Football Dispatch

Summer Football
05 July 2007
Manchester United have renewed their interest in Carlos Tevez. The Argentina hit-man is currently on international duta at the Copa America in Venezuela but could fly to England as early as next week in order to meet with Sir Alex Ferguson. The 23-year-old was the most influential force in West Ham's late-season flourish which saw the club retain its place in the Premier League. Varying reports have Tevez already set to sign at Old Trafford; although Ferguson will be sure to exercise all necessary caution. The Scot wants to ensure that he has satisfied the legal wraggles concerning both West Ham and Kia Joorabchian -- the former, prospective owner of West Ham who currently holds the playing rights to Tevez. The two sides have yet to agree a contract and sort-out an appropriate salary. Gabriel Heinze, United's Argentinean left full-back, is close friends with Tevez and could be pursuaded to stay at Old Trafford in order to play in the same squad as his chum. Heinze has previously been linked with moves to both Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Brazilian wiz-kid Alexandre Pato hit 2-goals against South Korea in the U-20 World Cup in Canada, Tuesday. The 17-year-old Internacional striker is one of South America's most sought-after commodities and is currently valued at 10M-pounds. At present, each of Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid have expressed an interest. Chelsea, however, appear the most serious. Owner Roman Abramovich has tightened the purse-strings at Stamford Bridge; and, at 10M-pounds, manager Jose Mourinho is sure to figure that Pato is good value for money. Pato cannot make a move abroad until after his 18th-birthday in September.

With Sevilla holding-out for 20M-pounds in return for Daniel Alves, Chelsea have turned their attention to Tottenham's Pascal Chimbonda. The Spurs right-back arrived in White Hart Lane last summer via Wigan for 4.5M-pounds. Mourinho, keen to address his squad's depth at the position, is prepared to pay upwards of 12M-pounds for the Frenchman. A previous 10M-pound bid was rebuffed by Spurs last month. But at a net profit of 7.5M-pounds, the transaction could prove good business for Martin Jol.

Younes Kaboul has finally joined Spurs. The young Auxerre and U-21 France defender has long been catching the eye of Jol and agreed, yesterday, to an 8M-pound move to north London. He joins Gareth Bale and Darren Bent among the club's new, young, and high-priced signings.

Nigel Reo-Coker as agreed an 8.5M-pound switch to Aston Villa. The 23-year-old West Ham captain was also skipper of England's U-21 entry in last month's European Championship. Despite his high rating, however, Reo-Coker fell-out with fans and management over the course of West Ham's difficult season.

The arrival of Fernando Torres at Liverpool is sure to signal the end of Craig Bellamy's career at Anfield. The 27-year-old Wales captain is now fourth on manager Rafael Benitez' depth chart among the forwards -- behind Torres, Dirk Kuyt, and Peter Crouch. Alan Curbishley nearly acquired Bellamy in January and appears on the cusp of making another offer. The West Ham boss will bid approximately 11M-pounds.

Diomansy Kamara has joined Fulham. The former Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion forward was acquired from The Hawthornes for 4M-pounds. Cottagers manager Lawrie Sanchez believed that he had landed Spurs striker Mido a fortnight ago -- only to be rebuffed by the Egyptian in contract negotiations. Still, the 26-year-old Kamara brings a strong goalscoring pedigree to Craven Cottage. He scored 21-times in 60-appearances with the Baggies.

Brazil and Chile have qualified for the quarter-final round of the Copa America. They join Venezuela, Uruguay, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and Paraguay in the last-8 of the competition. They are also set to go head-to-head on Sunday, 07 July, in the first knock-out round at Puerto La Cruz. Hosts Venezuela will face Uruguay in San Cristobal in Sunday's early match. Mexico await the loser of today's Group-C tilt between Argentina and Paraguay. The winner will be tied to Peru on Monday, 08 July, in Barquistimeto.

Chile advanced into the last-8 by virtue of a 0-0 draw with Group-B winners Mexico. In an identical scenario to the previous day's snoozer between Venezuela and Uruguay, Mexico had already qualified for the quarter-final stage and Chile required only a single point. The result was a rather uneventful 90-minutes. Still, Chile looked to more interested side throughout the proceedings. Carlos Villaneuva flubbed a clear opportunity in front of the Mexican goal while Juan Larca and Humberto Suazo also tested goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Mexico appeared reluctant to expend unnecessary energy -- having already defeated both Ecuador and Brazil.

Robinho's successful conversion on a questionable penalty earned Brazil a 1-0 win over Ecuador and a place in the last-8. Argentinean referee Sergio Pezzotto seemed to indicate that the Real Madrid forward had taken a dive before motioning to the spot. Carlos Tenorio was denied a similar appeal for penalty in the latter stages of the second half and was shown a yellow-card for simulation, to boot. Robinho tumbled over defender Giovanny Espinoza in the 54th-minute before scoring moments later. He has bagged 4-goals in the competition and is Brazil's only marksman thus far. Dunga's Selecao have looked nothing like the defending champions which won the tournament in 2004. They will have their hands full with Chile on Sunday.