By Chris Wright

Aston Villa's American goalkeeper Brad Friedel has been declared bankrupt in his homeland, after his non-profit football academy in Lorain, Ohio racked up debts of almost £5 million after failing to attract enough hopefuls willing to pay the annual £20,000 membership fee.

Liverpool is being linked with a January move for Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland.
The former Irish international has found it difficult to settle at Villa Park under French manager Gerard Houllier, and the Metro reports that Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has targeted the player as someone who can strengthen the Reds in the centre of the park.

MANCHESTER, England — Premier League title-chasers Manchester City on Friday completed the signing of Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko from German club Wolfsburg. The 24-year-old, who is believed to have cost City 27 million pounds (32.5 million euros) has signed a four-and-a-half year contract and has been handed the number 10 shirt at the [.

One is an in-form Arsenal midfielder, the other is a very obvious and unfunny comedian...and it just so happens that they look a like...(Cheers Guradian blog for pointing the likeness out!)

During his early career Nasri gained more praise than your typical god.

Arsenal and Liverpool are squaring up to battle it out over German centre-back Per Mertesacker. The Metro are reporting that an £8.5 million offer has been tabled by Arsenal for the Werder Bremen favourite and German international and Liverpool are hot on their tail and keen to test Bremen's resolve with a more attractive offer as [.

Benfica have completed their first move of the January transfer season, securing the acquisition of Argentinian Jose Luis Fernandez from Racing Club. The 23 year old winger is 5 foot 6 and has scored 3 goals in 39 appearances for Racing.Fernandez also earned his first cap for Argentina when he made an appearance against Haiti.

Liverpool's director of football strategy Damien Comolli has explained that the club dismissed Roy Hodgson from his position as manager due to a "cycle of negativity" sweeping through the team.
Hodgson was sacked on Saturday morning after just six months in charge at Anfield, a spell which had seen Liverpool win only 7 of 20 Premier League matches and has left the five-time European Champions languishing in 12th place and just four points from the relegation spots.

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is reported to be negotiating terms with Fiorentina.
Agger, 26, warned recently that he would look to leave the club if he was not a first-team regular.
There appears little reason for the player to act on that threat - he has made four appearances already in January, starting both games since Kenny Dalglish took charge - but FIFA agent Bernardo Brovarone has claimed he is now discussing a move to Italy.

Charlie Adam could be set to leave Blackpool this month and join Liverpool after the Reds chairman Tom Werner declared a mountain of transfer funds will be made available to manager Kenny Dalglish.
The 25-year-old Scotland international has expressed his desire to play at a top level club after impressing in the Premier League this season.

LONDON, England English Premier League star Jermaine Pennant — once Britain's most expensive teenage soccer player — forgot he owned a Porsche, leaving the luxury car at a train station for six months, it emerged Wednesday. On the same day "Britain's brainiest footballer," Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle, announced he had been selected as a [.

By Chris Wright

Word is reaching Pies (via those diligent bods over at Sky Sports News) that Blackpool captain Charlie Adam has handed in a formal transfer request at Bloomfield Road, in a bid to push through a £5 million move to Liverpool.

More when we have it.

It's hard to imagine a guy making more than £40,000 running out of money, but it's happened to Brad Friedel.

The former U.S. International and Aston Villa keeper owes about £5 million, according to a English court.

Apparently, an academy he opened in Ohio a few years ago is the source of his financial woes, and he seems hopeful that he can get it sorted out soon.

UPDATE: According to Chris Burton at Sky Sports News, Manchester City have finally completed the signing of striker Edin Dzeko. Dzeko has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with the club.

January 7th, 2010: According to Stuart Brennan at the Manchester Evening News, the deal for Edin Dzeko has been delayed due to a work permit and contract issues between Dzeko and Man City.

David Beckham will become Tottenham's highest-paid player with a £1.5 million deal for his three-month loan spell.

Antonio Cassano made his debut for AC Milan in a friendly against Al Ahli which they won, 2-1. No goalscoring spectaculars but some useful work down the wings for the former Sampdoria player.

Cassano had a very public falling out with Riccardo Garrone, Sampodoria's president of Sampdoria and his situation became untenable with the case going to arbitration.

It's January. Let the spending commence.

Loves the smell of commerce in the morning

I came across this last week and found it a nice peruse, what with the scramble for reinforcements upon us. Now, I'm not trying to make some grandiose statement by swiping this information from transferleague.

Manchester City

Position: 2nd, 12-5-4 (41 points, +17 goal differential)

Away Form: 6-2-2 (+10 goal differential)

Recent Form: WLWWW

Last Meeting: Manchester City 0 – Arsenal 3 (October 24, 2010)

Arsenal back in league action tomorrow with a titanic clash that is shaping up to be one of the most important matches of the season for both teams.

Carlos Gonzalez is about to sign an extension with the Colorado Rockies worth $80 million over seven seasons. Reportedly, the only thing holding up the deal is a physical. If the Rockies lock up Gonzalez, that will be another step forward in terms of locking up their nucleus.

Earlier in the offseason, the Rockies gave Troy Tulowitzki a contract worth nearly $158 million.

OK, after two weeks off for the holidays and a hard drive melt down we're back. Luckily its been pretty quiet lately so there's not that much to catch up on.

• The Rapids sign Tyrone Marshall to a one year deal with a one year option.

I like the short term nature of the contract, but the real key to this will be the salary number (which we'll see when the union releases the salaries in March).

By Chris Wright

Fancy a bit of Charlie?

