not until after Monday’s conflict with Birmingham U. s..
United have refused two offers, the newest £25m plus add-ons, from Several weeks for the 27-year-old Britain striker.
“I don’t want Several weeks to do it before we go there,” Mourinho said after Chelsea’s 2-1 beat of Aston Apartment.
“I think this interval, by the moral perspective, is a interval where we’re going to be silent.”
Rooney’s Leading Group goals
Wayne Rooney
2002-03: Six
2003-04: Nine
2004-05: 11
2005-06: 16
2006-07: 14
2007-08: 12
2008-09: 12
2009-10: 26
2010-11: 11
2011-12: 27
2012-13: 12
Total: 156
Mourinho requires Several weeks to Old Trafford next Thursday evening for new U. s. administrator Bob Moyes’s first house coordinate.
Rooney, who came on instead in Birmingham United’s 4-1 win over Swansea on Weekend, is recognized to be purpose on making, even though U. s. administrator Moyes demands the striker is not available on the industry.
Mourinho said in This summer that Rooney is his only exchange focus on, but then stated before his side’s win over Aston Apartment that the group have back-up choices if they fall short to indication the former Everton gamer.
“We have programs B and C. Don’t ask me titles. It’s challenging to talk about gamers from other groups,” he had said.
“We have the circumstances to try to enhance our group by providing in one more gamer and we are going to try that until the end.”
Mourinho confesses the Doldrums are likely to proceed their desire of Rooney, although the Colonial allows U. s. are under no responsibility to offer the gamer, just as Several weeks rebuffed Barcelona’s efforts to indication Bob Luiz.
“You try, because nobody prohibits you to try,” Mourinho said.
“When you think that you’d like to have one gamer and the industry is start and the formal offers are not not allowed, formal offers are always approved in an moral way.
“Of course, the performer’s entrepreneurs can do exactly what we did in regards to Bob Luiz and Spain’s capital.”
Transfer news: Andre Villas-Boas still looking to bolster Tottenham ranks
Andre Villas-Boas admits Tottenham Hotspur remain in the market for new recruits after striking a deal for Nacer Chadli.
Spurs have reached an agreement for Chadli with FC Twente and he will complete a move to England once personal terms have been agreed and a medical completed.
The Belgium international will become Spurs’ second signing of the summer once he makes his way to White Hart Lane, with Paulinho having already been added to the ranks.
Villas-Boas was expected to be busy during the current window, after seeing Tottenham fall agonisingly short in a push for a top-four finish last season, and the Portuguese coach has revealed that he is hoping to add further competition for places.
“We will continue to do our market and we have not stopped yet, for sure,” he said.
A striker is reported to be top of Villas-Boas’ wish list, with Spurs seemingly well stocked for creativity in midfield.
Chadli has added to the wealth of playmaking talent, with his versatility in the final third making him a shrewd addition.
Villas-Boas said of the 23-year-old winger: “Chadli’s a player we’ve been following for quite some time and we managed to strike a deal in the last few days.
“He’s a player who is extremely versatile and can play in several positions up front. He played with tremendous success on the left for Twente as a winger and as an attacker for Belgium. We look forward to having him on board with us.”
José Mourinho impressed by Romelu Lukaku as Chelsea defeat Malaysian XI
José Mourinho has been impressed by Romelu Lukaku over the early weeks of his second stint in charge of Chelsea and has suggested he would be happy to start the young Belgium striker in the first team when the Premier League campaign begins next month.
Lukaku, who spent last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, scoring 17 goals, followed up his match-winning penalty in last week’s victory over Singha All Stars in Bangkok with another reward and assist in the 4-1 win over a Malaysian XI on Sunday. The 19-year-old had initially envisaged spending the forthcoming campaign gaining experience via regular football elsewhere in the division but Mourinho has since made it clear he wishes to retain the forward in spite of his on-going pursuit of Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.
