Wednesday Afternoon - EPL Transfer and News Update:

Hello and welcome to my latest EPL Transfer and News Update.

This will be a shorter update, as not much has hapened in the EPL since I last spoke to everyone expect from lots of transfer speculation.

Let me begin:

Manchester United have confirmed the £3.9million signing of Vitesse Arnhem defender Alexander Buttner on a five-year contract deal.

Welcome to Old Trafford: Alexander Buttner will be defensive cover for full-back Patrice Evra this season.

Arsenal left-back Andre Santos was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and evading police at 130mph. He has been bailed.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the £5million signing of Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor after a successful loan spell last season.

Arsenal to City to Tottenham: Emmanuel Adebayor has completed his permament £5million move to Tottenham.

Norwich City have signed Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Done: Sebastien Bassong has completed a move to Norwich City on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Manchester City have made a £5million bid for Swansea winger Scott Sinclair who wants to leave the club, after rejected a new contract extension last week. 

Tottenham are close to signing Shakhtar Donetsk striker Willian for £20million. 

£20million move: Tottenham want to bolster their attack, with Shaktar Donetsk forward Willian close to a move.

Manchester United are considering a £10million move for Mexico International midfielder Hector Herrera.

Interesting: Manchester United are interested in Mexico midfielder Hector Herrera to boost their midfield.

Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun has confirmed that he wants to leave the club.
He fears that he is being price out of a move away from The Blues, as their asking price is £3million.

West Ham have made an improved £10million offer for Wolves winger Matt Jarvis.

Stoke City, Sunderland and QPR are all very interested in Tottenham defender Michael Dawson. 

QPR have had a £9million offer accepted by Spurs, and Dawson is expected to speak with QPR today.

Holding talks: Tottenham defender Michael Dawson will hold talks with QPR after Spurs accepted a £9million fee.

BREAKING NEWS:
Sunderland and Wolves have agreed a £15million fee for striker Steven Fletcher. 

Wants to leave: Sunderland and Wolves have JUST NOW agreed a fee for striker Steven Fletcher.

QPR have agreed a deal with Real Madrid to sign defender Ricardo Carvalho on a season-long loan deal. The deal has not been officially confirmed as of yet, because of personal terms and a medical still to be done.

Loan deal: Real Madrid full-back Ricardo Carvalho may move back to London, on a season-long loan deal at QPR.

Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone is wanted by Stoke City on a season-long loan, and is currently undergoing a medical.

Arsenal have signed Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin on a season-long loan deal with a £14million transfer fee if the loan spell is successsful at the end of the season.


Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck has signed a new four-year contract deal with United.

Welbeck has been in the squad since last season, but now faces competition from new signing Robin Van Persie.

Contract extension: Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck signs a new contract alongside chief excutive David Gill.

I shall be back tomorrow for some special UEFA Europa League coverage as Liverpool and Newcastle United are both in action in the play-offs.

Today's EPL Results, News and Analysis:

Today's EPL Results and Analysis:


12:45:


Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0

This match was played at The Emirates Stadium, as 3rd placed Arsenal hosted 6th placed Chelsea on the back of a 1-0 win against Barcelona on Wednesday. 

Full-back Kieran Gibbs scored an offside goal in the second half for Arsenal, but apart from this nothing went into the net.
Captain Robin Van Persie had a few chances at goal, but he was denied by the woodwork and Petr Cech's solid goalkeeping. 
Winger Theo Walcott had to come off, with a hamstring injury in the second half.

Striker Robin Van Persie takes an aerial shot inside the box but is denied by the woodwork.

Denied: Van Persie's shot is well saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Seen: Mikel Arteta is shown with a crutch and a protective boot after the injury suffered against Wigan watching Arsenal.

There were 7 yellow cards throughout this match:
3 for Arsenal, 4 for Chelsea.
(Van Persie, Rosicky, Diaby, Cahill, Cole, Malouda and Bosingwa)


Arsenal missed the chance to move further away from Newcastle, Tottenham and Chelsea with a goal-less draw against London rivals Chelsea who are in 6th place...



