NEWS:Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Bentley has confirmed that he wants to leave Ewood Park this summer regardless of who is appointed as Mark Hughes' successor.
The Blackburn chairman, John Williams, remains on course to install a manager by the end of this week, with Paul Ince and Sam Allardyce the leading candidates for the job.
Blackburn's next manager, however, will have to operate without the influential Bentley after the England international revealed that he had decided to leave even before Hughes' departure for Manchester City.
"I made it clear to the club what I wanted to do. The situation is I want to move on. I want to be playing Champions League football, or in Europe," the 23-year-old said yesterday. "I've been here for three years and I love the club and I love playing for them but I feel like I've done everything I can. I want a new challenge. I believe I have done as much as I can at the club and want to push on somewhere else."
Liverpool are among those interested in the €15 million-rated midfielder since he informed Hughes of his decision last season.
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool will look to swell their manager Rafael Benitez's transfer budget by almost €25 million and end the impasse over Gareth Barry this week as Xabi Alonso and John Arne Riise edge towards the Anfield exit.
Alonso and Riise have reluctantly accepted that they feature only in Benitez's fundraising plans this summer and have chosen to revive their careers in Serie A, with both deals under negotiation in the coming days. Starting the Benitez clear-out is expected to be Riise, who has resisted offers from several Premier League clubs in favour of joining Luciano Spalletti at Roma.
Of more significance to Benitez's budget will be the sale of Alonso to Juventus, with Liverpool seeking €18 million for Spain international. Juventus chief executive, Jean-Claude Blanc, is expected in Merseyside this week to finalise the fee.
VALENCIA: Valencia insist they have received no offers for star striker David Villa, who is currently setting Euro 2008 alight with Spain.
The 26-year-old has netted four times in two games so far to help his country book their place in the quarter-finals. The Spaniard's stunning form in La Liga last season, where he scored 18 goals in a campaign to forget for Los Che, had already reportedly attracted the attention of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea among others.
But Valencia technical secretary Juan Sanchez told Spanish newspaper Marca: "He's our player, he's under contract, and the coach is counting on him. We're very calm and we've received no offer for him."
CHELSEA: Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho (30) has cast doubt on his future at Stamford Bridge by criticising the club's treatment of former boss Avram Grant.
Carvalho told the Sunday Times: "Avram did a great job, but they still decided to sack him. Yet after Jose Mourinho left, he picked up the team and got good results. "It was very cruel. He did a great job and he could have carried on, but they decided to let him go. It was very ruthless."
SPL: Scotland's clubs will receive an extra place in the Uefa Cup in 2009/10, the Scottish Premier League have revealed.
