Arsenal Transfer Rumours: The Per Mertesacker to London rumors persist

Italian online media report that Arsenal will look to add backline help in January with 22-year-old Schalke 04 defender Benedikt Hoewedes and Werder Bremen's 26-year-old Per Mertesacker as the two top targets.

[Source - Footballpress.net]

Villarreal Transfer Rumours: Joan Capdevila off to Germany?

According to transfer rumours on various websites, Villarreal's Joan Capdevila is being tracked by German mega-club Bayern Munich.

Hoffenheim and Schalke 04 are also keen to sign the left-back.

Schalke sign Edu....does this further advance the cause of Kevin Kuranyi to Birmingham City? Transfer Rumours

28-year-old Brazilian Edu, a former forward in the German Bundesliga with clubs such as Bochum, signed from Korean side Suwon Blue Wings.

Don't miss - EPL Transfer Rumours: Schalke ask Birmingham for more money regarding striker Kevin Kuranyi

EPL Transfer Rumours: Schalke ask Birmingham for more money regarding striker Kevin Kuranyi

German international Kevin Kuranyi appears to be the main target of the midlands club.

Via Tribal Football

Thursday 21st May: News

As the desolation congregates over the Riverside, Middlesbrough winger Stuart Downing will find his opportunities of finding serenity extremely limited upon being told that surgery is required on his injured right foot – indefinitely ruling the 23-capped international out of England’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra in June. The prolonged spell in the treatment room could also damage the prospects of a summer move elsewhere as the Championship lies in waiting for Middlesbrough.

Downing controversially handed in a transfer request in January and he could be the figurehead of a mass exodus on Teeside as the likelihood of luring the watchful eyes of Fabio Capello from the second-tier doldrums is certainly a grim vision. A perfect scenario for the born-and-bred local hero would be to witness a remarkable reversal in fortunes as Middlesbrough cling on to Premiership survival with a victory over West Ham, alongside other results finishing in a favourable outcome.

Even if the unlikely materialises into a well-timed miracle, however, flying to South Africa in 2010 might ultimately elude his grasps should there be a recurrence of an indifferent campaign which has been sparse of creative assists and deficient of goals – the gauges of any mercurial widemen - in spite of his club’s extensive on-field woes. Perhaps a transfer would be constructive for Downing to concentrate on hitting peak form, while Middlesbrough could invest the revenue from the sale to either strengthen their ailing squad or to fund an extravagent tilt at a Premiership return at the very first chance.

The pendulum that determines the winner of the Belgian First Division is still firmly positioned in neutral territory after Standard Liege defended their championship with a 1-1 draw at Anderlecht in the first-leg of the all-decisive playoff. On 52 minutes, the trophy was heading in the direction of Brussels as Jonathan Legear handed Anderlecht the lead but an equaliser courtesy of Dieumerci Mbokani threw the advantage into the hands of the reigning title holders, protected in the knowledge that Anderlecht must open their goalscoring account when they travel to Liege on Sunday.

Theofanis Gekas’ loan agreement with Portsmouth has been mutually terminated, prompting a return to parent club Bayer Leverkusen having made only one cameo appearance as a substitute. His relationship with Paul Hart reached an irretrievable state, the breaking point surmounted when the Greek striker apparently refused to participate in last Monday’s Premiership fixture when Sunderland visited Fratton Park.

Manchester City have acquired 16-year-old left-back Nils Zander from Schalke and the German teenager is widely expected to step up as understudy to Wayne Bridge in the near future. The capture is a sign of fulfilment on their declaration that their youth policy will not be hindered in the wake of colossal investment in the senior ranks.

Mediterranean Sunset On Mpenza's Career?

"I think it was important we brought this type of quality to the football club. We have been through a transitional period, and we have worked very hard at bringing so manyplayers here, but the icing on the cake had to be
done."

-- Plymouth Argyle's Paul Sturrock speaking in September 2008.

