Football Transfer Deals, Speculations And Titbits

Its a day of loan deals as the world prepares for the impending return of Mario Balotelli to the BPL, but of course the rumour mills have gone into overdrive and our Man Paul Ayorinde has captured it all for you.

you can follow Paul on twitter: @El_Pauleta on twitter and also follow @NewFanzone and we will follow you right back, lets keep the discussion going.

Angel Di Maria- (AP Photo/Paul White)

Queens Park Rangers have completed the signing of Eduardo Vargas

Today’s report and rumours:

– According to Milan news, the fee agreed between Liverpool and AC Milan for Mario Balotelli is €20million in addition to bonuses.

– According to reports, Arsenal are preparing to offer €40million plus Olivier Giroud for PSG striker Edison Cavani.

– Tottenham are keen on activating the £8million release clause of Sevilla defender Federico Fanzo

– Hull City have submitted a £10million bid for Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes

– Mattia Destro’s agent has revealed his client would be interested in a move to Chelsea

– AC Milan are keen on replacing Mario Ballotelli with FC Porto star striker Jackson Martinez.

– According to reports in France,Celtic are set to make an offer for Lille’s striker Salomon Kalou

– AC Milan have played down reports that they are in Paris to negotiate a deal for Paris Saint-Germain Adrien Rabiot

– French Ligue 1 side Metz are close to signing Modibo Maiga from West ham on a one-year loan

– West Brom coach Alan Irvine has confirmed his interest in Greece striker Georgios Samaras

– Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed Angel Di Maria has rejected a new contract and also have asked to leave the club,Sami Khedira have also rejected a new contract at Real Madrid.

– Hull city manager Steve Bruce is looking to Rotherham winger Ben Pringle as replacement for injured Robert Snodgrass.

– Monaco are reportedly lining up a £10million bid for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech

– Manchester United and Chelsea are battling it out to sign highly rated Cruzeiro midfielder Lucas Silva

– According to reports, QPR have open talks with Reading’s goalkeeper Alex McCarthy

– Manchester United are planning a shock bid for Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso.

– Arsenal are ready to fend off late interest shown by Locomotiv Moscow to sign Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote

– Galatasaray are close to signing Arsenal forward Lucas Poldoski

-According to reports, Monaco are close to signing defender Wallace from Braga

– Paul Pogba’s agent has stated that no contract talk with Juventus are underway,despite General Manager Beppe Marotta claiming a extension was close.

– Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Napoli winger Goran Pandev.

– Everton manager Roberto Martinez isn’t ruling out a move for free agent Samuel Eto’o

– According to reports, Anderson is close to leaving Manchester United for FC Porto in a deal worth €7.5million

– According to reports in France, Lorient striker Vincent Aboubakar is set to join FC Porto for €10million plus bonuses

– According to Skysports Italia, Mario Balotelli will travel to England tomorrow to undergo a medical at Liverpool.

– According to reports, Real Madrid have contacted Manchester City enquiring about the availability of striker Alvaro Negredo

Football tit bits:

– Bastia striker Brandao has been provisionally suspended until September 18th so that the Ligue de football professionell (LFP) can make a long-term decision.

– Roy Hodgson is set to name Wayne Rooney as England’s new captain ahead of the start of the Euro 2016 qualifiers next month

– Paul Scholes is “scared” for his former club Manchester United’s future and feels they need to buy at least five players to avoid decline.

– Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo trained without any problems ahead of Friday’s Spanish Super cup second-leg clash with Atletico Madrid having been substituted due to injury in the first-leg on Tuesday.

– The Glazer family has no plan to sell Manchester United in the near future,with the club’s American owners determined to be in place for at least the next five years

THE PADDOCK ….This Isn’t Science Fiction, This Is Formula 1

There is no doubt that Formula 1 is a highly technical sport, hence, the need for a down to earth technical analysis of this highly exhilarating sport.

To this end, your favourite newfanzone.com has introduced a brand new column tagged ‘’The Paddock’’, this exciting new column is handled by our in-house F1 expert, Soliu ADEYEMO.

The Paddock goes behind the news to give you cutting edge technical analysis of this ever intriguing sport; plus previews & reviews of all the various races as they go down in different centres across the world.

And what a way to start! The Paddock debuts this weekend as the second half of the 2014 F1 season restarts in Belgium with the 2014 F1 Shell Belgian GP at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

Newfanzone.com previews this sometimes chaotic race in a unique version. Come along!

THE 2014 F1 SHELL BELGIAN GP PREVIEW

The 2014 F1 season restarts at the classic Circuit de Spa after a fly-away first half that sent the teams from Australia, Malaysia and China to Europe, via Bahrain, with a quick trip over the Atlantic to Canada.

