Arsenal Striker To Make Decision On Future At End Of The Season

Emirates star is only concentrating on overhauling Old Trafford club.

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner will make a decision on his future in North London at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old is frustrated over a lack of first-team opportunities with 11 of his 14 appearances in the Premier League coming from the bench.

The Denmark international has constantly bemoaned the fact he should be a regular in the Gunners line up but his claims have gone unanswered.

But he will leave any decision until the summer as he is fully concentrated on overhauling Manchester United’s seven point lead at the top of the table.

Arsenal have six games remaining and travel to neighbours Tottenham Hotspur tonight.

Bendtner understands why he has not had more starts this season but believes he deserves more chances.

“It is incredibly frustrating not being seen as a first-team player, but there is not much I can do about it,” Bendtner told Ekstra Bladet.

“I have proven that I am good enough to play from the start at Arsenal.

“[Robin] van Persie is ahead of me at the moment and there is nothing to say about that because he has scored 16 goals since New Year.”

“After this season I will decide on my future, but not before.”

source

Read more...

Rovers dismiss latest rumours on Kean future

Kean, who replaced Sam Allardyce after Venky's took charge of the club, has seen his side fail to win any of their last seven games in all competitions and they are now just one point above the relegation zone.

The owners were forced to deny a report in a national newspaper three weeks ago that Kean was set to be dismissed, and the odds of his departure were slashed on Friday amid further rumours he was on the way out.

However, the owners remain adamant that Kean is the right man for the job.

"There is absolutely nothing to talk about," Rao told the Lancashire Telegraph. "I don't know why these stories keep arising and I don't understand it. There is nothing else to say on it."

The newspaper also quoted a source close to the owners as saying: "Again there is no truth in the rumours and it isn't helping anyone. We don't know why people are saying these things but we wish they wouldn't. It is not helping anyone."

source

Read more...

Welbeck to decide on future

Sunderland loan star Danny Welbeck has confirmed he will be considering his Manchester United future in the summer.

The 20-year-old striker has proven a big hit at the Stadium of Light this season during his season-long loan spell from The Red Devils.

The England Under-21 international has enjoyed regular first-team football under manager Steve Bruce and feels the experience has boosted his game.

Welbeck has now hinted that his long-term future could lie away from Old Trafford as the prospect of returning to training without playing games is highly unappealing.

"I've not really thought too much about what I'm going to do, but I've really enjoyed my time at Sunderland," said Welbeck.

"It has benefited me massively, just to be around with the big boys week in, week out. I'm delighted with that, but the end of the season will be the time to sit down and think about the future.

"I'm like anyone else, I want to play every week. Football is my job. I like training hard and then playing in games, but we will just see what happens in the summer."

source

Read more...

