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Becks turns down PSG
BECKS STICKS WITH GALAXY, FINALLY
THE OTHER PREMIER LEAGUE India is hoping to replicate the massive success of its Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament by starting a new football league, featuring a number of ageing stars. Starting with six teams, the league boasts a number of former big team players who will be auctioned off over the coming months. The names so far include Robbie Fowler, Robert Pires, Fabio Cannavaro, Maniche, Jay-Jay Okocha, Fernando Morientes and Hernan Crespo.
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Gunnar make a comeback? Alex Ferguson has tipped Manchester United’s one-time ‘baby-faced assassin’ Ole Gunnar Solskjær, 38, to one day replace him as Old Trafford boss. While the usual big guns like Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho are repeatedly linked with taking over the Reds when Fergie, 70, finally retires, the Scot himself has said the one-time United dangerman, who just took Norwegian minnows Molde to their first title, has got what it takes. Fergie, who has claimed he will step down in three years time, said: “Yes, he has got a lot going for himself.”
BAGMAN SMASH-UP Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis provided one of the more entertaining moments of the Australian Open’s first few rounds, smashing four of his racquets in succession during a tantrum. The world number 44 lost his cool after dropping his serve in the third set, in a match he went on to lose against 21st seed Stanislas Wawrinka.
RECORD-BREAKING BID FOR ARSENAL Arsene Wenger is believed to be considering smashing Arsenal’s club transfer record by tabling an £18m bid for Newcastle striker Demba Ba. Wenger was originally interested in the Senegalese striker, who’s scored 15 league goals this season, when he was playing in Germany, but was put off by injuries.
ALL EYES ON PSG The new big boys in the European transfer market, Paris St-Germain, have been offered both Fernando Torres and Carlos Tevez, according to the club’s manager Carlo Ancelotti. The French club, newly cashedup thanks to backing from the Qatar Investment Authority, have become the new go-to team for transfer rumours, with Ancelotti doing little to dispel the gossip. He said: “There is a lot of choice for this January market. Do you want the names? Okay, now I tell you the players the agents are offering on the market, officially or not: Carlos Tevez, Fernando Torres, Dimitar Berbatov, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Edinson Cavani, Fernando Llorente.” Torres, who joined Chelsea for £50m just a year ago, is supposedly being offered for just £20m.
Photos: Getty Images
David Beckham has ended months of speculation and signed a new two-year deal with LA Galaxy. Beckham, 36, had been out of contract since December 31 and had been consistently linked with a number of European sides, notably Paris St-Germain, due to the perception the former England captain would need to play at a higher standard to have any chance of making Britain’s Olympic team. However, the 36-year-old decided to stick with the team he joined in 2007, no doubt helped by assurances from GB Olympics coach Stuart Pearce that playing in the MLS would not damage his chances. Becks, who won last season’s MLS with Galaxy, said: “I had many offers from clubs around the world, however, I’m still passionate about playing in America.”