Now, the season continues with eight races in 14 weeks, taking in two more in Europe before heading to Singapore, Japan, Russia, USA, Brazil and finally Abu Dhabi, where double points will be awarded.

The Circuit de Spa presents the real test of man and machine with its sweeping curves, high speeds and undulating profile. But, the big question is whether the dominant Mercedes’ duo of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton can replicate the feat achieved by Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel last season when he won in Belgium before remaining unbeaten in the final eight races of the season.

Belgian GP in Brief

Track: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Permanent Circuit)

Laps: 44

Track length: 7.004 km

Tyre allocation: Medium (white) and soft (yellow)

DRS Zones: Two with separate detection points- pit straight and Kemmel straight

Lap record: Sebastian Vettel- 1:47.263 (Red Bull; 2009)

Number of times: 69 (first held in 1925)

Most wins (drivers): Michael Scumacher (6)

Most wins (constructors): Ferrari (16)

Last Race (2013)

Pole: Lewis Hamilton- Mercedes- 2:01.012

Podium: S. Vettel- Red Bull- 1:23:42.196; F. Alonso- Ferrari- +16.800s; L. Hamilton- Mercedes- +27.700s

Fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel- Red Bull- 1:50.756

Last Five Winners
2013: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2012: Jenson Button (McLaren)
2011: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2009: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

In Rich Vein of Form

The young Australian, Daniel Ricciardo has stunned everyone in the f1 paddock with his stunning display before the summer break that has won him two races.

His sterling drive in Hungary was also a good testament to his potential as a great f1 driver, not too many gave him the chance when he was picked as a replacement for Mark Webber in the Red Bull team.

Fernando Alonso has also made it 11 races out of 11 he has beaten team-mate Kimi Raikkonen in Hungary.

Despite his uncompetitive Ferrari car, the Spaniard has finished outside the top six just once this season. Lewis Hamilton on his part has demonstrated great resolve behind the wheel which has seen him overcome two Saturday car troubles on Sunday, no doubt, the Mercedes driver needs an error-free second half to outdrive his Mercedes’ team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Struggling with Form

Force India’s amazing run of form came to an acrimonious end in Hungary when their two drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez collided.

Force India has dropped to the bottom of the Mercedes pecking-order after a strong start to the season. Despite, the team’s seemingly lack of financial power, it still boasts of being competitive in Belgium, where the team scored its first podium in 2009.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen will come into this race with the hope of a strong result, especially after Alonso’s superb podium finish in Hungary. With the four wins to his name in Spa, this is surely the best place for the Finnish driver to revive his season and ultimately revive his Ferrari’s career.

Lotus needs to move past the loss of its Front and Rear Interconnected Suspension (FIRC) in order to launch a strong revival of the season that has taken a turn for the worst for the Grove-based team, especially as the duo of Romain Grosjean and the still scoreless- Pastor Mladonado struggled with the car in Germany and Hungary.

Big Look Out

Expectedly, all eyes will be on F1 debutant Andre Lotterer, promoted to a Caterham drive at the expense of Kamui Kobayashi. Whether the 32-year old German, who has won the Le-Mans 24-Hour three times remains to be seen this weekend.

Lotterer has become the first proper in-season driver change (excluding cover for suspensions and injuries) since 2011. Also, Williams offers the prospect of giving Mercedes a good run for their money, as they appear as the only team with the potential of challenging the dominant Mercedes this season, Valterri Bottas has a good chance of joining Daniel Ricciardo as a new race winner in 2014.

Weather Effect

The weather is one of the elements which make Belgium such a great race every year and it could well add a new complexion to this weekend’s action. It is always an uphill task to predict the weather condition at Spa, but it is fair to assume that the wet tyres will be required at some stage this weekend. Qualifying on Saturday could turn dramatic with expected showers. No doubt, weather plays a major role in determining the eventual winner of the Belgian GP.

Caterham F1 Team

My Prediction
There is no gainsaying the fact that, Mercedes has been the strongest team this season, which makes it pretty difficult to look beyond either of Nico Rosberg or Lewis Hamilton for the race win.

But, I want to stick my neck out for Valterri Bottas on the back of the strong pace of Williams’ FW36. Also with an outside chance is Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, as the circuit de Spa is suitable for a car with excellent aerodynamic balance as Red Bull’s RB10.

BELGIAN GP WEEKEND’S SCHEDULE

Friday, 22nd August 2014: 1st & 2nd Practice Sessions

Saturday, 23rd August 2014: 3rd Practice & Qualifying Sessions.

Sunday, 24th August 2014: Main Race.

*For more updates and analysis follow our F1 expert @soliuadeyemo and @NewFanzone on twitter.

