Barclays Premier League Season 2009/2010

[Rappy Veteran]

Man Utd in clear over Pogba deal

Manchester United have been cleared by Fifa to sign 16-year-old Paul Pogba.

French club Le Havre had claimed that they had agreed a contract with the midfielder for the current season before he went to United.

But a judge appointed by Fifa ruled that, because of his age, Le Havre could not have got an agreement for Pogba to sign a professional contract.

Chelsea were handed a transfer ban in September for inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

"Manchester United is pleased to confirm that the Football Association has been authorised by Fifa to register Paul Pogba as a Manchester United player with immediate effect," said a statement released by the club.

[Subject Delta]

How typical that United get let off and everyone else gets punished :/

[Rappy Veteran]

Liverpool co-owner Gillett to sell his half share

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett is on the verge of selling his 50 per cent share in the club to Saudi Arabian Prince Faisal.

Gillett will fly to Saudi Arabia next week to go over the potential deal with Prince Faisal?s advisers and it seems his initial idea of providing an investment has turned into an impending sale.

If the deal goes ahead, it will leave Prince Faisal to be co-owner with Gillett?s current partner Tom Hicks and it seems increasingly likely that something will happen with the fact that Gillett is making the trip to the Middle East.

[Subject Delta]

Good, I hope the deal goes ahead. Someone investing money, rather than draining it would sure be welcome

[gregb0b]

Maybe it will finally put to rest all those liverfail fans who make fun of Roman for having so much $$... Nah I doubt it.

[Rappy Veteran]

Eggert Magnusson might be returning to West Ham if you believe The Sun...which I don't!

[Martyn]

Maybe it will finally put to rest all those liverfail fans who make fun of Roman for having so much $$... Nah I doubt it.

Without 'Roman', you wouldn't be a Chelsea fan.

Unlucky la.

[gregb0b]

zing! good one martyn

Not. I've been a blues fan all my life thanks to the parents my friend ;)

[leesmithg]

Without 'Roman', you wouldn't be a Chelsea fan.

Unlucky la.

Thats true.

I remember when the only requirement in being a Chelsea fan was a skin-ed, in a half filled stadium.

Now you see middle class house-wives in all the kit standing, (when they should be sitting) latching onto a glory hunter ride.

Soon, Shaktar will call and Abramobitch will be off.

[Rappy Veteran]

Potential Liverpool-investor Prince Faisal will have nothing to do with the club unless they can prove they are in a good financial position.

The Saudi prince has reportedly been in contact with Liverpool co-owner George Gillett over a potential buy-out of his share, and he also has eyes on Tom Hicks' half of the club.

However, Barry Didato, an aide of Faisal, has insisted that any potential investment could be determined by the club's bank balance, with Faisal unwilling to clear any debts.

Didato said: "His Highness' shareholding could go from anything from nought to 100 per cent.

"The debt has to be at a manageable level before Prince Faisal would invest and the current level is high.

"He cannot be looked to as someone who is going to clean up the balance sheet - Gillett has to deal with this.

"But he cannot be seen as a solution to the debt or problems in the existing relationship between the owners."

Strained relationship

American business partners Gillett and Hicks have seen their relationship tarnished since moving into English sport, with the club constantly being linked to new investors.

The pair have disagreed as the club aim to finance a new stadium while also building a competitive team, but Didato revealed Faisal is reluctant to become a peacemaker.

He added: "His Highness would not want to get involved (in the problems between the pair), he is not a marriage counsellor."

Gillett and Hicks last week issued a joint statement, stressing that any talks to bring in new investment were "at an early stage."

Gillett stated earlier this week that Liverpool are in an "extraordinarily good financial condition", better than Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal.

Skysports

[Subject Delta]

Maybe it will finally put to rest all those liverfail fans who make fun of Roman for having so much $$... Nah I doubt it.

Or maybe we can do the ultimate Chelsea / Man City and also try to buy the league? Hell I cant stand man united, but at least they actually earnt and deserve their success.

[leesmithg]

Or maybe we can do the ultimate Chelsea / Man City and also try to buy the league? Hell I cant stand man united, but at least they actually earnt and deserve their success.

Manchester United are in huge debt also.

I think that the F.A. should introduce a system where gate receipts are larger (even 1p) than output, wages, running costs, fines etc....

If not clubs should lose points.

We will end up with Football being like Horse Racing, pumped full of endless pots of money by wealthy Arabs.

[Subject Delta]

I know united are in a lot of debt, but unlike Chelsea they didn't go from nothing to a huge team overnight thanks to a rich sugar daddy bankrolling their success.

[Kralik]

One reason I rather we finish fourth for another season or two and get rid of the debt than sell to Kroenke or Usmanov..

[leesmithg]

One reason I rather we finish fourth for another season or two and get rid of the debt than sell to Kroenke or Usmanov..

We don't have a debt.

We made a ?30,000,000 profit last season.

Does not include sales of Toure and Adebayor.

The only thing that could be classed as a debt would be the building of a new stadium.

We still have monies available from the sale of Highbury and the building of the new homes.

I would guess that Arsenal FC is the best run club in all the leagues financially and the least likely to go out of business.

[Subject Delta]

Arsenal:

Profit before tax ?36.7m

Debts ?416m

Interest payable ?26m

Liverpool made ?30 off million profit last season, but profit is no use when it all goes into paying off debts

Source

[leesmithg]

Arsenal's' is paying for the stadium.

