Football news

Jermaine Penannt has issued a passionate plea with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez not to sell him in the remaining days of this summer transfer window.

Pennant's future with Liverpool looks uncertain with the winger omitted from the squad in Liverpool's opening two Premier League games.

Blackburn have been strongly linked with a move for the former Birmingham star, but Pennant hopes to remain at Anfield.

"I want to stay at Liverpool," Pennant was quoted as saying.

"I have been given a fantastic opportunity to play for the team I supported as a kid and all I want to do is work hard and fight for my place in the team."

Pep assures Eidur of Barca future

Eidur Gudjohnsen has been the subject of intense speculation this summer with a number of English clubs showing keen interest in the Barcelona midfielder.

Gudjohnsen, formerly of Chelsea, has been at the Nou Camp for two years but failed to hold on to a regular place in the starting line-up. The Iceland international has now been assured of his future by new Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

"I was doubtful about my future but when speaking with Guardiola he told me he believed in me and felt I could help the team a lot," Gudjohnsen said.

"There are a lot of midfielders in the team but they all have different qualities. Guardiola has asked me to come from deep and score goals."

Cesc wants Xabi at Arsenal

Arsenal struggled against Fulham on Saturday and lost 1-0 to their modest London rivals. However, despite the difficulties there seems to be no new signings in sight with the transfer window set to close on September 1.

Cesc Fabregas wants Arsenal to sign Xabi Alonso. The Gunners have also been linked with Aston Villa's Gareth Barry.

Fabregas said: "Xabi is my friend and apart from that he is a great professional, a great passer of the ball, he works hard defensively, he's scoring goals now, he's experienced and he is only 26.

"For me he would be perfect."

Bianchi says Lazio broke promise

Rolando Bianchi joined Torino from Manchester City last week but slammed Lazio for breaking promises.

The striker spent just six months in England following his £8.8m move last summer and was already targeted by Torino in January, but opted for Lazio instead.

"What happened in January? I did not turn my back on Torino. Quite simply, Lazio seemed to offer me more guarantees of making the move permanent at the end of the season but president Claudio Lotito broke the promise he had made.

"It's in the past now and all that counts for me is Torino."

Keegan support to Barton

Joey Barton faces an FA charge in the coming days but Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan will make a personal plea to the governing body on his part.

The 25-year-old admitted a charge of violent conduct towards Ousmane Dabo and received a four-month suspended sentence for assaulting his former Manchester City team-mate. The midfielder has spent 74 days in jail for assault and affray in a separate incident.

Keegan said: "I will appear personally at the hearing if required.

"I supported him at court, so why am I not going to do it at the FA?

"For me it is the same thing. If you support someone you support them."

Sheva... happy at last

Andriy Shevchenko said his return to former club Milan was like winning the Champions League.

The transfer seemed to have collapsed but on Saturday evening both Milan and Chelsea announced he was returning to the San Siro, even though details of the agreement were kept secret.

"I am so happy," Shevchenko told Milan Channel.

"I had been hoping to return for some time. For me this is like winning the Champions League. There were some complications, but now everything is settled, and I'm happy."

Sheva had demanded a £30m transfer to Chelsea in 2006, stating he wished to "learn English" for the sake of his American wife and two children. He never really settled in at Stamford though.

Adams dreams of Gunners' bench

Tony Adams told UK newspapers he would love the opportunity to manage Arsenal, his former club. The central defender, who spent 18 years at the club, said he would relish the chance to succeed Arsene Wenger.

Adams, currently working as Harry Redknapp's no.2 at Portsmouth, has never hidden his desire to be a manager in his own right again after a disappointing spell at Wycombe.

"I would love a crack at the Arsenal job. I went there the other day and the stadium is magnificent," Adams told reporters.

"The squad, the finance, they are an unbelievable football club. I will have strengths and weaknesses, very different from Arsene. I am a different person.

"Don't laugh but I believe I am stronger in some areas and in others he is far greater than me."