15:00:


Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0

This match was played at Villa Park, as Aston Villa hosted Sunderland. 

Goal-less draw was the score at full-time, which was not a good result for either side who have seperate goals. Villa move closer towards the relegation zone while Sunderland have slipped down the pecking order in the EPL with a few draws of late.


Fulham 2 Wigan Athletic 1

This match was played at Craven Cottage, as 11th placed Fulham hosted 17th placed Wigan who are on the back of two big wins against Manchester United and Arsenal, but still have a long way to go if they want to stay up in the Prem this season.. 

In the 57th minute, Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce gave the visitors the lead to make it 1-0.

Delight: Defender Emmerson Boyce celebrates his goal to break the deadlock against Fulham.

1 minute later, the home side equalised after striker Pavel Pogrebnyak scored his 6th goal for Fulham after returning to action from an ankle injury. 

I'm back to business: Pavel Pogbrenyak celebrates with his team-mates after equalising against Wigan.

Defender Phillipe Senderos scored a header in the 89th minute to give Fulham the late win. 

Heads I score: Senderos heads Fulham into the lead in the 89th minute to give Fulham all three points at home.

Fulham move up to 9th place with only a point behind 7th placed Everton.
Wigan stay in 17th place, but fail to move further away from the relegation zone, with only 34 points from 35 matches.



Blackburn Rovers 2 Norwich City 0

This match was played at Ewood Park, as 19th placed Blackburn hosted 12th placed Norwich.
Midfielder Mauro Formica opened the scoring for Blackburn in the 41st minute. 

Winger David 'Junior' Holiett made it 2, in the 49th minute.


This was how the match finished, with Blackburn moving one place up into 18th.
Norwich stay 12th.



Newcastle United 3 Stoke City 0
This match was played at Sports Direct Arena as 5th placed Newcastle looked to boost their Champions League qualification hopes.


Bolton Wanderers 1 Swansea City 1 



17:30: 


Tottenham Hotspur 0 QPR 1


This match was played at White Hart Lane, as 5th placed Spurs had the chance to move back into 4th place against a QPR side who are unpredictable.


Former Spurs player Adel Taarabt scored the only goal for the away side in the 23th minute from a free-kick, to break the deadlock.

QPR winger Adel Taarabt scores a free-kick at Loftus Road to break the deadlock against Tottenham.

He got a yellow card in the 43rd minute, and after a stupid decision, he was given a red card in the 78th minute, (when a free-kick was awarded to Tottenham and he kicked the ball away, he got a second booking).

EPL News: 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that although winger Theo Walcott is ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury suffered against Chelsea this afternoon, he should be ok for Euro 2012.

Wenger also hopes that world class captain Robin Van Persie signs a new contract with The Gunners, before Euro 2012.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has admitted that he is interested in Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, but said that wages could be a problem for him.

Everton manager David Moyes says that a top 10 finish this season would be 'great'.
Try 'top 8'. 


Villa boss Alex McLeish expects captain Gabriel Agbonlahor to stay at Aston Villa throughout the rest of his career.
Is he sure?!


Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill admits he will have to strengthen his squad in the summer, if he wants a 'top 10' finish next season.

Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is out for the rest of the season with a torn cruciate ligament.
Surely they are going back into the Championship now?! 

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho admits that he is interested in Manchester City full-back/defender Micah Richards, and could line up a £15million bid in the Summer. 


Shakhtar Donetsk have told Chelsea that they can have winger Willian, but only for £24million.


Both Manchester United and Manchester City are in a battle to sign Valencia left-back Jordi Alba.


Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt will leave Liverpool this summer, with Roma and Fiorentina both interested.


Newcastle United are looking at FC Twente striker Luuk de Jong to replace Demba Ba.


Arsenal are planning a £15million bid for Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembele and Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge.


Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is on the shortlist for the GB squad, even though interim manager Stuart Pearce has promised not to pick anyone selected for Euro 2012 for the London Olympics...


French side Marseille have reportedly won the chase to sign Blackburn winger Junior Holiett.

