Newcastle face battle to sign Bafetimbi Gomis

NEWCASTLE are ready to go to the wire in the race to land Bafetimbi Gomis.

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By Jason Mellor/Published 30th July 2013

Newcastle are keen to sign Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis

And the Geordies are also confident ­of­ landing Loic Remy at the second time of asking after telling QPR they will take the £70,000-a-week striker off their hands on a season-long loan.

Insiders insist Newcastle will not be back with an improved offer for Gomis, after seeing a £7m bid ­rejected for the unsettled striker.

Lyon are holding out for £9m plus up to £2m more in add-ons for the France ­international, who has just 12 months left on his contract and is keen to quit the cash-strapped club.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is keen to add to his squad ahead of the new season

“Toon believe their bid is the best Lyon will get and are confident the French club will not ­receive a better ­offer over the next month.”

But the Magpies are ready to tough it out, with the risk of losing out to ­Tottenham or Aston Villa, who are both chasing the 27-year-old.

Toon believe their bid is the best Lyon will get and are confident the French club will not ­receive a better ­offer over the next month.

Boss Alan Pardew is also back in for QPR hitman Remy, who pulled the plug on a move to St James’ Park in January to accept a huge pay offer from QPR.

But the Loftus Road side are keen to slash their wage bill after relegation, paving the way for Remy, 26, to leave.

The Toon are not willing to meet the ­player’s full demands – but are ready to pay a large chunk of his £3.6m salary.

Meanwhile, sportswear giants Nike have been left red-faced after Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse took delivery of a new pair of personalised Hypervenom boots with his name on the side mis-spelt ‘Sisse’.

Andy Wilkinson gets Stoke reprive

ANDY WILKINSON has been handed a Premier League reprieve for Stoke following his pre-season red card.

Andy Wilkinson had feared he would miss the opening game of the season against Liverpool

The Potters defender feared he would miss the opening game against Liverpool after being sent off against FC Dallas on Sunday.

But Wilkinson, 28, has escaped with just a one-match ban despite being punished for violent conduct.

And that means he will miss a friendly against Philadelphia Union today and be free to play against Liverpool at Anfield next month.

Joe Ledley: Celtic need another striker... and I'm not joining Cardiff

JOE LEDLEY wants Celtic to recruit a striker for their assault on the Champions League and the defence of their Scottish crown.

Joe Ledley wants to help Celtic retain the SPL crown

The champions head into the new campaign without prolific forward Gary Hooper after he sealed a move to Norwich.

But Ledley has every faith in Anthony Stokes' ability to help plug the gap and weigh in with some goals - providing he has a partner.

The midfielder said: "I think [we need] another striker.

Celtic star Joe Ledley

“Another striker would be nice but that's down to the gaffer”

Joe Ledley

"No disrespect to any that we've got but, with losing Gary, you've got to think of injuries as well.

"Another striker would be nice but that's down to the gaffer and the coaching staff to bring someone in.

"We all believe in Anthony Stokes. He's a fantastic player and since he's been here he has scored a lot of goals.

"Hopefully, we can get a nice partnership with him and a new striker that we bring in."

Ledley insists he's not moving back to Cardiff

Welsh international Ledley has been linked with a move to Cardiff, the club he quit for the Hoops in 2010.

Ledley admits the prospect of playing in the Premier League is a big attraction for some players but insists his focus is on Celtic.

He said: "It's just rumours at the moment. There has been nothing official.

"A lot of players want to play in the Premier League and that's why they have done pretty well with their signings so far.

"It does attract people but, at the moment, I'm with Celtic and I'm just concentrating on a big week ahead of me."

Moyes hopes history can lure likes of Luka Modric and Marouane Fellaini to United

DAVID MOYES believes Manchester United's rich history can convince big names to move to Old Trafford.

Manchester United boss David Moyes

United have been linked with moves for Marouane Fellaini and Luka Modric, while the club are contemplating whether to make a third bid for Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas.

Moyes is yet to add quality to his squad while French giants Paris St-Germain and Monaco are splashing the cash - not that the boss is bothered.

The Scot said: "That is not something Manchester United are frightened of.

"Manchester United are more than happy to compete with all of the teams.

