Arsenal
Stan Kroenke's unconditional offer to Arsenal shareholders will remain open despite the American tycoon not completing a full takeover of the Barclays Premier League club. Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which has gradually built its stake in the Gunners since first buying 9.9 per cent of shares in 2007, took a controlling interest in Arsenal's parent holding company last month after reaching agreements for the stock of Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith and the late Danny Fiszman. Those dealings took the Denver-based entrepreneur over the mandatory 30 per cent threshold at which he was, under City rules, obliged to make a formal offer for the remaining capital at £11,750 a share which valued the club at some £750m. However, with Uzbek oil magnate Alisher Usmanov not selling his 27 per cent stock through Red & White Holdings and the Arsenal Supporters Trust also urging all minority shareholders not to cash in, the Gunners will remain outside private ownership. Crucially, though, Kroenke - who accepted an invitation to join the board in September 2008 - will still retain overall control, with his stake now at just under 64 per cent. A statement to the PLUS Stock Exchange read: "KSE is pleased to announce that the acceptance condition has now been satisfied and the offer is therefore unconditional in all respects. The offer, which remains subject to the terms set out in the offer document, will remain open for acceptances until further notice." Aston Villa
Robert Pires revealed he has received a plea from former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry to join him in Major League Soccer next season. The 37-year-old Frenchman signed a short-term contract with Villa in October and will be a free agent in the summer. Pires will now speak to Villa to find out if he has a future at the Midlands club. "Thierry has phoned me. He called me up and said 'come over and play with me' but there are no real offers yet," Pires said. "For the moment, there is nothing else because the Premier League is not yet finished for the season. I will wait until it is finished. I am relaxed about it. I still feel fit enough to play." Birmingham City
Chairman Peter Pannu insists club owner Carson Yeung will continue to provide "sensible" financial backing for the Carling Cup holders. But Pannu warned there will be no "crazy money" splashed out by Yeung this summer even though City's squad will need boosting after qualifying for the Europa League. Pannu was responding to reports interpreting Yeung's programme notes for Sunday's home match with Fulham as there being little money to spend. Pannu said: "I think if people read Carson's words carefully and used basic common-sense, then they will understand. Carson is not saying 'he won't spend.' He is saying the spending has to be sensible. The infrastructure and the squad will be improved and he made it clear he is not stalling his financial support. But just because we qualified for Europe, and the possibility of extra games, doesn't mean we have to be throwing around crazy money like £50m or something." Blackburn Rovers
El-Hadji Diouf has revealed he is in talks with Rangers over extending his stay at Ibrox after describing his time at the club as one of the best in his career. The Blackburn forward's four-month loan is coming to an end but he has revelled in his time at Rangers, winning Scotttish League Cup and Sottish Premier League winners' medals. The 30-year-old played 21 matches for the club, scoring two goals. Although he had to settle for substitute appearances in the last six matches of the season, he earned cult hero status with the Rangers fans. Diouf said: "We are talking right now with the club to see what will happen after this season but I will tell you now this club is magic, really unbelievable. The fans have been great and I have won two trophies and that is why I came here. Before I joined people asked me why I was coming because some people thought I was better than that, but no, I am not, this club is magic and I love the fans and want to thank them for everything." Blackpool
Chairman Karl Oyston has vowed the club will do all it can to keep hold of David Vaughan, Stephen Crainey and Matt Gilks. All three players' contracts run out this summer and Vaughan in particular has been linked with a move away from Bloomfield Road. "The situation is that we will do all we can to keep them within the structure we've got," Oyston said. "It is wonderful these lads have so many options. They fully deserve to have them and the interest people are showing. We will do the best we can and hope that is enough to keep the players the manager wants to try to keep. By the same token, you always accept in football that players come and go. Players will progress through their careers and see their future elsewhere. When that happens it is up to myself and the manager to keep bringing players in to keep the club going in the direction we all want." Bolton Wanderers
Bolton have announced that for the sixth successive year there will be no price increase on season tickets for the 2011/12 campaign. Season Ticket prices for Wanderers' 2011/12 season in the Barclays Premier League will be frozen* at the prices offered in the previous seasons when supporters purchase their season ticket online here. There will also be no VAT increase on season ticket prices. On season tickets for next year, Chairman Phil Gartside said: "We recognise that paying for a season ticket or for a family group of season tickets during these difficult economic times can be a significant financial burden.With this in mind we are freezing our season ticket prices once again and introducing a new interest-free monthly payment scheme to help supporters to spread the cost of following their team. We firmly believe that our Club offers some of the most affordable football in the Barclays Premier League and hope that these two initiatives will help us to continue to grow our fantastic support at the Reebok next season." Chelsea
Carlo Ancelotti has been warned by the Football Association for making comments about Howard Webb before the recent Barclays Premier League match with Manchester United. Both Ancelotti and United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson made positive remarks about World Cup final referee Webb ahead of the 8th May meeting of the title rivals at Old Trafford. But that still contravened FA regulations which prohibit any comment - good or bad - about referees prior to games. The governing body's regulatory commission warned Ferguson as to his future conduct in relation to the comments before issuing an identical judgement on the Blues manager. Everton