PFA Player of the Year Award Nominees:

Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)

Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)

Sergio Aguero (Man City)

Joe Hart (Man City)

Scott Parker (Tottenham)

David Silva (Man City)

Favourite:
Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie 

The Arsenal captain has scored 34 goals this season in all competitions - more than any other player in the EPL.

PFA Player of The Year Award Nominees: 


Sergio Aguero (Man City)
Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
Danny Welbeck (Man Utd)
Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea)
Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain (Arsenal)
Kyle Walker (Tottenham)


Favourite to win:
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero

Favourite: Manchester City's leading top scorer this season, with 28 goals.

(MORE TO FOLLOW SOON) 

EPL Super Sunday Special:

Today's EPL Fixtures:

Manchester United vs West Bromwich Albion: LIVE at 14:00pm


Team News:

Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Young, Carrick, Scholes, Welbeck, Rooney, Hernandez. Subs: Amos, Berbatov, Giggs, Park, Rafael Da Silva, Cleverley, Pogba.


Ferdinand and Carrick both start for the home side. Ryan Giggs and Tom Cleverley among the subs.
Defender Chris Smalling is out with a severe head cut sustained against Holland (for England), opened wound against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.

West Brom: Foster, Tamas, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Odemwingie, Andrews, Morrison, Mulumbu, Brunt, Fortune. Subs: Daniels, Tchoyi, Long, Dorrans, Shorey, Cox, Scharner.

United looking to leapfrog City into 1st place, provided the result goes their way at The Liberty and they beat WBA today who saw off Chelsea last weekend.

FACT: United are looking to beat West Brom twice in one season (the double) for the 4th time and the first since the 2008-09 season.

Swansea City vs Manchester City: LIVE at 14:00pm


Team News:

Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Williams, Caulker, Taylor, Allen, Britton, Sinclair, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Graham. Subs: Tremmel, Tate, Monk, McEachran, Lita, Moore, Gower.

Man City: Hart, Richards, Savic, Toure, Clichy, Barry, De Jong, Nasri, Toure Yaya, Silva, Balotelli. Subs: Pantilimon, Milner, Pizarro, Dzeko, Johnson, Kolarov, Aguero.

Aguero and Dzeko among the subs for City..... desperate to bounce back from their 1-0 loss against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday. Mario Balotelli is the lone striker for City, 4-5-1 formation...

FACT: Manchester City have lost three away matches this season - to Swansea's 8.

Norwich City vs Wigan Athletic: LIVE at 16:00pm
Team news coming in at 15:30pm....




Yesterday's Evening Fixture:


Everton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Tottenham slip even further down the pecking order with a 1-0 away loss to 14th placed Everton who move into 10th place.
Striker Nikica Jelavic scored his first goal in English football for The Toffees in the 24th minute to give manager David Moyes a good 10th year anniversary.

EPL News:

Manchester City are ready to make Arsenal striker Robin van Persie the highest-paid player in the EPL with a massive £210,000-a-week contract offer.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has continued to deny Van Persie will leave - especially to Manchester City.

Arsenal are making moves for Cologne striker Lukas Podolski (£10.8million) and Borussia Dortmund midfield maestro Mario Gotze (£30million) to persuade RVP to stay at the club.

Juventus are interested in Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko as he is not getting much first-team action and could be a great addition to their squad. £20million is the starting price at the moment.

German side Hannover 96 want Sunderland loanee Nicklas Bendtner for £5million.

He is currently at the North-West club from Arsenal, where he does not get enough first team football.

Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took a surprise trip to France yesterday, to watch Lyon play Lille, which is a hint that he will make a summer bid for Lille winger Eden Hazard.

The FA have repeated their desire to see goal-line technology introduced very soon possibly by next season, after controversy yesterday as QPR defender Clint Hill was denied a goal which clearly was over the line (when shown in the replays).

Goal or no goal?: Clint Hill's header was disallowed, but goal technology would have prevented this mistake...

LIVE Commentary - Clockwatch:

14:00: 
Both Manchester clubs are in action - and they have both kicked off against West Brom and Swansea.


