WAG IDOL – The Manchester United Heat

WAGS, WAGS, WAGS… the media just can’t get enough of them and as we finish the Premier League season we couldn’t resist creating our very own WAG Idol, to find out which player has the loveliest bit of skirt on his arm.

We are running a series of club heats – so please select the wag that gives your club the best chance of taking the Wag crown.

Just click on the individual images of beauties to upload their galleries, so you can get a look of them in greater detail!

Janelle Khouri – Owen Hargreaves and current squeeze Janelle Khouri the happiest and most love fulfilled people on the entire planet. I say ‘squeeze’, incidentally, not because I have suddenly turned into Heat magazine’s ‘Spotted section, but because to do anything with Hargreaves above light petting would be to jeopardise his chances of appearing in England’s 2010 World Cup campaign.

Nikoleta Lozanova – Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov certainly seems to have a way with the ladies and any of a number of his flings could have made it onto this list. But Bulgarian model Nikoleta Lozanova is definitely a cut above the rest and would be enough to distract anyone from giving their best on the field. Interestingly Berbatov actually denied having an affair with the stunning Lozanova, which may have something to do with the fact that she is the current girlfriend of Bulgarian crime boss Georgi Stoilov, but given Berba’s track record this is hard to believe.

Sophie Houghton – Back in 2009 Italian youngster Federico Macheda burst onto the scene by netting the winning goal in a Premier League encounter against Aston Villa at Old Trafford. On the field Macheda hasn’t been up to much since then, but off it he has been a busy boy and has been dating the Wirrel’s Sophie Houghton. A winner of Miss Intercontinental Liverpool, the pair met on Facebook when Macheda was probably blown away by eye-catching pictures of Houghton. The stunning blonde is the youngster of the group but given her looks she might just topple her rivals.

Coleen Rooney – Probably the most well-known United WAG, Coleen was actually born on Merseyside but followed Wayne to Manchester when he signed for the Red Devils in 2004. Coleen likes to dabble in a number of things from TV presenting to celebrity product endorsement and she is never far away from the front pages of the British tabloids. Childhood sweethearts, Wayne and Coleen got married in Italy in 2008 and whatever she does in the Rooney household deserves some credit as Wayne can’t stop scoring right now, and she isn’t half bad to look at either!

Lisa Roughead – Unfortunate name, but that shouldn’t count against her when picking your favourite Manchester United WAG. Lisa Roughead actually married United midfielder Michael Carrick in 2007 on the same day that fellow Premier League stars Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville also tied the knot, which doesn’t seem like great planning. The Geordie became a proud dad in 2008 with the birth of his first daughter Louise in 2008, and he has done well for himself by settling down with the curvy blonde who is the outsider on this list, bet is well worth a second glance.

REMEMBER – Just click on the individual images of beauties to upload their galleries, so you can get a look of them in greater detail!

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So who do you think deserves to be Manchester United’s representative in our search for the greatest Premier League WAG?

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Chelsea have been told to up the ante with transfer bid

Chelsea have had a bid of £27 million for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Willian rejected, and told to stump up £32 million if they want him, according to The Daily Mail.

The Blues are looking to bolster their attacking options this summer, and have already signed Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Kevin De Bruyne, with Oscar and Hulk also in their cross-hairs.

However, the Stamford Bridge side have long-coveted the Brazil international, who is seemingly ready to move to open of Europe’s top leagues after excellent performances in Ukraine and in the Champions League.

Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu has admitted that Chelsea are interested, but they will need to up their offer for the South American star to move to west London.

“I had a conversation with Willian and the club president about Chelsea’s interest. I told Willian he can leave, but only if the right offer is made. He’s a great player.

“Willian was the biggest investment Shakhtar have made in a young player, and we have to respect that. Clubs should not assume that if a player is coming from the east that the price is lower.

“They paid a lot of money for Hazard but are not willing to pay that for Willian, even though he’s better in my opinion,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Free agents to tempt Premier League clubs?

The hype and excitement of deadline day may have been and gone but clubs across England still have one last chance to snap up a new player, with a handful of experienced Premier League footballers still available after being released by their previous clubs.

OK, these players are not the best in the world, with most the wrong side of 30. But their experience can be priceless come the end of the season. The likes of Joey Barton, Jonathan Woodgate and Owen Hargreaves have already been snapped up on free deals by Premier League clubs, highlighting the quality that is available with no money needing to be spent.