Man Utd had been chasing Cesc Fabregas

“One thing United has got is the history”

David Moyes

"There has been a change in the dynamic because of PSG coming on the scene recently. That has altered things.

"But Manchester United will always compete.

"One thing United has got is the history. It has got the name. It has got the success."

United have been linked with Luka Modric

Andy Wilkinson gets Stoke reprive

ANDY WILKINSON has been handed a Premier League reprieve for Stoke following his pre-season red card.

Andy Wilkinson had feared he would miss the opening game of the season against Liverpool

The Potters defender feared he would miss the opening game against Liverpool after being sent off against FC Dallas on Sunday.

But Wilkinson, 28, has escaped with just a one-match ban despite being punished for violent conduct.

And that means he will miss a friendly against Philadelphia Union today and be free to play against Liverpool at Anfield next month.

Arsenal suffer Hulk blow

ARSENAL look set to miss out on yet another transfer target after a body blow from Hulk.

Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Brazil playmaker Bernard

The Gunners were keen on £22m-rated Brazilian midfielder Bernard from Atletico Mineiro.

But Brazil team-mate Hulk told the 20-year-old to join Porto instead.

Arsene Wenger has so far been unable to add to his squad

Hulk used to play for the Portuguese giants and his advice appears to have left Arsenal empty-handed once again.

Brazil star Hulk used to play for Porto and has recommended the move to countryman Bernard

“Bernard has great interest in going to Porto”

Bernard’s agent Adriano Spadotto

Bernard’s father Delio Duarte said: “We know there is an interest from Arsenal. But there has been nothing official from the club.

“Hulk has convinced Bernard that a move to Porto would be better for him at this stage of his career.”

Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain was heavily linked with Arsenal but ended up joining Italian side Napoli

Bernard’s agent Adriano Spadotto added: “He would prefer to join a middling, but good club in Europe rather than risk joining an elite club like Arsenal and not getting much of a chance to play.

Newcastle face battle to sign Bafetimbi Gomis

NEWCASTLE are ready to go to the wire in the race to land Bafetimbi Gomis.

Newcastle are keen to sign Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis

And the Geordies are also confident ­of­ landing Loic Remy at the second time of asking after telling QPR they will take the £70,000-a-week striker off their hands on a season-long loan.

Insiders insist Newcastle will not be back with an improved offer for Gomis, after seeing a £7m bid ­rejected for the unsettled striker.

Lyon are holding out for £9m plus up to £2m more in add-ons for the France ­international, who has just 12 months left on his contract and is keen to quit the cash-strapped club.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is keen to add to his squad ahead of the new season

“Toon believe their bid is the best Lyon will get and are confident the French club will not ­receive a better ­offer over the next month.”

But the Magpies are ready to tough it out, with the risk of losing out to ­Tottenham or Aston Villa, who are both chasing the 27-year-old.

Toon believe their bid is the best Lyon will get and are confident the French club will not ­receive a better ­offer over the next month.

Boss Alan Pardew is also back in for QPR hitman Remy, who pulled the plug on a move to St James’ Park in January to accept a huge pay offer from QPR.

But the Loftus Road side are keen to slash their wage bill after relegation, paving the way for Remy, 26, to leave.

The Toon are not willing to meet the ­player’s full demands – but are ready to pay a large chunk of his £3.6m salary.

Meanwhile, sportswear giants Nike have been left red-faced after Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse took delivery of a new pair of personalised Hypervenom boots with his name on the side mis-spelt ‘Sisse’.

Moyes hopes history can lure likes of Luka Modric and Marouane Fellaini to United

DAVID MOYES believes Manchester United's rich history can convince big names to move to Old Trafford.

Manchester United boss David Moyes

United have been linked with moves for Marouane Fellaini and Luka Modric, while the club are contemplating whether to make a third bid for Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas.

Moyes is yet to add quality to his squad while French giants Paris St-Germain and Monaco are splashing the cash - not that the boss is bothered.

The Scot said: "That is not something Manchester United are frightened of.

"Manchester United are more than happy to compete with all of the teams.

Man Utd had been chasing Cesc Fabregas

“One thing United has got is the history”

David Moyes

"There has been a change in the dynamic because of PSG coming on the scene recently. That has altered things.

