the star
JERMAINE DEFOE’S OUT TO EARN WEST HAM TRANSFER
JERMAIN DEFOE is in line for a return to West Ham.
The Tottenham striker is fast becoming the hottest property of the summer – with a host of Premier League clubs keen to sign him.
Defoe rarely featured in the closing months of Harry Redknapp’s reign.
And new Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas hasn’t given the forward any assurances over his future.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is on the lookout for extra firepower, despite the £7million signing of Modibo Maiga, 24, from French club Sochaux last week.
Allardyce has taken a gamble on the 6ft 1in Mali international, who saw a January move to Newcastle fall through when a medical showed up a knee problem.
Maiga also has a reputation for being a maverick, and fell out with Sochaux fans after going AWOL last season.
Defoe, 29, is high on Allardyce’s shopping list – and has a proven record as a Premier League goalscorer.
The striker spent five years with the Hammers before moving to Spurs in 2004.
He is understood to be keen to stay in London, which would give the Hammers an edge in any talks.
And Allardyce is looking at the England forward as his hopes of bringing in Andy Carroll from Liverpool fade.
Allardyce has been frustrated in his attempts to make new signings.
Having recruited keepers Jussi Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson, he has only added George McCartney and Mohamed Diame so far this summer.
would love to see him back give him the ammo and i am sure he will score the goals to keep us up
the star
the Hammers are ready to sue Brescia to get money they believe they are owed for Alessandro Diamanti.
The Irons claim they have not been paid money they were due after selling the midfielder for £2m two years ago.
Diamanti – signed from Livorno for £6m in 2009 – was allowed to go home to Italy after just one season, having failed to settle in London.
He then moved on to Bologna earlier this summer following Brescia’s relegation to Serie B.
West Ham are unhappy because they asked for Diamanti’s registration by the Italian Football Federation to be suspended in July last year.
The club acted because they had not been paid a due instalment of their transfer fee by Brescia.
West Ham co-owner David Gold said: “We sold Diamanti to Brescia because he was desperate to return to Italy. He was then sold to Bologna. We are suing Brescia for the money.”
the star
WEST HAM CAGEY ON MARK NOBLE CONTRACT
WEST Ham are playing hardball with inspirational midfield star Mark Noble, 25, over his new contract.
Noble has just one season left on his current deal and is eager to sign a long-term extension to the club he has served for his entire career.
He has been a key player in their return to the top flight, taking over the leader’s role after Scott Parker moved to Spurs.
Hammers are delaying any more talks until the season is well under way as they put the pressure on one of their stars.
A club insider said: “The signing of Mohamed Diame from Wigan is going to increase the competition in midfield. Let’s see how Noble reacts to that. That will be pivotal in whether he gets a new deal or not.
come on get the lad sorted
the mail
Forget the recession… football shirt deals up to £147m
Deal: Manchester City's sponsorship with Etihad Airways is worth £20m per season[/color
Deal: Manchester City's sponsorship with Etihad Airways is worth £20m per season
The combined shirt sponsorship income of the Premier League’s 20 clubs has jumped 25 per cent to £147million for next season.
The £30m increase in sponsorship revenues reconfirms the strength of the Premier League as a product, allowing clubs to benefit despite uncertain economic conditions.
The headline total could have been higher if deals such as United’s training kit deal with DHL were included. It is thought that deal was worth in the region of £10m a year to the Old Trafford club when signed last season.
Tottenham also received an additional £5m a year from Investec as shirt sponsor for all cup games over the past two seasons. The north Londoners are in discussions to extend the arrangement.
The biggest financial leaps this season have come from clubs in the north-east, with Sunderland and Newcastle both successfully negotiating lucrative new deals.
Sunderland recently signed a staggering £20 m-a-year agreement with Invest in Africa, a deal as lucrative as the highest deals enjoyed by Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool. The deal means an extra £19m a year for the club.
Enlarge Top ten shirt deals
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has overseen an uplift of £7.5m a year after thrashing out a £10m-a-year deal with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Money after Virgin bought the previous sponsor, Northern Rock.
West Bromwich, Stoke, Norwich and QPR have improved their deals this season, and the overall total is boosted as the three newcomers to the Premier League — West Ham, Reading and Southampton — will earn a little more combined for their shirt deals (£3.2m) than the three relegated clubs, Bolton, Wolves and Blackburn (£1.85m together) last season.
Robin van Persie was ordered to miss Arsenal's pre-season tour by Arsene Wenger - and Manchester United have now emerged as favourites to sign the Dutch striker, 28, providing they can avoid a transfer auction.
Sunday Mirror
United's move to sign Van Persie is hanging in the balance because Arsenal are refusing to budge on their £30m valuation of the Dutch striker.
Mail on Sunday
United have a key advantage in the fight to sign Van Persie as it emerged that the Dutchman would prefer moving to United rather than to rivals Manchester City or Juventus.
Sunday Times (subscription required)
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been given the go-ahead to gamble more than £50m to win back the Premier League title next season.
Bendtner was loaned out to Sunderland last season
Full story: Sunday Express
Nicklas Bendtner is set to leave Arsenal this week, with the 24-year-old Danish striker a £7.5m target for both AC Milan and Galatasaray.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Barcelona forward Gerard Deulofeu, 18, is on the radar of both Liverpool and QPR.
