SWANSEA BOSS: BIG CLUBS ARE AFTER ME

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup says he spurned the advances of a number of big clubs to stay at the Liberty Stadium next season.

The 49-year-old enjoyed a successful debut campaign at the Liberty Stadium helm as he guided the Swans to Capital One Cup success, their first major trophy win, and a club-record high ninth-placed finish in the Premier League.

This prompted talk of a move to a more established side but, despite the escalating row between chairman Huw Jenkins and agent Byram Tutumlu over assurances, Laudrup insists he never intended to leave the Swansea this summer.

"Yes there were clubs - a couple of big ones as well - who wanted me but it never became anything more than that," the Dane told WalesOnline.

"As I said and confirmed many times, I wanted to stay and I told players the same when they asked me before they extended their contracts. I don’t want to runaway from that.

"It’s normal after a season we which was good for everybody that there is a lot of interest and eyes on all of us, domestically and internationally.

"But it never went further than that and I didn’t have to speak to anyone because I want to stay here."

TOTTENHAM: WE WON'T MEET BENTEKE'S £25M ASKING PRICE

Tottenham are unwilling to meet Aston Villa's £25 million asking price for wantaway striker Christian Benteke.

The Belgian requested a transfer on Monday as he seeks to force through a move away from Villa Park, but the Midlands club are determined not to be held to ransom for their star attraction.
Spurs have stepped up their interest in the 22-year-old after missing out on David Villa, who has completed a move to Atletico Madrid, but they are not willing to offer more than £15m to get their man.

As revealed by Goal last month, Liverpool have also made an enquiry for Benteke, who is seen as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez, while Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is preparing a bid for the former Genk striker who scored 19 Premier League goals last season.

Spurs are considered favourites to land Benteke, but Villa will hold out for maximum return on the €8.1m they paid to sign him on deadline day last summer, while he also has three years remaining on his contract.

All three clubs are willing to offer Benteke a huge rise on his €23,000-a-week salary at Villa Park and the forward is keen to raise his profile in a World Cup year.

Benteke, who was due to be given an extended summer break, was withdrawn from Villa's pre-season tour to Germany this week after expressing his desire to leave, with the club stating that he will only be sold if a bid meets their £25m valuation.

Tottenham have already broken their transfer record once this summer, to sign Brazilian midfielder Paulinho for €20m, and are hoping Villa lower their demands amid concerns Benteke needs another season to prove himself and lacks the required movement to become an elite striker.

But Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas is keen for a forward to lead the line as he targets a top-four finish next season, while his Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers considers Benteke a viable replacement should Suarez push through a move away from Anfield.

Chelsea have the funds to finance a deal for Benteke and are ready to make a move after a frustrating summer in which they have missed out on Radamel Falcao, while Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski also look set to join other clubs.

OWEN: ROONEY SUFFERING FROM CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE

Michael Owen feels Wayne Rooney is suffering from a crisis of confidence at Manchester United.

The recently retired striker - a former domestic and international team-mate of the England international - believes Rooney's transfer request at Old Trafford was prompted by Robin van Persie's immediate success at the club.

The Dutchman notched 30 goals in his opening season at United, making him the focal point of Sir Alex Ferguson's attack and Owen believes Rooney is in need of similar attention.


"I think one thing that may have knocked him off his stride a bit last season was Robin van Persie coming in and becoming the main man," Owen told talkSPORT.

"If you're the striker in a team for so long you like having that pressure it puts you under, and when someone comes in and gets picked ahead of you on certain occasions, it knocks your confidence a bit and consequently he's not feeling on top of the world.

"He wants to be scoring goals on a regular basis for Manchester United. If that's going to happen then he'll be more than happy to stay."

And Owen was unequivocal about where Rooney should play next season, insisting an Old Trafford departure would be the worst possible choice for the striker.

"His ideal situation would just to be back in the United team, feeling at the top of his game again and staying put," he said.

"Why would he want to move away from a club like Manchester United? They've got a new manager now, so hopefully [David] Moyes and Rooney will be on the same page he'll be back and banging the goals in next year."

"I don't think it's a case that it's his last chance for a big move, you don't get anywhere bigger than Manchester United.

"It's more a case of, is he wanted, is he loved, is he appreciated? He wants to be the top man, the main goalscorer, and I think that's what it all boils down to."

TEVEZ: ARGENTINA BOSS IS AFRAID OF ME

Carlos Tevez thinks there is little chance he will make it into Argentina's squad for the 2014 World Cup because of his troublesome relationship with head coach Alejandro Sabella.

The Juventus striker, who has not featured for the Albiceleste since Sabella took charge in August 2011, had stated last week he would welcome a return to the national team ahead of next year's tournament.

However, he has now admitted that a comeback seems very unlikely at this point.

"I already know that I will not make it into Argentina's World Cup squad. Sabella has never called upon me so far," Tevez told an Argentine radio station.

"I don't know why Sabella refuses to call me up. Maybe he is afraid of me ...

"I don't miss wearing the Argentina jersey. I love playing for my country, but the coach has made another decision.

"It is impossible for me to watch Argentina play, because it hurts too much to see them."

Tevez, 29, then went on to discuss his long-term future and says he intends to end his career in his native country.

He added: "I want to return to Argentina and play for Boca Juniors once my contract with Juventus expires."

The forward signed a three-year deal with Juve earlier this summer.