But with clubs understandably keen to do their business as early as possible into the new season, which free agents are still available and likely to be in demand?

The best example of an experienced player looking for a new club is former England international Sol Campbell. His underwhelming season with Newcastle last year may have put off any potential suitors but Campbell could be a good acquisition for a Championship side looking for strength and leadership within a dressing room. At 36-years-old his impact would be limited but I would not be surprised to see the former Arsenal defender have one last stint in English football.

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One of the most eye-catching names on a somewhat limited list of free agents is former Birmingham forward James McFadden. At 28-years-old the Scottish international is a player with plenty more potential years of football ahead of him and he would bring huge international and domestic experience to a club. McFadden spent a year out with a cruciate ligament injury before leaving relegated Birmingham City in the summer. Wolves have been heavily linked with the player in recent weeks and he would be an ideal free acquisition for a number of smaller Premier League clubs, with his fitness after a lengthy injury lay-off the only possible set-back. But if McFadden can prove his fitness, I would expect him to be one of the more in-demand free agents this season.

Former Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann is another player still available after leaving the Premier League club in the summer. At 39-years-old Hahnemann would only be a short-term investment but like Campbell, the experienced American could be an excellent addition to many dressing rooms if managers were looking for leaders in a team.

Defender Pascal Chimbonda left Premier League newboys Queens Park Rangers at the end of last season after playing a limited role in the squad that got promoted back to the top tier of English football. The well-travelled 32-year-old has plenty of Premier League experience and whilst it is easy to question why he moves around so much, Chimbonda would present a free deal that could benefit smaller Premier League teams or maybe Championship clubs.

Few names on the free transfer list will transform a team but for clubs searching to add to their squad with a very limited budget, free transfers present a bargain often worth the risk as managers continue to look for new faces well into the season.

Which free agents do you think are still worth signing? If you want to read more of my bite size, 140 character views and thoughts follow me on Twitter @jennyk5

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West Ham fans – are you in this photo?

The Premier League match at Upton Park on Sunday between West Ham and Birmingham City wasn’t a great one for the Hammers as Avram Gran’t men fell to a 1-0 defeat to keep them in the relegation zone. However, if you went to that match then you may be rewarded for your support of West Ham. FootballFanCast.com was advertising in Premier League stadia during a live TV match for the first time and to mark this occasion we are running a special competition just for West Ham fans.

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Take a look at the photo below from Upton Park on Sunday (click on the image to make it bigger).

ARE YOU IN THIS PHOTO?

If so you could be entered into a prize draw to win £150!

All you have to do to enter the competition is join the FootballFanCast.com Facebook Fan Page and then email a picture of yourself to [email protected] so that we can confirm that it is in fact you! A recent picture would be preferable and just tell us where about you’re sitting and you’ll be entered into the draw!

Internacional president confirms Chelsea’s signing

Internacional’s president Giovanni Luigi has confirmed that his side have a verbal agreement with Chelsea over the sale of Oscar.

The talented playmaker has been linked with a move to Europe in recent times, with Tottenham and the Blues chasing the attacking midfielder.

However, the Stamford Bridge club are thought to have agreed a fee with the Brasileiro club and a medical is also said to have been successfully overcome.

Oscar is in Brazil’s squad for the Olympics Games this summer, and has stated recently that his club future would only be resolved after the culmination of the London Games.

However, Luigi has confirmed that the deal is all but done, with only the legalities to be signed off on for the starlet to move to west London.

“There is a verbal agreement between the two parties. But we have to put that on paper and the lawyer of both clubs have to discuss the matter,” Luigi told Radio Guiaba, translated to English by Sky Sports.

Oscar will join the likes of Marko Marin, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne as the new faces at the Champions League winning club this summer.

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By Gareth McKnight

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WAG Weekly – One reason why Wenger should snap up Italian

Reports are circulating in Italy that Arsenal are edging closer to the signing of Italian international Riccardo Montolivo, after a contract dispute has seen him become disillusioned with life at Fiorentina.

Fiorentina’s Sporting Director Pantaleo Corvino confirmed that sale of the player is imminent and suggests that a move abroad is on the cards:

‘Montolivo doesn’t believe in the Fiorentina project. As a result, the player will be sold abroad.’

Whether Arsenal sign him remains to be seen, but his lady would certainly be a welcome addition to the Premier League. Cristina De Pin is a famous Italian model who regularly models for Playmate magazine.

