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Tottenham continue chase for Vucinic :
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly opened talks with Roma over a move for Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic. Discussions between the two clubs are believed to have been underway since Thursday as Spurs manager Harry Redknapp attempts to bolster his strike force.
Tottenham have turned their attention to Vucinic amidst concerns prime target Giuseppe Rossi is close to completing a 26.4 million-pound switch from Villarreal to Juventus.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy hopes to agree to a fee of 15 million pounds for Vucinic, but Roma value the player closer to 17.5 million pounds.
The 27-year-old has also been linked with Bayern Munich, Blackburn Rovers and Juventus.
Vucinic joined Roma from Lecce in 2006, socring 45 goals in 147 appearances for the Serie A side.
He is under contract until June 2013.
Spurs lose SandroTottenham have turned their attention to Vucinic amidst concerns prime target Giuseppe Rossi is close to completing a 26.4 million-pound switch from Villarreal to Juventus.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy hopes to agree to a fee of 15 million pounds for Vucinic, but Roma value the player closer to 17.5 million pounds.
The 27-year-old has also been linked with Bayern Munich, Blackburn Rovers and Juventus.
Vucinic joined Roma from Lecce in 2006, socring 45 goals in 147 appearances for the Serie A side.
He is under contract until June 2013.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Sandro will be out for three months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury picked up on Brazil duty. The 22-year-old withdrew from the Copa America on Tuesday after scans revealed a torn lateral meniscus in the left knee.
Tottenham have confirmed Sandro will be out until October at the earliest following an operation on Friday. Sandro signed for Spurs from Internacional in March 2010, remaining with the Brazilian club and helping them to Copa Libertadores success last year. He made 26 appearances for the English Premier League club in all competitions last season, impressing against AC Milan in the Champions League round of 16. A six-cap Brazil international who made his debut in 2009, Sandro has not featured for Brazil in the Copa America after picking up the injury during training.
Defending champions Brazil face Paraguay in the quarter-finals of the tournament on Sunday.
Corinthians improve Tevez offer
Corinthians will entice Manchester City with a bonus clause in an improved bid for Carlos Tevez, according to a report in Lancenet. An initial bid of 40 million Euros for the Argentine international was rejected by City earlier this week. However, Brazilian Serie A side Corinthians, where Tevez played from 2003 to 2006, have made another push for the 27-year-old's signature.
Brazilian football publication Lancenet reports that on top of the 40 million Euro transfer fee, a bonus clause has been added to the proposal which will see City receive an unspecified fee if Tevez’s stint at the club proves successful in terms of results, marketing and shirt sales. Corinthians have given City a deadline of Sunday to answer to their offer as the Brazilian transfer window closes on July 20. Reports in England claimed Corinthians had increased the transfer fee in a bid to persuade City to part ways with Tevez, but the Brazilian club have rejected such stories.
"That is not true. We did not alter the figure in the offer. I cannot reveal details about the negotiations," Corinthians vice-director of fooball Duilio Alves told Lancenet. "What I can say is what I have said before. We are still in negotiations with City to bring in Tevez. Talks are still ongoing." Tevez, who joined Manchester City in 2009, has voiced his desire to leave the club as he wishes to be closer to his family, who are residing in Buenos Aires.
Hamburg step up Bundesliga preparations
Hamburg continued their preparations for the new Bundesliga season with a 4-0 win over Qatari side Al Ahli Doha. It took the hosts 30 minutes to break the deadlock, Serbian midfielder Gojko Kacar steering the ball home. The German side doubled their lead on the hour mark through a stunning free-kick for 19-year-old South Korean forward Heung-Min Son.
Al Ahli began to crumble and six minutes later they found themselves three goals behind when Anis Ben-Hatira supplied the simple finish after Son's centre. Hanno Behrens completed the rout with 15 minutes remaining, heading home a cross from the left wing Hamburg kick of the new Bundesliga season away at reigning champions Borussia Dortmund on August 5.
US have victory in sight
American forward Abby Wambach has only one thing on her mind - winning the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. The US have not won the coveted trophy since 1999 and are desperate for a record-breaking third triumph when they face Japan in the tournament finale in Frankfurt on Sunday. Veteran Wambach has played a key role in getting her side to the final, most notably scoring a 122nd minute equaliser against Brazil in the quarter-finals to force penalties. She also scored in the 3-1 semi-final win over France to make it three goals in as many games for the 31-year-old.
"In the end all I care about is winning," Wambach said. "Winning is the most important thing right now. And it's 90 minutes. If we can win one 90-minute game, we're world champs." But Japan will be no easy beats and, having eliminated reigning champions Germany in the quarter-finals, enter the final on the back of a 3-1 come-from-behind win against an impressive Swedish side. US coach Pia Sundhage is well-aware of the threat Japan can pose. "They (Japanese) have some good players," Sundhage said.
"Regardless how tall or short they are. And they do it together. Everybody I think praised them for the way they attack. They keep possession and that's a pretty good way to defend." "But if you study their defending as well, they are very organised and they get numbers behind the ball. So that's the reason why they are here.” “It's a really good team and with the set pieces they are so much better today I think than a year ago."
Downing completes Liverpool switch
Stewart Downing has completed his move to Liverpool from English Premier League rivals Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee. The 26-year-old midfielder, capped 27 times for England, was the subject of two failed bids from the Anfield club before a fee reported to be 20 million pounds was settled on earlier this week.
Having agreed personal terms and completed a medical, the 26-year-old becomes Liverpool’s fourth signing alongside Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Alexander Doni, who arrived at Anfield earlier on Friday.
"It's a great feeling and I'm very happy to be here. It's been a long time coming and I've had to wait a few weeks, but I'm really pleased to be here," Downing told Liverpool’s official website.
"With the tradition, the manager and the players they have here, there was a big temptation to come here and once I knew of their interest, there was only one place I wanted to go.” "It will be a great feeling to run out at Anfield. It's always nice to come and play here. The atmosphere is always great and the fans are brilliant.”
"When I wanted to come to Liverpool, it was the first thing I thought of - playing at Anfield in front of those great fans. I'm really looking forward to it." A thirst for silverware was also a key motivator for the winger, who becomes Aston Villa’s second high-profile departure of the close season after Ashley Young’s move to Manchester United.
"It would be nice to win something. I'm sure that's the same objective for everyone, not just me personally,” Downing said. "My aim is to be in the team, to play well and give something back because the manager has pushed the boat out to get me here, so hopefully I can give him something back.” The length of Downing's new contract has not been announced but has been described by Liverpool as a 'long-term deal'. Downing moved from Middlesbrough to Aston Villa in 2009 for a fee of around 12 million pounds.
