Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala step up chase for Arsenal star

Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala wil step up their interest in Andrey Arshavin by approaching Arsenal over the player's availability this week.

Playmaker Arshavin has had a mixed time in England since his move from Zenit in 2009.
The highlight of his three year stay at Arsenal would undoubtedly be his four-goal haul in their 4-4 draw with Liverpool towards the end of the 2008/09 season.
But Arshavin was well short of his best form last season and failed to nail down a regular starting spot.
Anzhi are now keen on offering him a route back to Russia, with Suleyman Kerimov, the club's billionaire owner, eager to add more big-name signings to the team having signed Roberto Carlos earlier this year.
According to sources in Russia, Kerimov is ready to sanction a move for Arshavin and Anzhi are keen on approaching Arsenal to set up talks.

Diarra closer to Spurs move as Real cut asking price

Harry Redknapp's hopes of taking Lassana Diarra to Tottenham have been boosted after Real Madrid finally agreed to lower their asking price.

Spurs have wanted to add the former Arsenal and Chelsea man to their ranks for some time but his £20m price tag was a major sticking point, especially with the club missing out on a Champions League spot last season and the financial windfall it brings.
But Jose Mourinho's side are now willing to accept £15m for the Frenchman who played under Redknapp at Portsmouth before joining the La Liga side.
Spurs will now move swiftly for Diarra, who started just 19 league games in Spain last season and was withdrawn in five of those.
If they can offload Wilson Palacios to Stoke, Redknapp will use some of the proceeds to fund a move for 26-year-old Diarra.

Liverpool FC want Stewart Downing and Doni deals wrapped up next week

Liverpool will next week look to complete a deal for Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing, while Roma goalkeeper Doni is also closing in on a move to Anfield.

Liverpool have already been busy in the transfer market this summer, with Charlie Adam this week joining £20million signing Jordan Henderson at the club.

Reds' director of football Damien Comolli on Friday said he hopes the club can attract "a few more" players before the end of August and Downing is now top of their list of targets.

Liverpool are believed to be ready to make an improved £18m bid for the 26-year-old, who wants to quit Villa Park and make the move to Merseyside.

Villa insist the England international is not for sale, but it is thought that Downing is prepared to tell new Villa boss Alex McLeish that he wants to leave the club and join Kenny Dalglish's side.

McLeish has insisted that the midfielder is not for sale, while Villa have told both Liverpool and Downing's agent that they will not be forced into selling the player after seeing Ashley Young leave to join Manchester United.

However, reports earlier this week claimed Villa would reluctantly let the player leave the Midlands club should they receive a £19m offer.

Downing could be joined at Anfield by Brazilian keeper Doni, who is set to make a £1m move from Serie A side Roma to provide back-up to first-choice Pepe Reina.

Several other players have also been linked with a move to Anfield including Bolton defender Gary Cahill, Birmingham centre-back Scott Dann and Valencia winger Juan Mata, with the latter a possible alternative to Downing should Villa refuse to sell.

Manchester United target Samir Nasri told to stay at Arsenal FC - report

Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri will on Sunday fly out for the club's pre-season tour of Asia and has reportedly been told he will not be sold to Manchester United or Man City.

Nasri held talks with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger this week as the Gunners boss looks to talk the France international into signing a new five-year, £90,000-a-week deal at the Emirates.

Wenger on Friday said the club would do "everything we can" to keep the former Marseille star in north London next season.

And according to the Daily Star, Wenger will tell the contract rebel that he will not be made available for sale.

That brings up the prospect of Wenger running the risk of losing Nasri for nothing next summer - something he has been keen to avoid.

Wenger had previously told Nasri that he would be sold this summer if a new deal was not agreed.

Three years ago, Wenger saw Mathieu Flamini run down his contract before joining AC Milan on a free transfer and has been keen not to allow the same thing to happen again.

On Friday, Wenger has said of transfer speculation surrounding Nasri and captain Cesc Fabregas, who is wanted by Barcelona: "Our position is always the same, we want to keep Cesc and I will fight as hard as I can to keep him.

