Transfer talk (Friday, 26 June)

Manchester City top the ‘injury league’, with Manchester United bottom

The results of new research into every significant injury suffered by every Premier League footballe...

Stereotypical Germany? With the defence ‘forgotten’, think again

The blunt exposure of Germany's defensive problems in their last two friendlies has certainly served...

Top 14: The climax of the season

On this side of the Channel the nation’s best players are packing off either for their summer holida...

They shoot...

Barca target £37m Villa

Barcelona have made a £37m bid for Valencia striker David Villa, a move which increases Manchester City's hopes of signing Samuel Eto'o, who would need to be moved on to fund the purchase. Though Eto'o is believed to want Champions League football, the salary at City may be too alluring to miss.

Adebayor option for Milan

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani says that Arsenal's Togo international remains on their shopping list this summer. "If we fail to get [Wolfsburg striker Edin] Dzeko then [Seville striker] Luis Fabiano could be an alternative – as could Adebayor."

Hammers talks on hold

West Ham's attempts to secure a loan deal for Internazionale's £15m-rated 28-year-old Brazilian winger Mancini have been held up by the player's honeymoon. The West Ham chief executive, Scott Duxbury, who spent several days with the Milan club's technical director, Gianluca Nani, to tie up his services, is hopeful of progress early next week.

They score...

Albiol arrives

A statement on the official club website last night revealed that Valencia's central-defender Raul Albiol, 23, will be presented as Real Madrid's latest signing next week after the two clubs agreed a €15m (£12.8m) fee.

They miss...

Neill in limbo

Lucas Neill may find himself out in the cold, having performed a U-turn and decided he wants to sign a new contract with West Ham United after all. Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola was not enamoured with the Australian captain after he turned down the club's request to take a cut of more than 50 per cent on his £60,000-a-week wages. Zola is considering moving for an alternative full-back.

Burdisso rules out switch

Internazionale centre-back Nicolas Burdisso has distanced himself from reports linking him to Chelsea. "My wish is to remain at Inter. I have no intention to change team," he said.

Rovers cool on Crouch

Blackburn Rovers have decided that an £11m deal for Peter Crouch as replacement for Roque Santa Cruz is not viable. Crouch's Portsmouth salary – £70,000 a week – is the obstacle, not the transfer fee.