Newcastle granted Martins transfer request

Arsenal have intensified their interest in Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins, who has reportedly received permission to speak to other clubs…Martins has been told he can leave St James’ Park if any of his suitors should match or better his ₤15million asking price.But the Nigerian international could go for less if he hands in a transfer request, which would trigger a ₤13million release clause.And the 23-year-old may do just that, having recently agreed a new ₤80,000-per-week deal only to have it scrapped at the last moment as the Magpies seek to trim their wage bill.A source close to the player said: “It is a shock Newcastle cannot find the money any more for his new deal but he is a player a lot of clubs want.”Arsenal have long been linked with Martins, but manager Arsene Wenger has so far refused to budge from his ₤11million evaluation of the former Internazionale star.However, the Frenchman may well give up an extra ₤2million as his squad will look desperately low on firepower if he does not make some key purchases this summer.The Gunners will be without Eduardo da Silva for at least the first few months of next season, while Robin van Persie is yet to prove he can string more than two games together and Emmanuel Adebayor appears increasingly certain to leave the Emirates.

Okocha Drum Support For Eagles

Erstwhile Super Eagles skipper Austin Jay Jay Okocha will be joining the team’s camp in Abuja ahead of tomorrow’s Angola/South Africa 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Equatorial Guinea.
Although the former Eagles playmaker is not returning to fight for a place in Coach Shaibu Amodu’s starting line-up, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) confirmed last night that Okocha will be in Abuja to boost the players, who are determined to end the campaign without dropping a point.
Ademola Olajire, chief media officer of the NFA confirmed to THISDAYSports last night that Okocha, whose testimonial game is billed for next Thursday in Warri, will meet with the players before the match and also be physically present at the stadium to cheer them to victory.
“Austin Okocha will be at the players’ camp before the match and also be present at the main bowl to see how they will fare against Equatorial Guinea on Saturday. It going to be a morale booster, most especially for the younger generation who didn’t meet him at the senior national team,” said the NFA spokesman.
Okocha, who just ended his stint at Hull FC last season, is to be honoured next week by the Super Eagles players at the testimonial, which will also feature some other top African players.
Even as the NFA image-maker could not confirm the arrival of injured Danny Shittu in Abuja, the Watford FC of England defence ace was reported to also be on the way to Abuja to cheer his colleagues against the visitors from Central Africa.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles Head Coach Amodu says he sees no different scenario from what happened last weekend playing out tomorrow.
“I don’t foresee any problem whatsoever. It’s true that we have a couple of injuries and came out of Malabo with a couple of knocks, but everyone will be fine and ready,” said Amodu.
Nigeria goes up against Equatorial Guinea having amassed nine maximum points from their first three matches of the World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying campaign.
“It’s a dream start, but we’re not dreaming yet. We want to do the business on the pitch, and then we can start thinking of what the reality will be when the final phase begins.”
Yakubu Aiyegbeni returned to training yesterday with the rest of the Super Eagles squad ahead of tomorrow's game.
Yakubu had been given a one-day extension by Amodu and so did not resume with the rest of the rest of the squad on Wednesday but was back in camp in time for yesterday's training session.
Amodu spent most of the session working on tactics and movement with his players while also correcting some of the positional errors noticed during the last game in Malabo.
Yakubu's return was not the only piece of positive news for the Nigeria technical crew, as all players showed no signs of injury or illness, leaving the coaches with a selection headache ahead of tomorrow's game.
And in a related development, a one-hour media session with the players has been scheduled for midday today at the NICON Luxury hotel.
Eagles will pick an early ticket for the final phase of the African qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup finals if they defeat Equatorial Guinea on Saturday and neither Sierra Leone nor South Africa triumphs in their match-up in Pretoria on the same day.
With nine points from three matches, Nigeria lead Group 4 by six points, with South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone on three points each.
A win would take the Eagles to 12 points, with only two matches remaining for each contender in the pool. Should Sierra Leone and South Africa draw, they will remain on four points each, no longer able to assail the Eagles. Even if one of the two teams triumphed in South Africa tomorrow, the Eagles will still finish ahead in the group if they avoid defeat against South Africa in September.

