Football news

Real Madrid have said they do not want to keep Robinho against his will after the Brazil forward expressed his desire to join Chelsea before next week's transfer deadline.

However, the Spanish champions have made it clear Robinho will have to resolve his contractual position before he is allowed to move.

"Real Madrid would never want to retain a player against his wishes and as a result they have no alternative but to accept his unilateral decision to rescind his contract if that is what the player wants," the club's statement said.

Real did not make it clear if they would negotiate a deal with Chelsea for the sale of Robinho or if they were insisting he reaches an agreement to end his contract which has a buy-out clause of 150 million euros ($223 million).

Arsenal ready to let Senderos go

Arsenal are set to part company with Philippe Senderos the London club's central defender, following the arrival of Mikael Silvestre from Manchester United .

Milan are said to be interested in the Swiss international but it seems Newcastle are also in the hunt for the player. Milan need reinforcements at the back due to continuing injuries for Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and Kakha Kaladze.

Newcastle are ready to fork out £6m to have the player before the deadline. Milan have proposed the same sum, but only as an option after a year on loan in Serie A.

Relations between Arsenal and Milan are strained at the moment after Arsene Wenger lambasted Milan for their behaviour this summer. Not only did they take Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer, but Milan also openly courted Emmanuel Adebayor.

Spurs renew Arshavin interest

Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur are understood to have revived their interest in Andrei Arshavin, of Russia, following news that Zenit St Petersburg look ready to lower their asking price from their initial £20 million.

Zenit, who play Manchester United in next Friday's UEFA Super Cup, lowered Arshavin's price a week ago, then set a new figure just days after releasing a statement insisting Spurs' deadline for bidding had passed.

Spurs are in the market after Robbie Keane left for Liverpool and Dimitar Berbatov submitted a formal transfer request as he wants to join United.

Shevchenko to return to Milan

Striker Andriy Shevchenko is returning to Milan from Chelsea, both clubs said yesterday.

"Chelsea have agreed terms for Andriy Shevchenko to return to Milan. Details of the agreement will remain confidential," the English club said.

The Ukraine forward moved from Milan to Chelsea in 2006 but struggled for form and fitness during two difficult seasons in West London.

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani was overjoyed to re-sign the 31-year-old, who spent seven successful seasons at the San Siro.

"After a series of frenetic phone calls during the whole day, we reached an agreement with Chelsea. Tomorrow he will be in Milan on Monday he will undergo a medical and then sign a contract," Galliani said yesterday.

Thaksin offers to resign

Manchester City's "embarrassed" owner Thaksin Shinawatra is prepared to step down from the English Premier League club's board, its executive chairman was quoted as saying yesterday.

"The man is embarrassed about the indignity brought on the club and the Premier League," Garry Cook told reporters.

"He (Thaksin) said to me, 'If you need me to resign from the football club as a director, because it would serve the needs of the Premier League, then I'm fine with that as long as that doesn't change any other thing (his ownership)'," Cook said.

Under Premier League rules, club directors can be dismissed if they are found guilty of corruption by a "competent court" anywhere in the world.

Kaka to miss start of season

Milan's Brazil playmaker Kaka will miss the start of the Serie A season after an examination showed he needs another 15 days treatment for a nagging knee problem.

Kaka has not been able to train with his team-mates this month because of pain in his left knee, which was operated on in June after troubling him last season.

The FIFA World Player of the Year's knee is still inflamed according to a specialist who examined him on Friday.

Milan start their new season at home to Bologna a week today.

Everton look set to land Riera

Everton look set to beat Liverpool for the signing of Albert Riera, the Spain international winger. Reports said talks between Espanyol and Everton are at an advanced stage.

Everton are ready to agree terms with Espanyol, something city rivals Liverpool have been unable to do.

The Toffees seem prepared to pay £12 million for Riera, which is better than Liverpool's package which is believed to have included Andriy Voronin in exchange.

Everton are yet to sign any players this summer, but Riera could represent a big breakthrough for manager David Moyes after failed bids for Joao Moutinho and Tiago.