Football transfer news

Perth Glory have ruled out making a move for Stoke City forward Michael Owen.

The former England international was rumoured to be interested in a switch to the A-League, having struggled to gain a spot in the first team at the Britannia Stadium due to a mixture of fitness trouble and the good form of Tony Pulis’ men.

But, after there were strong links drawn between Glory and Owen, the Perth club have now dismissed a possible move.

“Michael is a player who comes with a high pedigree but it’s not the direction I want to take the club,” Perth coach Ian Ferguson said in a statement.

“I am looking for a younger player and a player who has been playing more regularly.

“I have three or four irons in the fire that I am pursuing, which is good.

“In terms of Michael, there was contact from an agent if we were interested, it was discussed at a good level, but I have made the decision he is the not the player needed at Perth Glory.”

Glory had previously expressed their interest in signing Owen in the January transfer window, though the club have now backtracked on their initial preferences.

The statement comes shortly after Glory made a swoop for former MLS star David Beckham, but their attempts to land the ex-England international are unlikely to come to fruition.

By Greg Stobart

Harry Redknapp is set to offer Everton’s Sylvain Distin a two-year deal in a bid to solve QPR’s defensive crisis.

The French centre-half, 35, has less than six months remaining on his current contract and with the Goodison Park club reluctant to offer him a new deal, Redknapp is ready to pounce for a player he managed during his time at Portsmouth.
Redknapp has also targeted Tottenham’s Michael Dawson, but with the England international now likely to remain at White Hart Lane the QPR manager is prepared to match Distin’s £50,000-a-week salary in an attempt to lure him to Loftus Road.

Everton, meanwhile, will turn their attentions to bringing Joleon Lescott back to Merseyside after a four-year absence.

The former Wolves defender, who left for Etihad Stadium in a controversial £24 million deal back in 2009, has fallen down Roberto Mancini’s pecking order following the summer arrival of Matija Nastasic.

Lescott, who has two years left to run on his £90,000-a-week deal, is unlikely to leave in January, however, with Kolo Toure having departed for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Joleon Lescott has ruled out the possibility of any loan move during the January transfer window,” read a statement released by the player’s agent on Saturday.

“Despite speculation linking him with several Premier League clubs, Joleon has no desire to leave Manchester City.”

Lescott, who began his career at Wolves, has also emerged as a target for Premier League strugglers Aston Villa.

Lewis Holtby has described his excitment after agreeing to join Tottenham and insisted his decision to leave Schalke was a difficult one.

The 22-year-old is due to join Spurs in July, but could arrive even sooner after managing director Horst Heldt indicated that the Bundesliga club would be prepared to consider selling ahead of his summer switch.

However, Holtby is simply delighted to be moving to the Premier League and says he is looking forward to his time at White Hart Lane.

“I simply had to take the offer from Tottenham,” Holtby told reporters.

“New things don’t scare me, they excite me. In my opinion Tottenham is a big club in Europe.

“Tottenham have belonged to the top five in England since many years and they only missed out on the Champions League because Chelsea won the cup last year.”

Holtby also insisted that he would have been happy to stay at Schalke and hopes that the club’s fans can understand his decision to leave.

“Without Tottenham’s offer I would have signed at Schalke. I can only repeat that Horst Heldt made a very good offer,” he added.

“I believe that I have a good relation to the fans, because I have always been authentic and honest. Now they can decide on their own how to react.”

Edinson Cavani remains coy on his future at Napoli as he continues to impress in Serie A with his fine performances.

The Uruguay international netted a hat-trick in the Partenopei‘s 4-1 league win over Roma on Sunday to take his tally this season to 25 goals in 23 games, and the player has continually been linked with a move away from the San Paolo.

Nevertheless, the 25-year-old is not in a rush to leave his current club any time soon.

“I have an objective and the club know what I want. I have a clear idea about my future, but now is not the time to openly discuss it,” the striker told Mediaset.

“I am content at this club. I feel very good here and I want to go through the good and the bad moments. All I want to say is that the club know how I feel and what I want.”

Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis recently stated that he turned down a €55 million offer for Cavani, and he does not have any regrets.

“Turning down a €55m offer last summer was the right choice. If someone opts to pay his (€63m) buy-out clause, it’s up to Edi to decide whether he wants to leave.

“He will probably stay if the offer comes from Russia, but he might consider leaving if Real Madrid or Barcelona make a move.”

Cavani has a contract with Napoli until June 2017.

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has revealed that Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli would be his “dream” signing.

The Naples club posted a 4-1 Serie A win over Roma on Sunday evening, with prolific marksman Edinson Cavani netting a hat trick.

And De Laurentiis underlined his desire to not only retain the coveted Uruguay international but to have him start alongside Balotelli.

He told Mediaset: “My dream? [Is to have] Balotelli alongside Cavani in Napoli attack.”

Balotelli, 22, was involved in a heavily publicised training ground altercation with manager Roberto Mancini last week, though his compatriot later revealed he would be given “100 chances” at the club.

However, as Goal.com revealed on Saturday, the Italian is keen on a return to his homeland with Milan believed to be preparing a January bid.