Football news

The board of Birmingham have reacted angrily to reports suggesting they interfered in the transfer policy of former boss Alex McLeish.

Blues have issued a new statement insisting they operate a “robust system” under which every completed transfer is signed off by the manager.

The club claim in the statement by way of example that interest in players such as former Liverpool striker Ryan Babel, who is now in Germany with Hoffenheim, Peter Odemwingie, the Nigerian forward who plays for West Brom, and Stoke winger Jermaine Pennant was not followed up because McLeish did not want to sign them.

The Scot resigned from his role with Birmingham earlier this month before joining rivals Aston Villa.

Danns deal close, says McCoist

Rangers manager Ally McCoist is closing in on the signing of Neil Danns but insists the Scottish Premier League champions will not pay over the odds for Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar.

McCoist, who has succeeded Walter Smith, revealed that new director of football Gordon Smith has held talks with Villa over bringing Cuellar back to Ibrox, but that the clubs have yet to agree a fee for the Spaniard.

However, talks over a deal with midfielder Danns, who is available on a free transfer, are thought to be at an advanced stage.

“There could be information over Neil Danns in a matter of days,” McCoist said. “We’ve been talking to his representatives since he left Crystal Palace.”

Izaguirre reveals United interest

Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre has revealed that he is being targeted by Manchester United.

The 26-year-old Honduras international said: “Regarding possibilities, I prefer to stay silent as I did when Celtic signed me. This is a job of my agent.

“I have to confirm it’s 100 per cent true that Manchester United were following me and were interested in me. It was Alex Ferguson directly who made contact with the Celtic directors.

“I am aware also that Manchester United and Celtic agreed for a meeting in July. We have to see what happens if I stay or I go.”

Gardner set for Sunderland switch

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is poised to make a significant transfer breakthrough as he closed in on Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner.

Press Association Sport reported that the 24-year-old is close to agreeing a move to the Black Cats in the wake of the Blues’ relegation from the Premier League.

Gardner, a lifelong City fan who began his career with derby rivals Aston Villa, has been in Bruce’s sights for some time and the Black Cats registered their interest in him earlier this month.

He was part of the side which lifted the League Cup in February with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

Juventus keen to sign top striker

Juventus general director Beppe Marotta confirmed that the Serie A giants are looking to bring in a top-class striker in the mould of Giuseppe Rossi or Sergio Aguero, but denied interest in Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung.

It was reported on Friday that the Bianconeri were preparing a bid for Park, whose contract expires next summer.

“No, we are not interested in Park,” Marotta said. “We will sign a quality player in attack, a top striker.”

Marotta is an admirer of both Villarreal’s Rossi and Aguero, who plays for Atletico Madrid. “Both are talented and capable of making the difference,” Marotta said.

“They do match up with the profile of the kind of player we are looking for.”

Inter poised to seal Jonathan transfer

Inter are poised to sign Santos full-back Moreira Jonathan, who plays in the same role as Douglas Maicon.

According to reports in Italy, Brazilian sources have revealed that a deal has already been agreed for the 25-year-old’s transfer to the Nerazzurri.

Inter have agreed to match Santos’s €5m asking price for Jonathan, in the process raising question marks over Maicon’s future as the Brazilian has been the Serie A side’s first-choice right-back in the past few seasons.

Maicon is being strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid and a reunion with former Inter boss Jose Mourinho.

Galaxy fined for Beckham silence

Major League Soccer typically cannot say enough about David Beckham, the England midfielder who is playing in the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

But the Galaxy have been fined $5,000 by the North American football league for keeping silent about Beckham on an injury report before a June 18 match against the Colorado Rapids.

The league fined the Galaxy for omitting Beckham’s name in the report, one of two required of each team each week during the season. MLS said that the Galaxy knew Beckham would miss the game because of nagging back spasms and intentionally left his name off the report.