Torres Want To Win Laurels In Anfield

Fernando Torres has made it clear he has no intention of leaving Liverpool and is fully focused on winning trophies at Anfield
The Spanish star is currently with his national squad in Austria as they look for Euro 2008 finals glory.
Torres had a sensational debut campaign in England following his move from Atletico Madrid last summer and he taken his form into the Euros, leading the Spanish frontline alongside four-goal David Villa.
New Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari was reportedly looking to bid £40million for Torres.
Liverpool have already dismissed claims that they would consider selling Torres and now the player has confirmed his intention to remain at Anfield.
"I want to say very clearly that I'm not on the market and that it's my desire to continue at Liverpool," he told the Sunday Express.
"I'm very happy there and I want to carry on.
"I came to the club top win trophies. I have many years left on my contract and I expect to win some silverware there."
Torres insists that he is hungrier than ever to win things with Liverpool.
"I have gone through things I have never experienced before, like playing in a Champions League semi-final," he said.
"Now that I have come within touching distance of glory I want it all.
"I know now what it means to be a champion and that's made me even happier hungrier for success.
"And what has happened behind the scenes at the club has nothing to do with me.
"I don't pay much attention to that stuff or to any of the problems. It hasn't affected me at all."

Cameroon : Mauritius Fear No Lions Ahead ACN/World Cup

They are already in camp for the match against the Mauritius Island next Sunday.
Though the end of major football leagues across the world is a period for players to rest and prepare for the next season, the indomitable Lions of Cameroon will be having no rest during this period. The Boys of German coach, Otto Pfister, have three more matches to play after the one last Saturday before they return to their respective clubs.Barely one day after their good start in the joint campaign for the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola and the World cup in South Africa, the Indomitable Lions went into camp in preparation for the next qualifier match against the Mauritius Island. Like before the match with Cape Verde, the Lions' den which has this time moved from Mont Febe to Franco hotel in Yaounde, remains a no-go area and their training sessions at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium not open to the public or the press.
It is worth noting that the decision to bar the public and the press from meeting with the players while in camp, has led to friction between the players and journalists. The decision is said to the rot cause of the brawl between Eto'o Fils and a journalist from a private radio station in Cameroon.
The Lions leave the country for the Mauritius Island on Thursday June 5, ahead of the encounter next Sunday. After the Mauritius Island, the Lions will move on to Tanzania before returning to Yaounde to host the very Tanzania in the return match.

Hleb Close In Singing For Barca

Alexander Hleb's agent says a deal to take the Arsenal star to Barcelona "is close" - after revealing that his Inter Milan move hopes are over.
Vincenzo Morabito told Spanish newspaper Marca that his client had been hoping for a move to Inter, but the transfer has been scuppered by the appointment of Jose Mourinho as coach of the Italian champions.
However, Morabito claims that instead Hleb will now turn his attention to Barca.
"A deal is close. He has been a Barcelona target for some months," he was quoted as saying in Marca.
"I'm sorry that we won't be able to take him to Italy, he liked Inter a lot but obviously Mourinho has made some different choices and has gone for some other names."
Arsenal threatened to report Inter to FIFA in March after claiming an illegal approach was made for the Belarus international, who was also recently linked with a move to Spanish champions Real Madrid.
Last week reports in the Spanish media claimed that Barcelona technical director Txiki Begiristain had travelled to Germany to hold talks with Hleb while he was on international duty.

Milan Chose To Have Drogba Shevchenko Pair

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani says he has been in talks with Chelsea about moves for strike duo Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko.
Kaka's name came up in conversation with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon according to Galliani, but he insists the 2007 world footballer of the year is going nowhere.
Galliani's claims came on the day Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti ruled himself out of the running for the vacant managerial position at Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti labelled talk of him making the switch to west London as "fantasy football", but it appears there could be some movement between the two clubs this summer.
Galliani told Sky Sports News on Wednesday: "Yesterday we had a chat with Mr Kenyon of Chelsea.
"We were talking about football things in general. We still have a very good rapport with Stamford Bridge."
Galliani revealed a list of names, including Shevchenko, Drogba and Kaka, had been discussed, saying: "Sure we talked about all these things.
"But I can tell you for example that Kaka is absolutely not for sale.
"Just like Carlo Ancelotti he will be here next season."
Milan are desperate to sign a new striker, particularly after Palermo forward Amauri chose a move to rivals Juventus ahead of a transfer to Milan.
Galliani has previously indicated Drogba is high on Ancelotti's wish list, while Drogba himself was open about wanting to leave Chelsea in the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure last September.
Shevchenko has had a rotten time at Stamford Bridge since his move from Milan two years ago and a return has long been rumoured.
The Ukrainian has strong ties with the club and in particular with Silvio Berlusconi, the former president who stepped down after being elected to his third term as prime minister and who is godfather to the striker's son.
Ancelotti, meanwhile, has officially ruled out a move to Stamford Bridge.
He told Sky Sports News: "It is just fantasy football that happens every year.
"I will stay with AC Milan next season."
Ancelotti and Chelsea both released statements on Tuesday denying reports the London club had made an approach for the double Champions League winner and agreed terms for him to take over.
He was strongly linked with the Stamford Bridge post amid suggestions his advisors had reached a settlement with the Blues over a move to England.
The 48-year-old is under contract with Milan until 2010.
The Serie A club are keen to keep hold of the coach despite his lack of silverware this season and him failing to secure Champions League qualification.
Chelsea have been without a manager since the departure of Avram Grant last month.