Cristina has previously said that she needs to use her brain as well as her physique to win the heart of her Italian boyfriend, but I’m not so sure that’s the case…

Click on image below to take a closer look at Cristina

BB round-up – Tottenham cool on bids, Wenger tries to push through deal, Chelsea prepare to smash record for Torres

After the FA Cup 4th round dominated the football news over the weekend, today attention firmly turns to the potential bids and movers on transfer deadline day. Premier League clubs have just a matter of hours to complete their business and finalise their squads for this season.

The biggest transfer story of the day is the possible move of Fernando Torres from Liverpool to Chelsea. Whether this deal will be completed we’ll have to wait and see, but Chelsea aren’t the only Premier League club dipping their feet in the transfer market. Tottenham gaffer Harry Redknapp is on the lookout for a striker, while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is still on the trail of Southampton starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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Huddersfield players hit out at Fábregas – Guardian

Redknapp cool on Carroll and Aguero bids – Daily Telegraph

Scrap the window! LMA chief Bevan claims majority want it removed – Daily Mail

Houllier ready to take Michael – Sun

Johnson blow may force Mancini’s hand – Guardian

Crock Sam faces three weeks out – Sun

Wenger trying to rush through Chamberlain deal – Mirror

United’s Lindegaard determined not to be left ‘picking his nose’ on sidelines – Daily Mail

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Keane so happy to be a Hammer – Sun

Chelsea prepare to smash record to land Torres – Daily Telegraph

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How one kick changed the course of Chelsea’s future

Now confined to the history books at Stamford Bridge, Didier Drogba has departed from the club that he emblazoned his unforgettable mark on. The spearhead of the old guard along with Frank Lampard and John Terry; to see Drogba take flight and let emotion triumph when he slotted home that penalty last month, was one of the enduring moments in recent football history. It was a moment that was 9 years in the making for the Ivorian. However, when Drogba carefully placed that ball down on a penalty spot, the weight of the world on his shoulders, in a stadium that was willing him to miss, he coolly converted and not only inscribed his name into Chelsea folklore but changed the course of the clubs future and metaphorically passed the torch to the new era that could possibly dominate as successfully as their predecessors.

With European success comes obligatory expectation, especially for a club as financially sound as Chelsea. With a permanent manager in place, the usually unavoidable speculation of managerial vacancy at Stamford Bridge is now a distant memory and focus can now be solely toward investing in new talent on the pitch, talent that will announce itself available in abundance, desiring to play for the European Champions. Eden Hazard dismissing both Manchester clubs in favour of a move to Chelsea indicates this perfectly.

The ramifications that would have occurred if Didier Drogba had missed that penalty and Chelsea subsequently lost the final would have been enormous;

Firstly, it may have cited a reason for Drogba to stay at the club, meaning another season with the veterans may have been on the cards. Although this may have been fruitful to a certain extent, the fact that Chelsea can now look toward the future without Drogba and enjoy the past with him gives Di Matteo the ability to rebuild and start fresh. Fernando Torres may have also been left frustrated should Drogba have missed the penalty and ultimately stayed with the club for another year or two. The Ivorian’s form was insatiable toward the end of last season, leaving Torres is relative limbo. Now, with a Drogba shaped hole in the frontline at Stamford Bridge, El Nino may be able to announce himself as Chelsea’s first choice striker and the form that he has exposed in glimpses at the European Championships recently, could become a regular occurrence in the Premier League once again.

Secondly, it would have probably spelled the end for Roberto Di Matteo and Chelsea would currently be in a position that they are so frustratingly used to; managerial speculation. You only have to look a short distance away from Stamford Bridge to see the ambiguity and speculation that is surrounding Tottenham and their current pursuit of a new leader to see that the rather tranquil Chelsea camp is a derivative of the swiftness in which Di Matteo was appointed and the success that he has achieved thus far.

With rumours abound of star players making their way to Chelsea, ready to assist the new era in making itself heard around the continent, Blues fans can look to the future with optimism. The day when the last of the old guard will hang up their boots is relatively imminent, so to start the transition period now, after such a pleasing conclusion to the season, can only be an encouraging move. With Roman Abramovich once again ready to spend big in order to apply relative symmetry this campaign to the success of last season, these are exciting times at Chelsea and Didier Drogba may have unknowingly contributed to the future of his beloved club with that single, solitary swift kick of his right foot that finally rewarded Chelsea with the trophy that they so desperately desired.

