IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Everton forward Steven Naismith ready to buy tickets for Liverpool's unemployed
Steven Naismith, the Everton forward, to buy tickets for unemployed in Liverpool in an effort to 'bring some joy to the people'
Generous: Steven Naismith, the Everton forward, has put his hand in his pocket Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Telegraph Sport, and agencies
5:04PM BST 04 Aug 2014
Steven Naismith, the Everton forward, has bought tickets for his team's home games to donate to unemployed people across Liverpool. The 27-year-old forward, who joined the club from Rangers in 2012, said: "I come from Ayrshire in the West of Scotland and spent a lot of my life in Glasgow – a city that, at times, has suffered from high unemployment.
"Liverpool has a similar history and I am aware that, through no fault of their own, there are many unemployed in Liverpool trying hard to find a job and may not be able to afford a ticket.
"I thought this might be a small gesture to help those in that situation to enjoy a day out at one of our league matches. Hopefully it can bring some joy to many people.
"I've tried to think of some different ideas that will make a difference since I've been at Everton and this was one that was simple and should probably have been thought about before.
"It was just working out what was the best way to do it, tying in with the Jobcentre and giving the tickets to people who have been working hard to try to find a job or get interviews and having a hard time.
"People can lose confidence and give up so hopefully this can help boost their morale and show there are rewards for the hard work they're doing and keep them motivated to try to find a job.
"I've seen it close to me with friends and family so I understand how tough it can be and how low people can get when they're trying hard and nothing's coming of it. I know these wee things do make a difference."
Naismith, who joined Everton from Rangers in 2012, is no stranger to charity work and helps homeless centres in Liverpool and his former home city of Glasgow.
He also launched a project in Glasgow to help injured service personnel back to mainstream employment and is an ambassador for Dyslexia Scotland.
"There's a unique platform in the job that I'm in that you can reach a lot of people and I'll definitely be willing to do most things if I think it's a worthy cause and it's going to make a difference," said Naismith.
"The things I've done in the past have been very successful and hopefully this will be another thing that runs smoothly and proves successful for the community."
Naismith's gesture is a recognition that Premier League tickets are often out of the reach of ordinary fans but the Scotland international believes elite football is not as disconnected from local communities as is often made out.
"There's a lot of good things footballers do," he said.
"Some things do get noticed and some things don't. I think there's probably a minority that are disconnected from fans but I've not come across many that are.
"I think it's something that's very exaggerated and probably Chinese whispers from one person to the next whereas, when people do meet these guys, they're down-to-earth guys who have come from very humble backgrounds.
"They do realise what people go through in day-to-day life."
Chelsea Youngster Christian Atsu’s Everton Move Set To Fall Through
by Patrick Williamson August 4th, 2014
Blues concerned about possibly playing time at Goodison Park.
Everton’s loan move for young winger Christian Atsu from Chelsea is on the vere of collapse, according to the Mirror, who report that the Blues are set to pull the plug on the deal over concerns about the amount of first team football the Ghanaian would receive at Goodison Park.
Atsu was believed to be on the verge of a move to join up with Roberto Martinez, but it is suggested that the Spaniard would only see Atsu as a back-up member of his squad, rather than a player who would be receiving the consistent first team football that Chelsea believe he would require.
Atsu spent last season on loan in the Eredivisie with Vitesse Arnhem and impressed in Holland, after being signed from FC Porto, and his performances for his nation at the World Cup have only served to underline his potential as a star of the future.
The collapse of his move to Everton could open the door for other potential Premier League suitors, with West Ham United amongst the other clubs who are believed to hold an interest in taking Atsu on loan for the season.
Everton had been believed to have streaked ahead in the race to secure a deal for the player, but these new revelations will give increased hope to the likes of Sam Allardyce that they can secure Atsu to bolster squads ahead of the new Premier League season, starting in a fortnight.
Arsenal have allowed one of their up-and-coming starlets to depart the club on loan today, with League One club Milton Keynes Dons confirming that striker Benik Afobe has joined them on a season long loan deal.
The quick, powerful young centre spent part of last season on loan in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday but, after scoring just 2 goals for the Owls, he has dropped back down into League One where he previously spent time with Huddersfield Town.
