Former Red Devils stopper Carroll joins Olympiakos
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll has decided to prolong his career in Eastern Europe by opoting to join Greek giants Olympiakos. The Northern Ireland international joins Olympiakos from fellow Super League outfit OFI, to whom the former have paid a reported €330k transfer fee.
Carroll is best remembered for his stint at Manchester United but has represented plenty of other British clubs- he has been on the books of Hull, Wigan, West Ham, Rangers and Derby County and also spent some time with Odense in Denmark.
Carroll has signed an eighteen month contract with Olympiakos that will keep him at the club till the end of the 2012/13 season.
McCarthy, Watson and Boyce pen new Wigan deals
Wigan trio James McCarthy, Ben Watson and Emmerson Boyce have signed new deals that will keep them at the DW Stadium for the foreseeable future. Young midfielder McCarthy, considered as one of Wigan’s best young talents, has agreed a five year deal despite reports of interest from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in the summer.
Midfielder Ben Watson, who scored on the opening day of the season against Norwich but missed a penalty against Swansea a few days ago, has put pen to paper a fresh three year deal. Defender Boyce, who has been with the Latics since 2006, has penned a shorter two year contract.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said he was pleased to have the three commit their future to the Latics and added that they were working on securing new deals for a few other players as well.
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Latics sign winger Dicko
Wigan have completed the signing of young French winger Nouha Dicko on a free transfer. Dicko, 19, was on trial with the Latics after Strasbourg released him due to their financial problems and impressed the staff at the DW Stadium in the pre-season games against Preston and Villarreal to land a three and a half year deal.
Dicko thus becomes Roberto Martinez’s third signing of the summer after goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi and midfielder David Jones. Martinez said that he was one for the future, quoting his pace and talent as important qualities, and Dicko remarked that he would be trying to push for a regular spot in the Latics starting XI.
Wigan’s first game of the season is against Norwich City.
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Stoke City target five new arrivals
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is busy making bids for as many as five players as the penultimate day of the transfer window draws to a close. Stoke have started their 2010-11 campaign miserably and desperately need reinforcements to make a surge in the games to come. Stoke are in talks with Eidur Gudjohnsen over a season long loan move. The Iceland international who is currently contracted with Monaco is also coveted by Fulham and Rangers.Pulis is also expected to make a £7 million bid for out-of-favour Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas. Also interesting the Stoke boss are Boro’s tall defender David Wheater and Wigan forward Hugo Rodallega.
A host of players are also expected to be shown the door at Stoke in order to negate the effect of the imminent arrivals on the wage bill. Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson may be the first to be part company with the club. Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is attracting a lot of interest from the likes of Chelsea and Fulham. Stoke rejected a £4.5 million offer for him from Chelsea last week, but they might sell Begovic if interest refuses to subside. Get a free bet on Stoke City’s next Premier League match.
Football Transfer Betting: Will Luka Modric at 3/1 sign for Chelsea in the 2012 January Transfer Window...?
Stoke target Remy, ask Tuncay to leave
In order to garner funds for the club-record £10million swoop for French international Loic Remy, Stoke boss Tony Pulis is ready to offload Turkish striker Sanli Tuncay. The former Fenerbache striker arrived at Stoke for £5million after Middlesbrough were relegated from the Premier League last year but was resigned to sporadic appearances off the bench. He scored just four times for the Potters in 30 appearances. Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is a fan of Tuncay’s style of play and is planning a £4million raid for the striker. Big Sam faces competition from Wigan for Tuncay’s sign as Roberto Martinez’s £3 million bid for the Turkish striker was turned down by Stoke last week.
Stoke’s offer for Remy has been accepted by Nice and the striker was taken on a tour of the club’s training facilities and the Britannia Stadium. Stoke are expected to close the deal for the in-demand French starlet but threat still looms with Tottenham, West Ham and Liverpool wanting to hijack his move.
Football Transfer Betting: Will Luka Modric at 3/1 sign for Chelsea in the 2012 January Transfer Window...?
Football Results
Manchester United and Chelsea both recorded victories in their respective fixtures yesterday night. United beat Wigan 1-0 in the league, but there was some bad news for fans of the Red Devils after goal scorer Wayne Rooney suffered a hamstring injury which is expected to keep him out for at least three weeks.
Adam Barrett put Southend United ahead in their FA Cup replay against Chelsea, but the Blues clawed their way back into the game, and eventually won it 4-1. Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Salomon Kalou and Nicolas Anelka all scored for Chelsea, who had been outclassed by Manchester United last weekend.
Newcastle United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Phil Brown’s Hull City, with Daniel Cousin scoring the winning goal for the Tigers with ten minutes to go on the clock.