Fernandes set for QPR takeover

Queens Park Rangers are expected to announce a takeover of the club by Malaysian airline entrepreneur Tony Fernandes.

Fernandes, the proprietor of the low-cost airline AirAsia, is set to take mass control of the club, which secured promotion to the Barclays Premier League last season.

The 47-year-old, who is also team principal of Formula One side Team Lotus, is to buy a 51% stake from F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone has been the majority owner of QPR for the past five years.

Questions over the tenure of the west London club, and the future of boss Neil Warnock, have overshadowed their build-up to the new season, their first in the top flight since 1996.

Fernandes, though, this week gave the former Sheffield United manager his full support.
Rangers lost their opening fixture of the season 4-0 to Bolton at Loftus Road on Saturday with some of the 15,000 home support venting their annoyance at shareholder Flavio Briatore, watching from the directors' box.

West Ham Midfielder and England International Scott Parker is a reported £8million target for QPR when the takeover goes through.

Fernandes is a "loyal West Ham fan", according to his Twitter page.

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Redknapp: Diarra deal "a possibility"

 

Totttenham manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that talks over Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra are continuing.

Spurs' move for the 26-year-old was revealed by Sky Sports sources earlier this month, and the Premier League club are trying to hit a deal.

Redknapp worked with Diarra at former club Portsmouth and he wants to bring him back to England, where he has also featured for other London sides Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Spurs manager confirmed that talks are continuing between Real Madrid and his own chairman Daniel Levy.

"As for Diarra, I like him," said Redknapp.

"It's a possibility. [The chairman's] been trying for us. He's been trying to do something there."

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Chelsea aiming for Mata swoop

 

Chelsea will look to pip North London sides Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur to sign Spaniard Juan Mata from Valencia before this month end.

According to reports in the Guardian, the Blues have looked at Mata as a genuine target if their offer for Modric fails, and Chelsea have made an casual inquiry to Valencia about their willingness to sell.

This latest development will irritate Arsenal, who had looked at the 23-year-old as a likely replacement for the recently departed Cesc Fabregas, but had failed to make a bid for Mata before the 31st of July, which was the expiry date for his buyout clause.

This has meant that Valencia now have the power to say the value of the Spaniard, as the previous buyout clause had limited his value to £22 million.

Tottenham Hotspur had been happy to meet that fee, but the player himself had discarded a move to the club, as they were not challenging for the UEFA Champions League this season.

Further reports indicate that Valencia are looking for at least €30 million before they will allow Mata leave, and with boss Andre Villa-Boas keen to add elegance to his midfield, they are expected to easily outbid their London rivals for the talented attacker.

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Osvaldo set for Atletico move

Atletico Madrid are on the verge of signing Espanyol forward Pablo Osvaldo after they had a €17million bid accepted, according to Marca.

The La Liga team have long been in the market for a new striker in the wake of doubt over the future of Uruguayan hit-man Diego Forlan.

However, the need to strengthen their attacking options became even more imperative following the £38m departure of former club talisman Sergio Kun-Aguero to big-spending Barclays Premier League outfit Manchester City.

The Argentine-born striker, who has represented Italy at U-21 level has also caught the eye of English side Tottenham and Italian side Roma, but is reported to be eager on staying in Spain for the time being.

Marca further reports that Atletico are yet to agree personal terms with the player, but the club's hierarchy are said to be undaunted about that being a significant difficulty to overcome.

Osvaldo only joined Espanyol last summer from Italian side Bologna for a fee of €4.6m, after impressing on loan, and has scored 20 goals in 44 league appearances for the club.


Atletico are looking to bounce back from a unsatisfactory league campaign last season, where they finished 7th in La Liga and only just qualified for the Europa League.

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Defender Lucio extends Inter Milan stay

 

Inter Milan center-back Lucio has signed a two-year contract extension with the Italian club.

The 33-year-old Brazil international has planned to see out his career at the San Siro after agreeing a deal that ties him to the club until 2014.

"The last piece of bureaucracy has been wrapped up and the contract renewal between FC Internazionale and Da Silva Ferreira Lucimar "Lucio" has been sent to the Italian FA," a statement on Inter's official website read.

"Both parties are delighted to have agreed a two-year extension to the contract signed when the Brazilian joined the club on 20 July 2009 [which was due to expire in 2012].

"Lucio and Inter have already won six trophies together, with the centre-back making 95 appearances [and scoring three goals] until now.

"Added to the other 12 titles won at club and international level, he is one of the most successful modern-day footballers."

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No Inter move for Lavezzi:Alejandro Mazzoni

 

Ezequiel Lavezzi's representative, Alejandro Mazzoni, has confirmed there is no offer from Inter Milan to take his client from Napoli.

Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss, Mazzoni admitted: "I can say there has been no official offer from Inter for Lavezzi".

"I don't know if the clubs have spoken, but there is nothing concrete. If the clubs were to reach an agreement then maybe something could happen" , he added.

The Serie A giants have been linked with several stars after reports indicate that striker Samuel Eto'o is on the brink of moving to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.

However, Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri is keen to keep Lavezzi at San Paolo, and the player has contract with Napoli until 2015.

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