CARDIFF IN TALKS WITH IN DEMAND INCE

Blackpool winger Thomas Ince has held talks with Barclays Premier League new boys Cardiff, ITV Football understands.
Ince's father, Seasiders boss Paul Ince, said at the end of June the Championship club had accepted a bid - reported to be £8million - from Cardiff for the 21-year-old.

And it is understood that the England Under-21 international was in Wales yesterday to discuss a potential move to the Cardiff City Stadium.
Thomas Ince has developed a considerable reputation since joining Blackpool from Liverpool in 2011, emerging as one of the most sought-after players in the English second tier.
Last term he scored 18 goals for the Tangerines and he also netted in their opening pre-season friendly on Saturday, a 2-0 victory over Penrith.
He has eight England Under-21 caps and featured for the team at last month's European Championships in Israel.
Cardiff have already recruited Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius from FC Copenhagen this summer on a five-year-deal as they make preparations for their maiden Premier League campaign, having sealed promotion by winning the Championship title last season.

ASTON VILLA DROP BENTEKE FROM OFFICIAL TOUR

Aston Villa have confirmed star striker Christian Benteke has handed in a transfer request.
The Belgian has not travelled to a pre-season training camp in Germany after being given extra time off by Villa, who are reluctant to part company with one of their best players.
In a statement, the club said: "In response to reports that Christian Benteke has not travelled to Germany with the club and has made a transfer request, we can confirm that both are accurate.

"For clarity's sake, however, he had already been given extra time off until July 18 and was reminded that there are three years remaining on his contract, we consider him to be a Villa player and expect that he will be with us for the 2013-14 season.
"Having received his transfer request, we have also informed him that should we receive an offer within an appropriate timeframe during pre-season which meets our valuation we would act upon it. But he will remain a Villa player should this not happen."
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Benteke was crucial to Villa avoiding relegation last season with 19 goals in the league, while he scored 23 in all competitions after moving to the midlands from Genk for a reported £7million.
The news is likely to alert London clubs Arsenal and Chelsea, both of whom have been linked with Benteke and can offer him Champions League football this season.
Villa boss Paul Lambert expressed his disappointment at Benteke's decision although he remains hopeful the 22-year-old will remain at Villa Park.
"While we're hugely disappointed that Christian has put in a transfer request, it's important that people appreciate we are trying to build something strong and vibrant here at the club, something this club demands and stands for, and we want Christian to be part of that," he said.

MOURINHO: I'LL PLAY NICE AND ATTRACTIVE FOOTBALL AT CHELSEA

Jose Mourinho has promised Chelsea fans a more attractive brand of football next season.

The Portuguese's first spell at Stamford Bridge was largely successful but the Blues still came under criticism for a percieved negative approach to matches and the 50-year-old says that his aim is to make the supporters happy by the results and the style in which they are achieved.

"I want to make the Chelsea fans happy - by results, by our playing style, by the mentality and the personality of the team," Mourinho told The Sun.

"They have to know that we always give everything. I know from my record at Chelsea, also at Inter and Madrid, that I made many decisions that helped my teams.

"If I gamble with a very risky decision, it can go the wrong way. How many times did I play here with three defenders?

"I remember against West Ham [in April 2006] we were losing 1-0 and we were playing with 10 men after Maniche got a red card early in the game. I still gambled because I wanted to win with 10 men — and we did win, 4-1."

The Blues have announced the arrival of youngsters Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel already this summer but the former Porto coach says that the Chelsea old guard still have a part to play.

He added: "This is the legacy of the club culture — as some guys are arriving they have others who can transmit to them immediately what this club means.

"One day, these older players will finish and the younger guys now will be the older ones in the future, so the Chelsea culture is continuously passed on from one generation to the next."

NEWCASTLE TARGET BENT AND REMY

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has confirmed he wants to sign strikers Darren Bent and Loic Remy.

Pardew wants to boost his strikeforce which was over-reliant on Papiss Cisse last season.
Bent is out of favour at Aston Villa, whilst Remy is available following QPR's relegation to the Championship.

