Big Sam & West Ham strapped for transfer cash

With just 10 days remaining before the transfer window closes, a number of Premier League clubs are still trying to make big money signings to add quality to their squads for the 2013-14 season.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident of making new signings and Goal understands Real Madrid pair Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria are among his targets.

Manchester United, meanwhile, continue to pursue Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, while Tottenham's attempt to sign Willian could be thwarted by Chelsea, who have made a late move for the Brazilian and will bid again for Wayne Rooney.

Spare a thought, then, for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, who wants to make more transfer deadline purchases, but is simply out of funds.


"I've got no more money left," he told reporters on Thursday. "So the squad I've got is the squad I've got."

Arsenal FOREVER

Cartoon: Champions League dream alive for Arsenal as Suarez deal dies

Arsenal took a giant stride towards the Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce in a qualifying round first leg in Istanbul.

But Luis Suarez will not be joining them at Europe's top table, after Arsene Wenger confirmed that a deal to sign the Liverpool striker was well and truly dead.

"[There is] absolutely no chance," Wenger told reporters in Turkey last night, with the Frenchman turning his attentions elsewhere.

Goal understands Arsenal are preparing bids for Real Madrid pair Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria, with the Gunners willing to offer £35 million for the France international.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman told Goal Suarez is too good for Arsenal, but does deserve to play at the very highest level.

Torres' new secret weapon

Bale? 100 billion dollars!

If anyone is capable of getting the highest fee possible for Gareth Bale, it'll be Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Real Madrid have been relentless in their pursuit of the 24-year-old, but the Spanish club will need to part with at least £100 million in order to get their man this summer.

Not the real Ronaldo?

Jose Mourinho may have ruffled Cristiano Ronaldo's feathers after suggesting that the Real Madrid forward inferior to Brazil's Ronaldo.

"I was manager for the first time in the 2000 year but, before that, I was assistant in big clubs and with big managers and coaching the best players in the world, so I was 30 and I was coaching Ronaldo, not this one [Cristiano], the real one, the Brazilian Ronaldo," the Chelsea boss told ESPN.

Ronaldo has since responded with: "I have gotten used to people saying bad things about me. As we say in Portugal: 'I do not spit on the plate I'm eating from.' That's all I want to say about it."

Levy stands firm as Bale attempts to flee the Spurs nest

Gareth Bale has told Tottenham he wants to move to Real Madrid this summer but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is adamant that he will not sell the 24-year-old.

Will the Spanish club get their man before the transfer window shuts? 

Sandwich man Suarez wants Liverpool exit

Along with Gareth Bale and Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez has dominated the back pages all summer long as he attempts to force a move away from Liverpool.

The Reds have been firm in their stance that the Uruguay international is not for sale, with John W. Henry issuing a stern warning to Arsenal that they would not entertain the idea of selling to their Premier League rivals.

Suarez has made no secret of his desire to leave the Merseysiders but, with time running out, will he get his wish before the transfer window closes?

Premier League ready for more fairytales in 2013-14

IT'S BACK!!! After a summer off, the Premier League returns with 10 fixtures over the weekend. 

Sir Alex ended his time at Old Trafford in fitting fashion, securing his 38th trophy as Manchester United manager, while past seasons have seen dramatic title races, narrow brushes with relegation and unlikely heroes. 

The footy is back and that means a fresh slate ready for a whole host of new fairytales in 2013-14!

Stuck in the middle with Roo as Premier League heavyweights clash

The transfer window ramped up a notch on Wednesday morning as reports surfaced of a Chelsea offer for wantaway Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.

Though the initial report claimed Juan Mata or David Luiz were offered in part-exchange, Chelsea refuted the suggestion with a timely statement following news that United had rejected the bid. 

However, one thing is for certain; the Blues have identified Rooney as their No.1 transfer target, as Jose Mourinho indicated later that afternoon. For now though, Rooney is left as the man in the middle of Moyes and Mourinho. 

Ribery stacks up the silverware in bid for Ballon d'Or

Can anyone stop Lionel Messi from steamrolling his way to a fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or title? Well a certain French winger thinks he can...
Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery made his announcement in no uncertain terms on Saturday, insisting that it is he who should be crowned the best player in the world.

"I think I've done everything to be the world's best player," he told the Bundesliga's official website.

"I've played a very, very good season. It's either now or never for winning this prize. I can't play any better than this."

So with the titles stacked up, including a Champions League and Bundesliga title, as well as a DFB-Pokal triumph, is the Ballon d'Or within Ribery's grasp?

Ronaldinho adds another title to prove Scolari wrong

He may not be the player of yesteryear, and that's undoubtedly a view shared by Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, but Ronaldinho continues to tot up the titles to prove his doubters wrong.

Atletico Mineiro claimed Copa Libertadores glory on Thursday as they turned around a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Olimpia to secure a 4-3 penalty triumph.
But will Ronaldinho's Libertadores heroics nudge him into contention for World Cup 2014? 

The former Barcelona playmaker hasn't played for his country since April, and was left out of the Confederations Cup-winning squad, but will hope that Scolari will take another look before he finalises his squad for the showpiece next summer. 

Andrea Pirlo

The Goal 50 Superheroes

The winner of the Goal 50 has been announced, and our annual list's top 10 is, as ever, not short of football's biggest superheroes.

Superman Lionel Messi claimed the award for the third time, beating off competition from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Robin van Persie.

Thiago Silva and Arturo Vidal also invaded the top 10, along with four Bayern men in Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and runner-up Franck Ribery.

Wenger finally dips into Arsenal's overflowing kitty

Аrsene Wenger looks set to begin what most Arsenal fans hope is a last-minute spending spree. 

Having only signed Yaya Sanogo this summer, the Gunners are closing in on their first notable transfer with a club record £17 million move for Bayern Munich midfielder Luis Gustavo expected to be completed in the next few days. 

Their pursuit of Luis Suarez looks no closer to a conclusion, but Arsenal fans are hoping the Gustavo deal is a sign of things to come as Wenger continues to sit on a mountain of cash with deadline day looming.

Mourinho palms Barca off Luiz move

Barcelona's pursuit of a centre-back has hit the buffers after they were slapped down by the old enemy; Jose Mourinho.

The Chelsea manager has no interest in selling David Luiz to the Catalans, and, as exclusively revealed by Goal, the Blues have priced the Brazilian at £43 million in order to ward off interest.

 

Mourinho enjoyed many battles with Barca during his time in Spain with Real Madrid, and he will have taken great pleasure from telling them where to go once again.

Van Persie serves up Moyes' first slice of trophy pie

Robin van Persie was on target twice against Wigan in the Community Shield on Sunday serve up David Moyes' first trophy as Manchester United manager.

The Scot lead Preston North End to the old Second Division title in 2000, but it has been a long wait since then.

Having not lifted any silverware in the last 13 years, Manchester United fans will be hoping Sunday's triumph has given their new manager a taste for glory.

Ronaldo's singing sister steals the stage

Cristiano Ronaldo's sister has signed a record deal! 

Katia Aveiro has teamed up with the production company behind the musical success of Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez to release her first album.

Aveiro has already taken YouTube by storm with her hit "Boom Sem Parar" and will now try to take centre stage, just look her brother!

Superpig! Balotelli's new pet

Mario Balotelli has introduced the world to his new pet pig.

After being unable to determine whether the animal is either male or female, the AC Milan striker has opted to play it safe and name his pet 'Super'.