SOCCER NEWS ROUND-UPCHELSEA HAVE made an undisclosed offer for Real Madrid forward Robinho. The club had previously named the Brazilian as their prime summer target following the earlier signings of Jose Bosingwa and Deco.
A statement on the Chelsea website last night read: "Further to media reports, Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have made an offer to Real Madrid today for the transfer of Robinho."
Robinho (24), who joined Real Madrid from Santos in 2005, has 50 caps. Chelsea's offer is believed to be around €28.4 million.
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has made Robinho's signing a priority since taking over at Stamford Bridge this summer.
The club's interest in the player was repeated this week by chief executive Peter Kenyon, while Robinho refused to rule out a move to London. He had become unsettled by speculation that he could be sold to finance a move for Manchester United's Ronaldo, a deal which has since fallen through.
Real Madrid have maintained that they do not want to lose the Brazilian, but the recent signing of Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart has provided them with cover.
Aston Villa last night completed the signings of Luke Young from Middlesbrough and Nicky Shorey of Reading for around €11.4 million as Martin O'Neill's summer spending finally began to gather momentum.
The Villa manager is expected to bring in several other new faces but the acquisition of two England players to fill the full-back positions eases the pressure before the start of the Premier League season. It is understood Young, who was available for €3.2 million last summer when he moved from Charlton, will cost Villa close to €7 million, with Shorey's fee believed to be in the region of €4.4 million.
With Wilfred Bouma injured and Villa operating without an orthodox right-back for the past 12 months, both can expect to go straight into the side for Thursday's Uefa Cup second qualifying round fixture against the Icelandic side FH Hafnarfjardar.
Villa's interest in Young came as a major disappointment to Gareth Southgate, although the €3.8 million profit the Middlesbrough manager made on the 29-year-old means the club have been well compensated. He is now hoping to bring in Fulham's German right-back Moritz Volz.
Shorey, meanwhile, had attracted interest from Sunderland and Portsmouth before Villa's offer for the 27-year-old was accepted. O'Neill was not initially in the market for a first-choice left-back but with Bouma suffering a dislocated ankle in last month's Intertoto Cup game against Odense, the Villa manager changed his mind. "I can achieve all my ambitions at this club," Shorey said last night.
"I talked to the manager and he's very positive and ambitious. That's what I am, especially after last season (Reading were relegated and Shorey was dropped from the England squad after winning two caps in 2007). I want to get back into the Premier League and show people what I can do. Villa are definitely going places. You can tell by the signings they're making."
Kevin Keegan prepared to welcome a new defender to Newcastle last night but said farewell to a key member of his boot room and could also be losing a striker.
While Fabricio Coloccini underwent a medical after Deportivo La Coruna and Newcastle agreed a fee believed to be €12.7 million for the Argentinian, Arthur Cox severed his connections with the club.
Meanwhile Alan Smith appears on the verge of a move to Everton. Smith, who joined Newcastle from Manchester United for €7.6 million last August, has struggled to make an impact. With Newcastle keen to reduce the wage bill, an opportunity to lose Smith's €76,000-plus weekly remuneration will be welcomed.
There are suggestions Dennis Wise, in charge of transfers at Newcastle, is keen to sign the Fulham striker David Healy to provide cover for Michael Owen.
Andrew Johnson has finally completed his €16 million move from Everton to Fulham. He has signed a four-year deal and becomes Fulham's 11th signing of the summer.
Fulham scored only 38 league goals last year in what was their worst season since promotion in 2001 - 17th and avoiding relegation only thanks to a final-day win at Portsmouth. "I am determined to give 100 per cent in every game," added Johnson who is expected to partner another new signing, Bobby Zamora.
Everton are also now expected to move again for the Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho, who had been put out of their range when Sporting Lisbon asked €25m for the player who was a regular for his country during Euro 2008.
Meanwhile Argentina forward Lionel Messi played - and scored - in his country's Olympic opener against Ivory Coast yesterday after a late deal was struck with his Spanish club Barcelona.
Messi put Argentina 1-0 up against the African team with a 43rd minute goal. The game finished 2-1 to Argentina.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Wednesday that Barcelona were not obliged to release him for the tournament - raising the prospect that Messi could be called home. CAS upheld an appeal from the Spanish club after Fifa said clubs must release eligible players.
Barcelona were keen to have Messi available for their Champions League qualifier against Poland's Wisla Krakow later this month but their sports director Txiki Begiristain told a news conference they had reached a deal over insurance and release from future friendly games.
"We have an agreement that there is an insurance that will cover the whole of the player's salary if he is injured. We also have the word of the Argentina FA president that he will be released from having to play friendlies for the whole of the season."
El-Hadji Diouf scored his first goal for Sunderland in a 6-0 victory at Athlone Town last night.
Roy Keane's side were ahead inside three minutes through Kieran Richardson.
Michael Chopra then grabbed a brace (11, 64) before Grant Leadbitter fired in a fourth (76).
Diouf scored two minutes from time with a 20-yarder and Daryl Murphy intercepted a backpass for number six.
Guardian Service