14:06:
Micah Richards is at right-back for City and Stefan Savic is centre-back.
Samir Nasri starts his first EPL match for the league leaders away from home since Tuesday the 31st of January, when they lost 1-0 to Everton.


14:07:
The Liberty Stadium,
Swansea City vs Manchester City:
Goalkeeper Joe Hart fouls winger Wayne Routledge inside the box.... PENALTY!
Scott Sinclair steps up to take the pen., he shoots, SAVED!! by Hart. 

Scott Sinclair's 7th minute penalty was saved by in-form Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Corner taken and Ashley Williams heads goalwards, but Hart clears.


14:11:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
Striker Wayne Rooney takes a shot from 20 yards out... OVER THE BAR!


14:16:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
Midfielder Keith Andrews takes a shot from 25 yards out after a free-kick..... TIPPED OVER THE POST!!! by David De Gea.
Nice try.... they have to continue to do this if they want to get anything out of this match - work De Gea.


14:18:
The Liberty Stadium,
Swansea City vs Manchester City:
The first yellow card of the match (and the day) goes to Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong who is booked after a late tackle on winger Wayne Routledge.


14:23:
The Liberty Stadium,
Swansea City vs Manchester City Striker Mario Balotelli has an attempt at goal from 12 yards out...  MISS!!! 
FACT: That is City's 1st shot of the match.... to Swansea's 3.


14:25:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
United corner whipped into the box by winger Ashley Young, which finds striker Danny Welbeck who heads towards goal..... OVER THE BAR!
That would have been Welbeck's 10th goal of the season.... Unlucky. 


14:33:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
Cross by winger Ashley Young, straight to striker Wayne Rooney who volleys the ball from 6 yards out..., SAVE!! by Ben Foster.
I think Rooney will eventually score here... United look dangerous in attack and WBA's defence is too weak to handle the pace of Hernandez and Welbeck and the finishing of Rooney.


14:35:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
And the first goal of the day goes to United!
Guess who?
Wayne Rooney!
Hernandez took a shot, blocked and rebounded to Rooney who hardly misses from 12 yards out. 1-0.

Striker Wayne Rooney reacts quickly to Ben Foster's fumble to score his 26th goal of the season.

I should (but won't) be a betting man... LOL


14:37:
The Liberty Stadium,
Swansea City vs Manchester City:
Manchester City SUB:
Gareth Barry OFF
Sergio Aguero ON
Attacking style approach by Mancini's men. But I would have started Aguero in the first place.
You have just made Gareth Barry unsurprisingly upset as he is not injured, and it is only 37 minutes. Well done Mancini.
City equation: Balotelli + Silva + Aguero = Danger.


14:43:
Liberty Stadium,
Swansea vs Manchester City:
City corner taken by Samir Nasri, whipped into the box... saved by Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm.


14:49:
HALF-TIME:
Manchester United 1 West Brom 0
Swansea 0 Manchester City 0
One half of Manchester leading, the other drawing at the moment. 
Can City win against a regenerated Swansea side?
Can United see off West Brom?
We will see...


15:03:
The referees have both restarted these matches. Lee Probert (United vs WBA) Lee Mason (Swansea vs City).


15:07:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
West Brom defender Jonas Olsson has been shown a yellow card for a late tackle on striker Wayne Rooney.
He has to be careful now if he wants to stay on the pitch. 


The Liberty Stadium,
Swansea vs Manchester City:
Sergio Aguero has had a shot from 12 yards out, but missed the target and the scoreline is still 0-0.


15:11:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
Striker Javier Hernandez takes a shot from 18 yards out.... HITS THE POST!!!
Corner whipped in to the box by Ashley Young, finds Rooney who takes an overhead kick...... SAVE! by Ben Foster.
United are looking to end this match soon.. Pressing hard against WBA.


15:16:
The Liberty Stadium,
Swansea vs Manchester City:
A shot by City midfielder Samir Nasri from 12 yards out.... SAVE!! by Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm. Still 0-0, but you would predict that the scoreline will not end like this.