Never has a penalty mattered so much for Chelsea football club and it has arguably changed the Blues future for the better.

So what matters most to you in football?

It’s a simple question isn’t it, but there are so many ways of interpreting it, and any number of ways of answering it. Samsung have asked football fans ‘what matters most’ to them. My view is that Drogba’s penalty will significantly change Chelsea’s fortunes and I suggest you do the same by clicking here to be in with a chance to win a whole host of Samsung goodies – join the debate…

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Click here to let Samsung know what matters most to you in football…

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What to expect from Tottenham Hotspur

As the 2011/12 season gets underway, the prospects of Tottenham Hotspur remain uncertain. Much depends on their business before the close of the transfer window. Should Spurs retain the services of Luka Modric and recruit a top class striker, their chances of keeping pace with the top four will be greatly improved. Should Spurs lose Modric and not secure a striker, any improvement on last season’s fifth place finish seems highly unlikely.

Over the course of the 2010/11 campaign there were many positives for Tottenham. Benoit Assou-Ekotto still shows occasional moments of madness but is maturing into one of the best left backs in the league. Gareth Bale has propelled himself, literally at great speed, into stardom and Aaron Lennon has become an electric winger with a delivery. Add to this the signing of Brad Friedel to minimise costly errors at the back and the emergence of the highly rated Kyle Walker at right back and Tottenham have the potential for a great season.

The deciding factor this season, as with the last, will be the strikers’ ability to finish the chances this team creates. Too often last season, Tottenham let teams off the hook, particularly at home. It’s no good dominating possession if you don’t make it count. Without a new striker on the books, there will be huge pressure on Defoe and Pavlyuchenko to step up and find form, otherwise this season may also become a tale of missed chances and dropped points.

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Whilst Tottenham do have the ability to finish in the top four this season, their chances would be massively increased by the addition of a top class striker that the club don’t seem to be able to afford. Spurs have the ability to see off the challenge of Liverpool this season and with the potentially imminent departures of both Nasri and Fabregas, they would do well to target Arsenal’s place in the top four, however I wouldn’t hold my breath on those transfers so another 5th place finish looks the likeliest outcome.

Undoubtedly the player to watch this season will once again be Luka Modric. As he is constantly on the ball it is impossible not to watch him anyway but his ability to control the tempo and possession is always lovely to see. He is also incredibly hard to knock off the ball. If the constant reports of his professionalism are true then I expect to see him dominating games all season long.

This year will also be huge for Kyle Walker, the attacking right back will definitely get chances to impress during this campaign and has been gaining rave reviews for loan clubs and country over the last 18 months. Expect to see him edging out Corluka and bombing past Lennon on the right wing.

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Let’s hope business goes well and Spurs are in the chase for Champions League football once again.

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FIVE reasons why Carroll should stay on the Tyne

With Transfer rumours galore surrounding Tyneside favourite Andy Carroll I take a look at FIVE reasons why the young lad should remain with his current club and turn down the overtures from his suitors.

1. Andy Carroll has made no secret that he would love to remain at Newcastle, and the striker has committed his future to Newcastle despite the recent sacking of manager Chris Hughton. For me the first and foremost reason for the striker to remain at St James’ park is so that he stays true to his word. In recent times we have seen so many players say one thing, then act in a contradictory manner.

2. Is Andy Carroll ready for a move elsewhere. Would a move away from Newcastle United counter act the momentum that he has enjoyed this season. With the young Geordie flying high at this moment in time would a move to a so called bigger club really be his best move, especially while he is still learning, maturing and developing.

3. If Andy Carroll wants hero status like those before him, Shearer and Milburn, then even he knows where his future lies. In Andy Carroll, Newcastle have a player they can build a team around. With his ability and prowess Newcastle certainly have a man that could secure prosperous times over the next few years.

4. Carroll has ambitions of playing regularly for his country, if the young striker moves to another club in the Premier League like Manchester United or Chelsea would he be a first team regular? If the striker is not playing first team football for his club then he certainly won’t be first choice for his country.

5. This may seem like a peculiar reason for Andy Carroll to remain on Tyneside but I believe it is just as reasonably at the latter. Andy Carroll is a volatile character who is no stranger to his surroundings. If the Striker was to move elsewhere I fear that the Geordie would struggle to settle in new surroundings, thus resulting in lack of form and lack of goals, potentially holding up his promising career.

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