England World Cup squad: Fabio Capello to give Joe Hart chance to be No 1
Joe Hart has been told he has an equal chance with David James and Robert Green of being England’s first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.
Fabio Capello will inform all three of his goalkeepers that he has a completely open mind who he will choose to face the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.
James, at 39, would appear to have the experience and is favourite to be selected, although Green also had a run of games during the qualifying campaign and impressed Capello. However, the England manager is also mindful that Hart has had an outstanding season on loan at Birmingham City and is, arguably, the most in-form of the three.
Ferguson vetoed Hargreaves call-up Capello earmarked either Hart or Ben Foster — who is set to replace Hart at Birmingham — as the two strongest young goalkeepers when he took the job. Indeed, he had hoped that one of them would become his first-choice in time for the World Cup but Foster has struggled to get games for Manchester United and Hart had to leave Manchester City.
Although Hart, 23, has just one cap — he came on at half-time to replace James during the friendly against Trindad & Tobago in June 2008 – he has been a regular in Capello’s squad even though he has not played. He had hoped to start the March friendly against Egypt but Capello decided to stick with Green.
It means that if Hart were to be selected ahead of James or Green it would represent a surprise, given his lack of previous opportunities. England would also be the only nation going into the finals with a goalkeeper who, at most, can have three caps.
Capello only has the friendlies against Mexico — on Monday at Wembley – and Japan, the following Sunday in Graz, before he whittles down his 30-strong provisional squad to 23 and will consider whether to start Hart in either or both of those games. Given that he has only selected three goalkeepers it means, barring injury, that all three will go to South Africa.
Capello’s open mind on the issue is interesting given that he said, prior to the friendly against Holland last August, that he knew who would feature in the opening game of the World Cup.
At that time it was assumed that he meant James, but the emergence of Green and the Portsmouth goalkeeper’s injury problems have left the issue open. James is said to have impressed Capello with his display in Saturday’s FA Cup final, however.
Manchester City set to enter race to sign £50 Million hit man
According to the Spanish media, Manchester City are set to enter the race to sign Franck Ribery putting themselves head to head with local rivals Manchester United. Yesterday we reported that Man Utd were ready to offer £50 Million to land Ribery based on reports out of Spain and now AS the Spanish football daily have added Roberto Mancini’s side to the list of suitors for the French International.
Ribery has been the subject of much speculation with his contract running out next season and even though the Bayern Munich Chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge has again stated that Ribery is going nowhere the probability is that he is.
Bayern will have to make a decision and fast, AS reports that both Real Madrid and Barcelona have dropped out of the race due to Ribery’s personal life and that will now force the price down, he was only ever going to be worth £50 Million in the event of an auction and that possibility is starting to dwindle.
Manchester City cannot offer Ribery Champions League football while Man Utd can and that could be a deciding factor, however it is now reported that in the absence of bids from Real Madrid and Barcelona that Sir Alex Ferguson the Man Utd manager will reevaluate his offer which in turn could let the Eastlands outfit in, confusing I know.
Mancini has a bucket load of cash to spend, problem is the big stars have to date shown zero interest in the Man City project, they cannot offer Champions League and with competition so fierce in the Premiership for Champions League qualification it is still considered taking a chance signing with City and in fact there are already rumblings in Manchester with speculation rife that the one world class talent that Man City do posses, Carlos Tevez is about to leave.
Signing Ribery would represent a coup for Mancini and it would also send out a signal to other elite players that by joining Manchester City you will be playing alongside players of the calibre of Franck Ribery.
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United are prepared to allow Anderson leave Old Trafford in a player-swap-plus-cash deal to land £38m-rated Benfica winger Angel di Maria. Daily Mail
Ajax have told Manchester United that it will cost £35m to persuade them to sell Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez this summer. Daily Mirror
The potential stumbling block surrounding the return of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona could involve the transfer fee, with Arsenal not prepared to accept less than £50m. Footylatest.com
Barcelona are ready to spend £70m to thwart Chelsea's interest and bring Liverpool's Spanish international striker Fernando Torres to the Nou Camp. Daily Express
Manchester United are set to table a bid of £20m for Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson hoping his offer will see off Chelsea, who are reported to have tabled a bid of £16m. Full story: Footylatest.com
The agent of Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has quashed reports that the 32-year-old Italy star is heading for a Premier League club this summer. The Sun
Liverpool are preparing a double swoop for Manchester City's Stephen Ireland and Chelsea's Joe Cole. The Anfield club are confident they have sufficient funds to finance both fees, and hope to persuade Cole to take a lower wage. Footylatest.com
West Ham have rejected bids from Fulham, Birmingham and Stoke for striker Carlton Cole as none of their offers matched the Hammers' £15m valuation.Daily Telegraph
Beaten League One play-off side Huddersfield are keen on Falkirk midfielder Scott Arfield and Rangers defender Steven Smith. Daily Record
Celtic are interested in signing defender Sol Campbell, who is a free agent after his deal at Arsenal expired, although the Gunners are thought to be keen to keep hold of him. The Sun
Veteran midfielder Nick Barmby, 36, is close to agreeing a one-year contract extension with Hull (The Sun).
But Jimmy Bullard could be leaving the KC Stadium for a season-long loan at Celtic. Daily Star
Bolton have seen off competition from Blackburn, Wolves and Greek champions Panathinaikos to win the race to sign Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane after his loan spell at Portsmouth. The Sun
Hearts are interested in taking Burnley's former Rangers striker Steven Thompson back to Scotland after his contract with the Turf Moor club expired.Daily Express
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton says he expects to have money to spend in the summer but has ruled out making wholesale changes to the squad that won the Championship this season. Daily Express
OTHER BOLLOX
Juventus are set to confirm Luigi del Neri as their new manager after running out of patience with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.Daily Telegraph
Owen Hargreaves wants showdown talks with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to know what he told England boss Fabio Capello about his fitness, after the midfielder was left out of the England World Cup squad. The Sun
Sunderland have passed on the chance to sign striker Benjani on a permanent basis after his loan spell from Manchester City came to an end. Daily Star
Chelsea's Michael Ballack is considering legal action against Manchester City's Kevin Prince-Boateng over the challenge in the FA Cup final that ruled the Germany captain out of the World Cup. Daily Express
Uefa president Michel Platini says England's 2018 World Cup bid can survive the embarrassment of the Lord Triesman affair. the Guardian
Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies will hold crisis talks with club owner Nigel Doughty on Friday after discussing his potential availability for other jobs in television interviews. the Guardian
Rotherham striker Drewe Broughton could need to find a stand-in best man for his summer wedding as first choice, West Ham defender Matthew Upson, could be at the World Cup with England. (The Sun)
Welshman Ryan Giggs says he will be cheering on England at the World Cup but says Spain are overwhelming favourites to win the tournament.Daily Star
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