"Samir Nasri is exactly the same. We will do everything we can to keep him."

But despite Wenger's stance, Manchester United are believed to be confident of signing Nasri in a £20million deal, while bookmakers make the Arsenal midfielder odds-on to move to Old Trafford.

Man City and Chelsea are also interested in the playmaker.

Preview: International friendly, Maldives vs India

Male’, MALDIVES - Maldives meets India for the first time in an International friendly game in preparation for the 2014 FIFA world cup qualifier against Iran. Both teams have held their practice sessions in National Stadium prior to the kick off on 10th July at 2100hrs.

MALDIVES vs INDIA
Friendly
Venue: National Stadium, Male’
kickoff: 2100hrs (Local time)


TEAM NEWS

It is a huge boost for the supporters and to the players as Ashfaaq (Dhagandey) is declared fit to play against India. Doctors gave all clear sign after a scan in Colombo yesterday. On the contrary, Assad Ali was excluded from the squad after a disciplinary issue. Maldivesoccer.com can confirm that Assad Ali did not appear for the last practice session after a dispute in allocating jersey.
However, Coach Diego Cruciani wants his team to forget all the events happening off the football pitch and to concentrate on the game and win it.
“We will be playing for a win in tomorrow night’s game. I will be trying out things which I have in mind for the Iran game”

“But a home game is a very different compared to an away game. The atmosphere and everything you play is totally different compared to the game we will play against Iran in Tehran. So we need to be on top of our game”.
Meanwhile, India’s interim coach Armando Colaco said that there is no rivalry between the two nations, but he want to see a good football game
“There is no rivalry in football. We are building the relationship between Maldives and India and this friendly is part of it. This is our first friendly match in the Maldives and we are glad to be here”
India’s captain for the friendly, Sunil Chetri said that the players needs to give 200 percent in the game.
“Maldives is a very good team. It is a very good side. The last two to three encounters against Maldives have been very closely fought. So I expect it to be a very good game for us to prepare for the match against UAE.”

“I don’t think past will do anything. Every match is a different match. We are playing a preparatory game in here. It would be very tough. We will give 200 percent and I hope it will be a fantastic game for everyone”

Maldives national team captain for the match, Imran Mohammed urged the supporters to be behind the team in the match.

“This match is played in Maldives. Any match played in the national stadium is an important match for us. Playing against India is special because we have had a rivalry in football. All the players are working with the same target, which is to win the game”

“I want to thank the supporters and I hope that supporters will come in numbers to support the team. They are the 12th player in the team. It’s very important for us”

HEAD TO HEAD

2009	Dhaka	09/12/2009	India	3 – 1	Maldives
2009	Dhaka	13/12/2009	India	0 – 2	Maldives
2008	Colombo	14/06/2008	India	0 - 1	Maldives
2008	Male	07/06/2008	Maldives	0 - 1	India
2005	Karachi	14/12/2005	Maldives	0 - 1	India
2000	Male	08/05/2000	Maldives	1 - 0	India
1999	Kathmandu	04/10/1999	India	3 - 1	Maldives
1999	Margao	29/04/1999	Maldives	1 - 2	India
1997	Kathmandu	13/09/1997	India	5 - 1	Maldives
1997	Kathmandu	09/09/1997	India	2 - 2	Maldives
1987	Calcutta	23/11/1987	India	5 - 0	Maldives

STATISTICS
India                                Maldives
11        Matches Played        11  
7                    Wins                 3  
1                  Draws                 1  
22              Goals for              9    

PROBABLE LINE UP - MALDIVES
Mohamed Imran(GK), Ahmed Saeed (Ammaty), Assad Abdul Ghanee, Akram Abdul Ghanee, Mohamed Umair, Mohamed Arif (Bakaa), Shamveel Qasim(Bonda), Ismail Mohamed (Issey), Mukhthar Naseer (2 Kilo), Ibrahim Fazeel (Oppo), Thoriq (Tom)