[asim0]

Barcelona and Manchester City are reported to have agreed a deal for Robinho to move to the Spanish club in January.

Fox Sports Australia

The Brazil striker is said to have already agreed a four-and-a-half year contract after Barcelona confirmed they would match his current $320,00 per-week deal.

The only sticking point to the $66 million deal is thought to be the personal approval of City owner Sheik Mansour, according to Barcelona-based newspaper Sport.

There is also the psychological impact of getting rid of their original big-money signing, who heralded the start of the mega-money days at Eastlands.

Barcelona have never hidden their desire to lure the striker to the NouCamp, and have recently hinted he is one of their main targets for the January transfer window, but press sources in Manchester are hinting there might be a rearguard action from City to keep him at the club.

[Rappy Veteran]

wow if true :|

I wonder why City would sell, obviously now City will spend more hundreds replacing him!

[Kralik]

They are selling their most technically sound striker if its true.. but they do have atleast 5 more to replace him..

[Rappy Veteran]

End in sight for Reds talks

Saudi Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah believes talks over his F6 company buying a major stake in Liverpool are nearing a conclusion.

Prince Faisal's comments came on Wednesday as Liverpool co-owner George Gillett visited Riyadh.

He said: "Our negotiations to buy shares in Liverpool are ongoing, meetings are taking place and we might be in the final stages in the coming days."

Gillett was in Riyadh mainly to discuss a project regarding the creation of Liverpool soccer academies around the region, Prince Faisal added.

In recent weeks, both parties have admitted that potential investment from the prince has been firmly on the agenda.

Gillett and club co-owner Tom Hicks have been seeking new investment in Liverpool after refinancing some of the club's large debt during the summer.

The two met with Prince Sultan bin Fahd, president of the Saudi Youth Welfare organisation and chairman of the Saudi League, on Wednesday.

"The purpose of the visit of the owner of Liverpool Football Club to Saudi Arabia is to understand the sports industry and to learn about the facilities and the potential of the main clubs in order to set up the Liverpool Academy in Saudi Arabia," Prince Faisal said.

The agreement between F6, a sports marketing and investment firm controlled by Faisal, would also provide opportunities for young Saudi players to train at Liverpool, he added.

[Subject Delta]

They are selling their most technically sound striker if its true.. but they do have atleast 5 more to replace him..

If Robhino is leaving them now, he obviously isn't as confident as he was when he arrived that they have a chance of making it big.

End in sight for Reds talks

Saudi Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah believes talks over his F6 company buying a major stake in Liverpool are nearing a conclusion.

Prince Faisal's comments came on Wednesday as Liverpool co-owner George Gillett visited Riyadh.

He said: "Our negotiations to buy shares in Liverpool are ongoing, meetings are taking place and we might be in the final stages in the coming days."

Gillett was in Riyadh mainly to discuss a project regarding the creation of Liverpool soccer academies around the region, Prince Faisal added.

In recent weeks, both parties have admitted that potential investment from the prince has been firmly on the agenda.

Gillett and club co-owner Tom Hicks have been seeking new investment in Liverpool after refinancing some of the club's large debt during the summer.

The two met with Prince Sultan bin Fahd, president of the Saudi Youth Welfare organisation and chairman of the Saudi League, on Wednesday.

"The purpose of the visit of the owner of Liverpool Football Club to Saudi Arabia is to understand the sports industry and to learn about the facilities and the potential of the main clubs in order to set up the Liverpool Academy in Saudi Arabia," Prince Faisal said.

The agreement between F6, a sports marketing and investment firm controlled by Faisal, would also provide opportunities for young Saudi players to train at Liverpool, he added.

Personally I hope the amount sold is 100%

[rajputwarrior]

i hope some saudi prince buys us, then we can buy new players :D

[Rappy Veteran]

Fergie writes to Defour

Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded Manchester United's interest in Steven Defour after sending a letter to the Standard Liege captain reassuring him that he remains in his thoughts.

The talented Belgium international is currently sidelined after breaking a bone in his foot, but was the subject of considerable interest in the summer.

Defour has previously attracted the attention of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, while Everton had a ?9million bid for the player rejected in the close season.

Liege are under no pressure to sell as Defour is under contract until 2013, while a move in January is prohibited in any case by his injury.

It would appear though that United could be weighing up a move in the summer as Ferguson has moved to reassure Defour of his interest.

The letter, which has been released to the media, reads: "Dear Steven, I have just heard about your injury and, in the name of Manchester United, I would like to wish you a full and speedy recovery.

"I am sure at the moment you must be feeling awful and that you'll have all kinds of questions.

Progress monitored

"Steven, these are natural worries but I have to tell you that modern medicine and treatments are incredible, you have to have confidence in them.

"I'm going to follow your progress closely and I will remain in contact with your club to have news of your recovery."

Defour was delighted to receive Ferguson's letter but the 21-year-old was swift to point out that the Premier League club had done everything by the book and had sent it to his club to pass onto him.

"One thing I should like to highlight is that Ferguson has followed his interest officially," Defour told Het Laatste Nieuws. "He addressed the letter to Standard.

"I think the attention is great, but I do not want people to think I am already at Manchester, which is by no means the case.

"But if they come knocking, then I would obviously not cause problems."

Defour, who is rated as one of the most promising players in Belgium, is targeting the match against Anderlecht on 16th January for his comeback date.

[rajputwarrior]

honestly, liverpool and man u gotta get some players for january transfer window or else i don't see any team taking on chelsea for the top spot this year.