Soccer digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Taarabt looks set to leave QPR

QPR manager Neil Warnock has admitted that wantaway skipper Adel Taarabt looks set to leave Loftus Road this summer – but thinks the youngster will grow to regret his decision to leave the newly-promoted side.

The 22-year-old playmaker was a key catalyst in their Championship triumph last season and picked up the Football League Player of the Year accolade for his performances, leading to speculation linking him with a host of elite European clubs.

Premier League clubs Arsenal and Chelsea have been mooted as potential destinations, while the likes of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have also shown an interest in the midfielder.

The latter have reportedly made a €15 million bid for the player and Warnock admits Taarabt’s departure seems inevitable.

“He is missing his family in Marseille,” Warnock said.

Coentrao completes move to Real Madrid

REAL Madrid have completed the signing of Fabio Coentrao from Benfica on a six-year contract, the Primera Division club have confirmed. Madrid have not disclosed the fee for the Portugal international but a statement from Benfica to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMCM) yesterday put the transfer fee at €30 million.

Coentrao passed his medical with Madrid yesterday at the Hospital Sanitas La Zarzuela in “perfect condition” before travelling to the Bernabeu, where he signed his contract alongside club president Florentino Perez. The versatile 23-year-old wing-back started his career at Rio Ave, where he made his top-flight debut at the age of 16, before moving to Benfica in 2007. He spent loan spells at Nacional, Real Zaragoza and also back at Rio Ave before helping Benfica win the Portuguese league in 2010 and cup in 2011. He made his debut for Portugal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2009 and has won 15 caps for his country.

Inter confident Sneijder will stay

INTER Milan coach Gian Piero Gasperini is confident Wesley Sneijder will stay at the club this summer despite interest from several Premier League sides.

The Holland midfielder, who is under contract at the San Siro until June 2015, has been linked with a move to Manchester United or Chelsea. “I have no doubt that Sneijder is a great player,” Gasperini said at his first press conference as Inter coach. “It’s difficult to know what can happen in the next 50 days of the transfer market.

“Inter want to become even stronger. Two years ago (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic left the club but the team was strengthened and became even stronger. Wesley’s situation does not worry me. In recent years, Inter have made fewer mistakes in the transfer market than other clubs and have made the best choices. Hence, I can only be optimistic.”

Gasperini did not confirm or deny reports that Inter have signed Argentinian midfielder Ricardo Alvarez from Velez Sarsfield.

Sanchez wants to play for Barcelona

UDINESE sporting director Fabrizio Larini insists Alexis Sanchez’s wish is to join Barcelona this summer.

Manchester City, Chelsea and Inter Milan are also interested in the South American winger, who is under contract with Udinese until June 2014. Larini has brushed aside recent reports in Italy linking Sanchez with a possible move to Napoli should Argentina international Ezequiel Lavezzi leave the Naples outfit. Lavezzi has been strongly linked with Manchester City.

Larini said: “The negotiations (regarding Sanchez) with other clubs are at an advanced stage. At the moment Sanchez is involved in the Copa America but has clearly expressed his wish to play for Barcelona.” Sanchez is valued at €50 million.

Hamann named Stockport boss  

FORMER Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann has been named the new manager of non-league Stockport. The ex-Germany international has left his role as a coach at Leicester to take his first managerial post at the club who were relegated after finishing bottom of the Football League last season. Hamann, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, has agreed a one-year contract.

QPR inquire about West Ham's Cole 

QUEENS Park Rangers have inquired about Carlton Cole, with the newly promoted Premier League club set to make an offer for the West Ham United striker. West Ham would listen to a bid of around €6.5 million plus add-ons, or even consider taking a further payment should the Loftus Road club avoid relegation next season.

The 27-year-old Cole has two years remaining on his contract at Upton Park and has already attracted the interest of Stoke City, who recently had a €3.5 million offer rejected by the Hammers. Stoke’s manager Tony Pulis has yet to return with an improved bid. While West Ham are also yet to receive any offers for Scott Parker after the 30-year-old midfielder rejected a €11 million move to Fenerbahce, the east London club are still attempting to sign DJ Campbell from Blackpool after a month-long pursuit of the striker.

Campbell, however, favours a move to a Premier League club.