Gerard Houllier's law at Aston Villa casts shadow over future of eight players

At least eight senior players are considering their Aston Villa futures after details emerged of Gerard Houllier's attempts to arrest an alarming slump in the club's fortunes. It is understood several senior figures are disgruntled enough to be giving serious thought to their futures, including Gabriel Agbonlahor, Stiliyan Petrov, Richard Dunne, James Collins, Brad Friedel, Ashley and Luke Young and Stephen Warnock. Sportsmail can reveal that, apart from banning mobile phones in the dressing room, Houllier has imposed severe financial penalties for any breach of rules and has introduced a procedure for any player wanting to contact owner Randy Lerner. First again: How Sportsmail broke the news on Wednesday Revolt: (Clockwise from top left) Ashley Young, Richard Dunne, Brad Friedel, James Collins, Stephen Warnock, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Stiliyan Petrov and Luke Young There is a sliding scale of fines for players who break the rules. Latecomers for training, meetings or pre-match gatherings will be fined 10 per cent of their weekly wage for a first offence, 20 per cent for a second and 30 per cent for a third. Any grievances will have to go through Houllier, after he stipulated that players wishing to speak to Lerner must seek his permission. The Villa boss is hoping the crackdown will reverse the drop in morale that has accompanied the team's decline in the Barclays Premier League. It could backfire, though, with rumblings of discontent coming from almost the entire first-team squad. Villa are hovering close to the drop zone, and despondency seems to have deepened since the new rules were introduced. According to sources close to the squad, there is resentment at the changes coming so late in the season, when they need to stand united to fight relegation, and at being 'treated like schoolkids'. Lerner is backing Houllier but is bound to be perturbed by further signs of team spirit unravelling at the start of an eight-game run-in that ends with a trip to Arsenal and a home match with Liverpool. Houllier's brief reign has been beset by problems, with just six wins from 25 Premier League games leaving Villa one point above the bottom three. Troubles: Gerard Houllier is attempting to keep his players under control A disheartened Ashley Young has given up hope of a Champions League place with Villa and will seek a move to a top-four club at the end of the season, as revealed in Sportsmail. Manchester United are leading the chase, with Liverpool and Tottenham also monitoring the situation. Agbonlahor and Petrov have both had spells on the bench of late, while Dunne and Collins were involved in a drink-fuelled fracas at a health spa. Chief executive Paul Faulkner reiterated his support for Houllier, saying: 'Our best chance of staying up is with Gerard.' But the rules have done little to enhance harmony, with at least two players seeking advice on whether to follow them.  Houllier rewrites the rules as Villa stars rebel over new code of conductDowning admits it's a relief to join up with England after Villa woes Aston Villa planning summer raid for wantaway Man City stopper Given All the latest Aston Villa news, features and opinion  Explore more:People: Ashley Young, Stiliyan Petrov, Richard Dunne, Gerard Houllier, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Luke Young Places: Liverpool

source

Read more...

William Gallas Delays Signing New Tottenham Contract Until Champions League Future Is Sorted

White Hart Lane veteran is offered new deal but delays decision.

Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas will not sign a new contract at the club unless there is Champions League football on offer next season.

The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal last summer after joining on a free from fierce rivals Arsenal. The France international is a key player for manager Harry Redknapp and has helped the club into the Champions League quarter-finals in their debut appearance in the tournament.

Gallas has said he is open to signing another deal with Tottenham but wants to see if the club can retain their place among Europe’s elite.

Spurs currently lie fifth in the table, just outside the four qualification spots but if they win this year’s competition they will gain entry for next season.

Redknapp confirms negotiations have started with the veteran, who he regards as  ’one of the signings of the season’.

“The chairman’s doing a deal,” Redknapp told the Daily Telegraph

“William fully deserve it, he has been top class. He’s a nice man, a quiet man who just gets on with it.

“He could have gone abroad during the summer and made money, but the deal he did with us was an awful lot less than he was on at Arsenal.

“He has been one of the signings of the season. He has been magnificent for us and has played nearly all the games.”

source

Read more...

Connor Wickham Commits Future To Ipswich – Arsenal And Liverpool Must Wait To Land Youngster

Portman Road teenager does not want to go to the Emirates or Anfield – yet!

Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from Portman Road and has committed himself to the club.

The 17-year-old was named Football League young player of the year and wants to continue his development under manager Paul Jewell.

But his impressive performances have not gone unnoticed in the Premier League with Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United all set for bids.

But Wickham is keeping his feet on the ground and wants to learn from the people around him.

“To be that highly-rated is amazing, but all I can do is keep working hard on my football,” he said.

“I am signed to Ipswich for the next few years, and I am concentrating on that.

“I want to work hard for Ipswich and get them to the Premier League. Hopefully we can do that.

“This season is really going to plan,” he added.

“Last season ended on a high and the start of this season didn’t get off to a great start but it is nice to get back on track and achieve what I have this season.

“To play football for England, and to win the awards I am winning, shows I have the right people around me – I am taking all the advice on board and using it to my advantage.”

source

Read more...