Archive » 2010 » January » 24

Sir Alex Ferguson will allow Nemanja Vidic to leave Manchester United this summer and bring in Juventus’s Giorgio Chiellini to replace him, according to reports. It is understood the United boss has given up on trying to persuade the unsettled central defender to stay at Old Trafford, with rumours suggesting his wife is unhappy in Manchester. Real Madrid and Barcelona have been linked in the past and the News of the World suggests the player will be allowed to join the Nou Camp side for a fee of £25million. Around half of that will be used to sign Chiellini. Ferguson is happy to wait until the summer to move for the 25-year-old, but he may face stiff competition from Manchester City, who want to sign him this month. Source: News of the World

Ruud van Nistelrooy has ended rumours of a return to the Premier League by signing for Hamburg on a free transfer. The former Manchester United striker joins on an 18-month contract having rejected reported interest from Tottenham, West Ham, Stoke and Liverpool. “I am really happy that it has worked out. I had great talks with both [Hamburg president] Bernd Hoffmann and Bruno Labbadia and had a very positive impression from the very beginning,” said van Nistelrooy. Labbadia added: “Ruud has proven his qualities at some of Europe’s top clubs. I’m convinced that he will score some important goals for us.” Source: BBC Sport

Leeds United boss Simon Grayson has said he will only consider selling Jermaine Beckford if a “ridiculous” offer were to come in. The striker scored both goals in Leeds’ 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Saturday and many have linked him with a move in either this transfer window or the summer one. “It would have to be a lot of money because we have turned down decent money already for him,” Grayson said. “If someone comes in with ridiculous money – and I’m talking a lot more than £2m – then we’d look at it again. I’ve got no intention of selling him in the window because it’s too late to get a replacement and he’s too valuable to lose. I have said all along I would rather Jermaine leave on a free and I wish him well because hopefully in that meantime he’s got us promoted. Jermaine can only win because if he scores 15 to 20 goals until the end of the season he will be linked with bigger clubs than he’s being linked with now.” Source: BBC Sport