Burnley Sign Former Arsenal Starlet

Burnley have signed former Arsenal full-back Danny Karbassiyoon on a free transfer.

The 20-year-old American has been without a club since leaving Highbury at the end of last season but Clarets manager Steve Cotterill has handed him a two-year contract.

Magpies Warn Off Jenas Suitors

Newcastle have told Arsenal and Tottenham to forget about trying to sign England midfielder Jermaine Jenas after insisting he is not for sale.The move came a day after outspoken Frenchman Laurent Robert´s claim that the 22-year-old is being forced out of the club by manager Graeme Souness´ transfer and selection policies.Robert said he believes that Jenas is ready to leave St James´ Park, but the club issued a statement saying: "Jermaine signed a five-year contract until 2008. The player is not for sale and the club has no reason to believe that the player is unhappy."

Arsenal Told to Forget Adebayor

Arsenal Football Club have been told Emanuel Adebayor is not for sale.

The Gunners are keen to sign the Monaco star this summer, yet coach Didier Deschamps insists the striker – and Patrice Evra – are staying put in the principality."What people say about their transfers, it is only twaddle," Deschamps said. "They have three years of contract left and the minimum they can do is respect it. “Talks, situations and improvements are always possible. Only a big offer could make us think about it. But there is one percent of chance and nothing concrete so far."

Aliadiere 'Needs to Play'

Jeremie Aliadiere could press his claims for a place in the France national side with regular action for Celtic.
The striker is set to complete a loan move from Arsenal to Celtic at some point this week and Les Bleus coach Raymond Domenech feels the 22-year-old needs to be playing regularly in order to catch the eye.
Domenech believes Aliadiere made a mistake is leaving France for Arsenal six years ago, but admits the lure of playing with top stars can be tough to resist, and is looking for the striker to kick-start his career in Scotland.
"Jeremie went abroad straight from Clairefontaine and it was a huge error," said Domenech. "Players are wasting their time. When you tell a young player he will be alongside great players abroad and paid 10 times more it is difficult for them to refuse.
"This is one of those big problems about our youth training system in France.
"We're being pillaged because there are no clear rules to prevent our youngsters being drawn away.
"When they are playing for their club in France and they're in the Under-21s they build up experience, become stronger and can then leave.
"But some of the youngsters are leaving too soon.
"Playing for youth teams or reserve teams means nothing. Jeremie disappeared off my radar.
"I'm interested in players who are in their first team."

Owen Not for Sale, Say Real

Real Madrid have moved to end speculation on the future of Michael Owen by insisting the England striker is not for sale.The 25-year-old former Liverpool star has been linked to a host of Premiership clubs including top three Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United.But Real director of football Arrigo Sacchi told the Daily Star: "Owen is not for sale because he is part of our coach Wanderley Luxemburgo's plans."Chelsea have not been in touch with us to make an offer for him, or in recent times for any of our players."Some of the things written about who is coming to, and who is leaving Real Madrid, are almost as incredible as science fiction."Owen has not told us he is unhappy or that he wants to leave and that is what really matters to us, not what stories appear in the press."He has signed a contract and he is a very professional player. Since I have been at Madrid I have never heard him complain - not even when he was not in the first team and, like all players, wanted to play more minutes."

Robinho Admits Spanish Preference

Brazil striker Robinho has angered current club Santos by revealing that he wants to move to Real Madrid.
The 21-year-old, also a transfer target of Arsenal, admitted his preference for the Spanish side after Brazil's 4-1 Confederations Cup win over Argentina.
"I hope to play for Real. I have spoken to them - it will be good for my career to go now," he told Brazilian TV.
Santos president Marcelo Teixeira reacted angrily by slapping a £28m price tag on his star player.
Robinho, whose contract runs until 2008, has been the subject of constant speculation over a possible move, but has usually ducked questions over his future.
But he said he he would return to Brazil to try to persuade Teixeira to allow him to leave. "It'll be good for the safety of my family as well," said Robinho, whose mother was kidnapped and held captive for 40 days last year before being released.
"Spain is an ideal country for Brazilian players and I know Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo very well.
But Teixeira said he was fed up with the constant speculation and accused the Spanish giants of jumping the gun.
"It's a lack of respect for Santos," he said.
"They might have economic and financial power but it doesn't mean that they can do what they want, when they what."
"There is no situation which is favourable to any negotiation with Real Madrid unless it involves the penalty clause.
"He grew up and became valuable at Santos and we need him to stay. It's still not the moment for him to go."

