Sports Blog-News,reviews and lots more

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Bulgarian captain Stilian Petrov from Celtic for a reported fee of 8 million pounds. The initial fee is six and a half million but it could rise to 8.

The move reunites the Celtic medio with his ex coach Martin O Neill. It was during O Neill’s time at Celtic that Petrov established himself and won several awards and trophies including SPL’s player of the year in 2001.

Villa are also supposedly in the hunt for Barcelona reject Javier Saviola, but face stiff compeition from other Spanish and English clubs for him.

Egyptian striker Ahmed Mido has returned to Tottenham on a permanent deal from Roma. Mido was on loan at White Hart Lane last season from the Italian giants and scored 11 goals for Spurs.

The fee is an estimated 7.5 million euros.Mido now joins Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe in the list of strikers Spurs have. The Egyptian striker is known for his strength in the air, but is equally famous for his volatile temperament.

Mido has also played for Celta Vigo, Ajax and Marseille in the past.

Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins has arrived in the Tyneside for a medical.If he does pass it,the Inter Milan and Nigerian forward is expected to complete his move for an estimated fee of 10 million pounds.This will bring an end to Glenn Roeder and Freddy Shepherd’s summer long search for a replacement for Alan Shearer.

Martins who arrived at the San Siro from Reggiana,was also the subject of discussions in the English media which claimed that his actual age was 25-26 years old.The rumour was finally confirmed as untrue

Martins had handed in a transfer request at Inter.following the arrival at Hernan Crespo on loan from Chelsea.He had earlier signed a  5 year contract in December 2005 at Inter.

If the move does materialise,Martins will partner Shoela Amoebi upfront and he will be reunited with Turkish midfielder Belozoglu Emre at St.James Park

Nigerian striker Kanu has signed for Portsmouth on a one year deal.Kanu is Portsmouth’s third major signing of the season after Sol Campbell and David James.

Kanu left West Bromwich Albion after the club’s demotion from the Premiership last season  and was a free agent.

Portsmouth is Kanu’s fifth club,the others being Ajax,Inter,Arsenal and WBA in that order.

Pompey are still hopeful of signing ex Arsenal striker Kanu.The Nigerian was released on a free by West Bromwich Albion this summer,but is also being chased by Valencia and Hamburg.

Portsmouth have only fit striker in the form of Svetoslav Todorov,with Benjani Mwaruwari and Lomana Lualua both injured.This increases Harry Redknapp’s need for the 6′5” forward

20 year old Scott Carson has joined Charlton on loan from Liverpool. Carson,who helped Sheffield Wednesday avoid relegation during his stint there in May 2006,is a regular member of the English U-21 squad and was on standby for the World Cup.

Charlton now have three keepers in their line up–Norwegian Thomas Myhre,Dane Stephan Andersen and Carson.

Ex Arsenal and Tottenham defender Sol Campbell has signed for Portsmouth on a two year contract. The veteran centreback had late interest from Manchester City but decided against a move to the Eastlands.

Sol Campbell is the third major signing for Pompey this season,the others being Glen Johnson on loan and David Thompson on a free from Wigan.

It also looks like David James will follow his England teammate into Fratton Park in the next few days.

English centreback Sol Campbell,who is now available on a free,may end up going to the Eastlands instead of the South Coast.

Campbell,who chose not to extend his contract after five seasons in the top flight with the Gunners was undergoing a medical at Fratton Park and was expected to join Portsmouth ,but reports say Manchester City have made a late move for him.

If Campbell does move to City,the Eastlands club may then sell Sylvain Distin to Portsmouth instead for a fee rumoured to be about 4 million pounds.Campbell’s arrival will certainly strengthen the back four of Stuart Pearce’s side as they aim for a spot in Europe this season.

Veteran England defender Sol Campbell is on the verge of signing for Portsmouth .Campbell,who is the only English player to play in six major consecutive tournaments is currently undergoing a medical and a move to the South Coast looks to be a mere formality at this moment.

The news has shocked many people,including Arsene Wenger because Campbell had originally stated that he wanted to play outside the country after leaving Arsenal.He was linked to Olympique Marseille and Fenerbahce,but nothing materialised.

Campbell earlier moved to Arsenal on a bosman from bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur,a move due to which many diehard Spurs fans hold a grudge against him till today.

Marseille right winger Franck Ribery has announced that he wishes to leave the Stade Velodrome.Ribery told French television channel TF1 that he wished to win titles and play in the Champions League.

Ribery signed a contract extension in March,but a set of impressive performances for club and nation have seen him appear on the shopping cart of many top clubs,including bitter rivals Lyon.

Marseille issued a statement of disapproval of Ribery’s behaviour while Lyon’s president Jean Michel Aulas welcomed it.

The scar faced Ribery,who joined Lyon from Galatarasay last summer has also been linked with several other clubs,prominent among them Manchester United and Arsenal.

Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes has said that he hopes to confirm a move to Spain by Tuesday.Real Madrid and Reyes have made no secret of their mutual admiration for each other in the past.

Madrid have said that they would be interested only in players who could play in all competitions for them.Arsenal have qualifying round against Dinamo Zagreb coming up on Tuesday and if he plays,he will not be eligible to play for the Merengues in Europe’s premier club competition in the later rounds.

Reyes has always longed for a move back to Spain.He has no complaints at Highbury at the club he joined from Sevilla for a reported fee of 20 million euros,but he would like to go back to the environs where he is more at home .

Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen’s future at Real Madrid looks to be in doubt after new manager Fabio Capello criticised him for his attitude . Gravesen was reportedly involved in a bust up with ex Santos forward Robinho.

Many Premiership clubs will be more than happy to secure the Dane’s signature,given his track record in England.He was a pivotal part of the Everton side which came 4th in the Premiership the season before last, and many Toffees fans agree that his departure was one of the reasons for the club’s dismal form last season.

Gravesen has struggled to secure a firm first 11 place and Capello’s signing of Emerson will push him further down the pecking order. Newcastle are rumoured to be among the various clubs interested,but it will interesting to see whether he will move back to England.

Empoli forward Francesco Tavano’s agent has said that his client is on the verge of talks with Newcastle United about a possible move to St.James Park.

Tavano scored 19 goals in his last season with Empoli and is rated at about 7 million pounds by his club.He has also been linked with Inter Milan and Valencia.

Tavano is the latest on Glenn Roeder’s list of striking targets. Dirk Kuyt,Marlon Harewood and Mirolslav Klose are also rumoured to be on that list.

Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick has completed his move to Manchester United for an estimated fee of 13 million pounds. The fee could rise to 18.6 million pounds,which would make him the fifth most expensive player to wear the sacred jersey of the Red Devils.

Carrick was targeted by Sir Alex Ferguson as a replacement for the legendary Roy Keane whose abrupt departure last season left United with a gaping hole to fill in midfield. Tottenham have made a clean profit from the sale of Carrick whom they acquired from West Ham for 2.75 million pounds.They have also signed a replacement in the form of Ivory Coast midfielder Didier Zokora.

Many pundits feel that United have paid a little too much for Carrick,which I second.He is nowhere in the league of Keane,although Sir Alex could make him one.