"But Manchester United will always compete.

"One thing United has got is the history. It has got the name. It has got the success."

United have been linked with Luka Modric

Joe Ledley: Celtic need another striker... and I'm not joining Cardiff

JOE LEDLEY wants Celtic to recruit a striker for their assault on the Champions League and the defence of their Scottish crown.

Joe Ledley wants to help Celtic retain the SPL crown

The champions head into the new campaign without prolific forward Gary Hooper after he sealed a move to Norwich.

Tuesday Transfer Zone: Utd lodge Bale bid, Moyes hopes history lures likes of Fellaini

TOTTENHAM are finally ready to give up hope of keeping Gareth Bale, Starsport can exclusively reveal.

Manchester United target Marouane Fellaini

Here's the latest from the Transfer Zone.

The Gossip

Andre-Villas Boas fears the lure of Real Madrid - and a world record transfer fee - means they may have already seen the last of Bale in a Spurs shirt.

Reports in Spain claim both Manchester United and Paris St-Germain have bid for him.

Angry Pepe Reina has hit out at Liverpool for forcing him to move to Napoli.

David Moyes is yet to bring in any new faces - but he hopes the club's history could lure the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Luka Modric and Cesc Fabregas to Old Trafford.

Manchester United target Luka Modric

“David Moyes is yet to bring in any new faces”

He's also hoping to convince Wayne Rooney to stay.

Arsenal have suffered a blow in their battle to sign £22m-rated Brazilian Bernard.

Newcastle won't pay over £7m for Bafetimbi Homiswhile Blackburn are confident of landing Barry Bannan.

Brendan Rodgers has hailed his young Brazilian star Phillippe Coutinho while Paul Lambert is hoping Christian Benteke is in the right frame of mind to cause Premier League mayhem.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle have joined the chase for the new Christian Benteke – Nigerian striker Uche Nwofor.

Pepe Reina hits out at Liverpool

PEPE REINA has hit out at Liverpool for keeping him in the dark over his loan move to Napoli.

Pepe Reina had originally planned to join Barcelona when keeper Victor Valdes announced he would quit the Nou Camp

Goalkeeper Reina says he is disappointed over the way that Liverpool handled the deal and claimed they never told him of the season-long loan.

In an open letter on his website, the 30-year-old Spanish ace says he wasn’t informed he was moving to the Serie A side until after the deal was completed.

Reina has said he was disappointed at the way he was treated by Liverpool

“I thought I deserved better than that, even though I understand that difficult decisions have to be taken in football”

Pepe Reina

He said: “If I have one regret, it is the way that I am leaving. It is only natural that I would be disappointed that the Liverpool management agreed to loan me to Napoli without telling me first.

"I thought I deserved better than that, even though I understand that difficult decisions have to be taken in football.”

Anxious Manchester United fans order David Moyes to splash cash

WORRIED Manchester United fans appear to be running out of patience with new boss David Moyes.

Some fans are running out of patience with David Moyes

The Scot has signed just ONE new man - young Uruguayan defender Guillermo Valera - while he is likely to miss out on targets Cesc Fabregas and Gareth Bale.

Wayne Rooney looks destined for Chelsea while Paul Scholes has hung up his boots.

While their Premier League rivals have been busy strengthening, United haven't - and some of the the Old Trafford faithful have had enough.

They have taken to popular fans' forum redcafe.net to express their dissatisfaction in a thread entitled United in this Summer transfer window, which has nearly 200,000 views.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney

“Can you imagine the pitch forks if there are no new signings?”

One United fan

One fan writes "as it stands, he simply must get some reinforcements, no matter how expensive they might be".

Another says "I've genuinely forgotten what it's like to sign a player. What happened with van Persie? Did the announcement come out of nowhere? Was it expected? It was so long ago."

"Can you imagine the pitch forks if there are no new signings?" questions one poster, while a fellow fan adds "we should have secured a few names by now, and that's no muppet talking... we're bare bone in midfield. Moyes is no SAF, he'll need all the resources he can get."

Moyes returns to England today following United's tour of the Far East.

Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle battle for the new Christian Benteke

ARSENAL, Tottenham and Newcastle have joined the chase for the new Christian Benteke – Nigerian striker Uche Nwofor.

