The Sport Review: “Manuel Neuer won’t join Man Utd, insists Bayern chief” plus 3 more

Manuel Neuer won’t join Man Utd, insists Bayern chief
Former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia retires
Five of the best Premier League signings of 2010-11
Kenny Dalglish hails Luis Suárez’s role in Newcastle win

Manuel Neuer won’t join Man Utd, insists Bayern chief

Posted: 02 May 2011 01:22 PM PDT

manuel neuer

Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will not join Manchester United this summer, according to Bayern Munich's chairman.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists Bayern are in pole position to sign the Schalke stopper, and that it is simply a matter of the two clubs agreeing a fee for the Germany international.

Rummenigge also denies that reported interest from United is hindering Bayern’s attempts to secure Neuer’s services.

“Let’s talk about the facts,” Rummenigge said. “Fact one is Manuel Neuer will not be staying with Schalke beyond 2012. Fact two is that Manuel Neuer will not be moving abroad.

“We are in talks with Schalke, but I am not as optimistic as certain members of the media. We don’t have any urgency, though. The transfer market closes on 31 August.”

Rummenigge added: “We will see if we can find a solution. If there is one, then OK, but if not then both clubs will have to live with it.”

Neuer, whose contract expires in 2012, has made his desire to leave Schalke clear, but the Bundesliga club’s manager Ralfe Rangnick is keen to hold on to the goalkeeper should a deal for the 24-year-old fail to materialise, even if it means losing him on a free transfer next year.

“We will only sell Manuel when our expectations have been fulfilled,” said Rangnick. “Munich have been saying that they will not pay an astronomical fee and that Schalke have got to budge.

“Why should a club budge when they have a player who they want to keep hold of? Personally, I would prefer it if Manuel stayed another season with us.”

Former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia retires

Posted: 02 May 2011 11:36 AM PDT

Sami Hyypia, the former Liverpool captain, has announced his retirement at the age of 37.

The Finland centre-half, who has spent the last two seasons in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, will take up a coaching role at the Bundesliga club next season.

“The decision to retire grew gradually during the season,” said Hyypia, who has 105 Finland caps. “I had no interest any more to go elsewhere to play.

“My time at Leverkusen has been fascinating and will finish with a direct qualification for the Champions League.

“I’ve spent two years with a superb team and a wonderful club which is giving me the opportunity to start my coaching career.”

Hyypia began his career in Finland at Pallo-Peikot before joining MyPa in 1992, where he won the Finish Cup twice. In 1995 he had a trial with Newcastle United but the 22-year-old was not offered a permanent deal.

“They [Newcastle] certainly helped my career,” said Hyypiä. “I had a two-week trial in 1995 under Kevin Keegan and it gave me an insight into English football.

“I was a young player in Finland and I didn’t really expect it to lead to anything. I just went for the experience, but it was good experience and I enjoyed my time there.

“It helped me a lot at the time to see a big English club at close hand and I always look forward to going back.”

Hyypia then joined Dutch side Willem II and became a crowd favourite during his four-year spell at the club. In his final season in Holland he captained the side to second place in the Eriedivisie, securing Champions League qualification.

Gérard Houiller brought Hyypia to Liverpool for £2.5m in 1999 and the defender captained the Merseysiders to their cup treble in 2001 before being replaced as skipper by Steven Gerrard two years later.

“There was nothing dramatic over changing the captain," Hyypia said at the time. “I didn’t say anything because it was the manager’s decision and I respect that.

“Of course, I am not happy about it but on the other hand now, I can just concentrate on playing.”

The Anfield legend’s solid partnership with Jamie Carragher proved instrumental to the club's Champions League success in 2005.

Hyypia left Liverpool in 2009 after the club were pipped to the Premier League title by bitter rivals Manchester United by four points.

Roy Hodgson unsuccessfully attempted to bring Hyypia back to Liverpool after he took the reigns at Anfield.