Having struggled to make an impact at Arsenal at the age of 21 it is hard to see Afobe having a long-term future at the Emirates Stadium, but an impressive season on loan at Stadium:MK could catapult him back into manager Arsene Wenger’s plans.
The Dons have earned something of a reputation in recent years for developing young talent, with Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford having flourished on loan at the club last season and teenage defender Brendan Galloway recently having been sold to Everton for a six-figure fee and midfielder Dele Alli having been linked with a host of the country’s top clubs this summer.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal insists he will tell players he wants to offload face to face
Aug 04, 2014 02:02
By David McDonnell
The Dutchman, 62, will inform the players - likely to include Nani, Shinji Kagawa, Marounae Fellaini and Javier Hernandez - after the club's tour of the US
Let's have a chat: LVG will tell those he wants to ditch face to face
Louis van Gaal says he will have no problem telling face-to-face those Manchester United players he does not want.
Van Gaal has used United's summer tour of the US to assess the players he inherited from David Moyes and will offload several of them once back in Manchester.
And the Dutchman, 62, said he would have no problem telling those players who are not part of his plans, with Nani, Shinji Kagawa, Marounae Fellaini and Javier Hernandez all likely to be jettisoned.
"I shall make judgements after this tour," said Van Gaal.
"I will let all the players play and I know now more than before the tour.
"Now also it is a little bit soon to judge, but in football you have to judge.
"You have to give a chance to the player to make a transfer when I see that his prospects to play are not so high.
"You have to say it in advance because it’s too late after August 31 [transfer deadline day].
"I will tell payers after the tour but to them, not to you."
United take on arch rivals Liverpool in the final of the International Champions Cup in the early hours of Tuesday in Miami's Sun Life Stadium.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said managing in the Premier League would be different to anything Van Gaal had experienced before.
Van Gaal agreed with Rodgers, but pointed out he won three trophies in his first season at Barcelona and the German double in his first year at Bayern Munich.
"Maybe he [Rodgers] is right because I have not experienced the Premier League," said van Gaal.
"But I was also in Spain and in my first year I won three trophies, and I also won two trophies in my first season in Germany.
"So maybe one trophy here [in his first season at United] and we are all happy."
Van Gaal repeated his belief that striker Robin van Persie, who only returned to training today after three weeks off following the World Cup, would not make United's first game of the season at home to Swansea on August 16.
"I have to look at Robin van Persie to see how he is coming back," said van Gaal.
"But normally, if you are training four days before our game against Valencia [on August 12], you are not fit enough, after you have had three weeks' holiday.
"Maybe the first match of the season is okay [for RVP to play] but I don't think it's possible."
The striker, signed from Liverpool for €19m last summer, has suffered another setback as he bids to complete a full season at Upton Park and is struggling to deal with the blow
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has described injured striker Andy Carroll as "pretty miserable" following another injury setback.
The 25-year-old striker, who joined the Hammers from Liverpool for €19 million last year, is currently sidelined with an ankle injury that will see him miss the start of the Premier League season.
Having also missed a large part of the 2013-14 campaign, Carroll is struggling to come to terms with his latest setback.
"He is pretty miserable," Allardyce admitted to reporters. "He is not very happy with life at the moment because it is a massive blow to him again.
"We just have to pick his spirits up. Hopefully when the boot comes off and the specialist gives him the okay to start working again he will feel a lot happier with himself.
"But he is certainly very upset and very miserable at this moment in time."
Ecuadorian forward Enner Valencia joined the club earlier this summer but he too will miss the start of the 2014-15 campaign.
Official: West Brom sign Costa Rica right-back Gamboa
By Chris Davie
Aug 5, 2014 18:38:00
The 24-year-old joins from Norwegian side Rosenborg and has signed a three-year contract with Alan Irvine's side after his work permit application appeal was accepted
West Brom have completed the signing of Cristian Gamboa from Norwegian side Rosenborg for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old right-back, who started in all five of Costa Rica's fixtures at the World Cup this summer, has signed a three-year deal with Alan Irvine's side, after his work permit application was approved by a Football Association (FA) appeal panel on Tuesday.
“As I commented the other day, it would have been amazing if Cristian had not been granted a work permit and we’re obviously satisfied with today’s outcome," Irvine told the club's official website.