Full story: Sunday People
Ryo Miyaichi, 19, could be set for first-team opportunities at Arsenal after Ajax manager Frank de Boer admitted defeat in his pursuit for the winger.
Goal.com
Everton are on the brink of re-signing midfielder Steven Pienaar, 30, from Tottenham.
Caughtoffside.com
Manager Michael Laudrup has revealed he won't stand in the way of Joe Allen, 22, should the midfielder wish to leave Swansea.
talkSPORT
Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is to raid former club Aston Villa for defensive duo Stephen Warnock, 30, and James Collins, 28.
Sun on Sunday
Sean O'Driscoll's first task as new Nottingham Forest chief will be to run the rule over Kuwait star striker Bader Al-Mutawa, 27.
Star on Sunday
Ambitious QPR are making a £6m move for Celtic's South Korean midfield star Ki Sung-Yeung, 23.
Sunday People
Liverpool's £35m record signing Andy Carroll will join his team-mates on their pre-season tour in the United States on Monday despite continuing uncertainty about his future.
Mail on Sunday
Defender Vincent Kompany, 26, is set to commit his long-term future to Manchester City by signing a new deal worth around £34m.
Sun on Sunday
Luka Modric will be fined more than £80,000 after refusing to train as the midfielder attempts to finally force through a move from Tottenham.
Sunday Telegraph
West Ham are playing hardball with inspirational midfield star Mark Noble, 25, over his new contract.
Star on Sunday
Recreativo de Huelva fans are so appalled by the club's new Minnie Mouse-style away shirt that they have organised a protest rally.
Metro
AC Milan stars Robinho and Kevin-Prince Boateng don't like to take training too seriously, so have been working on a routine more suited to a disco than a football field.
Ibrox sources say Rangers manager Ally McCoist could quit in protest if the club was stripped of Scottish Premier League titles for allegedly not properly registering all payments to players.
Sunday Mail
Rangers veteran Lee McCulloch is a signing target for rich clubs in the United Arab Emirates.
Sunday Mail
Manager Neil Lennon says his decision to tinker with the team's defensive formation is the reason for Celtic's 4-0 defeat by Ajax.
Sunday Mail
And the Celtic boss believes the hammering will help his team in their Champions League qualifier against HJK Helsinki.
The Sun
Ajax coach Frank de Boer, a former Rangers defender, insists his team could have won the match 8-0.
Sunday Times
Former Rangers winger Sone Aluko is on the verge of signing for Hull City.
The Sun
Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon says he will need to work on loan signing Leigh Griffiths's "stupidity" to improve him as a player.
The Sun
After Aberdeen's 12-0 defeat of VfB Alstatte, Mitch Megginson says the Dons have "a really good crop of players coming through".
Sunday Mail
Neil Alexander, Dorin Goian, Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya and Kirk Broadfoot played for Rangers in a closed-doors win over Albion Rovers at Murray Park on Saturday.
Sunday Express
Daily Star
ON SUNDAY
Brazil's Lucas Moura has revealed his excitement at the propsect of a £30m move to Manchester United.
Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is chasing Blackburn's Steven N'Zonzi.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has been told to make his mind up over Dutch defender Ron Vlaar.
Brazil midfielder Oscar has told Chelsea he will make his mind up over his future after the Olympics.
West Ham are playing hardball with Mark Noble over his new contract.
Jermain Defoe is in line for a return to West Ham.
Hull have snapped up Rangers winger Sone Aluko.
People
Sir Alex Ferguson says Chelsea spend too much money on agents and Manchester City never give their kids a chance.
Arsenal have been told to up their bid for French whizzkid M'Baye Niang.
Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Fulham's Moussa Dembele.
Sunderland have completed the double signing of James Collins and Stephen Warnock from Aston Villa.
QPR are making a £6m move for Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung.
Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu is on the radar of QPR and Liverpool.
Portsmouth are interested in signing QPR midfielder Shaun Derry.
Sunday Mirror
Robin van Persie has been ordered to miss Arsenal's pre-season tour by Arsene Wenger.
Nicklas Bendtner is set to leave Arsenal this week.
Manchester United defender Rafael has told Lucas Moura he must come to Old Trafford.
Sunday Express
Sir Alex Ferguson has been given the go-ahead for a £50m warchest to help win back the Premier League - half of which has been earmarked to try and land Robin van Persie.
QPR hope to complete the capture of Junior Hoilett this week.
Dimitar Berbatov is about to be shipped out of Manchester United to Galatasaray for £5m.
Everton, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Swansea are targeting Blackpool winger Matt Phillips.
Southampton have wrapped up the £800,000 signing of Rangers midfielder Steven Davies.
Mail On Sunday
Arsenal refuse to budge on their £30m asking price for Robin van Persie.
The Sun
ON SUNDAY
Robin van Persie is demanding £10.1m per year for his signature this summer.
Vincent Kompany is set to sign a new deal with Manchester City worth £34m.
Fulham have swooped for Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku on a season-long loan.
Aston Villa have been told to flash the cash if they want Feyenoord's Ron Vlaar.
Oscar has had a medical with Chelsea - but has yet to seal his £25m move
babe of the day
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the star
Take care mate.