According to those bods over at Sky Sports News, Liverpool are near as damn-it to submitting a £3.5 million bid for Blackpool's influential schemer Charlie Adam (thus gazumping Blackburn, Aston Villa and Birmingham, who all had £2.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 3.5 million children aged 14 years and younger are treated for sports injuries and nearly half of all injuries sustained by middle school and high school students during sports are overuse injuries.

Part 2 of a 3-Part Series on Youth Injuries.

LONDON, England — South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar has announced on Twitter that he will be joining Tottenham from Premier League rival Everton. Pienaar, who was also in talks with Chelsea after refusing to sign a new contract at Everton, posts on Twitter "to end speculation I am going to Spurs.

Gazzetta dello Sport Ibra-Cassano, merry Milan Balo is treated in America in Tiger's clinic Mancini sends him to see the knee magician Del Piero negotiates for his renewal Yesterday the first meeting with Agnelli. The difference is still 1.5 million. Here's Ganso, an ace for Leo Adriano, shoulder KO, he'll be out for a month Mou's Real triumph, Ronaldo is derby-man .

Aston Villa and former US goalkeeper Brad Friedel has been declared bankrupt at a court hearing in Macclesfield. The cause of Friedel's bankruptcy is a soccer academy he set up under his name in Ohio in 2007.

It was meant to be a non-profit-making venture, but it lost money heavily and court documents show Friedel and his company owed almost £5 million last August and lender RBS Citizens was forced to take action.

Aston Villa and former US goalkeeper Brad Friedel has been declared bankrupt at a court hearing in Macclesfield. The cause of Friedel's bankruptcy is a soccer academy he set up under his name in Ohio in 2007.

It was meant to be a non-profit-making venture, but it lost money heavily and court documents show Friedel and his company owed almost £5 million last August and lender RBS Citizens was forced to take action.

By Chris Wright

"Let's waste time, chasing Kjaers..."

Several reports emanating from Germany (via the Daily Mail) this morning are suggesting that Danish centre-half Simon Kjaer, who only joined Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg a couple of months ago, is set for a shock £12.

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has launched an outspoken attack on Liverpool, claiming the club's £4.5 million bid for Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam was "disgraceful".
Holloway confirmed Liverpool caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish wants to sign Adam, who has enjoyed a fine season and scored from the penalty spot in his side's 2-1 defeat against Sunderland yesterday.

Mark van Bommel has been called many things. While some call him, "the dirtiest player alive", others prefer to simply call him "scum". While normally I don't approve of these rude and often over-exaggerated names, in van Bommel's case I might make an exception. Last season the Dutchman amassed an impressive 111 fouls and 16 yellow cards in all competitions, yet never receiving a red card.

Mark van Bommel has been called many things. While some call him, "the dirtiest player alive", others prefer to simply call him "scum". While normally I don't approve of these rude and often over-exaggerated names, in van Bommel's case I might make an exception. Last season the Dutchman amassed an impressive 111 fouls and 16 yellow cards in all competitions, yet never receiving a red card.

Liverpool's plan in securing Luis Suarez's signature faces a tough task as despite the players' current club, Ajax Amsterdam, are willing to open a negotiation with the Reds, the Holland team aren't willing to give a discount prize for the Uruguayan star.

Latest reports stated that premier league side's representative came home empty handed after their previous 12.

The quickest of quick updates. I have been preparing what is probably one of the lengthiest ever interviews ever conducted by an Arsenal blogger! The interview took place today and Mark Gonnella (Communications Director) was the man I spoke to. It will be published in full tomorrow lunchtime around 1pm.

As reported here last night we all became immediately aware of Chelsea's second attempt to sign Fernando Torres. A reported bid (although at the time of writing this article not confirmed by Chelsea) of around £40m has been turned down by Liverpool.
As you will imagine the press, media sites and blog sites (including mine of course) were quick to cover the story and have their own individual take on things, but there is one article tonight that appears here in the Telegraph that has got me thinking as they state that our new bid for the Spaniard is an "Act of desperation!

The Baltimore Orioles are close to signing Vladimir Guerrero according to a numerous online reports. The DH played with the Texas Rangers last season and helped the team reach the 2010 World Series. The contract Guerrero is being offered is unknown at this point, however it's rumored to be for one season and around $5 million.

By Chris Wright

Liverpool have confirmed that striker Fernando Torres made an official transfer request yesterday afternoon (amidst a flurry of concerted interest from Chelsea), and that the club have also turned the request down – telling the Spaniard that they expect him to honour his long-term contract at Anfield:

"Fernando Torres tonight submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool.

Blackpool have reportedly rejected Liverpool's latest bid for their captain, Charlie Adam.
The Reds had an initial offer of £4 million for the 25-year-old and, according to skysports.com, they have been rebuffed in their latest attempts to sign the Scotland international.
Tangerines boss Ian Holloway said last week that it would take over £10 million for Liverpool to sign his prized asset; hence a reported bid of £6.

In the wake of Blackpool's rejection of Liverpool's second official bid for midfielder Charlie Adam, the player's father, also called Charlie, has branded his son's team "cheap-skates" for saying no to the bid.
Liverpool's second offer is believed to be around the £6.5 million mark, around £2.

When physically and mentally healthy, Justin Duchscherer is a heck of a pitcher. In fact, he's been named to the All-Star team twice in his career. However, being healthy hasn't been a small task for the talented hurler. The Baltimore Orioles decided to bet on his health by signing Duchscherer to a one-year deal worth as much as $4.