Latest Football & Transfer News 07-07-2012

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Park agrees QPR move

South Korean midfielder on his way to Loftus Road



Park Ji-sung: Three-year deal at QPR


Sky Sports can confirm that Manchester United ace Park Ji-sung has agreed a move to Queens Park Rangers.
QPR have agreed a deal with United, reportedly worth £2million, and have made quick progress in agreeing terms.
Sky Sports understands Park has agreed a three-year deal with the West London outfit, and he will become QPR's latest acquisition.


Park also becomes the second player to arrive from Old Trafford in the space of a week, after they concluded a season-long loan for Fabio.
The move ends a seven-year stay at United for Park, who has become hugely popular following his move from PSV Eindhoven. Park played over 200 games for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

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Inter will consider any offers

Stramaccioni admits every player has a price



Wesley Sneijder: Finds himself at the centre of transfer rumours once again


Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni claims no player is indispensable and says the club would listen to big-money offers for their top stars.
The opening of a new transfer window has brought with it fresh rounds of speculation.
Wesley Sneijder is once again the subject of regular rumours, with it suggested that the Holland international could be snatched from Inter's clutches.


It would take a sizeable bid to tempt the Serie A outfit into a sale, but Stramaccioni admits that every player has a price.
"Sneijder is fundamental from a technical and tactical point of view, but I can't say that he is not for sale," he said.
"That would be an abuse of my power. I would only ask the president (Massimo Moratti) to think carefully should an important offer arrive."
Improve

There are expected to be further comings and goings at Inter this summer, with the club having already released experienced duo Diego Forlan and Lucio.
Julio Cesar and Dejan Stankovic have also been informed that they are surplus to requirements, but Stramaccioni insists he would be happy to work with anyone who remains on the club's books at the start of next season.
He added: "Let's say that no player will arrive who I do not like. It is important that we get players who can improve the squad and fit with the way we want to play.


"Julio Cesar? Inter have the right to make the decisions which they feel are best.
"I have no problem with Julio Cesar and his value is not under discussion. He's amongst the best goalkeepers in the world."

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Ajax accept Vertonghen is 'gone'

Centre-half waiting on green light for Spurs switch


Jan Vertonghen: Expected to be plying his trade in the Premier League next season


Ajax coach Frank de Boer admits Jan Vertonghen's head is already in London, as he closes on a summer transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs have held a long-standing interest in the Belgium international, along with their North London rivals Arsenal.
It would appear as though the highly-rated centre-half will be turning out at White Hart Lane next season, with an agreement reportedly edging towards completion.


De Boer admits Vertonghen is now waiting on the 'green light' to make a move to the Premier League.
Taking that into account, he left the 25-year-old out of his squad for a pre-season exhibition game against FC Emmen.
"John has his head in London, so we sent him home," De Boer told Telesport.
"He is only waiting on a few minor details before he gets the green light."

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Zola confirmed as Watford manager

Gianfranco Zola has been appointed as manager of Watford, the club have announced.



The Italian has signed a two-year deal at the npower Championship club after the Hornets' new owners confirmed the sacking of Sean Dyche on Friday.

"Everyone knows how Gianfranco Zola likes football to be played," Watford technical director Gianluca Nani told the club's official website.

"I think Watford's fans can expect an exciting and attacking style from his team. Gianfranco represents this project perfectly."

The appointment completes Zola's return to English football two years after he left West Ham.

It had been expected since the Pozzo family, who completed their takeover of the club from Laurence Bassini last week, revealed the 46-year-old Italian was their preferred candidate.

The Pozzo family also own Serie A side Udinese and La Liga outfit Granada.

The former Chelsea player had two seasons in charge of the Hammers, impressing in the first as he led the club to ninth place in the Premier League in the 2008/09 season.

He struggled badly the following campaign, though, as his side finished just one place above the bottom three and he left his post two days after the end of the season.

Zola, who previously coached the Italy Under-21 side, is best known for a seven-year spell as a player with Chelsea, though, when he established himself as one of the most talented and possibly the best loved foreign player to play in the Premier League.

But he will not have an easy act to follow at Watford, with Dyche helping them finish a respectable 11th in his only season at the helm after succeeding Malky Mackay.

Gianfranco Zola factfile

1966: Born in Oliena, Sardinia on July 5.

1984: Signs first professional contract with Nuorese, for whom he scores 10 goals in 31 appearances.

1987: Remains in Sardinia and signs for Serie C outfit Sassari Torres and nets 21 times in 88 games.

1989: Joins Serie A side Napoli, where he serves as an understudy to Diego Maradona.

1990: April - Part of the Napoli side which wins the Scudetto for only the second time in their history.

August - Helps Napoli win the Italian Super Cup with a 5-1 win over Juventus.

1991: November - Called up to the full Italy squad and makes his debut in a friendly against Norway.

1993: Joins Parma after Napoli finish a disappointing 11th in Serie A.

