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Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 13 March 2009 )
English Premier League football News
Man City play down link to Villa
Manchester City have played down reports linking them with a move for Valencia striker David Villa.
The Spanish club have revealed that talks were held over a possible move but City have said that they took place late last year, and no bid was made.
"That's old news," City boss Hughes told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I think there was a meeting just before Christmas.
"We talked with Valencia about the price for a certain player, were told it and then walked away very quickly."
He added: "There was interest around Christmas time but we haven't revisited it since."
Valencia are in financial trouble and have conceded they may have to sell Villa to ease their concerns.
The 27-year-old was a key member of the Spain squad that triumphed at Euro 2008 and is Valencia's most valuable asset.
Vice-president Fernando Gomez told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that the player would cost a "significant amount".
When Gomez was asked if Valencia chiefs had met with two representatives from Manchester City regarding the sale of Villa, he added: "Yes, it's true but they didn't make us any offer.
"The president Vicente Soriano asked for a significant amount and they didn't agree," he said.
No price tag was revealed but Gomez did confirm that despite Valencia's precarious financial predicament, Villa and fellow Spain star David Silva would not be allowed to go for a reduced price.
"I think they are two very important players, with a lot of quality and if we sell them, we are not going to sell them on the cheap," stated Gomez.
"I would like them both to stay but we cannot discard anything and any of them [the players] could leave at the end of the season."
The skilful Villa has been a target for other Premier League clubs, with Liverpool and Chelsea both linked to bids in recent seasons.
In January, Manchester City failed in a bid to take AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka to Eastlands and also recently denied rumours linking them to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
by bbcnews.
Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 13 March 2009 )
English Premier League football News
Police offer apology to Anichebe
Cheshire Police have apologised to Premier League striker Victor Anichebe after officers challenged him as he looked in a jeweller's shop window.
The Everton player was window-shopping with a friend in Knutsford, Cheshire, when officers confronted the pair, eventually handcuffing his friend.
Police said they were acting after a spate of robberies but admitted it was a "less than proportionate reaction".
Mr Anichebe, 20, said the incident was "embarrassing and totally humiliating".
He said in a statement: "Whilst I do fully understand Cheshire Police's desire to tackle the problem of robberies on jewellery shops in the Knutsford area, I remain deeply upset and very angry about the treatment which was meted out to myself and a friend yesterday [Wednesday].
"It was not only totally ridiculous but also highly embarrassing and totally humiliating.
"Simply because we stood our ground and insisted that we had done absolutely nothing wrong, they decided to place my friend in handcuffs.
"I am currently having to use crutches to walk as I recently underwent surgery on a knee injury and - astonishingly - one of the officers even tried to grab the crutches in order to prevent me from 'escaping'."
He added: "After what seemed like an eternity the police officers seemed to realise that they had made a mistake, acknowledging that I was a footballer with a Premiership club and not someone who was preparing to commit a crime.
"At the time, I asked the officers if they would have taken the action they did had I been white rather than black."
'Acting suspiciously'
A police spokesman said: "It is only right and proper that the police act expeditiously in protecting vulnerable premises such as jewellery shops.
"We seek in all cases to ask for co-operation from the public in respect of not only reporting suspicious activity in or around such areas, but also their co-operation if an officer feels it is necessary and appropriate to make inquiries into such matters."
He added: "Having now reviewed in detail what occurred between the officers and the two men whom they believed to have been acting suspiciously, it is now apparent that, while the situation was heated, the actions of the police officer in applying handcuffs to one of the men was less than a proportionate reaction to the requirements of the situation.
"The officer has been advised regarding this, and an offer of apology extended to the two men."
Responding to Mr Anichebe's comments about race, the police spokesman added: "The robust response to this incident was influenced by a history of violent robberies that have recently occurred at jewellery shops across Cheshire and was most certainly not related to race.
"Cheshire Police has publically apologised to Mr Anichebe and his friend about the treatment they received from officers involved, and we will be writing to Mr Anichebe's Football Club reiterating this apology.
"We can confirm we will be pleased to personally meet with Mr Anichebe to resolve any further concerns he may have."
by bbcnews.
Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 13 March 2009 )
English Premier League football News
Wigan sign Korean midfielder Cho
Wigan are ready to thrust midfielder Cho Won-Hee straight into first-team action after signing the South Korea international on a free transfer.