INTER MILAN SIGN ICARDI

Mauro Icardi has completed his transfer from Sampdoria to Inter in a co-ownership deal.

The Argentine youngster had long been linked with a move to the Giuseppe Meazza side and has now signed a contract until June 2018 with head coach Walter Mazzarri's team.

"Mauro Icardi is now officially an Inter player.  The 20-year-old Argentine forward has been permanently signed from Sampdoria in a co-ownership deal," says Inter's official club website.

The forward impressed at Sampdoria last term after joining the Blucerchiati from Barcelona in 2011 and he is keen to make the next step in his career at Inter.

"I’m happy to have arrived here. I hope to do my best for the team and the fans. I can’t wait to start the new season," Icardi said upon his arrival at the Nerazzurri.

Icardi joins compatriots Esteban Cambiasso, Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti, Diego Milito and Rodrigo Palacio at his new club.

INTERNACIONAL REJECT NAPOLI BID FOR DAMIAO

Internacional's director of soccer has revealed the club have turned down a bid from Napoli for Leandro Damiao.
Damiao, who has also been linked with a move to Southampton, has reportedly been the subject of a verbal enquiry from Rafa Benitez's Serie A side but Internacional are not in the mood to sell.

Moura told Lancenet: "We received an €18million verbal offer from Napoli, according to the player's agent (Vinicius Prates). We don't accept that this is Leandro Damiao's value. We are certain he will play the 2014 World Cup with Brazil's national team. We have not had any talks about setting a value as we don't intend to sell the player."
He added: "We have sold Fred and Rodrigo Moledo. We don't need to sell Leandro Damiao and we won't accept any value for the player. The offer that was presented to us was lower than what he is worth."

ARSENAL TARGET UNSURE ABOUT HIS FUTURE

Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Clement Grenier is still to make a final decision on his future, according to the player's agent.

The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League giants Arsenal throughout the off-season, with les Gones president Jean-Michel Aulas recently claiming he was confident of rebuffing any approach for the midfielder.

The France international is understood to have met with the Lyon hierarchy on Monday in an attempt to resolve his immediate future with the club, but the player's representative Frederic Guerra confirmed that no decision had been made.

"The talks went well actually, but we still have not decided anything," Guerra told reporters in France on Tuesday.

Earlier in the summer, Aulas warned potential suitors that it would take a bid of €37 million to prise the midfielder - whose current deal expires next summer - away from the club.

ARSENAL AND NAPOLI TARGET INSISTS HE'S STAYING AT LYON

Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Maxime Gonalons has stressed he intends to remain with the club this summer.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a switch away from les Gones during the off-season, with Napoli among those rumoured to be interested in swooping for the France international, while Arsenal have been long-term admirers.

Last week, the France international suggested his future could lie elsewhere but, while he admits he has been approached by suitors, he intends to continue his footballing development with the Ligue 1 side.

He told RMC: "Things are clear. I'm going to stay at Lyon next season because I still have things to learn and things to prove.

"I want to win with Lyon. I have been approached this summer and it's always good to know that you're been followed by great clubs."

Gonalons is contracted to Lyon until 2016.

POYET: SUAREZ MUST REMAIN AT LIVERPOOL OR LEAVE ENGLAND

Luis Suarez must leave English football altogether if he manages to engineer a summer exit from Liverpool, according to countryman Gus Poyet.

Suarez has been vocal in his desire to leave Anfield and move to Real Madrid this summer, citing unfair treatment by the British media as one of his main reasons.

But recent weeks have seen Arsenal and Chelsea linked with bids for his services, and the Uruguayan admits he is flattered by the interest of two of the Premier League's Champions League representatives.

But Poyet, who is currently unemployed following his dismissal from Brighton, believes moving elsewhere in England's top flight should not be an option for Suarez.

"If I was Suarez, I would either stay at Liverpool or leave England for good," Poyet told Uruguayan radio station Sport890.

"Him going to Arsenal won't change a thing. If he wants to move, it's probably because of the way the media treats him as a Liverpool player, but that won't change if he moves to another club in England.

"If it's just for the sake of playing in the Champions League [possible Arsenal move], well, that's up to Luis to decide. But I'd be a lot more drastic: I'd stay put at Liverpool or leave England all together.

"I believe he has to be calm when making this decision. He shouldn't let emotions play a part. It has to be a decision that is well-thought and that will bring him good things for the future."

"Luis' numbers last season were out of this world. Liverpool, with all due respect, were a mediocre team last season, but Luis showed a great level."

DJUKIC: SOLDADO WILL REMAIN AT VALENCIA

Valencia striker Roberto Soldado will remain the club beyond the summer, Miroslav Djukic has insisted.

Los Che's failure to secure a Champions League place last year has prompted speculation the Spain international will consider a move away from the Mestalla, with a number of clubs - including Atletico Madrid - understood to be keen on swooping for the 28-year-old.

However, Djukic is confident his talisman will opt to remain at the club beyond the end of the transfer window.

He told reporters on Tuesday: "I think Roberto is going to stay with us. I am very calm about that.

"Soldado is very important to us and I want him to lead this team."

The former Valladolid boss went on to state he was pleased with his current squad despite last season's agonising failure to land fourth spot, but has not ruled out some business this summer.

He added:  "We have a good squad in place, but there is still some room to grow."

Soldado, whose current deal at the Mestalla expires in 2017 has scored 82 times in 141 appearances for los Che since his €10 million move from Getafe in 2010.