“Cristian is a player I was extremely impressed by during the World Cup.
"We faced stiff competition from other Premier League clubs for his services but we've managed to convince Cristian that West Bromwich Albion is the best club for him to join.
"Cristian is a quick, aggressive defender with good energy levels. He gets up and down the pitch really well and we believe he will continue to improve."
Gamboa becomes West Brom's eighth signing this summer following the arrivals of Brown Ideye, Craig Gardner, Joleon Lescott, Chris Baird, Sebastien Pocognoli, Jason Davidson and Andre Wisdom, who has joined on a season-long loan from Liverpool.
The Serbia Under-19 international has completed his move to the Premier League giants but has been loaned back to his current club for the 2014-15 season
Manchester United have completed the signing of goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic from FK Vojvodina.
The Red Devils initially agreed a deal for the 17-year-old in May and have now finalised the deal, which will see the shot-stopper loaned back to the Serbian side for the 2014-15 season.
Milinkovic is an under-19 international and, upon his belated arrival in Manchester, will compete with David De Gea, Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos for a starting spot at Old Trafford.
"After lengthy talks that have taken place over the past month, we have finally completed negotiations on Monday and we can officially inform the public that our young and promising goalkeeper has joined Manchester United," FK Vojvodina president Zoran Scepanovic stated.
"He will remain in Vojvodina for the next year, where he will be under the supervision of our experts and coaches from the English football giants, while continuing to train and perform in the jersey of his home club.
"This is an opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the realisation of this transfer. I want to point out Manchester United's very correct attitude [during the transfer talks]."
Huws extends Manchester City contract & joins Wigan on loan
Aug 5, 2014 18:54:00
The youngster has put pen to paper on a new deal at the Etihad and has subsequently joined up with Uwe Rosler's Latics as they look to gain promotion to the Premier League
Emyr Huws has signed a new two-year contract with Manchester City and joined Wigan Athletic on loan until January.
The Wales international made his competitive debut in last season's FA Cup win over Blackburn and spent the second half of the 2013-14 campaign on loan at Birmingham, winning the club's Player of the Month award in his first month at the club.
The 20-year-old will now hope to continue his development at the DW Stadium under Uwe Rosler as the Latics look to return to the top-flight.
Patrick Vieira, head of City’s Elite Development Squad, told the club’s official website: “I’m really pleased that Emyr is going to continue his development as a player under a manager who knows City so well. Uwe knows perfectly how the club works and how we like to play.
“Emyr is a great talent of this club which he proved on loan at Birmingham City last year – he showed that he can play at Championship level but this time it will be a different challenge.
“Whereas last year, he was fighting against relegation with Birmingham, this time he’s going to a club expecting to win and aiming to win promotion, so I’m really pleased he’s both agreed to stay on at City until 2016 and that he’s taken this opportunity Wigan have offered him.”
English FA introduces groundbreaking concussion guidelines
By Matthew Rogerson
Aug 5, 2014 19:48:00
After a number of high profile incidents during last season and this summer's World Cup, the English footballing body has moved to take action
New guidelines from the English Football Association will see players who lose consciousness during a match taken away from the field of play.
The subject of concussion has regularly been in the headlines over recent months, following incidents in the Premier League and at the World Cup.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris suffered concussion during November's fixture with Everton before Alvaro Pereira, Javier Mascherano and Cristoph Kramer all played on despite receiving blows to the head in Brazil.
And in new rules unveiled on Tuesday, which are supported by the Premier League, the Football League and the League Manager's Association, any player who suffers a "confirmed or suspected period of loss of consciousness" will be forced to leave the field of play and not be allowed to return.
Where there are no signs of concussion, an on-field assessment must take place, and any player who suffers two or more head injuries must be given detailed psychometric testing.
"Such testing should be carried out every 48 hours following an incident to assess the injury whilst a clinical assessment should be made daily, with a minimum period of six days in which time the player will be ineligible to return to play," the FA said in a statement.
Furthermore, after ratification from the Premier League's shareholders, team doctors will now have the final say on whether a player can continue or not, rather than members of the coaching staff.
Dr Ian Beasley, chair of the FA's medical committee, said: "Managers, players and clubs need to understand the risks associated with head injuries.