The 25-year-old, who was unattached, impressed during a trial last month and has signed for two-and-a-half years.
"He can make a significant impact in the Premier League. He has a terrific attitude," said Wigan boss Steve Bruce.
"I could tell straight away that he was a good player. He is fast, strong and determined."
Cho is expected to be available for Saturday's game at Sunderland, though Wigan are waiting for a confirmation letter from the South Korean football association.
He had been playing for Suwon Blue Wings in South Korea's K-League but left to pursue a career in Europe and had a trial with French league club Monaco.
by bbcnews.
Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 09 March 2009 )
English Premier League football News
Wenger upbeat as big names return
Arsene Wenger believes the return of Eduardo and several other big-name stars can prove "decisive" for Arsenal.
The in-form Gunners are through to the FA Cup quarter-finals and still in the running for Champions League glory.
"We are going into the final sprint. It is important to keep all our targets alive," said Arsenal manager Wenger.
"We know every game demands a big performance because we cannot slip up. Slowly, we have all of our players coming back and that can be decisive."
Arsenal have endured an indifferent season, finding themselves out of the top four in the Premier League as Manchester United took a firm grip on the title race.
The London club were well adrift of Champions League qualification places at one stage.
But the gap to fourth-placed Aston Villa is down to only three points and the future is starting to look a lot rosier for the Gunners, who are now unbeaten in 17 games.
After defeating Burnley 3-0 on Sunday to book a last-eight meeting with Hull in the FA Cup, Arsenal face Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday, holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Emirates.
The especially pleasing thing for Wenger is that he will soon have the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky back from injury to boost his side's chances of finishng the season with a trophy.
England winger Theo Walcott made his return in the win over Burnley following four months out with a shoulder problem.
But the headlines went to Eduardo, whose career was under serious threat following a horrific leg break just over a year ago.
Captaining the side, the Croatian striker, 26, scored with a stunning volley to put Arsenal 2-0 up, hitting Alex Song's cross into the top corner of the net with the outside of his left foot.
"It looked like a bit of a 'beach' goal - and he meant it, he sliced the ball," insisted a delighted Wenger.
"Eduardo is a surprising finisher and an intelligent player. He has short back lift and understands what to do very quickly.
"I have never seen him do that before, his goal was instinct and shows you that finishing is all about what you do in a fraction of a second."
Wenger also heaped praise on Eduardo for the way he has come back from such a career-threatening injury.
"I didn't expect him to come back like that, it's a tribute to his personality," stated the Frenchman.
"He's never complained and that is a big example in our world."
Burnley boss Owen Coyle, meanwhile, was pragmatic about being beaten by the better side and looked ahead to the club's targets for the end of the season - notably, promotion from the Championship.
"I wanted the team to be positive," he said. "People pay good money to watch football and we have an obligation to send out our teams to attack.
"We have shown all season that we have good players. We now have 10 cup finals to get promotion - if we can play to our level, then we can do well.
"If we have got anything about ourselves, we want to be in the Premier League."
by bbcnews.
Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 09 March 2009 )
English Premier League football News
Man Utd wait on Ferdinand injury
Manchester United are waiting to discover whether defender Rio Ferdinand will be fit for Wednesday's Champions League return leg against Inter Milan.
The England centre-back, 30, was placed in a plastic boot to protect his ankle after he was taken off at half-time in Saturday's FA Cup tie against Fulham.
"There's a small swelling to his ankle - we'll assess it on Sunday," United assistant Mike Phelan told BBC 5 Live.
"I'm not a medical person, so I don't know if he'll be fit for Wednesday."
Phelan added: "Jonny Evans is more than a substitute for Rio if he doesn't make it."
Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who watched his side keep their quintuple hopes alive with a 4-0 victory over Fulham in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, had his fingers crossed for the England international.
"Ferdinand is a bit of a concern," Ferguson said. "I hope he is all right for Wednesday because he is so important to us."
Defender John O'Shea also came off during the match, with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan have just two fit centre-backs after losing Marco Materazzi and Nicolas Burdisso to injury in the first half of their 2-0 victory over Genoa.
Ahead of the game in Manchester, Inter coach Jose Mourinho said: "Christian Chivu, Walter Samuel, Materazzi and Burdisso are out."
The first-leg tie finished 0-0 in the San Siro last month.
by bbcnews.
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