Pardew had tried to sign Remy from Marseille in the January transfer window but was beaten to it by Harry Redknapp.
Pardew told the Northern Echo: "Both of those players are on our list. I make no bones about that.
"But they are under contract at other clubs. It's difficult, you have to be careful. It's nice for our fans to hear names, but I don't want to disrupt other clubs' preparations.
"We have a list of four or five strikers who will push Papiss Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Adam Campbell and Yoan Gouffran because that will be important next season.
"We do need two strikers. Last year, I didn't think there was enough competition in that area for a Premier League team."

INTER SIGNING DELIGHTED TO BE BACK TO CHILDHOOD CLUB

Marco Andreolli is delighted with his return to Inter and says he has nothing but fond memories of his previous spell with the Giuseppe Meazza side.

The defender, 27, previously wore the Inter jersey from 2003 until 2007 before joining Roma in search of regular first team action, but returned to the Nerazzurri on a free transfer last week.

"I'm really proud and happy to be back home. I grew up with Inter, I made my Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia debuts here," Andreolli told the official club website.

"We won the Coppa Italia with the Primavera and I scored against AC Milan in the final.

"I'll never forget how excited I was that day.

"I went mad when we won the 2007 Scudetto at Siena and I was lucky to be a part of so many other great achievements.

"Then I went to Roma, Sassuolo and Chievo and I'm grateful to everyone - coaches, team-mates and club officials alike - who's helped me improve as a player.

"Now I'm back here to take up from where I left off and give everything I've got for my Inter.

"I hope to relive the thrills I had here the first time."

Andreolli has signed a four-year deal with Inter.

MADRID LEGEND SET TO RETURN TO CLUB

Real Madrid say club legend Raul will be wearing the Blancos jersey for 45 minutes in the upcoming Santiago Bernabeu Trophy clash against the forward's current club Al-Sadd this summer.

The Spanish giants host the Qatari champions on August 22 in the annual friendly game, with the 36-year-old playing one half for each side to celebrate his return.

"Al-Sadd will be the rival of Real Madrid in the next edition of the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy. The Qatari team will play against the Blancos on Thursday August 22 to contest the XXXV edition of the tournament (22:30 hours)," a Madrid statement on the club's official website reads.

"Raul will return to the stadium where he played for 16 seasons. To commemorate this occasion, the former captain of Real Madrid will play 45 minutes with each team."

The former Spain international left Madrid for Schalke in the summer of 2010 after well over 700 official appearances for the Liga giants.

He then spent two seasons at the Bundesliga outfit before joining Al-Sadd last year, helping them to secure their 13th league crown.

Real Madrid won the annual friendly fixture 8-0 against Colombian side Millonarios last year.

WEST BROM BLAST CHELSEA OVER PLAYER BID

West Brom have confirmed they have turned down a compensation offer from Chelsea for academy product Isaiah Brown.

The 16-year-old midfielder has been tracked by several Premier League clubs since making his first-team debut against Wigan last season, and is now on the verge of a move to Stamford Bridge.

The Baggies are due at least £209,000 compensation under Elite Player Performance Plan rules but the club’s sporting and technical director Richard Garlick insist they deserve more.

"We are disappointed by Chelsea’s offer," he told the club’s official website.

"We have invested a lot of time and money in Isaiah’s development as a player. As one of our most exciting academy products in recent years, we had hoped to bring him through into our first team.

"But Chelsea have forced our hands and we are more than prepared for the matter to be decided by a tribunal if needs be.

"More importantly, it makes you question why these young players are joining bigger clubs when they are likely to gain more first-team opportunities in the Barclays Premier League at clubs similar to us."

Brown has won three England Under-17s caps and two for the Under-16s, scoring his first goal in a 4-3 friendly defeat to Germany in February.

Two months later he became the second youngest-ever Premier League player when he came on as a late substitute against Wigan, aged 16 years and 117 days.

WIGAN SIGN NORWICH STRIKER

Striker Grant Holt has joined Wigan from Norwich on a three-year deal.
The news that Holt's switch for an undisclosed fee had been completed was announced by the two clubs simultaneously this evening on their respective official websites.
Regarding the capture of the 32-year-old, Wigan boss Owen Coyle told www.wiganlatics.co.uk: "This is a fantastic piece of business for us at a really good price.