"The advice of medical professionals is key in this area, and whilst we have developed processes to deal with many types of injury, this is an area that has perhaps needed some more scrutiny.
"We have worked closely with the stakeholders to develop these new guidelines and the message is clear for players; listen to medical advice and take no chances - stop playing and take your time to recover."
Official: West Brom sign Australia defender Davidson
Aug 5, 2014 22:54:00
The Socceroos left-back has joined the Baggies on a two-year deal, having impressed for his country against Spain, Chile and Netherlands in Brazil at this summer's World Cup
West Brom have completed the signing of Jason Davidson from Dutch side Heracles Almelo.
The 23-year-old left-back, who featured for Australia at the World Cup earlier this summer, has signed a two-year contract with Alan Irvine's side.
Davidson becomes the Baggies' seventh signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Joleon Lescott, Craig Gardner, Chris Baird, Brown Ideye, Sebastien Pocognoli and Andre Wisdom.
"I'm delighted we've been able to complete a deal for Jason. He had a fantastic World Cup when he performed very well against three top teams," Irvine told the club's official website.
"Jason is a good defender who has lots of energy, gets forward well and will give us competition for places at left-back with Sebastien Pocognoli.
"Due to contractual issues with his former club, there's been a delay in Jason coming. This means he hasn't trained properly since the World Cup so he's going to need a little bit of time to catch up before we can expect him to perform at the levels he's capable of.
"I spoke to Tim Cahill about Jason and he recommended him very, very highly both as a player and character. Tim sees him as a young player who will do extremely well in England and develop even further."
Davidson made over 50 appearances for Heracles and has earned 11 caps for Australia.
Premier League's new ruling gives club doctors final say over players with concussion
Managers will no longer be able to decide whether a player can carry on after suffering a serious head injury
Out cold: Tottenham's Hugo Lloris played on despite losing consciousness against Everton last season Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Jeremy Wilson, Deputy Football Correspondent
10:30PM BST 05 Aug 2014
The Premier League has introduced a new set of rules to address concussion in football that includes the stipulation that managers must defer to the club team doctor in deciding whether a player stays on the pitch.
An additional tunnel doctor will be mandatory at every Premier League fixture to assist and liaise with the team medics, often with the help of video replays, while every player will be encouraged to take a pre-season neuropsychological test to assess their “baseline” functioning.
Medics and doctors will also carry a ‘concussion recognition tool’ that will be provided to clubs and contains key guidance on assessing concussion. It is a medical condition that is particularly difficult to diagnose and which may only produce clear symptoms several days after the initial contact.
“We must overcome the idea that it is brave or heroic to play on and accept that this is an injury that cannot be run off,” said Gary O’Driscoll, the Arsenal club doctor and chairman of the Premier League club doctors’ group.
The clear message to managers will be that they must follow the medical advice of their doctors and not be swayed by any desire to keep a player on the pitch for footballing reasons.
The new initiatives follow a series of high-profile incidents last season when serious concerns were raised at how managers and players were responding to head injuries. Most prominent was when Andre Villas-Boas, then the Tottenham manager, allowed Hugo Lloris to stay on the pitch against Everton after he appeared to lose consciousness.
He was then forced to rest Lloris against Newcastle the following week on the advice of his medical staff.
O’Driscoll admits that medics can sometimes be put under huge pressure but it is hoped that the new initiatives will ensure managers and players are better educated.
“It’s extremely difficult,” said O’Driscoll, who previously also worked in rugby union with Ireland and the British Lions. “Personally I am very lucky at our club that, in my past experience, my recommendation has been taken. But any sport, at elite level, a doctor is under huge pressure. There are definitely managers who are difficult to work with and understandably.
“You can’t be pulling players off left, right and centre as a team doctor but you have to be in a position whereby you have the confidence in those thankfully rare incidents where there is a significant concussion.”
Following the Lloris incident – and a head injury sustained by Romelu Lukaku for Everton – the Premier League formed a medical working group last season. This involved the Premier League doctors’ group, the Football Association, the Players’ Football Association, the League Managers’ Association and experts and representatives from other sports such as the surgeon Peter Hamlyn, who operated on boxer Michael Watson, as well as representatives from the Rugby Football Union and the British Horseracing Authority.
