Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that midfielder Javier Mascherano has said he is keen to leave Anfield this summer, although the manager is convinced Fernando Torres remains committed to the club.
Mascherano is believed to have been unsettled at Anfield for some time but on Monday made his position clear to Hodgson when meeting the [...]

Fiorentina have suggested the deal to sign Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua could be in jeopardy due to the player’s wage demands.
Liverpool confirmed they had reached an agreement with Fiorentina over the fee for Insua, but it appears the player would have to take a pay-cut if he is to leave Anfield.
“We have an agreement with [...]

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has insisted that manager Sir Alex Ferguson has the funds to sign one world-class player – but has blamed “a lack of value in the market” for United’s inactivity throughout the summer transfer window.
The Reds have spent a combined total of £20 million on Chris Smalling and Javier [...]

Roberto Mancini has admitted that Craig Bellamy may not make Manchester City’s 25-man squad for the new Premier League season.
Under new rules introduced this season, on September 1 Premier League clubs must name a squad of 25 players to represent the club until January. Eight of those players must have spent at least three years [...]

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has agreed sign for Liverpool on a free transfer, subject to a medical.
It has been reported that Cole, 28, was offered wages of £90,000-a-week to stave off interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Cole left Stamford Bridge at the end of last month after Chelsea decided not to offer him [...]

Diego Maradona will be offered a new four-year contract to stay on as Argentina coach, the Argentinian Football Association has announced.
AFA president Julio Grondona will meet with Maradona next week to offer him the chance to guide his nation to the Brazil 2014 World Cup after the AFA executive committee determined he remains the right [...]

New York Red Bulls have confirmed the signing of former Barcelona and Arsenal forward Thierry Henry, who will make his debut in a friendly game against Tottenham.
Henry – a member of the France World Cup squad that returned home in disgrace from South Africa – has joined the MLS side on a “multi-year contract” in [...]

Andres Iniesta says Cesc Fabregas will give Barcelona a “huge jump up in quality” if he does leave Arsenal to join the reigning Spanish champions this summer.
The future of Fabregas has been a subject of almost constant debate throughout the summer, with Arsenal formally rejecting a €35 million offer from Barcelona and underlining they [...]

Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong has admitted he was fortunate to avoid a red card for his challenge on Xabi Alonso during the World Cup final.
De Jong made a chest-high tackle on Alonso during the first half but, after furious protests from Spain, he escaped with just a booking.
“Yes, I was concerned it might be [...]

Johan Cruyff has slammed Netherlands for their approach to the World Cup final and said he had never believed the team could adopt such a “vulgar” style.
Cruyff, who featured in Netherlands’ first World Cup final in 1974, is seen as the icon of the Dutch ‘Total Football’ style and he says he finds it hard [...]