Now, the season continues with eight races in 14 weeks, taking in two more in Europe before heading to Singapore, Japan, Russia, USA, Brazil and finally Abu Dhabi, where double points will be awarded. from Australia, Malaysia and China to Europe, via Bahrain, with a quick trip over the Atlantic to Canada.

The teams were forced into a mandatory two-week shutdown of their factories, allowing their staff a rest after a first half of the season that sent them from Australia, Malaysia and China to Europe, via Bahrain, with a quick trip over the Atlantic to Canada.

The teams were forced into a mandatory two-week shutdown of their factories, allowing their staff a rest after a first half of the season that sent them from Australia, Malaysia and China to Europe, via Bahrain, with a quick trip over the Atlantic to Canada.

The teams were forced into a mandatory two-week shutdown of their factories, allowing their staff a rest after a first half of the season that sent them from Australia, Malaysia and China to Europe, via Bahrain, with a quick trip over the Atlantic to Canada.

By Soliu ADEYEMO

Nuzman Visits Nanjing 2014 Table Tennis Event to See Brazil’s Strong Performance

Rio 2016 Organising Committee and Brazilian Olympic Committee President Mr. Carlos Nuzman yesterday visited the Table Tennis event at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games being held at Wutaishan Gymnasium.

Adham Sharara explaining to Carlos Nuzman that Brazilian and Latin American Table Tennis is rising. Photo credit- Remy Gros:ITTF.

President Nuzman was treated to a superb performance from his countryman Hugo CALDERANO, who showed the world just how strong Brazilian and Latin American Table Tennis is becoming by making the semi finals.

Inspired by the visit of his National Olympic Committee President, Calderano went on to win the bronze medal, which was the first Olympic Table Tennis medal for any Latin American country(watch video highlights here: http://bit.ly/1uYG7dP).

On the visit of President NUZMAN, ITTF’s President Adham SHARARA stated: “The Table tennis venue in Nanjing was honored with the presence of Mr. Carlos Nuzman, President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and IOC member. We discussed the development of table tennis in Brazil and the excellent performance of Hugo CALDERANO in Nanjing.

I also explained the tremendous potential that Brazil has in table tennis and especially at the top level for 2020. Of course I also believe that Brazil will have a good performance in 2016, but the real result in my opinion will come in 2020.Here in Nanjing, Hugo made a historical performance by winning a medal amongst a very strong group of international players.”

In addition to Latin America’s strong showing at Nanjing 2014, North America also showed how much they improved in recent years, with Lily ZHANG claiming bronze in the Women’s Singles.

These are all positive signs for a strong showing from the American continents at Rio 2016, which will make President NUZMAN very happy indeed.

Focus now turns to the mixed teams event, which consists of one boy and one girl who have qualified for the singles event. Teams can be composed of players from different NOCs where only boy or girl qualified in singles. The mixed teams gold medal match will be played on Saturday 23 August 2014. A full list of teams can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rWRjCM.

University Don Commends Golden Eaglets

Dr.Sam Iheanacho, University of Calabar (UNICAL) Director of Sports, has commended the Golden Eaglets’ for consistently keeping to their training regimen even in the face of inclement weather.

The associate professor at UNICAL’s department of Human Kinetics and Health Education said he was impressed the team’s general attitude come-rain-or-sunshine since the Nigeria’s Under-17 national team shifted their session to the Abraham Ordia Stadium inside UNICAL.

“First and foremost, I want to use this opportunity to commend the technical crew of the Golden Eaglets,” said Iheanacho after posing for a group photo with the team.” Personally, I like the seriousness with which they carry about their duty which is commendable.”

Dr. Sam Iheanacho with the Golden Eaglets shortly before the team’s training session

Iheanacho said he had taken a special interest in the activities of the team and was pleasantly surprised with their overall conduct.

“I have noticed so much commitment on the part of the technical crew and players,” noted Iheanacho.” Even under heavy rainfall, you would see them at training and that shows their level of commitment.”

He equally reiterated the support of the university’s community towards all levels of the national teams:” Though there is huge pressure on our pitch because of renovation work on other pitches in
Calabar, we are happy to accommodate the Golden Eaglets. “Without exaggeration, the UNICAL’s pitch has been a blessing to all the national teams because none has lost any match while training
here,” he explained.

In a related development, Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, has reminded the players to be focussed on the task ahead or they would be shown the team’s revolving exit door.

Emmanuel Amuneke-Golden Eaglets Coach

“Anybody who cannot cope with our training programme would be helped to find his way home as soon as possible,” he said.

“We are no getting to the most important stage of this assignment and it is better we are all ready to give our best in our next two matches against Gabon.”