A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Injured Valencia back in Manchester
MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson has confirmed Antonio Valencia has flown back to England and will play no part in the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
It was unlikely Valencia would have been involved anyway given he has been on Copa America duty with Ecuador. However, a nasty ankle injury sustained in his country’s opening match means the winger will play no further part.
And, whilst he does not believe the problem is serious, Ferguson is taking no chances. “Antonio has gone straight back to Manchester,” said Ferguson after the 4-1 win over New England Revolution in Boston.
“He got an injury playing in the first game for Ecuador so he is back in Manchester. It is nothing serious but he wasn’t going to be taking part in the rest of Copa America, so there is no point in him coming out here if he is injured.”
Brazil to face Paraguay in quarter-finals
HOLDERS Brazil and their Group B rivals breathed life into the Copa America in two six-goal thrillers as they qualified for the quarter-finals with Venezuela and Paraguay yesterday morning.
Brazil won the group on goal difference from Venezuela with a 4-2 victory over Ecuador and will meet Paraguay in La Plata on Sunday. Much-improved Venezuela, 1-0 up after five minutes but 3-1 down going into the 90th, struck twice for a 3-3 draw with Paraguay in Salta that put them in a last-eight meeting with Group A winners Chile in Mendoza. Peru, with Paraguay one of the two best third-placed teams, head to Cordoba to meet Group A winners Colombia in tomorrow’s quarter-finals, while hosts Argentina meet Uruguay in Santa Fe.
West Ham want €;9.1m for Parker
WEST Ham United will not now countenance a loan deal for Scott Parker, with Chelsea being told they will have to pay the full €9.1 million transfer fee to take him to Stamford Bridge as the replacement for the injured Michael Essien.
West Ham had initially been willing to allow the England midfielder to go on loan for a season for a fee of €4.5m plus the 30-year-old’s wages, a proposition Andre Villas-Boas, the manager, was keen on, though Chelsea’s own valuation was a price of €1.7m together with Parker’s salary.
But a €8.5m bid to buy him outright received by West Ham on Thursday, thought to be from Aston Villa as an improved offer from Wednesday’s €8m, has persuaded the east London club they should sell Parker outright. West Ham are rebuilding under Sam Allardyce as they attempt to bounce straight back into the Premier League.
Allardyce may soon be able to announce the latest recruit to his squad as Eidur Gudjohnsen.
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Vieira accepts executive role at City
PATRICK Vieira has accepted an executive role at Manchester City after announcing the end of an outstanding career that yielded one World Cup, one European Championship, three Premier League and four Serie A titles.
The 35-year-old former France international was released from his playing contract at City at the end of last season, having joined the club as Roberto Mancini’s first signing in January 2010. He made 45 appearances there in total. His last came as a late substitute in City’s FA Cup final win against Stoke.
City have created the position of “football development executive” for the former Arsenal captain, who won the Double twice, a role that will involve overseeing the club’s youth team players and promoting community projects.
Meanwhile, defender Jerome Boateng is to leave Eastlands after City agreed an undisclosed fee with Bayern Munich.
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Redknapp stands firm on Modric
HARRY Redknapp, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, has reiterated that Croatian midfielder Luka Modric is not for sale after the 25-year-old lodged a formal transfer request following Chelsea’s improved bid of €31m.
“We know he wants to leave and whether he writes it down on a piece of paper doesn’t really make any difference to our stance,” Redknapp said. “He’s a great player and we don’t want to lose him.”
Liverpool settle on fee for Downing with Aston Villa
LIVERPOOL are set to open talks with England winger Stewart Downing after settling on a fee with Aston Villa. Former Middlesbrough player Downing has been a prime summer target of Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, and bids of €13.7 million and €17 million had been refused prior to yesterday’s breakthrough. Negotiations can now begin with the player, who turns 27 later this month.
Villa manager Alex McLeish had insisted he wanted Downing to stay in the midlands, as Liverpool hovered with intent. But the size of the latest offer, which has not been disclosed by either club but was last night reported to be €22.8m, proved irresistible, given Downing has only two years remaining on his contract.
Aston Villa were last night closing in on the signing of Wigan Athletic’s Charles N’Zogbia despite a late attempt from Sunderland to hijack the deal. N’Zogbia is seen as a natural replacement for Downing, with Villa planning to spend on him around half of the €22.8m they have received from Liverpool.