15:24:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
Defender Jonas Olsson is being pulled back by the ref after a dangerous tackle on striker Javier Hernandez..... Yellow card, which means he is OFF! 
TWO YELLOW CARDS - RED.
WBA are in trouble now of not getting anything from this match.... 


15:28:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom
Foul by WBA midfielder Keith Andrews on Ashley Young inside the box..... PENALTY! 
Wayne Rooney steps up to take it.... he places it low towards the corner of the net, and SCORES! 2-0 to United! 

Penalty time: Wayne Rooney scores his 4th EPL penalty of the season - which is more than 15 other PL clubs total together.

15:30:
Team Line-ups for Norwich vs Wigan Athletic:

Norwich: Ruddy, Naughton, Ward, Whitbread, Drury, Crofts, Hoolahan, Fox, Surman, Jackson, Holt. Subs: Steer, Martin, Johnson, Morison, Pilkington, Elliott Bennett, Wilbraham.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Beausejour, Moses, McCarthy, McArthur, Gomez, Rodallega. Subs: Kirkland, Ben Watson, Di Santo, Maloney, McManaman, Diame, Stam.

15:32:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:


West Brom SUBS:
Keith Andrews OFF
Chris Brunt OFF
Nicky Shorey ON
Paul Scharner ON


Manchester United SUB:
Paul Scholes OFF
Paul Pogba ON


Subs galore at OT! 


15:36:
Liberty Stadium,
Swansea vs Manchester City:
No goals so far to tell you here, but striker Mario Balotelli is getting back to his old ways, and has been booked for a cheeky foul on Swansea striker Glyfi Sigurdsson.


15:37:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:

WBA SUB:
Marc-Antoine Fortune OFF
Shane Long ON
He can be a dangerous partner with Odemwingie, but I do not see why he is just coming on now.... he should have started... Too little, too late.


MUFC SUB:
Danny Welbeck OFF
Tom Cleverley ON
Depth holding the midfield for the last 10-15 minutes to keep a clean sheet. Well played Welbeck and SAF.




15:41:
Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
Striker Shane Long takes a shot from 12 yards out.... SAVED!!! by De Gea. 
This is the reason why he should have started... He is already a danger and he has only been on the field for 4 minutes.


15:43:
Liberty Stadium,
Swansea vs Manchester City:
GOAL!!!! 
Wayne Routledge's cross finds substitute striker Luke Moore who heads the ball past goalkeeper Joe Hart into the net to break the deadlock in the 83rd minute! What a story! What a goal for Swansea!

Super sub: Striker Luke Moore's header gives Swansea three points against Manchester City.

Old Trafford,
Manchester United vs West Brom:
United fans are roaring like mad as they hear that City have gone down 1-0 to Swansea. If it stays like this, then they will be top of the table before 4oclock today. 


15:44:
Liberty Stadium,
Swansea vs Manchester City:
City manager Roberto Mancini is going for broke here...
SUB:
Nigel De Jong OFF
Adam Johnson ON


15:46:
Liberty Stadium,
Swansea vs Manchester City:
WOW....
City are desperate to equalise here...
1. Mario Balotelli shot from 12 yards out, but Vorm denied him.
2. Kolo Toure took a shot from 25 yards out but Vorm pulled off another good save to keep it 1-0 to The Swans.


15:52:
FULL-TIME:


Manchester United 2 West Brom 0
Striker Wayne Rooney scored twice as United leapfrog rivals City into 1st place.

Manchester United: Flying high - into 1st place for the first time since the 2nd of October 2011.

FACT: This is the first time that United are in 1st place in the EPL, since the 2nd of October 2011.


Swansea 1 Manchester City 0
An 83rd minute header from Luke Moore ensures that City drop to 2nd place and The Swans move into 12th place.

Swansea City: The giant killers dispose of moneybags Manchester City.

FACT: Manchester City have now dropped 16 points from their last 16 matches (compared to 2 points in their first 12 matches.)


LATEST:
Norwich City 1 Wigan Athletic 0
Wes Hoolahan scored for the home side after 10 minutes to give Norwich the lead with a volley.






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