Uche Nwofor has been dubbed the new Christian Benteke

The trio are all keeping tabs on the frontman who plays for Dutch side VVV Venlo.

Nwofor’s pacy and powerful style has seen him likened to Aston Villa's instant hit Benteke.

“The 21 year-old bagged 10 goals for Venlo last season”

The 21 year-old bagged 10 goals for Venlo last season, despite their relegation from Holland's top flight, to earn a call-up to Nigeria’s national squad.

Nwofor was close to joining CSKA Moscow in January for around £3m but they are now facing competition from clubs in England.

Chelsea and Benfica were contenders to sign Nwofor before he opted to join Venlo in 2011.

Spurs put MASSIVE £126m price-tag on Gareth Bale

TOTTENHAM have slapped a £126m price-tag on Gareth Bale, claim Spanish newspaper Marca.

Manchester United, Real Madrid and PSG are all interested in Gareth Bale

The Madrid-based paper say that is the fee that Real Madrid will have to pay to land the 24-year-old star.

The front page of their paper today is graced with a huge picture of the Welshman and the headline "Una Locura", which means "crazy".

That fee would blow the current transfer record out of the water, with Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United for £80m back in 2009.

Marca's front page today

“Every transfer is controversial in its own way, for better or worse, but we are speaking about a very good, decisive player”

Iker Casillas

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has described Bale as "one of the top three or four players in Europe" as the Spanish giants continue their pursuit to sign him.

Casillas said: "Every transfer is controversial in its own way, for better or worse, but we are speaking about a very good, decisive player.

"I'm sure we'll make another signing before the transfer window shuts."

Marca have also claimed both Manchester United and Paris St-Germain have bid for the Welshman.

Madrid captain Iker Casillas is a fan of Bale's

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas doesn't want Bale to go

Liverpool 'close to agreeing £13m deal for Kyriakos Papadopoulos'

LIVERPOOL are reportedly moving forward with their bid to bring exciting Greek youngster Kyriakos Papadopoulos to Anfield.

Greek star Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Boss Brendan Rodgers is a long-term admirer of the Schalke 04 centre-back, and is seen as an part of his plans to replace Reds stalwart Jamie Carragher.

Papadopoulos made just 10 appearances for the German side last season, down from 29 in 2011.

His long absence was mainly caused by the need for a knee operation in November to deal with a persistent injury.

Kyriakos Papadopoulos in action last season for Schalke

“Liverpool are moving forward with their bid to bring Kyriakos Papadopoulos to the Premier League”

And according to Greek newspaper Sport Day, a £13m deal for the fiery enforcer will be ratified today, when the squad and manager return to Merseyside from Thailand.

Chelsea and Manchester City were also thought to be keeping tabs on the starlet, but interest has cooled since the arrival of Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini.

Schalke 04 signed Papadopoulos from boyhood team Olympiacos in 2010 on a four-year-deal, and has since made 57 appearances in the Bundesliga.

Liverpool Boss Brendan Rodgers is interested in signing the Greek wonderkid

Kyriakos Papadopoulos has been a hit in the Bundesliga

Man orders burger, asks for 1,000 extra slices of cheese

THIS cheese addict was just not satisfied with one slice in his burger.

The man looks on at his mammoth cheesy burger task

 And when he went "large," he really meant it.

Shocked staff at a Burger King in Japan had to carefully place 1,000 extra slices of processed cheese on top of the burger for the man to chomp through.

The calorie count for the burger clocked in at a stomach-turning 45,661 - more than 18 TIMES the average daily calorie intake for a man.

And with each slice weighing about an ounce, the burger weighs in at an estimated 4 STONE.

“The calorie count for the burger clocked in at a gut-busting 45,661”

And being the kind-hearted fellow that he is, he filmed the whole bonkers process for our amusement.

Carrying the mammoth scoff home on a tray looked like a chore in itself, but at least it gave him some exercise before attempting the calorie-busting task.

The man starts from the top, so at least he had some variety before he ate nothing but cheese.

Clearly getting the better of him, the cheese is formed into a massive ball before he starts breaking it up into smaller pieces.

He seemingly fails at his task and walks out with "takeaway," packing the rest up for another time that those cheese cravings hit!