Newcastle are expected to announce the signing of controversial Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton later today.
The Magpies can get the player if they meet the £5.5million figure stated in the England international′s contract.
And that is expected to pave the way for City midfielder Barton to head north and join the St James′ Park club.
Newcastle are likely to immediately plug the gap in their midfield following the anticipated move of captain Scott Parker to West Ham.
And controversial Barton is set to join having admitted this weekend he was open to offers from other clubs.
Barton missed the closing weeks of last season after being suspended by former City boss Stuart Pearce following a training ground incident involving team-mate Ousmane Dabo.
The 24-year-old claimed he has too much respect for City fans to talk about joining specific clubs but has to think about his future if the club decide to sell.
31 May 2007
West Ham were today holding discussions with Newcastle captain Scott Parker over a proposed £7m (€10.3m) move to Upton Park – but only after fighting off late interest from Tottenham.
It is understood West Ham’s chief executive Scott Duxbury was involved in late night talks with Parker’s representatives after Spurs had attempted to hijack the deal.
The England international travelled to London this morning in order to meet with West Ham officials and pave the way to becoming Alan Curbishley’s first signing of the summer.
Never before have West Ham been in a position where they can tempt leading Premiership players to Upton Park with healthy salaries.
But, as one source put it today, money has ceased to be an issue since Eggert Magnusson’s consortium took over the club.
Curbishley has been given significant funds – thought to be in excess of £40m (€59m) – to ensure there is no repeat of last season’s relegation battle and to spearhead a challenge for Europe.
Magnusson wants his club to be pushing for Champions League football within three years while a new stadium is part of that plan.
Also reportedly on the Hammers’ hit-last are Charlton striker Darren Bent and Everton’s Australian midfielder Tim Cahill, though things have gone quiet from the club over their attempts to keep Carlos Tevez.
A move to Upton Park would see Parker link up again with Curbishley, his old boss at Charlton.
Parker made his England debut in 2003 while playing under Curbishley at The Valley before completing a £10m (€15m) to Chelsea in January 2004.
Relations between the two were strained at the time, with Curbishley left frustrated and disappointed at Parker’s decision to leave and the way the move came about.
“He made it abundantly clear in more ways than 10 that he didn’t want to stay with us any more. The way it has been conducted over the last two or three weeks has left a bad taste in my mouth,” Curbishley said at the time.
But that now appears to be water under the bridge.
With West Ham skipper Nigel Reo-Coker seemingly on his way out of the club after handing in a transfer request, Curbishley sees Parker as a potential captain.
The 26-year-old, capped three times by England, would also bring quality and grit to a West Ham midfield which lacked both elements for much of the season.
Parker, who is celebrating the birth of his third baby this week, is also thought to be keen on a return to London, where his family is based.
Newcastle’s new manager Sam Allardyce is reported to be eyeing out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton as a potential replacement for Parker.
25 May 2007
Sven Goran Eriksson has admitted that he would be interested in filling the vacant managerial position at Manchester City.
Earlier this week Eriksson seemed to rule himself out of the Eastlands role, but he has now said that he would be honoured to manage City.
"City is a big, big club with unbelievable support. It would be an honour for me to be manager, like it would be for all other managers," Eriksson told the Manchester Evening News.
"Every time I visited the club as England coach I was struck by the passion of the fans and was made to feel welcome and at home by nice people. They have a beautiful stadium and the possibility of a new owner and of course I would talk to them if they indicate they are interested in me becoming coach. City is an established Premiership club with great potential and I know they have ambitions to be challenging higher up the table."
Eriksson also moved to clear up confusion generated by his interview with Inside Sport, when he appeared to belittle City.
"I was asked if I′d had talks with City and I said `no′ but a break in the programme and a different question made it appear I had said something different," he added.
23 May 2007
Fulham want to make Queens Park Rangers winger Lee Cook their first signing of the summer.
Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa are three other Premiership clubs that have shown an interest in the highly-rated winger who was voted Rangers′ player of the year last season.
Rangers value the 24-year-old at around £5million and turned down a bid from Spurs in January.
Manager Lawrie Sanchez will make an initial £1.5million bid for the 24-year-old, who is thought to be ready to put in a transfer request if Rangers block the move.
Striker Kevin Gallen, 31, released by QPR after 12 years there, is to be offered a trial at Watford.
19 May 2007
Former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has made a formal bid to take over Manchester City.
His advisers have been completing their due diligence on the club, and lawyer Noppadon Pattama confirmed on Saturday: "We have tendered a bid for the team."
But he denied reports that a £100m takeover had already been agreed, saying: "The deal is not formally or legally concluded yet."
Thaksin is expected to target Claudio Ranieri to become City′s new manager.
However, the former Chelsea coach told BBC Sport on Thursday that he had not yet been approached to take over from Stuart Pearce, who was sacked last Monday.
London-based Thaksin failed in his efforts to buy Liverpool three years ago.
18 May 2007
Greece coach Otto Rehaggel has named promising defender Nikolaos Spiropoulos in his squad for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2008 qualifiers against Hungary and Moldova.
The 23-year-old left-back was delighted to be included at senior level for the first time as Greece look to take advantage of two successive home matches, to be played on the island of Crete on 2 and 6 June, and overtake Turkey at the Group C summit. After five matches, Greece trail section leaders Turkey by one point.
"I am very happy because one of my dreams has become reality," said Spiropoulos. "It′s an honour for any footballer to have the opportunity to play for the national team. I will work as hard as I can to help the national team.”
Belgium coach Rene Vandereycken picked two uncapped players in his 24-man squad for the Group A Euro 2008 qualifiers at home to Portugal on June 2 and away to Finland, four days later.
