Fa Barclaycard Premiership News Update

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 16 January 2009 )

English Premiership football News

Spurs 'on brink' of Palacios deal
Tottenham are on the brink of signing midfielder Wilson Palacios from Wigan after Latics boss Steve Bruce said a deal had been "virtually agreed".

The 24-year-old has been with Wigan for just over a year after he joined from Deportivo Olimpia on a three-and-a-half year deal for £1m in January 2008.

But the club have opted to cash in on the Honduran, with a deal of around £14m thought to have been agreed.

"The clubs have virtually agreed a fee. It's how it will be paid," said Bruce.

"It is up to us as a selling club to demand what we want in terms of how we should be paid and how we should be structured. We will see what happens.

"Wilson is still with us and I'm preparing him to play against Manchester City tomorrow. That's the situation at the moment but we will see what happens in the next few hours."

Tottenham had a bid of £10m rejected on Wednesday but Bruce conceded at the time that the club would not stand in Palacios's way if a bigger offer came in.

And he said on Friday: "You look at what we bought him for and what we might sell him for and it is quite remarkable.

"As a manager you don't want to lose one of your best players. The last thing I want to do is dismantle my team. Wilson has come from nowhere to being one of the best midfield players in the country.

"But of course we have to be realistic, which I am. We are Wigan Athletic and if it is the wish of the player (to leave) all these things have to be taken into consideration.

"Spurs can offer bigger contracts than us. They can blow us out of the water but it would be like losing my right arm."

Winger Antonio Valencia and striker Emile Heskey have also been linked with moves away from the JJB.

Valencia is a reported target of Real Madrid, while Aston Villa and Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in signing Heskey, who is out of contract in the summer.
by bbcnews.


English Premiership football News

Bellamy 'wants to join Tottenham'
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp claims striker Craig Bellamy wants to leave West Ham, despite the Hammers declining bids from Spurs and Manchester City.

"We can confirm that Craig Bellamy has been offered a new contract," said a West Ham spokesman on Friday.

"We can also confirm that he has no permission to talk to other clubs including Spurs and Manchester City."

But Redknapp said: "Someone has told me he wants to come here and play. If we can do a deal, good."

City have had three bids for the 29-year-old Wales captain rejected, and Spurs have also had offers turned down.

On Monday, City offered £9m before making an improved bid two days later, while Tottenham are reported to have bid £12m as West Ham maintain that Bellamy is not for sale.

However, Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola has admitted it is pointless keeping players if they do not want to play for the club.

"What can I do about it? As far as I am concerned, I want to keep him - and the club want to keep him. But if a player wants to go it is difficult," said Zola.

"At the moment, he is a West Ham player and he will stay a West Ham player. However, I do not know if he will play on Sunday. We will see what happens.

"It is difficult to keep players who are unhappy at the club, but we will see what happens."

West Ham, whose owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson may sell the club, insist they do not want to offload players and are under no pressure to do so.

Manchester City have also so far failed to prise midfielder Scott Parker away from Upton Park

And the Hammers have reacted angrily to Newcastle's interest in captain Lucas Neill, saying they have not received any approach for the player despite Magpies boss Joe Kinnear claiming to have spoken to Neill's agent.

"We are astonished by reports that a Premier League manager has claimed contact with one of our contracted players," said the London club.

"Talks over a new contract with Lucas Neill - who remains committed to West Ham United - are due to be held in due course when appropriate for all parties."

Bellamy played under City manager Mark Hughes and assistant Mark Bowen with both Wales and Blackburn.

And Bowen told BBC Sport on Thursday: "Of course we're interested in Craig Bellamy, he is a player we very much admire and we are hopeful we can bring him to Manchester City.

"We've known Craig for many years, and had him at Blackburn Rovers, and we know what he brings to any team he plays for.

"It does make me smile as I think he is one of those players who you either love or hate. But fans of teams that he has played for love him and know what he gave for their team."

Redknapp is especially keen to bolster his squad's forward strength during the transfer window as he only has Darren Bent, Manchester United loanee Fraizer Campbell and Roman Pavlyuchenko, who is cup-tied in Europe.

Bellamy, a former Liverpool, Blackburn, Newcastle, Coventry and Norwich forward, has made 54 appearances for his country, scoring 16 goals.

Often a controversial figure, Bellamy has helped lead 10th-placed West Ham back up the Premier League table in recent weeks after they had initially struggled as Zola settled in at the club after joining as its new manager in September.
by bbcnews.