The working party has been chaired by Ian Beasley, the England football team’s doctor, who regularly watches his son compete in local football. “We want to educate everybody – mums, dads, school-teachers, players and coaches,” he said.
The changes were voted on and approved by the Premier League earlier in the summer and presentations will now be given to players, referees and managers.
The FA has also launched a concussion awareness campaign that contains video messages from the England squad.
Old Trafford executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has held meetings with the AC Milan midfielder's representatives, with the Dutchman keen to work under Louis van Gaal again
EXCLUSIVE
By David Craddock
Manchester United have made the first move in a bid to sign Netherlands international Nigel de Jong in a €10 million deal, Goal understands.
Having already brought Ander Herrera to the club this summer, manager Louis van Gaal made it clear to United officials that he is happy to work with what he has in the midfield area - at least until his no.1 target, Kevin Strootman, fully recovers from a serious knee injury.
But executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been working tirelessly behind the scenes in a bid to strengthen the Dutchman's options and, having identified De Jong as a potential recruit, met with the Milan midfielder's representatives in London on Tuesday.
Those talks are understood to have gone well, with De Jong desperate to link up with Van Gaal.
The Dutchman could now become United's third major summer signing, following on from the arrivals of Herrera and Luke Shaw.
And Van Gaal is understood to have given the move the green light, having worked well with De Jong in his former role as Netherlands coach and in particular at this summer's World Cup.
The 29-year-old was forced out of the second round victory over Mexico early on with a groin problem, but made a remarkable return from injury for the semi-final defeat to Argentina and was singled out for praise by Van Gaal for his contribution during the group stages.
"I don't like singling out players, but Nigel de Jong was inspirational," Van Gaal said after the 3-2 victory over Australia.
United's move for De Jong comes on the back of a prolonged and thus far unsuccessful pursuit of Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal.
Despite the player and Juventus both going on record to insist a deal with United would not happen, reports of a move continue apace.
The arrival of De Jong, however, would appear to put those links to bed - if a deal can now be successfully concluded with Milan.
Chelsea's all-time record goalscorer will train and play for the Premier League champions ahead of New York City FC's inaugural MLS campaign, which starts in March 2015
Manchester City have confirmed that former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has joined the club on loan.
The 36-year-old ended a 13-year stay with the Stamford Bridge outfit in July after agreeing to join new MLS outfit New York City on a free transfer, but has now joined the Premier League champions until January.
Lampard is expected be registered for City's Premier League and Champions League squads as he looks to maintain fitness ahead of the MLS season in March 2015, and called the loan move a "fantastic opportunity".
"Joining up with Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity for me to continue to train and play at the top level and make sure I am in top condition for New York City," he told the club' official website.
"This is a new chapter of my career and I'm really excited about the experience.
"I met Manuel and some of the players in New York and I'm looking forward to getting into training and making a contribution for Manchester City ahead of my move over to New York."
Lampard becomes City's fourth summer signing, after Willy Caballero, Fernando and Bacary Sagna, and manager Manuel Pellegrini is delighted to be able to call upon Chelsea's all-time record goalscorer.
Pellegrini said: "Frank is a world-class midfielder and this is an opportunity which works perfectly for everyone, the player, Manchester City, and New York City.
"I'm looking forward to working with him and integrating him into our squad. New York have made a fantastic signing by recruiting Frank, and I'm really pleased that we'll be able to have him with us for the first half of our season and help prepare him for his new challenge."
"This is the perfect opportunity for Frank," New York City FC sporting director, Claudio Reyna, added. "He is in great shape following the World Cup, and training and playing with our colleagues in Manchester will enable to Frank to be fit and ready for our inaugural training camp."
The likes of ex-Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger have queried the move, but Jose Mourinho has insisted Lampard can do whatever he wants following the expiry of his contract with the club.
Official: Liverpool sign Manquillo on loan from Atletico Madrid
Aug 6, 2014 13:02:00
The right-back will provide competition for Glen Johnson at full-back after joining on a season-long deal
Liverpool have completed the signing of Javier Manquillo on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid.
"I'm very happy to have signed for a club like Liverpool. I think it's one of the biggest in Europe. Any footballer would want to come and play here," Manquillo told the club's official website.