The teenager has started each of the pre-season games to date – Demba Ba will begin against an Indonesian XI in Jakarta on Thursday – with Mourinho encouraged by his desire to learn. “Lukaku had a fantastic manager last season but Steve [Clarke] is Steve, I am me and West Brom is not Chelsea,” said the Portuguese. “It’s up to the kid but he’s open and intelligent to learn the kind of movement we want.
“The role he played tonight was the right movement. We don’t want the striker just aiming between the central defenders but making movements, sometimes between the midfield or moving wide. People compare him to Didier Drogba but we have to respect Didier, because he is unique in Chelsea’s history, and we have to respect Lukaku. The best way to do that is not compare him to a legend in Chelsea’s history. Leave Didier where he is, at the top of Chelsea’s history, and leave Lukaku to work hard. The kid is good.”
Chelsea’s interest in Rooney is maintained and an improved offer is to be lodged at around £25m, though there is an acceptance they may have to be patient to secure the player, particularly with Chelsea due to play at United on 26 August. Asked if Lukaku could challenge Fernando Torres for a starting place, regardless of the Rooney situation, Mourinho merely added: “Of course.”
Another Belgian hoping to be in contention against Hull on 18 August is the midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who hurt his right knee while volleying Chelsea’s second goal against the Malaysians.
The £8m signing from Genk left the field on a stretcher with the club doctor in close attendance but he was able to hobble back to the dug-out in the second half. He will be assessed again on Monday – the team travel to Jakarta 24 hours later – but will remain with the touring party and expects to return to training later in the week.
“When he was on the floor and asking for a change, everyone on the bench thought the worst,” said Mourinho. “The first assessment by the doctor is that it’s not ligaments, that’s for sure, and if it’s something in the meniscus it has to be a very small injury. So we believe it’s not an important injury. Hopefully it isn’t because the kid is a fantastic player and showing match after match, and in training, that he’s going to be a key man on the pitch.”
Chelsea’s other goals were scored by Victor Moses and Bertrand Traoré, the latter a 17-year-old triallist who will sign a professional deal at the club when he turns 18. Chelsea have been unable to secure the eight-time Burkina Faso international on a professional deal up to now because he holds only a student visa, despite spending a similar six-week period on trial at Cobham last season. He will most likely then be loaned out to a club in Europe with Chelsea unlikely to be granted a work permit to continue his footballing education in England.
“Those are the rules in England and we have to accept them,” Mourinho said. “They have justification. Now we want to keep him. We’ll have to wait until he becomes 18 to try to get the permit for him to stay in England. If it’s not possible we have to let him go on loan somewhere but we have the guarantee that he plays for his national team.
“For a 17-year-old boy, sooner or later, the committee has to give him a permit to play in England. If he goes on loan somewhere, he has to go but, if he’s playing for his country at the same time – one of the most important countries in African football – he’ll get his deserved permit. So no dramas with it. It’s fantastic for him to come here and play well for Chelsea.”
Chelsea ready to raise the stakes in pursuit of Wayne Rooney by offering Manchester United £40m deal
Chelsea are discussing what they consider would be a ‘knockout’ £40 million bid to sign Wayne Rooney. The offer would be vastly higher than their opening bid of under £25 million, which was flatly rejected by Manchester United, who insist the unsettled striker is not for sale.
Wanted Man: Chelsea are determined to make Wayne Rooney their marquee signing of the summer
Robin van Persie determined to help Manchester United land top honours
Robin van Persie insists Manchester United are hungrier than ever heading into another season of trophy chasing.
The Red Devils reclaimed the Premier League title in 2012/13 – Van Persie’s first season at Old Trafford following a big-money switch from Arsenal.
Domestic success justified the Dutchman’s decision to leave the Gunners in search of major silverware, but he is determined to ensure that there are more medals to follow.
It has been a summer of change at United – with David Moyes having succeeded legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson – but the desire to be the best remains and Van Persie says the Red Devils will be looking to challenge on multiple fronts in the upcoming campaign.
