Soccer Digest

A round-up of other soccer news in brief...

Pennant joins Real Zaragoza

REAL ZARAGOZA have completed the signing of Jermaine Pennant after his release by Liverpool.

The former Arsenal youngster passed a medical with the Spanish side yesterday and will join their bid for survival next season after being promoted back to the Primera Division.

The 26-year-old becomes Zaragoza’s first signing of the summer and joins for nothing on a three-year deal.

Pennant told the club’s website, realzaragoza.com: “I wanted to come to Spain and I had offers from important teams in Europe but joined Real Zaragoza.

“I really want to get started and do well in the league.”

Pennant spent time on loan at Portsmouth last season after being frozen out at Anfield.

Blackburn tell Fulham Andrews is not available

BLACKBURN HAVE told Fulham midfielder Keith Andrews is not available after the London club made an approach.

Contrary to reports, no official bid was received by Rovers for the Republic of Ireland international but an inquiry was made by Fulham.

However, the approach was met with a refusal to even enter into negotiations by Ewood Park officials.

Manager Sam Allardyce is under no pressure to sell having offloaded striker Roque Santa Cruz to Manchester City and Matt Derbyshire to Olympiacos for a combined sum of around €23 million.

And he stated this week if he did choose to sell it would only be if he could move out one player to bring in two more.

Andrews moved to Ewood Park last summer for €1.2 million from MK Dons and although he took a while to win over fans in his first full Premier League season his versatility proved useful. In the latter stages of the season he was employed as a stand-in right back.

Barton to feature in Rovers game

CONTROVERSIAL NEWCASTLE midfielder Joey Barton may play in Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght. The former Manchester City player, who has been linked with Birmingham, was banished from the training ground after a dressing-room bust-up with manager Alan Shearer at Liverpool last season.

With Shearer in the frame to continue where he left off after last season’s relegation, Barton’s future at the club is bleak. But caretaker boss Chris Hughton revealed he is back in training and part of the squad for Saturday’s pre-season opener.

Hughton said: “I plan to use all the players who are here.

“I won’t be looking to play anyone for 90 minutes. My main concern is not so much the performance, but getting through the 90 minutes with no injuries.

“Each individual player has got to get something out of the game. If we have no injuries, we will be halfway there.”

Finnan raring to go for Espanyol  

STEVE FINNAN’S agent says the Republic of Ireland defender is not interested in a move from Espanyol. Finnan has been hampered by injury since his arrival from Liverpool last summer, but Saif Rubie said: “Steve is looking to be involved in the first game at Espanyol’s new stadium against his old club Liverpool in August. He had a frustrating time last year, but he has got himself fully fit over the summer and he is fresh and raring to go for this season.”

Quinn ready to step up Sunderland efforts in transfer market

SUNDERLAND CHAIRMAN Niall Quinn is ready to step up his efforts in the transfer market after seeing the current squad return for pre-season training.

Quinn said: “There’s a great excitement around the place and, after all the talking we have been doing for the last six weeks, it’s all now down to the action. The players coming back is a big thing. The place is a hive of activity.”

Quinn has acknowledged that Manchester City defender Richard Dunne is a target, although he is yet to discover whether the Republic of Ireland international is actually available.

Sunderland have tabled a bid for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch and are understood to have been in touch with Manchester United youngster Fraizer Campbell’s representatives.

Their interest in Tottenham striker Darren Bent is ongoing, although it remains to be seen whether they can lure him to Wearside at the third time of asking, and whether they are prepared to meet Spurs’ valuation of a man for whom they paid €19 million.

Sunderland have yet to comment publicly on claims that former boss Roy Keane has had a joint offer of €6 million for skipper Dean Whitehead and Daryl Murphy accepted.

Top three to feature on television

SKY SPORTS will show last season’s top three teams live on the first weekend of the new Premier League season.

Chelsea will face Hull City at 12.45pm on Saturday, August 15th, while Manchester United’s game with Birmingham will be shown at 1.30pm the next day.

That will be followed by coverage of Tottenham against Liverpool at 4pm.