Ancelotti linked with the Chelsea job.

Chelsea are reportedly in talks with representatives of AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, with a view to him taking charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are homing in on their new manager after sacking Avram Grant less than two weeks ago after just eight months in charge.
The Premier League runners-up are understood to have narrowed down their short-list for the job to two names.
Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes, who is also interesting Manchester City, is one of the Blues' targets to replace Grant.
The other contender is an overseas coach and, according to Sports News, it appears Chelsea have made a renewed attempt to prise Ancelotti away from the San Siro.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed at the weekend that the club had turned down Chelsea's request to hold talks with Ancelotti.
However, it is now understood the Blues are meeting with Ancelotti's representatives to discuss the possibility of taking charge at Stamford Bridge.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, Frank Rijkaard, Guus Hiddink, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Roberto Mancini are among the names to have been linked with the Chelsea position, but it now seems to be a straight fight between Hughes and Ancelotti for the job.

" I am a different tactician" Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho announced at his unveiling as Inter Milan boss that he is "a great coach" but insisted he no longer wants to be special.
Less than a year after his departure from Chelsea, the Portuguese tactician - who once described himself as "the special one" - has taken the helm of the three-time defending champions Inter with the aim of taking them to greater heights in Europe.
Mourinho, 45, has replaced Roberto Mancini on a three-year contract.
"I am Mourinho - period," he said at his introductory press conference at Inter's training ground.
"I have arrived at a special club and I believe I am a great coach but I don't want to be special."
Mourinho, a controversial figure in England, because of his outspoken nature, claims he will not have a different approach in Serie A.
He said: "I don't change - I am the same person as I was before, with the same mission and the same passion for my work.
"I have always believed that I would like to work in Italy and at a great club.
"I want to thank (Inter president) Massimo Moratti and (sporting director) Marco Branca that have given me this opportunity.
"For me this is a very important challenge but I believe that it could be very enjoyable also for you (the media)."
Inter decided to part company with Mancini following a difficult end to the season.
The club made a quarter-final exit in the Champions League and, immediately after, Mancini announced he would not be with the team after the campaign - only to retract his statement 24 hours later.
Moratti insisted Mancini would stay at Inter, but had a change of heart once the Nerazzurri had taken a third straight Scudetto.
Mourinho praised Mancini's work.
"I need to start a new cycle after that of Mancini, who I consider a great coach, but I am a different tactician," he said.
"I want to change the football philosophy of the team, this is my challenge.
"Moratti has asked me to be myself and to be Mourinho means to work in harmony with players, with the club and with the fans."
Mourinho addressed the press in near-flawless Italian and revealed he had been learning the language since the club first made contact nearly three months ago.
He said: "I think the truth is important and the truth is that the first time Inter spoke to me was the day after they lost the second match against Liverpool (on March 11).
"I started to learn Italian then, but it is easy - I only have problems with the temporal verbs, but the words come easy."
However, Mourinho admitted there was another reason for him becoming so fluent.
"I am very intelligent," he said.
Mancini initially announced he would step down at the end of the season after the Liverpool defeat and, although he later reversed his decision, Inter revealed that outburst had been a big factor in their decision to sack him last week.
Mourinho has been out of work since he parted company with Chelsea last September and admitted the west London club still had a place in his heart.
In a three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, the former Porto boss endeared himself to Blues fans, most notably by guiding them to consecutive Premier League titles in his first two seasons in charge.
Despite his memorable time in west London, Mourinho wants to focus on a new chapter in his life at the San Siro.
"I will always, always, always support Chelsea and wish them all the best with their new coach, but if Chelsea meet Inter in the Champions League, then I won't know any of them," he said.
"Chelsea is over for me - not in my heart, but in my thoughts.
"At this moment, I want to start a new life and I do not want to talk about Chelsea.
"It will be hard, but I want to have the same passion with the fans of Inter and the same relationship with the players and carry joy to Inter in the same way I did for Chelsea."
Mourinho said he "cannot wait" to get working with the team on July 15, but said the first thing he will tell them is to forget about the past.
Inter have won the past three Serie A titles under their former boss Mancini, however Mourinho has warned his players that will count for nothing now that he has arrived at the club.
"A cycle has ended with a great coach like Roberto (Mancini), but this is a new page," he said.
"This is the start of a new life for Inter.
"We have to forget what we have won - that has been won and is history.
"We need to have new aims. I like to win and always put the past aside and think to the future.
"If somebody tells me that Inter won the league last season, I prefer to say Inter have won it 16 times, but those 16 are now history."