“Last season we won the league and that was great but this time we want to win the league and more as well.”
Robin van Persie
He said in The Sun: “I still have more years left and it’s not like I’m saying, ‘Yes, we won the league so that’s me done’. I want more now. It makes me hungrier.
“I was hungry last year but now I’m more hungry. We have a great bunch of players so we can win more and do better.
“Last season we won the league and that was great but this time we want to win the league and more as well.”
While United will enter the new season in optimistic mood, Van Persie acknowledges that they will need to raise their game again if they are to stay ahead of Chelsea – who have Jose Mourinho back at the helm – and neighbours Manchester City – who have spent big this summer under new coach Manuel Pellegrini.
He added: “Of course, we must improve to stay ahead of them as over the last few years the Premier League has become better. Every team has got harder to beat.
“When going away you must perform 100 per cent or you may lose.
“Trust me, we’ll work hard. It’s a huge challenge to all of us and it’s one we are looking forward to.”
Brendan Rodgers again expects Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool
Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Luis Suarez is in ‘great spirits’ after arriving in Australia and has reiterated there is nothing to consider about the striker’s Liverpool future until an offer that meets the club’s valuation is made.
Suarez has missed the start of Liverpool’s pre-season programme after being given time off following the Confederations Cup, but the Uruguay international’s future remains the subject of intense speculation.
Arsenal reportedly failed with a £30million offer for the 26-year-old, who has previously suggested he is prepared to leave Anfield this summer.
However, Rodgers is determined to keep the former Ajax forward at Liverpool and he reiterated that there is no pressure to sell Suarez.
“There’s been a lot of speculation over the course of the close season but the reality is that he’s a player who is very much valued at Liverpool and unless there’s any sort of offer that comes in that’s anywhere near his value, there’s nothing to consider.”
Brendan Rodgers
“Yes, very much so,” said Rodgers when asked if he expected Suarez to be at the club this season.
“There’s been a lot of speculation over the course of the close season but the reality is that he’s a player who is very much valued at Liverpool and unless there’s any sort of offer that comes in that’s anywhere near his value, there’s nothing to consider.
“We haven’t had that.”
Asked what that value was, Rodgers replied: “I didn’t say we would sell him! I said that every player has a value and a worth. Doesn’t mean you’ve got to sell them.”
Rodgers will continue to discuss the situation with Suarez, but is untroubled by the constant speculation ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Melbourne Victory.
He continued: “As we’ve always been as a club, I’m quite relaxed about it. He’s an integral part of our squad.
“We’ll chat at some stage, like I do with all the players.
“But he’s back, he’s in great spirits. He’s obviously an integral part of the group – you could see his closeness with his team-mates last night when they were all seeing him for the first time in a number of weeks.
“He’ll join training today with all the other players and over the course of the next few weeks we’ll communicate.
“Him and I have been in regular commun
Greg Rutherford ruled of Anniversary Games through injury
The 26-year-old has not competed since pulling his right hamstring at the Diamond League meet in Paris on 6 July.
But he said he still hoped to be fit for next month’s World Championships in Moscow, and has been given more time – until 30 July – to recover.
Rutherford said: “I’m working as hard as I can.”
The Englishman was not named in the GB team announced this week for the Worlds, which start on 10 August.
British Athletics performance director Neil Black, who has said the Olympic champion does not have to compete prior to Moscow in order to prove his fitness, will pick between Rutherford and Chris Tomlinson.
The Anniversary Games is a three-day meeting being held at London’s Olympic Stadium between 26-28 July. It marks a year since the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Rutherford had been hoping to compete alongside British team-mates Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill, who is also struggling with an ankle injury, on the second day.
The trio all claimed gold medals within an hour of each other on 4 August, which became known as ‘Super Saturday’, in one of the most memorable moments of the Games.
