Real dealing with Chelsea for RobbenReal Madrid's long-standing interest in Arjen Robben has finally prompted a firm bid for the Dutch international winger, with the Spanish club hoping to secure his arrival at the Bernabeu in a deal that would eventually be worth €35 million, writes Dominic Fifield.
Chelsea insisted last night that Robben still had a future at Stamford Bridge and they expect the 23-year-old to feature on the bench at Wembley for tomorrow's Community Shield against Manchester United.
However, Real have followed up a month of posturing by offering five instalments of €7 million, to be made over the course of his contract, which they hope will secure the signing. The Real president, Ramon Calderon, insisted yesterday that the club would announce "two or three signings in the next few days", one of which he hopes will be Robben.
It remains to be seen whether his team-mate Lassana Diarra, who has attracted interest from Arsenal, also stays at Chelsea. ...
Leeds docked 15 points
Leeds United's new owners have been cleared to start next season in the England's League Two but have been given a 15-point deduction by the Football League.
The new owners, led by chairman Ken Bates, had been waiting since buying the club last month from administrators KPMG to receive their Football Share from the league, entitling Leeds to start the new season.
"The club have appealed against this sanction," Leeds said on their website yesterday. "The timescale for the appeal is not yet known."
Tevez put through mill by United
Carlos Tevez trained with his new Manchester United team-mates for the first time yesterday and manager Alex Ferguson has pencilled him in for a big night in Belfast or Dunfermline next week.
With the Premier League ratifying a deal which releases Tevez from his West Ham contract, United got the 23-year-old through his medical yesterday morning before Ferguson put him through his paces at the club's Carrington training ground.
Ferguson is to decide whether to send Tevez to Glentoran or Dunfermline on Wednesday for prearranged friendlies with a split squad.
Tevez' debut will mark the start of a two-year loan period, which gives United the option to complete a permanent transfer at the end.
It will also mark the end of a long-running saga which Ferguson expected to complete a month ago, only to find his hopes stall amid the row over Tevez' third-party ownership.
Dyer's West Ham deal falls through
Kieron Dyer's proposed €9 million transfer to West Ham United collapsed amid increasing acrimony last night after sources said Newcastle United inflated that fee to €12 million at the 11th hour.
Although Dyer passed a day-long medical at a London hospital on Thursday, West Ham sent the England midfielder away unsigned yesterday, complaining that Newcastle had reneged on an agreement reached on Wednesday by increasing his price at the last minute.
There were further complications for Newcastle yesterday with the news that Michael Owen is expected to sit out the start of the Premiership season because of a thigh injury.
Owen's absence may offer the versatile Alan Smith, who signed a five-year contract after arriving from Manchester United for €9 million yesterday, a chance to start the season in his preferred attacking role.
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce also completed the signing of former Brazil international defender Claudio Capaca (31) on a free transfer from Lyon and Spanish under-21 international full back Jose Enrique from Villarreal for a reported €6 million.
In brief . . .
New singing Fernando Torresand captain Steven Gerrardscored as Liverpoolbeat Shanghai Shenhua2-0 in the opening match of the Port of Rotterdam tournament yesterday while Feyenoordand FC Portodrew 0-0. . . Arsenal's striker Emmanuel Adebayoris set to miss their league opener against Fulhamon August 12th after suffering a groin injury during training . . . Birminghammanager Steve Brucehas decided to pull out of the deal to sign Tottenhammidfielder Hossam Ghalyafter a training ground incident, Bruce did, however, complete the signing of French defender Franck Queudrue(28) from Fulhamfor €3 million . . . Norway winger Daniel Braaten(25) has joined Boltonfrom Rosenborgfor an undisclosed fee
. . . Manchester Cityhave signed Bulgaria striker Valeri Bojinov(21) from Fiorentinafor an undisclosed fee . . . Aston Villahave released former Manchester Unitedmidfielder Eric Djemba- Djemba. . . Sydney FChave signed former Middlesbroughand Celticplaymaker Juninho(34).