Gilberto and Brazil set for Confederations Cup Final

Two of the fiercest rivals in world football, Brazil and Argentina, go head to head tonight in the Confederations Cup Final, and Arsenal star Gilberto Silva may feature for Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side.
The midfielder has only played in one game for his country during the tournament, the final group game against Japan. Brazil needed only a point to progress to the Semi-Finals and duly earned it with a 2-2 draw.
The world champions finished second in Group B after beating Greece, drawing with Japan and losing to Mexico, but still advanced to the final after knocking out host nation Germany in the Semi-Finals with a 3-2 win.
Brazil have experienced defeat to Argentina recently, losing 3-1 in a World Cup Qualifier as their old rivals guaranteed a place at Germany 2006.
Ze Roberto, who plays for Bayern Munich in Germany, does not expect that defeat to affect Brazil. "We've already forgotten the game three weeks ago. And in any case, we never want to lose against Argentina, regardless of the competition or anything else. It's a long-term rivalry."
Argentina also finished second in their group but made it to tonight's showpiece occasion by defeating Mexico on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Argentina beat Tunisia and Australia and drew with Germany in Group A, but they finished behind the Europeans on goal difference. It worked in their favour however, avoiding Brazil in the Semi-Final.
Argentina haven’t won a major tournament in 12 years and are desperate to end their drought. The national coach Jose Nestor Peckerman remarked: "We came to Germany to find some answers and to continue to experiment with the squad.
"But make no mistake about it - we want this team to achieve everything they can. Our history demands it."

Late Bids for Arsenal Starlet

Bolton along with several other Premiership clubs have made late bids to sign Arsenal youngster Jeremie Aliadiere.With a loan move to Celtic almost complete, Bolton along with Blackburn and Manchester City have made late approaches for the French U21 international. Arsene Wenger has revealed that he wants to loan out the youngster on a temporary contract to gain first team experience with the deal costing around £500,000.

Judge Blows Whistle on Agents

Football agents suffered a legal setback on Wednesday when a High Court judge ruled against two agents claiming a £450,000 fee over the transfer of World Cup winner Gilberto Silva to Arsenal.
The evidence of Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein (pictured) and manager Arsene Wenger proved critical when they testified in support of Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro that they had not used Brussels-based agents Jacques Lichtenstein nor his partner, former Tottenham striker Ronnie Rosenthal.
In his evidence, Dein said Arsenal had dealt directly with Atletico and the player's own agent and had not gone through Lichtenstein, who had been authorised by the Brazilian side "to interest" European clubs in Gilberto.
Dein told the court the agents had "missed the train" and had tried to "jump aboard when the train was already moving".
The case, which has cost Lichtenstein and Rosenthal around £190,000 in legal fees, illustrates the growing practice of agents claiming a fee even if they have had no direct involvement with a transfer.
Lichtenstein had claimed that Atletico agreed to pay him 10% of the £4.5million transfer fee they received for Gilberto from Arsenal in July 2002. The club denied any such deal and said that Lichtenstein and Rosenthal had nothing to do with the transfer.
Wenger became interested in the midfielder after watching his performances for Brazil at the 2002 World Cup.
Dein contacted a "good friend", Dick Law, in Brazil to make inquiries as he had a background of helping to facilitate transfers of players from Brazilian clubs to Arsenal.
He said Law was not an agent but "a conduit" with a knowledge of Portuguese and Brazilian culture who was "our man on the spot who we trusted implicitly".
Rejecting Lichtenstein's claim for commission, Mr Justice Jack ordered that the claimants should pay the Brazilian club's £94,000 costs as well their own costs.
He refused Lichtenstein permission to appeal although he can apply to the Court of Appeal direct.

Baptista: "I would love to play for a team as Arsenal"

Julio Baptista wants a move to english football, and the clubs he wants to play for is Manchester United and Arsenal. "The beast" has scored 50 goals in spanish football for the last two season, and is heavly wanted by a number of clubs around Europe.

A signing of Baptista would cost us around £10 mill, but is he worth it? In my opinion he's absolutely worth it. I think he would be a very good partner for Henry up front, although i bealive Robinho would be that as well.

The perfect summer would be that Wenger signs both Robinho and Baptista, but that's maybe just a dream, especially after we have signed Hleb.

I'm looking forward to see what happens next, will Wenger buy one of the two brazilians, or will he shock us with a superstar which hasen't been mentioned?

Edu: Arsenal Right to go for Robinho

Former Arsenal midfielder Edu says his fellow countryman Robinho would be a fine capture for the Gunners.
"Arsenal have made a good choice to try and get him," said the Brazilian. "With the amazing talent he has, he is a fantastic player. It is something that you don’t find often. I am sure he will be happy wherever he ends up." However, one of Robinho’s agents has stated that the player will not be moving to London. Real Madrid remain favourites to sign the 21-year-old although Juventus are now being linked with the player.