Middlesbrough have confirmed the capture of teenager Luke Dobie from Everton after he impressed during a trial spell. Dobie was told by Everton he would not be offered fresh terms at Goodison Park, and was offered the chance to train with Boro after impressing against them during a youth match. The 18-year-old midfielder has now agreed a one-year deal and is the club's second signing of the close season after they also snapped up teenager Curtis Main from Darlington. fulham
Having achieved Barclays Premier League safety at the end of April, Fulham are enjoying a late rally that could potentially see the club finish the season in seventh place should results go their way this weekend. One player who has remained an integral part of Fulham's success on the pitch over the past few years is Aaron Hughes, and he is hoping another highly successful domestic campaign can be followed by a return to European football next season, after a well earned rest this summer. "Your first priority in this league is to make sure you're playing in it again next year," Hughes explained. "Having done that our aim is to now finish as high as we can this weekend - that would be a very successful season. I'm looking forward to a break but we've got ourselves in a position where we can give it a real go against Arsenal and finish high. We'll get a well earned rest after that and it's a case of switching off for a few weeks after the season has ended. To play in Europe again would be a massive thing - the whole European experience was fantastic. Last time pre-season was basically competitive Europa League games and we came back very early. We approached every game like a Premier League game and the further we went in the competition the more the belief grew, and then we found ourselves in the final." Liverpool
Daniel Agger is set to auction off a whole host of autographed football and sporting memorabilia next month at a charity gala to raise money for Danish soldiers who have been injured in Afghanistan. The Liverpool defender will put up a collection of signed match-worn jerseys, boots and gloves from both current and former Reds, as well as other players within the game. Some of the items on offer include an Agger Liverpool shirt signed by the entire squad, Steven Gerrard's boots, Pepe Reina's gloves, a Brazil shirt worn by Lucas Leiva, and a replica 1986 FA Cup final jersey autographed by Kenny Dalglish. The star-studded event, which has been organised by Agger himself, will take place at the Tivoli Hotel and Congress Centre in Copenhagen on Saturday, 4th June. He said: "There is so much focus on the soldiers when they're leaving Denmark and going to war, but not so much when they come back. There have been so many incidents in Denmark where politicians and the media have put all their attention towards the soldiers going away, but then you see some of them coming back having lost a limb or with mental health issues. I always wanted to be a soldier and go into the army, so I thought if I could do something to raise awareness and focus on the soldiers coming back it would be well worth it." Tickets are priced at 295 Danish Krone, which is approximately £35. They can be purchased by telephoning Morten Dyhr on 0045 2629 8563. Manchester City
Stoke manager Tony Pulis paid tribute to Carlos Tevez after the Manchester City striker shone in a 3-0 victory over the Potters. Tevez opened the scoring with a brilliant individual goal and sealed the victory with a sublime free-kick. Pulis said: "The free-kick was extraordinary, it was a great goal. He has been out of the team and has a point to prove. When their best players have a point to prove they are dangerous. He is a top player." Indeed, having come off second best against the Blues twice in four days, Pulis feels he has encountered a side who will go very close to winning the championship next season. "They remind me of Chelsea four or five years ago when Mourinho was in charge. They are a big, strong powerful group of players with good pace, ability and talent as well. They will be a force next season. They will be a danger to the other teams in the championship." Manchester United
Gary Neville has admitted a cynicism about testimonials has emerged over the past few years. Neville has confirmed he plans to build a 1500-capacity supporters' club close to Old Trafford with part of the money he receives from his testimonial against Juventus on Tuesday. He is also planning a project in Malta, where he has had long-time links, plus a sustainability plan in mind, ensuring supporters buying tickets for next week's match know the money is not going straight to a player who has been well-paid throughout his career. "A cynical attitude has developed in the last 10 to 15 years about the amount of money that footballers earn," admitted Neville. "But look across all sport; tennis, golf, Formula One. It is huge. It connects everybody all over the world. And football is a huge business. So much money being poured into the game and it is the people out there on the pitch who provide the spectacle. Ultimately, the players are going to be well paid. That is an inevitability. But the reality is that the lads at this club came into football because they love playing football. They didn't start kicking a football around in the hallway at home when they were three because they thought of money. That is why football players should never forget their roots. If they continue that love of the game throughout, I don't think anyone would begrudge them money." Newcastle United
The Newcastle United squad will bid farewell to their supporters for this season after Sunday's home fixture with West Bromwich Albion. United's playing staff have been overwhelmed once again this season by the phenomenal and incredibly passionate support that has rained down on them from the terraces, home and away, and as such will do a lap of the pitch to show their appreciation to some of the best fans in the business. The management, staff and players of Newcastle United thank their fans most sincerely for being right behind them throughout the campaign and look forward to a good attendance on Sunday for the final time this season. Stoke City