1994: June - Part of Italy's squad for the World Cup in the USA. Italy reach the final but Zola only features in the 2-1 extra-time victory over Nigeria in the last 16.

1995: Plays in both legs of Parma's 2-1 win over Juventus in the UEFA Cup final.

1996: New Parma coach Carlo Ancelotti decides Zola will not fit into his system and he is signed by Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit for £4.5million.

1997: February - Scores the only goal of the game with a superb strike from a narrow angle past Ian Walker to give Italy a 1-0 win over England in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

May - Named Football Writers' Association player of the year.

October - Wins the last of his 35 caps against England in a World Cup qualifier in Rome.

1998: Left out of Italy's squad for France '98.

2000: May 20 - Helps Chelsea land the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Wembley.

2003: January - Overwhelmingly voted Chelsea's best player ever in a fans'

poll, ahead of Peter Osgood, Dennis Wise and Jimmy Greaves.

July - Swaps Chelsea for Serie B side Cagliari despite an 11th-hour bid from new Blues owner Roman Abramovich to keep him at the club.

2004: Achieves promotion to Serie A with the Sardinian club.

2005: June - Retires at the age of 38.

2006: Accepts role as assistant to Italy Under-21 boss Pierluigi Casiraghi.

2008: March - Admits he would be interested in managing in the Premier League, preferably with old club Chelsea.

September 10 - Agrees a three-year deal to become West Ham manager.

2009: April 25 - Signs new contract to keep him at Upton Park until 2013.

May - Leads Hammers to ninth-place finish in Premier League.

2010: March 25 - West Ham co-owner David Sullivan slammed the club's performance in their 3-1 home defeat to Wolves as "shambolic" and "pathetic".

March 27 - Zola says he will consider his future after the home loss to Stoke - a sixth defeat in succession.

March 29 - Zola tells the club's website he is "determined to carry on" as West Ham manager.

April 24 - West Ham beat Wigan 3-2 to all but confirm their safety, easing the pressure on Zola.

April 30 - Zola admits he had not been consulted about the club's £4million bid for West Brom's Graham Dorrans, or Sullivan's announcement the entire squad was for sale except Scott Parker.

May 3 - West Ham's safety is confirmed as Hull fail to beat Wigan.

May 9 - Season ends with 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

May 11 - Has contracted terminated by West Ham.

2012: July 7 - Named manager of Watford, signing a two-year deal with the Championship club.

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Nani 'very happy' at Man Utd

Portugal winger Nani says he is "very happy" at Manchester United after confirming negotiations regarding a new contract are ongoing.


Nani: In talks over new United deal

Nani is approaching 200 appearances for the Red Devils after joining from Sporting Lisbon five years ago and has become an increasingly important member of the team.

The 25-year-old has been in talks with the Red Devils over an extension, but there have been reports that Nani is worried the club will sell him this summer.

He believes he has the backing of manager Sir Alex Ferguson and is waiting to see how discussions over a new deal pan out.

"We will see," Nani is quoted by the Times of India when asked about his future. "I am very happy at Man United and have been there five years and won every title.

"The manager has great faith in me and that's what is important. My agent is negotiating and we'll see what happens."

Nani is determined to make up for last season's heartache when United were denied the Premier League title in the final minutes of the campaign by local rivals Manchester City.

He added: "That's football - you are always going to suffer disappointments and you just have to deal with them.

"Football is like life and so there will be times when you suffer a big disappointment.

"It hurt to miss the league title in the last minutes, City had incredible luck that day. Hopefully next season is our turn and it's up to us to make that happen."

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QPR set to reveal stadium plans

QPR will reveal plans for a new 35,000-seater stadium within weeks, Press Association Sport understands.


QPR are looking to leave Loftus Road

The Hoops' Loftus Road home is the smallest ground in the top flight with a capacity of just 18,439 and the club have been vocal in their attempts to find a plot of land for a new stadium.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes revealed this week the club are evaluating three potential sites and on Friday posted via his Twitter account the club have made a "great first step" in its attempts for a new stadium.

It's understood that drawings are at an advanced stages and the Rs will make a stadium announcement before the start of the new season.

The plans are likely to be unveiled after QPR return from their pre-season tour in Asia rather than at a press conference on Monday, which many had expected.

On Friday the club invited the national and international media to the event in central London, where they plan to make a major announcement they believe could help turn the club into a "global" brand.

There had been suggestions QPR would reveal a new stadium, although it is instead understood that Manchester United's Park Ji-sung will be unveiled.

It's understood the South Korea international will move to Loftus Road for a fee of £2million once the relevant paperwork has been completed.

Park would certainly help the Hoops achieve their aim of becoming a global "brand" after his success at United, not only on the field but commercially as well.

The 31-year-old won four Premier League titles and a Champions League crown during his time at United and is understood to have been swayed to join QPR by their ambitious plans.