"When they tell you Liverpool want to sign you, I think like any player, you are going to be absolutely amazed and you don't think of anything else than going straight there.
"It's a team that nowadays, as I said before, any player would want to be a part of."
The Spain youth international becomes Brendan Rodgers's seventh summer signing after Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Lazar Markovic and Divock Origi.
Rodgers warns Van Gaal: Premier League will take you by surprise
Aug 6, 2014 07:58:00
The Liverpool boss believes his Manchester United counterpart has never experienced such a competitive and hotly-contested division before and is anticipating an open title race
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal could struggle with the unpredictability of the Premier League.
The Dutchman has yet to lose since taking over at Old Trafford, and a positive pre-season campaign culminated in a 3-1 victory over the Merseysiders in Miami to claim the International Champions Cup.
Rodgers, though, believes Van Gaal has not experienced anything quite like the Premier League in his long and successful career and is convinced the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach has a challenge on his hands to adapt.
“I think what he’ll find is the competition in this league will be different from any other league that he’s worked in,” said the Northern Irishman. “In a lot of the other leagues there are one or two teams and those are the teams that are expected to win.
“This is a league where the top team plays the bottom team and on any given day you can lose. You don’t get that a lot in the other leagues. I think the competition will probably take him by surprise and that’s from foreign managers I have spoken to over the years.
“I’ve worked closely with foreign players who have come in and that real physical competitive nature will be different from anywhere else he’s worked before.”
Rodgers almost masterminded a stunning title tilt last season, falling just short, and he believes it will be even harder to claim Premier League glory in the upcoming campaign due to the abundance of quality at the top of the division.
“I think it’s going to be really as competitive,” the Liverpool boss continued. “Last season was great and right the way through there were four or five teams right up there, and then in the closing months it narrowed down a wee bit.
“The Premier League historically shows that it’s a very competitive league. Man United will want to bounce back, Chelsea will be strong, Manchester City are the champions so they’ll be the favourites.
“The likes of Tottenham have been up there the last couple of seasons. When Harry Redknapp was there they were a Champions League team. So the numbers are there to make it really competitive again and difficult to forecast.”
Juventus defender Mauricio Isla has completed terms on a season-long loan deal with QPR, with the London club awaiting work-permit confirmation.
Wednesday 6th August 2014
The 26-year-old Chilean should see his QPR move confirmed once the club receive official endorsement on the transfer from the Football Association.
Manager Harry Redknapp has secured Isla's services on a one-year loan with a view to a permanent transfer, Press Association Sport understands.
The 47-cap Chile defender has completed his medical at Loftus Road and tweeted news of his move on Tuesday morning, before later removing the post.
Redknapp's fourth summer signing should be officially ratified just a day after QPR paid a fee believed to reach £6million to prise Jordon Mutch away from Cardiff City.
PSV Eindhoven have told Sky Sports they have not received any contact from Tottenham over a deal to sign Holland winger Memphis Depay.
Memphis Depay (C) of PSV Eindhoven vies with FC Ch
Friday 8th August 2014
Reports in the press earlier this week claimed Spurs were keen to sign the 20-year-old in a move that would include Nacer Chadli moving the other way.
But a PSV spokesperson told Sky Sports: "There has been no contact from Spurs whatsoever.
"Our sporting director Marcel Brands stated to Dutch media yesterday that he expects Memphis to stay at the club and Nacer Chadli is not of interest to us.
"We are in Austria at the moment for our Europa League game against SKN St Polten and Memphis is in the squad. He is fully focused on the game."
Depay impressed under Louis van Gaal at the World Cup, becoming the youngest-ever Dutchman to score in the tournament with goals in the group games against Australia and Chile.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes has revealed his hopes of landing Oussama Assaidi on a permanent basis have "gone cold".
Friday 8th August 2014
Liverpool striker Assaidi spent all of last season on loan with the Potters, scoring five goals in 25 appearances.
Despite Hughes' eagerness to link up with the 25-year-old Moroccan again, the Welshman fears he may have to look elsewhere for the one player he claims he needs to complete his squad ahead of the new season.
"It's common knowledge Ozzie is somebody we would like to bring into the club, but at the moment that deal has gone cold," Hughes told Stoke City Player.
