England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey wants to remain part of Swansea’s battle for Premier League survival, caretaker manager Alan Curtis has insisted.
Shelvey has fallen out of favour at Swansea in recent weeks and been linked with a move in the January transfer window, with Crystal Palace and Newcastle keen on the 23-year-old.
“There’s been questions asked about Jonjo’s attitude but in the couple of weeks I’ve been in charge he’s been excellent,” Curtis said.
“There’s going to be a lot of speculation about Jonjo, he’s out of the side at the moment and he’s an England international.
“But I’ve spoken to Jonjo and he wants to play a part at the club and, unless things change, I expect him to be with us through January.”
Cabaye dreams of Euro qualification
Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye believes the high-flying south London side’s chances of securing a berth in Europe are becoming more realistic with each passing week.
A five-game unbeaten run in December lifted Palace to fifth place at the halfway stage of the season, ahead of traditional top-four finishers Manchester United and Liverpool after 19 matches.
“...hopefully we will stay around the European places, because I think that objective can become a reality,” Cabaye said.
“We have to play with confidence. We have a very good team and some fantastic players and the balance of the team is right.”
Hiddink hits back at Garde over Remy
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has hit back at his Aston Villa counterpart Remi Garde for showing interest in Blues striker Loic Remy even as prolonged injury to another striker Radamel Falcao has compounded Hiddink’s woes.
Garde on Wednesday said Villa will aim to sign Remy when the January transfer window opens but Hiddink was less than impressed by his remarks.
“It’s important, in the situation Chelsea are in, that we have the most powerful squad possible,” the Dutchman said.
“He’s our player and you have to respect where the players are. If you are interested, talk first to the people with whom they are contracted,” Hiddink said of Garde.
Atalanta’s Moralez joins Mexican club
Atalanta have sold forward Maxi Moralez to Mexican club Leon after four years in Bergamo.
The 28-year-old Argentinian scored 18 Serie A goals for the Nerazzurri, who he joined from Velez Sarsfield in 2011.
Leon welcomed the playmaker known as ‘Frasquito’ to Guanajuato with a message on their official Twitter account.
Diego Novaretti, Guillermo Burdisso and captain Mauro Boselli are the other Leon players to have previously played in Italy.
Ancelotti is world’s best says Lippi
Former Italy manager Marcello Lippi says Carlo Ancelotti is the world’s best coach and predicted that he will excel at Bayern Munich.
Lippi, who said Pep Guardiola had been right to announce his decision to leave Bayern at the end of the season, when he will be replaced by Ancelotti, praised the Munich boss for creating “the world’s strongest team ever” at Barcelona.
“Barca won everything there and Guardiola made a fundamental contribution to football history. Today, Guardiola is one of the two or three best coaches in the world – although in the No. 1 spot right now, I’d put Ancelotti,” Lippi said.
“No one is like Ancelotti. He has a wealth of experience as a footballer first, and then as a coach. He’s won in every league, and will continue to win in Germany next season too.”
Everton appoint new academy director
Everton have hired former United States Olympic Committee director Peter Vint as their new academy director.
Vint specialises in performance analysis and sports science and he was part of the backroom team that helped USA secure 64 medals at the 2012 Olympics in London.
“The reputation of Everton Football Club and its academy is world-renowned and I am really excited about beginning my work at the club,” Vint said.
“Everton takes great pride in finding and developing exceptional young footballers and placing academy graduates on a path towards our first team.”
Sunderland close in on Lorient’s Kone
Sam Allardyce is closing in on his first January signing after Lorient accepted Sunderland’s bid for defender Lamine Kone.
Allardyce revealed this week that he had two players lined up as he attempts to strengthen the squad he inherited from predecessor Dick Advocaat as quickly as possible when the winter transfer window opens.
And it appears 26-year-old Kone could be the first of them after it emerged that the two clubs had agreed a fee.
Lorient vice-president Alex Hayes said: “We have received an offer that we have accepted.
“It’s up to Lamine to find an agreement with Sunderland before a deal can be completed.”