Back in the closing summer months of 2008, Plymouth Argyle, desperately seeking a solution to resolve their misfiring front-line, prayed that their fortunes would transform upwardly by luring in the traits of a veteran striker possessed with a wealth of top-flight experience in Belgium, Germany and England. The capture of 54-capped Belgian international striker Emile Mpenza was a warmly-greeted murmur in the transfer window, one manoeuvre judged to have been shrewd and astute. Worst case scenario it seemed certain that it was the introduction of a steady-hand, a calming influence and mentor to the array of goal-shy forwards already floundering at Home Park.

Nine demeaning appearances later, six of whom off the substitutes bench and amassed only two goals to his credit, signified that any sense of logical thought had defied the hapless transfer and, according to the Plymouth Herald Sport, his occupancy as Devon's best-paid footballer will dawn to a close in the coming weeks. Crete-based Ergotelis, who compete in the Greek Super League, are rumoured to be homing in on the former Manchester City striker, whilst a return to his homeland will act as another alternative to prolonging his injury-plagued career.

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Brussels-born Emile Mpenza spent his halcyon years donned in the shirts of Standard Liege, where he scored 41 goals in 74 appearances spread across two stints for Les Rouches, and a three-year spell at Schalke, which accumulated 28 goals in 79 occasions. After mixed spells with Hamburger SV and Al Rayyan of Qatar, relegation-threatened Manchester City benefitted the rewards of his services with three critical league goals that arguably maintained their Premiership status.

This season saw Plymouth Argyle clamber to survival in the Football League Championship by five points and, more distressingly, only one position from the relegation trapdoor. Meanwhile, Ergotelis collected 37 points en-route to their comfortable mid-table standing of ninth.

Worldwide Results On 25 April

On Saturday 25th April 2009, Bayern Munich fell to their third home defeat of the season to Schalke, keeping the vivacious German Bundesliga race ajar with five clubs still vying for the championship. In Belgium, Anderlecht and Standard de Liege are both running adjacently in the form guide with neither crumbling from the growing intensity at the zenith of the First Division. Reigning champions Standard de Liege, who were last season steered to a seven-point cushion before landing the title, crushed KV Mechelen to counteract Anderlecht's victory over FC Verbroedering Dender the day before.

Argentine Primera Division
Arsenal de Sarandi 1-1 CA San Martin
CA Banfield 3-1 Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
CA San Lorenzo de Almagro 1-1 Racing Club de Avellaneda
CA Tigre 0-1 CA Huracan

Austrian Bundesliga
SK Sturm Graz 2-0 LASK Linz
SK Austria Karnten 0-3 SC Rheindorf Altach
SV Mattersburg 3-1 SV Kapfenberg

Belgium First Division
Charleroi Sporting Club 1-0 SV Zulte Waregem
KV Kortrijk 2-2 AFC Tubize
RAEC Mons 0-2 KVC Westerlo
RSC Anderlecht 4-0 FC Verbroedering Dender
Sporting Club Lokeren 3-0 Excelsior Mouscron
Standard de Liege 4-1 KV Mechelen

Cypriot First Division
Anorthosis Famagusta 1-1 APOEL Nicosia
APEP Pitsilia 0-1 AE Paphos
Enosis Neon Paralimni 2-1 Alki Larnanca

Czech Liga
FC Viktoria Plzen 3-1 FC Bohemians Praha
FK Pribram 1-1 AC Sparta Praha

Dutch Eredivisie
Heracles 0-2 PSV
NEC Nijmegen 2-3 NAC
Roda JC 1-1 Volendam
SC Heerenveen 1-1 FC Twente

Ecuadorian Primera A
Emelec Guayaquil 1-1 Liga de Quito
Deportivo Espoli Cayambe 0-0 El Nacional Quito
Macara Ambato 1-2 LDU-Portoviejo
Olmedo Riobamba 1-0 Barcelona Guayaquil

English Premiership
Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Aston Villa
Everton 1-2 Manchester City
Fulham 1-0 Stoke City
Hull City 1-3 Liverpool
Manchester United 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur
West Brom 3-0 Sunderland
West Ham United 0-1 Chelsea

German Bundesliga
Bayer Luverkusen 0-1 Karlsruher SC
Bayern Munchen 0-1 Schalke 04
Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Hamburger SV
Hannover 96 2-1 FC Koln
VfB Stuttgart 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Werder Bremen 3-2 VfL Bochum