Tony Pulis has vowed Stoke will not be as lethargic when they face Wigan on Sunday as they were in suffering a second defeat in four days to Manchester City. Although their own position in mid-table is secure, Stoke could end up anywhere between eighth and 14th depending on the final-day results, which could mean a massive difference in Premier League prize money. However, Pulis has vowed his players will be giving their all, which, given how difficult they found it to cope with West Ham's aerial threat on Sunday, might be bad news for the Latics, saying: "I have great respect for Roberto Martinez and Dave Whelan." He added: "Dave in particular has done a magnificent job as chairman of that football club. But we will be desperately trying to beat them on Sunday because we have a responsibility to the best league in the world. Quite apart from anything else, we want to finish in the top 10 this year. If we do that, having already reached an FA Cup final and qualified for Europe, it would represent an extraordinary season for us." Sunderland
Assistant manager Eric Black has revealed that the club have already set about identifying summer transfer targets. There is still one more fixture of the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League campaign to go, with Steve Bruce's men due to meet relegated West Ham on the final day. The Black Cats are keen to look to the future, though, with little riding on Sunday's trip to Upton Park. Scouting potential signings now will help to save precious time once the window reopens, with owners the length and breadth of the country set to dust off their chequebooks. Sunderland are keen to ensure that they remain ahead of the competition and have set their staff the 'massive job' of unearthing hidden gems. Black admits that search has been underway for some time now, with the task of bringing in fresh faces a lot harder than it looks. He said: "The process has been going on for a while now; we're looking at potential players to come in this summer. We've got a lot of players in our view. We're watching a lot of videos, going to see a lot of games and have plenty of things to follow up. It's a massive job. The recruitment is the most important part in terms of giving the club an opportunity to fulfil its potential. We do get a small amount of time off over the summer but the phone is always to hand and there's always a call to be made or someone to meet." Tottenham Hotspur
Ledley King is hoping to play in Tottenham's final match of the season after revealing that he suffered no recurrence of his long-standing groin injury during his comeback against Liverpool last week. King spent seven months sidelined with the problem before making his comeback in Sunday's 2-0 win at Anfield. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was reluctant to rush King back given his chronic knee troubles but the club captain excelled in the victory and is now confident of playing some part in this weekend's clash against relegation-threatened Birmingham at White Hart Lane. A victory over Alex McLeish's men could condemn the midlanders to relegation and a home win would see Spurs secure fifth place. "I am fine. I have a few little aches and pains now but that's normal and with the recovery it's been so far so good, so hopefully I will be involved in the last game on Sunday," said King. "It was great to be back playing. I made my debut at Anfield so it's a stadium that holds a lot of memories for me. It was nice to be part of such a great team performance that got the win." West Bromwich Albion
West Brom have told on-loan Arsenal striker Carlos Vela they cannot guarantee him regular football if he is made available for transfer in the summer. Vela made the temporary switch from the Gunners in January but the Mexican has made only three starts for Albion. Baggies first-team coach Michael Appleton said: "We don't know what kind of transfer fee Arsenal may or may not put on Carlos' head or whether the boy wants to come back to the football club. Maybe he'll just want to go somewhere he knows he is going to play every week. I don't think we are in a position where we can promise that. We've got a really competitive squad and want to make it even more competitive." West Ham United
Demba Ba has not yet decided whether he will stay on at West Ham. The 25-year-old - who has netted seven goals since his January loan move from Hoffenheim - indicated he would take some time before deciding on where he would play next season. "It (West Ham) is a good project," Ba said. "I will be thinking about my future later on. I just want to finish the season properly, then relax and have some time off with my family, then come back with some new resolutions." Wigan Athletic
After the most thrilling match of his career Ben Watson has brought himself back down to earth in time to prepare for another vital match this weekend when Latics travel to Stoke City for the final fixture of the season. Buoyed by the astonishing comeback at the DW Stadium on Sunday against West Ham, Watson says a repeat performance, and result, is crucial if Latics are to achieve a seventh season in the top-flight. "I have to say it was the most incredible game of football I've ever played in my life," Watson said of the 3-2 triumph. "But we're not safe yet - not by a long shot. We've given ourselves a big chance, which is all you can ask for. We'll go to Stoke now with a great deal of confidence, knowing if we win the game we should be safe. We're through one cup final and there's another to come - we set ourselves a tally of six points from these final two games and we're halfway there. Another performance like Sunday would be nice - although we don't want to be going down 2-0 again, that's for sure."Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves record goalscorer Steve Bull has hailed the impact of striker Steven Fletcher in enabling the club to overcome the loss of Kevin Doyle. Doyle suffered a knee ligament injury when on international duty with the Republic of Ireland in March which sidelined him for two months. But club record signing Fletcher has stepped into the breach, after a difficult opening campaign at Molineux, with six goals in eight matches. Former England striker Bull said: "A lot of people were saying when Doyley was out, no-one was going to take his place. He has done so well during the last two years and been exceptional. We've done well to keep him in for that many games, being the lone striker for all the season. Fletcher has come in, he's got his feet under the door and had a few games under his belt now. He's been showing he is as good as Kevin Doyle with his work-rate and goals. He hadn't been getting much of a sniff because of Doyley's form but Fletcher scored a lot of goals for Burnley. It is not a fluke what he is doing now. He is a natural goalscorer. He has proven to be that now with his strikes outside the box, headers inside the box, little flick-ons. He is an all-round good striker and it is a good job he has come into good form when Doyley was out." 
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