A round-up of today's other soccer news in brief ...
Toure signs as City turn to Lescott
EVERTON are expected to formally reject a second bid from Manchester City for England defender Joleon Lescott. The Goodison Park club confirmed last night that an €20.9 million bid has been received from City, and club sources insist that it will be turned down once chairman and owner Bill Kenwright has informed the rest of the board.
City made an initial €17.5 million bid for the 27-year-old last week, which was rejected, and Everton have been bracing themselves for another attempt. This time the bid was immediately relayed to boss David Moyes in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was preparing his side for their friendly with the Major League Soccer All-Stars side in the early hours of this morning.
Valencia scores on United debut
ANTONIO VALENCIA scored on his Manchester United debut as the club reached the final of the Audi Cup in Munich with a 2-1 win over Boca Juniors yesterday.
The Ecuadorian winger needed just 42 minutes to find the target after Anderson had earlier netted his first goal for the club with a stunning free-kick. Federico Insua reduced the arrears in the 55th minute as the Argentinians dominated the second half, but Alex Ferguson’s side held on to reach today’s final, where they will meet Bayern Munich after they beat AC Milan 4-1. Ferguson named Federico Macheda and Wayne Rooney in his attack with Valencia on the right wing.
Aston Villa need to sign five players, says O'Neill
MARTIN O’NEILL last night claimed that Aston Villa need to make another five signings before the transfer window closes to ensure that the team are competitive in the Premier League next season. Villa supporters have become concerned at the lack of transfer activity at the club this summer, with Stewart Downing the only recruit, but O’Neill remains confident that he can significantly strengthen the squad over the next five weeks.
With Downing unlikely to be available until December and Martin Laursen, Gareth Barry and Zat Knight all having left the club, O’Neill acknowledged there are serious shortcomings to address. He stressed he is working on several deals, including for Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin, but he knows that new faces need to arrive quickly if Villa are to have a realistic chance of finishing in the top six again.
“We are [extremely thin],” said O’Neill. “And sometimes it even seems less; the senior international players came back later and the Under-21 internationals are not even here [in Spain] at this minute. Also, the fact is we have signed a player that will not be fit for some time. So, yes, on the face of it the squad looks pretty small. I think we would be looking at in the region of five players to help give us a chance.”
Cork players free to leave the club
A NUMBER of Cork City’s players look set to leave the club prior to tomorrow’s transfer deadline after all the members of the squad were told that they are free to go, writes Emmet Malone.
The news follows meetings between the players, their union officials and the club’s owner, Tom Coughlan yesterday morning.
At the meetings, the players agreed to defer for a week wages due to them yesterday in order to help the club raise the money due to the Revenue Commissioners before returning to court tomorrow.
City, meanwhile, have issued the following details for supporters wishing to make donations to the club.
Account Name: Cork City Investment FC Ltd; Branch: Ballintemple, Blackrock Rd, Cork; Sort Code – 934178; A/c No: 15364447.
Club officials have asked those giving money to write donation on the lodgement slip.