Tour de France: Chris Froome wins 100th edition of race
Britain’s Chris Froome has won the 100th edition of the Tour de France.
Taking the title by more than four minutes, he linked arms with his team-mates as he crossed the line in Paris.
It is Britain’s second successive victory in the race – Froome’s Team Sky colleague Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to win it a year ago.
Froome’s Tour in numbers
Kilometres covered: 3,404
Time in the saddle: 83hrs 56min 20sec
Winning margin: 4mins 20secs
Stages won: 3 (8, 15 and 17)
Days in the race leader’s yellow jersey: 13/21
Crashes: 1 (before the start of stage 1)
Spectators punched: 1 (stage 20)
Doping tests taken: 19
Fines: £140 & 20 seconds for taking food illegally (stage 18)
Prize money: £380,000 (traditionally it is largely split between his team-mates)
Marcel Kittel claimed the final stage in the twilight, with Manxman Mark Cavendish third in a hotly contested sprint along the Champs Elysees.
Cavendish was attempting a 26th Tour stage win – and a fifth on the trot in Paris – which would have put him third on the all-time list behind five-time Tour winners Eddy Merckx (34) and Bernard Hinault (28).
But he was edged out by a wheel length by Germany’s Kittel, who won a fourth stage on this year’s race and Andre Greipel in the French capital, with more than 350,000 spectators lining the streets.
Froome had finished runner-up last year but with Wiggins electing not to defend his title after injury problems , the 28-year-old was favourite to win the race and he brought the yellow jersey home in emphatic style, ahead of Colombian Nairo Quintana and Joaquim Rodriguez of Spain.
He had first taken the lead when he won the eighth of the 21 stages in a summit finish at Ax 3 Domaines in the Pyrenees.
The Briton, who was born and raised in Kenya, claimed a further two stages in his maiden Tour de France title .
He told ITV4: “Crossing the line with [the] guys brought tears to my eyes. I expected it to be big but this is something else.
“Dave [Team Sky manager Sir Dave Brailsford] has been talking about the future of cycling – the youngsters coming through and the way the sport is moving. I look at the last decade and the way sport is going – we’ve got something to be proud of.”
Analysis
Graham Jones Radio 5 live summariser in Paris
“It has been a brilliant victory by Chris Froome. He has been far and away the best rider and he has won the best Tour de France for quite a number of years.
“We saw a lot more racing than normal, with riders and teams taking chances and acting on the spur of the moment during stages. It was a far less calculated race than it has been previously, and a reminder of how exciting it can be – there were very few dull days.
“He is young enough to win the race again and again and he is the type of the rider who has his head screwed on. He will realise this could be the start of something very special for him.
“As for Mark Cavendish, I don’t think he was ever 100% throughout this Tour, and Marcel Kittel has come through to show he is going to be a real adversary for him in the future. But it shows how good we think Cavendish is when we are disappointed he has only won two stages in a Tour de France.
“I think it proves how difficult it is to peak for the Tour – it is three weeks once a year and it is very difficult to time things right every year. Cavendish was clearly not at his peak but he has still done remarkably well in the circumstances and I am sure he will be bounce back next year.”
But in the first Tour since disgraced rider Lance Armstrong admitted to doping in his seven Tour de France wins , which have since been expunged from the records, Froome found himself having to answer questions about drugs in the sport.
He added: “I’m glad I’ve had to face those questions – after all the revelations of the last year. I’m glad that’s been channelled towards me.
“I’ve been able to deal with it. Cycling has changed – the peloton is standing together.”
In his victory speech while standing on the podium, Froome dedicated his triumph to his mother Jane, who died of cancer in 2008, for giving him “hopes and dreams”.
“Without her encouragement to follow my dreams, I’d probably be at home watching this event on TV,” he said. “It’s a great shame she never got to come see the Tour, but I’m sure she’d be extremely proud if she were here tonight.”
He also thanked his Team Sky colleagues for “burying themselves” for him during the gruelling race.
