Roberto Martinez wants new contract for Manchester United target Baines

After rejecting a bid from the Red Devils for the 29-year-old over the summer, the Everton manager is now hoping to secure his star left-back's long-term future at Goodison Park

Hitzlsperger announces retirement

The 31-year-old has decided to hang up his boots with immediate effect as he feels he needs a new challenge in life

Former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 31.

The midfielder was released on a free transfer by Everton at the end of the 2012-13 campaign and he has now decided to hang up his boots.

"I've been sure about it for a few days. I won't be playing anymore," Hitzlsperger was quoted as saying by Suddeutsche Zeitung.

"My body was giving the appropriate signals that it was time to stop. The strain of many transfers and some injuries have tipped the balance.

"I need a new challenge in my life."

Hitzlsperger came through the ranks of the Bayern Munich youth academy, but left the Bundesliga giants for Aston Villa before breaking into the first team.

He also wore the jerseys of Chesterfield, Stuttgart, Lazio, West Ham and Wolfsburg during his active career.

He was capped 52 times by his country and made appearances at both the European Championships and World Cup.

Marseille considered loaning Lukaku

The Ligue 1 outfit were tempted to move for the Blues starlet, who eventually joined Everton on transfer deadline day, before their preferred move for Florian Thauvin was sealed

West Brom outcast Odemwingie joins Cardiff...

The Nigerian forward had been linked with moves to Swansea and Stoke during the transfer window but Malky Mackay has won the race for the 32-year-old, who has signed a two-year deal.

Odemwingie becomes Cardiff's eighth new signing since their promotion to the Premier League and will provide added firepower, having scored 30 goals in his three-year spell at the Hawthorns.


"Cardiff City Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of Peter Odemwingie from West Bromwich Albion," read a statement from the club.

"Peter completed his medical on Monday afternoon and will link up with his new team-mates later this week."

Odemwingie had fallen out of favour at West Brom after he tried to force through a move to QPR in January, and he is pleased to have been given the chance to make a "fresh start" with the Premier League new boys.

"I'm delighted to complete my move to Cardiff City. I'm looking forward to this fresh start at a club that is really going places, a team that's progressing fast," Odemwingie told the club's website.

"My father-in-law is a City fan and he's told me what a great club this is. I'm looking forward to meeting up with the boys and then start preparing for the trip to Hull after the international break.

"I've seen a little bit of the city and I know that my wife and I will really enjoy living in Cardiff. I can't wait to get started - this move makes me very happy."

Fellaini did not pay £4m of Manchester United transfer fee, insist Everton

The Belgian was reunited with his former Toffees manager at Old Trafford on deadline day, with some questioning United's approach knowing with the midfielder has a release clause of £23.5m in July.

This prompted speculation that Fellaini paid the £4m difference to force an exit from Everton, but the club's director of communication, Alan Myers, stressed that there is no truth in such speculation.

"For those asking: No Felli [Fellaini] did NOT pay £4m of the transfer fee! The buying club will pay £27.5m," Myers wrote on Twitter.

Fellaini was a huge success in his five years at Goodison Park, making 177 appearances and scoring 33 times

I would have joined Arsenal for free, says Ozil

The Germany international, who moved to the north Londoners on Monday, realised he was disillusioned with life at the Santiago Bernabeu following a conversation with Arsene Wenger
 Mesut Ozil claims he would have joined Arsenal for free and admits he lost the "transparency, trust and respect" at Real Madrid.


The Germany international sealed his deadline day switch to Arsene Wenger's side in a €47 million deal, signing a five-year contract with the club.

Ozil revealed that discussions with the Arsenal manager prompted him to consider his squad status at Madrid and influenced his move to the Premier League.

“In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid: transparency, trust, respect," Ozil told Die Welt.

"He [Wenger] told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me.

"I cannot do anything about the transfer fee. I would have come for free, too."

Ozil, a club-record purchase for the Gunners, scored or assisted 108 goals in 159 appearances in all competitions for Madrid.

M.I Becomes Lagos Ambassador For Energy

It really is the era of the Chairman! First, MI was named UN ambassador for the Smuggling of Migrants. Then he became a Glo ambassador. And now, Africa’s number one rapper is the Lagos State Ambassador for Energy! Big congrats to my favorite rapper!