Winger Faris Haroun received his first call-up to the senior squad after helping Racing Genk book their place in next season′s Champions League, while defender Jan Vertonghen of Dutch side RKC Waalwijk was also included for the first time.
Portugal and Finland are both on 11 points after six matches, alongside Serbia. Leaders Poland have 16 points but have played one game more. Belgium have seven points from six outings. Group A also includes Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Stijn Stijnen (Club Bruges), Brian Vandenbussche (Heerenveen), Geert De Vlieger (Zulte Waregem)
Defenders: Carl Hoefkens (Stoke City), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Jelle Van Damme (Anderlecht), Peter Van der Heyden (Wolfsburg), Philip Clement (Club Brugge), Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax), Jan Vertonghen (RKC Waalwijk)
Midfielders: Mark De Man (Anderlecht), Karel Geraerts (Standard Liege), Timmy Simons (PSV Eindhoven), Gaby Mudingayi (Lazio), Steven Dufour (Standard Liege), Marouane Fellaini (Standard Liege), Tom De Mul (Ajax), Gaetan Englebert (Club Bruges), Faris Haroun (Racing Genk), Maarten Martens (AZ Alkmaar)
Forwards: Emile Mpenza (Manchester City), Francois Sterchele (Germinal Beerschot), Moussa Dembele (AZ Alkmaar), Kevin Vandenbergh (Racing Genk).
17 May 2007
Under-21 internationals Faris Haroun and Jan Vertonghen have been called up by Belgium for the first time ahead of the two UEFA EURO 2008 qualifiers next month.
The Red Devils welcome Portugal to Brussels on 2 June before heading to Helsinki four days later to take on Finland.
Belgium are fifth in Group A, with seven points from six matches, and are in a precarious qualification position.
René Vandereycken′s hopes of turning things around could rest on 21-year-old midfielder Haroun and 20-year-old defender Vertonghen.
Captain Timmy Simons returns to the international fold after being suspended for the 4-0 defeat in Portugal on 24 March.
Belgium squad
Goalkeepers: Geert De Vlieger (SV Zulte Waregem), Stijn Stijnen (Club Brugge KV), Brian Vandenbussche (SC Heerenveen).
Defenders: Philippe Clement (Club Brugge KV), Carl Hoefkens (Stoke City FC), Daniel Van Buyten (FC Bayern München), Jelle Van Damme (RSC Anderlecht), Peter Van der Heyden (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Vermaelen (AFC Ajax), Jan Vertonghen (RKC Waalwijk).
Midfielders: Steven Defour (R. Standard de Liège), Mark De Man (RSC Anderlecht), Tom De Mul (AFC Ajax), Gaëtan Englebert (Club Brugge KV), Marouane Fellaini (R. Standard de Liège), Karel Geraerts (R. Standard de Liège), Faris Haroun (KRC Genk), Maarten Martens (AZ Alkmaar), Gaby Mudingayi (S.S. Lazio), Timmy Simons (PSV Eindhoven).
Forwards: Moussa Dembélé (AZ Alkmaar), Emile Mpenza (Manchester City FC), François Sterchele (KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen), Kevin Vandenbergh (KRC Genk).
17 May 2007
Five players have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for next week′s games against Ecuador and Bolivia in the United States.
Family commitments rule out Sunderland pair Liam Miller and Stephen Elliot plus Manchester City′s Stephen Ireland.
Sheffield United′s Derek Geary has ankle and thigh injuries while Wigan′s Caleb Folan has a hamstring tear.
Cork City′s Joe Gamble and Aston Villa′s Stephen O′Halloran were drafted into the squad on Tuesday.
Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton said that he won′t decide on whether to add more players to the squad until he sees the outcome of Wednesday night′s Championship play-off between West Brom and Wolves.
West Brom′s Paul McShane and the Wolves duo Darren Potter and Andy Keogh were included in an inexperienced squad last week.
Uncapped Gamble was called into the squad for last year′s friendly against Chile but O′Halloran is receiving his first senior call-up.
O′Halloran has represented the Republic at all underage levels while Gamble has a B international cap.
The Republic face Ecuador in New York on 23 May and Bolivia in Boston three days later.
16 May 2007
Livingston hope to unveil Hibernian coach Mark Proctor as their new manager on Thursday.
David Bowman, who had been caretaker boss since the sacking of John Robertson in April, left the First Division club on Tuesday.
Livingston owner Pearse Flynn told BBC Sport: "Mark is our preferred candidate and we have approached Hibs for permission to talk to him. We hope to be in a position to unveil him officially on Thursday."
Former Darlington assistant Proctor was first-team coach at Easter Road under Tony Mowbray.
But Mowbray left for West Brom in October and was replaced with John Collins.
Former Celtic defender Dariusz Wdowczyk and Clyde player-boss Joe Miller were also in contention for the Livingston vacancy as the West Lothian club look to regain their Scottish Premier League status.
Miller recently delayed giving Clyde an answer about his own future plans while Flynn was making his decision.
Wdowczyk was sacked as Legia Warszawa coach in April after a run of poor results.
He had previously been in charge of Polonia Warszawa, Wisla Plock, Widzew Lodz and Korona Kielce.
Former Motherwell and Sydney manager Terry Butcher and former Hibernian and Plymouth Argyle boss Bobby Williamson had both been high on Flynn′s wanted list.
But Butcher has since become manager of Brentford, while Williamson has taken over at Chester City.
Robertson was sacked as Livingston boss with Livingston lying in sixth place in the league having failed to return to the SPL at the first attempt.
He had been appointed at Almondvale in February 2006, replacing Paul Lambert.