“I’d like to thank my team-mates, who have buried themselves day in day out throughout this Tour to keep this yellow jersey on my shoulders, and the Team Sky management for believing in my ability and building this team around me.
“This is one yellow jersey that will stand the test of time,” he added, in a reference to doubters over doping suspicions.
His team-mate Geraint Thomas, who rode nearly all of the race with a fractured pelvis after crashing towards the end of stage one, enjoyed riding across the finish line arm-in-arm with Froome and the five other Team Sky riders who finished the gruelling race.
The Welshman, who missed last year’s Tour to focus on his Olympic track ambitions, said: “That was special.
“It was nice for all of us to come together, because it doesn’t happen everyday. When you are a kid you dream of riding the Tour and coming to Paris, but I never even thought that one day I would be part of a British team, with a British rider winning.
“You know, I missed that only last year but it more than makes up for it this year.”
Twitter tributes to Froome
- Prime Minister David Cameron: A brilliant win by Chris Froome. After two British winners it’s only right the Tour de France comes to Yorkshire next year
- Former British world heavyweight champion boxer Lennox Lewis: Big up to @chrisfroome
- British tennis player Heather Watson: Congratulations to Chris Froome and the Sky Team for winning the Tour de France 2013
Brailsford added: “The lads rode a fantastic race and I think there isn’t a better setting for cycling in the world, or any setting.
“The Champs Elysees, an iconic place, and this year the sun is going down, it is very emotional you know.
“It is pretty intense the way we work, and we ask a lot of the guys, we ask a lot of the back room staff, we ask a lot of the riders, and to be fair I think they give their all.
“I hope people are happy, but certainly the team and Chris are very very happy.”
The final stage started as a procession, as is the tradition, and the 170 riders headed off from Versailles with Rodriguez celebrating his third place overall by handing out cigars to fellow podium finishers Froome, donning a yellow bike, and Quintana.
The Brit was also handed a glass of celebratory champagne as he rode alongside a Team Sky car with its branding coloured in yellow, while he was surrounded by team-mates in special yellow-tinged sunglasses.
The sun was beginning to set as they arrived in the centre of Paris and Froome made sure his trusty wingman Richie Porte led the Sky train over the finish line of the Champs-Elysees on the first of 10 circuits.
A few riders attempted breakaways, included Britain’s David Millar, but they were swallowed up by the peloton and it was left to the sprinters to contest the final straight.
Kittel, who has been called the “next big thing” by Cavendish triumphed and said: “Four. I can’t believe it.
“It was a dream of mine to win on the Champs Elysees and now I’ve done it. I’m so proud.
“It’s nice compliments from a guy like Mark. He’s a nice guy and he actually wished me good luck before the start of today’s race. That was really sporting.”
Results of stage 21:
1. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Argos-Shimano 3 hours, 6 minutes, and 14 seconds
2. Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol +0
3. Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma-Quick Step +0
4. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale +0
5. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida +0
Overall classification – final standings
1. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky 83 hours, 56 minutes, and 40 seconds
2. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar +4:20
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha +5:04
4. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Tinkoff +6:27
5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Saxo-Tinkoff +7:27
Selected others:
33. Daniel Martin (Ire) Garmin +1:13:08
39. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC +1:30:14
40. Nicolas Roche (Ire) Saxo-Tinkoff +1:34:17
77. Peter Kennaugh (GB) Team Sky +2:33:46
113. David Millar (GB) Garmin +3:14:25
135. Ian Stannard (GB) Team Sky +3:38:49
140. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky +3:43:34
148. Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma-Quickstep +3:52:04
King of the mountains jersey – final standings
1. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar 147
2 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky 136
3. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Europcar 117
4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 99
5. Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R 98
Green points jersey – final standings
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale 409
2. Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma – Quickstep 312
3. Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto 267
4. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Argos-Shimano 222
5. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha 177
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