Football Dispatch

Summer Football
11 July 2007
New Manchester City owner Thaksin Shiniwatra has been summoned back to Thailand for an August court appearance in Bangkok. The former Thai prime minister is suspected of illegally owning property and making crooked business transactions during his term in office. State officials are not permitted to do business in the public sector while participating in the Thai government. His wife is facing similar charges. With the legal proceedings set to begin 14 August, Shinawatra is due to miss City's home-opener of 15 August against newly-promoted Derby.

Ajax have issued an ultimatum to Liverpool regarding Ryan Babel. The 23-year-old Holland international has been in Reds' manager Rafael Benitez' sights for some while and is seen as an ideal strike-partner for Fernando Torres. Ajax are mindful of Liverpool's interest and, as such, are hoping to extract as much money from the suddenly free-spending English club as possible. They have set a Monday deadline for any transaction to take place. Having already rejected Benitez' previous offer of 10M-pounds, the Dutch giants are believed to be holding-out for upwards of 13.5M-pounds.

Portsmouth have secured both David Nugent and John Utaka. Nugent's signing ends months of speculation regarding the 22-year-old's future. After having turned-down or been turned-down by both Everton and Sunderland, Harry Redknapp has signed the England international striker from Preston North End for 6M-pounds. Utaka cost a comparable 7M-pounds. The 25-year-old Nigerian was top-scorer for Rennes, last term, and has bagged 3-goals in 17-appearances for his country. He arrived at Rennes in 2005 via Lens. Both players have signed 4-year-contracts at Fratton Park.

Representatives for Carlos Tevez have requested that FIFA and the FA intercede and moderate their ongoing transfer discussions with Mancheter United. Tevez, currently on international duty for Argentina at the Copa America in Venezuela, is set to bolt West Ham this summer and has his sights set on Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, has admitted that a deal is imminent for the highly-rated 23-year-old forward. United, however, have been cautious to proceed with due caution considering the legal wraggles over Tevez' and Javier Mascherano's arrival in the Premiership last season.

Yossi Benayoun underwent a physical at Anfield, this afternoon, and is set to be unveiled as a Liverpool player before the weekend. The 27-year-old Israel captain was one of West Ham's few consistent contributors, last term, and has fetched Alan Curbishley an estimated 5M-pounds. He is expected to sign a new 4-year contract on Merseyside worth 55,000-pounds per-week.

Arsenal presented Bakari Sagna to a throng of onlookers at Emirates Stadium, yesterday. The 24-year-old right full-back has come to the Gunners via Auxerre and has already agreed a 5-year deal worth 25,000-pounds per-week. Should he win the starting-place in Arsene Wenger's squad, current right-back Emmanuel Eboue would likely move to the midfield to compensate for the expected loss of Freddie Ljungberg.

Real Madrid have signed Javier Saviola. The 25-year-old Argentinean striker arrived at Barcelona in 2001 after completing a move from River Plate. Upon arriving in La Liga, however, he was subsequently loaned-out to both Monaco and Sevilla. And although he was offered a new contract to stay at the Nou Camp this summer, he rejected the overtures and has, instead, agreed a pact with arch-rivals Madrid.