Italian Serie A
Chievo Verona 1-2 Udinese
Fiorentina 4-1 AS Roma

ROI League of Ireland
Shamrock Rovers 2-0 St Patricks Athletic

Portuguese Liga
Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Estrela Amadora

Russian Premier League
Dinamo Moskva 0-1 Krylya Sovetov
Rubin Kazan 0-2 Sparta Moskva
Terek Groznyi 1-1 Saturn Mosk Oblast
Zenit St Petersburg 4-2 FK Khimki

Spanish Primera Division
Almeria 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna
Malaga 2-1 Numancia
Valencia 2-2 Barcelona

Swiss Super League
AC Bellinzola 2-0 FC Luzern
FC Sion 2-0 FC Aurau

Turkish Super Lig
Hacettepe SK 2-1 Istanbul BB
Sivasspor 3-0 Trabzonspor
Fenerbache SK 1-2 MKE Ankaragucu

Ukrainian Premier League
FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 2-1 FC Arsenal Kyiv
FC Illychivets Mariupol 0-1 FC Metalurh Donetsk
FC Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 FC Chornomorets Odessa

Uruguayan Primera Division
CA Bella Vista 2-1 CA Penarol
Central Espanyol FC 1-2 CA River Plate Montevideo

Four Champions League Surprises

Four clubs surprised the pundits by pulling off impressive victories against higher ranked outfits. Based on current rankings:

• Anorthosis Famagusta (ranked 193) defeated Olympiacos (ranked 44)
• FC BATE Borisov (unranked) defeated Levski Sofia (ranked 80)
• Atlético Madrid (ranked 67) defeated Schalke 04 (ranked 22)
• Dynamo Kyiv (ranked 74) defeated Spartak Moscow (ranked 61)

FC BATE from Belarus and Anorthosis from Cyprus are the first clubs from their perspective countries to ever qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Tuesday Transfer News

A busy few days in the world of transfer news, rumour, and speculation:

Finnish international midfielder Mika Vayrynen appears ready to move from PSV Eindhoven to Belgian side Club Brugge.

Also leaving PSV, forward Jefferson Farfan looks ready to join Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04. The transfer will net PSV a reported £7.9million.

Recently promoted Ligue 1 side Nantes added Hearts defender Ibrahim Tall for the 2008-2009 campaign.

Former Newcastle United defender David Rozehnal is staying at Lazio after a loan to the Italian side this spring. The 27-year-old is currently on international duty with the Czech Republic at Euro 2008.

29-year-old Hungary midfielder Zoltan Gera is leaving recently promoted West Bromwich Albion for Fulham. Gera single-handily carried West Brom at times this past season; he will be sorely missed in their battle to remain in the Premiership.

PSV Eindhoven's Jefferson Farfan battles against Liverpool in the 2006 UEFA Champions League -- His role with Schalke in the upcoming 2008-2009 Champions League remains to be seen.

Image details: UEFA Champions League: Liverpool v PSV Eindhoven served by picapp.com

Two German Goalkeepers Returning to Bundesliga for 2008

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has signed with Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart for the 2008-2009 season. The 38-year-old German is expected to start for his nation in Euro 2008 which begins this weekend. Previously, he played for Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Lehmann signed a one-year contract with Stuttgart.

Also returning home is Germany goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt. The former international player played for S.L. Benfica in Portugal last season. He has signed a two-year contract with Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich.

Image details: Euro 2008 - German National Team Training & Press Conference Day 2 served by picapp.com

UEFA Champions League Quaterfinal Schedule

UEFA Champions League quarterfinal schedule found below.

4-1-2008 - Quarterfinals (First Leg)
AS Roma vs. Manchester United
FC Schalke 04 vs. FC Barcelona

4-2-2008 - Quarterfinals (First Leg)
Arsenal vs. Liverpool FC
Fenerbahce vs. Chelsea

4-8-2008 - Quarterfinals (Second Leg)
Chelsea vs. Fenerbahce
Liverpool FC vs. Arsenal

4-9-2008 - Quarterfinals (Second Leg)
FC Barcelona vs. FC Schalke 04
Manchester United vs. AS Roma

***
Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow will host the final on May 21, 2008.