Euro 2012 Newsfile
Gunners after Giroud
Arsenal are closing in on France striker Olivier Giroud, according to his club Montpellier.
Giroud, who is part of Laurent Blanc’s Euro 2012 squad, is thought to command a fee in the region of €16m.
The 25-year-old scored 25 goals last season to help Montpellier win the Ligue 1 title, igniting the interest of several top clubs.
But Montpellier manager Rene Girard insists it is Gunners manager Arsene Wenger who is leading the chase.
“Arsenal are very interested and Giroud wants to play in England, if Arsene agrees with the president, he will sign for them,” Girard told French radio.
Giroud is to consider his future after Euro 2012.
Lewandowski staying, insists Dortmund boss
Borussia Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke has laughed off suggestions that Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski will be leaving the Bundesliga champions this summer.
Poland coach Lukasz Piszczek caused a stir last week when he hinted that Dortmund’s Polish trio of Lewandowski, Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek will all be moving on, naming clubs in England and Spain as likely targets.
Watzke said: “I don’t know how often we have got to stress that Robert Lewandowski will certainly be staying with us.
“And ’Kuba’ [Blaszczykowski] has been here five years. I am confident that he will stay.”
Manchester United have completed the capture of England U18 international Nick Powell from Crewe on a four-year deal.
“We have scouted Nick for months now,’ said managerr Alex Ferguson.
“He is an exceptional talent and has been schooled well at Crewe.”
An attacking midfielder, he is likely to fill the void created by Paul Pogba’s imminent exit for Juventus.
“I can’t wait to get started,” he said.
SFAI U14 Kennedy Cup holders North Dublin are through to tonight’s quarter-final but they must wait to find out their opposition.
Perennial favourites DDSL romped to the top of Group 8 with an impressive record of 17 goals scored and none conceded in three victories. Cork also displayed strong firepower by racking up a 9-1 triumph over Wicklow to set up a meeting with the victors of Dundalk and host league Limerick.
Rangers have been consigned to liquidation after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) decided to reject an offer from Charles Green’s consortium.
The decision means Green’s Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) will fail to achieve the 75% backing needed from creditors. Green will now push ahead with plans to buy the club’s assets for £5.5m (€6.8m) in the coming days with both HMRC and Ticketus, the other major creditors, not expected to challenge the newco purchase deal he has struck.
But there is no guarantee the new entity will be able to play in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. SPL clubs would themselves decide on any application to acquire the club’s share and could impose sanctions.
Commercial interests could outweigh any principled stand, especially with no confirmation that television deals will continue without Rangers.
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