"Grant is a proven goal-scorer at every level and he will definitely bring something new to the table that we were missing in the squad."
Holt, who was the Norwich club captain, scored 78 goals in 168 appearances for the Carrow Road outfit in all competitions.
He joined them from Shrewsbury in 2009 and helped them achieve back-to-back promotions in his first two seasons that took them from League One to the Premier League.
He will wear the number nine shirt for Wigan, who were relegated from the top flight last season, and is the seventh signing Coyle has made since he was appointed the club's new manager last month following Roberto Martinez's defection to Everton.
Coyle added: "There is already a great buzz about the place since the new boys have started coming through the door and this is another one that will really lift the place.

"He's been a hero to the fans at every club he's been at and I know the Norwich fans are sad to see him go, he's been one of the icons of their success in recent years. But now it's the Wigan fans' turn to enjoy him and we're all delighted he's coming on board."
Norwich's statement about Holt's move said: "Norwich City would like to thank Grant for his outstanding contribution to the club and wish him the very best in the next stage of his career."
Goalkeeper Scott Carson and striker Marc-Antoine Fortune are among the other new players to have arrived at Wigan this summer.
Confirmation of the Holt deal has come on the same day that frontman Arouna Kone's transfer from the Latics to Everton was announced.
Norwich boss Chris Hughton told www.canaries.co.uk: "Grant was an important part of what we managed to achieve in the Barclays Premier League last season.
"Of course before I came to the club (last summer) I was very aware of the magnificent job he had already done in the three years prior to that as well. When we look back I'm sure we will all agree that to score the amount of goals he has done for the club in that time is a remarkable achievement. Myself and all of the staff certainly wish him all the best for his time at Wigan."
Norwich finished 11th in the Premier League last term, a campaign in which Holt scored eight times.

MARSEILLE AGREE DEAL FOR MENDY

Olympique de Marseille have agreed a deal with Le Havre for the transfer of defender Benjamin Mendy.
France Under-19 international Mendy made 28 appearances in Ligue 2 last term as Le Havre finished sixth, 10 points off the promotion spots.

Premier League side Sunderland had also come to an agreement over the 19-year-old, but he has seemingly opted to remain on home shores and complete a switch to Stade Velodrome.
"Olympique de Marseille and Le Havre AC have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Benjamin Mendy," Marseille confirmed on their official website.
Elie Baup's side have already sealed the signature of France international winger Dimitri Payet from Lille in a move worth a reported €10 million.

CHELSEA TARGET HANDS IN TRANSFER REQUEST

Aston Villa have confirmed Christian Benteke has handed in a transfer request and the striker will be allowed to leave if a suitable offer is made 'within an appropriate timeframe.'
Benteke was a revelation for Villa last season after his £7million arrival from Genk and he scored 19 goals in the Premier League.
The Belgium international was a key figure in helping Villa to retain their top-flight status and he has subsequently been linked with a summer move.

The likes of Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs who are reported to have shown an interest in the 22-year-old.
Villa have now confirmed that Benteke has asked to leave the club, but have rejected claims the powerful forward refused to travel on the pre-season trip to Germany.

A club statement read: "In response to reports that Christian Benteke has not traveled to Germany with the club and has made a transfer request, we can confirm that both are accurate. For clarity's sake, however, he had already been given extra time off until July 18 and was reminded that there are three years remaining on his contract.
"We consider him to be a Villa player and expect that he will be with us for the 2013-14 season. Having received his transfer request, we have also informed him that should we receive an offer within an appropriate timeframe during pre-season which meets our valuation we would act upon it. But he will remain a Villa player should this not happen."
Villa manager Paul Lambert has expressed his disappointment at Benteke's request, but remains hopeful that the player will stay at the club.
Lambert said: "While we're hugely disappointed that Christian has put in a transfer request, it's important that people appreciate we are trying to build something strong and vibrant here at the club, something this club demands and stands for, and we want Christian to be part of that."