"He is one we have chased for a while now, but there hasn't been any real movement on that front, so we will just have to wait and see what the situation is with regards to that deal."
Argentinian defender Santiago Vergini has rejoined Sunderland on loan.
Friday 8th August 2014
The 26-year old made 14 appearances for the Black Cats following a loan move from Estudiantes in January.
After an unconvincing start, he was a part of the team which finished the season strongly to preserve Sunderland's place in the Barclays Premier League.
Vergini, a central defender who also played at right-back for the Wearsiders, told the club's official website: "I'm very thankful to the club for giving me this opportunity.
"I am very happy to be here once again. I'm also very happy to see so many recognisable faces.
"The challenge for me is to become part of this team and offer all I can so we have a good season. The feeling that I've had here at this club has been very good. It's a big club."
Vergini becomes Sunderland's sixth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, defenders Billy Jones and Patrick van Aanholt and midfielders Jordi Gomez and Jack Rodwell.
Nicky Butt confirms he is staying at Manchester United after ‘Class of 92’ are beaten in friendly by Salford City
Old-boys reunion ends in 5-1 defeat to Salford City in pre-season friendly before Nicky Butt confirms he will remain at Old Trafford under new manager Louis van Gaal
Blasts from the past: Manchester United's 'Class of 92' faced Salford City in a pre-season friendly on Thursday night Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Graham Chase
11:34PM BST 07 Aug 2014
Ryan Giggs scored from the penalty spot as Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’ team were comfortably beaten by the Salford City side they have invested in at a sold out AJ Bell Stadium.
Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary and Phil Neville and Nicky Butt, who has confirmed he is staying on at United, all got involved with the Evo-Stick team earlier this year and so therefore could at least take some form of satisfaction from the way their other team breezed past them.
United assistant manager Giggs, 40, only retired at the end of last season and was in action only 48 hours after returning from the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
“I couldn’t turn down the opportunity of putting the boots on with the lads again. It’s for a good cause, we’re all involved with Salford City, it’s a great way of raising the profile,” he said.
“If we wanted glamour we wouldn’t be doing this but we’re getting a lot of benefits and a lot of happiness from what we’re doing at the moment.”
The five club legends last started a professional match together in United’s 1-1 draw with Porto in the Champions League semi-finals in 2004, when Jose Mourinho famously skidded on his knees after seeing his team reach the final.
It took only a couple of minutes after the delayed kick-off to allow the majority of an 11,000 crowd inside for a familiar combination of groans and winces after Scholes clattered Phil Marsh but the midfielder also showed his quality with a lovely diagonal pass.
With Robbie Savage offering a different option to Ruud van Nistelrooy or Eric Cantona as a lone striker ahead of them, the Class of 92, managed by their old youth coach Eric Harrison, made little early impact going forward.
And they were indebted to an incredible save from goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw, 51, from Ashley Dunn’s effort.
Salford took the lead when Paul Linwood headed in from a corner Nicky Platt rolled into the bottom corner but Giggs pulled one back from the spot before the break.
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan came on in attack at half-time but Marsh headed in Salford’s third before Savage was replaced by comedian Jack Whitehall and ex-England bowler Steve Harmison came on at the back before Salford got two more on the break through Gareth Seddon and Mike Oates.
Phil Neville has confirmed he has left United and will now work as a pundit, while brother Gary is combining that role with an England coaching position.
Butt has been working with the reserve side but will adopt a wider role under new manager Louis van Gaal and is expecting big things from both United and Salford City.
He said: “We all have dreams. Firstly we [Salford City] need to get into the Football League as soon as possible. How long that will take I don’t know. But once we are there we can reach for the stars.
“Everyone expects Manchester United to contend for the title. We finished as low as we have done last season. But when the season starts, everyone will expect.”
On his new role, Butt added: “It is a bit of a wider remit now. I’m more looking over all age groups but that needs to be finalised in the next few weeks.
“(Van Gaal) is obviously a very in-control man. He has an aura about him – when he walks in the building, you know who the boss is, and I think that is very important.”
Asked if they can contend for the title, Butt added: “Yes, it is. The new manager is in charge now. We are on an unbeaten run. Now we are looking to make a good start to the season with the first five games we have got.”