“We couldn’t get him out of his contract”, Hodgson said. “He’s one I would also put in the Jamie Carragher-Steven Gerrard mould – Liverpool for life.

“I can see players like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard never leaving Liverpool Football Club. I can see them always being part of the club. In the same way I’m a bit disappointed that my attempts to bring Sami Hyypia back failed.”

Five of the best Premier League signings of 2010-11

Posted: 02 May 2011 05:07 AM PDT

As the season approaches its climax, The Sport Review takes a look at the top five Premier League signings of the 2010-2011 campaign.

1) Javier Hernández, Manchester United

The £6.5m signing of Javier Hernández is surely one of the top signings of Sir Alex Ferguson's trophy-laden reign at Manchester United.

His work-rate, humility and knack of scoring decisive goals have all ensured the 22-year-old Mexico international has been an instant hit at Old Trafford.

During a season in which Wayne Rooney struggled to shake off a torrid World Cup campaign with England, Hernández has netted 12 times in the league to keep United's title assault on course, and has also scored four in Europe.

Hernández’s impressive displays were recognised with a nomination for the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year award, but Arsenal's Jack Wilshere claimed the accolade ahead of the United forward.

2) Daniel Sturridge, Bolton Wanderers (on loan from Chelsea)

Chelsea secured the £50m signing of Fernando Torres in January expecting the Spaniard to fire the London club to domestic and European glory.

Daniel Sturridge, meanwhile, was shipped off to the Reebok Stadium on a six-month loan.

While Torres took until last weekend to open his Chelsea account, Sturridge swiftly settled into life at Bolton, racking up seven league goals in just nine appearances and leaving Bolton manager Owen Coyle desperate to secure the 21-year-old’s services for next season.

“It’s not rocket science to know that we would love to have Daniel here but for that to come to fruition then a number of things need to happen,” said Coyle. “I thank Chelsea for allowing us to have Daniel and it was always going to be a win-win situation.”

3) Rafael van der Vaart, Tottenham Hotspur

Signed for £8m on the final day of last summer’s transfer window, Rafael van der Vaart instantly found form at White Hart Lane, proving instrumental in their league and Champions League form.

The former Real Madrid attacking midfielder has hit an impressive 12 goals in 25 league appearances so far during his debut season in England, including three strikes against north London rivals Arsenal.

4) William Gallas, Tottenham Hotspur

William Gallas quietly swapped Arsenal for bitter rivals Tottenham last summer after failing to agree a new contract at Emirates Stadium.

Spurs boss Redknapp described the signing as a "no-brainer" and the France international has proved a vital addition, the 33-year-old defender featuring regularly in the continued absences of Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate.

5) Cheik Tioté, Newcastle United

Newcastle United secured the signing of Cheik Tioté from Eredivisie champions FC Twente for just £3.5m last summer, and the 24-year-old Ivorian has impressed at St James Park, earning favourable comparisons to Chelsea's Michael Essien and PSG's Claude Makelele.

Tioté, who smashed home a memorable equaliser against Arsenal as Newcastle came from four goals down to draw 4-4 with the Gunners, penned a new six-and-a-half year deal with the Magpies in February amid reported interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.

Kenny Dalglish hails Luis Suárez’s role in Newcastle win

Posted: 02 May 2011 02:58 AM PDT

kenny dalglish

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish paid tribute to Luis Suárez’s role in the Reds’ “deserved” 3-0 victory over Newcastle United 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday.

The home side took an early first half-lead through Maxi Rodríguez’s deflected volley before a 59th-minute Dirk Kuyt penalty and a close-range finish from Suárez sealed Liverpool’s ninth league victory under Dalglish.

The Liverpool boss was again full of praise for Suárez after another impressive performance by the Uruguay international, who will take part in the Copa America this summer.

“He is always getting in there and Luis is always a threat,” said Dalglish. “It fell kindly for him in the box and he stroked it away, which is good for him. It was just reward for the work he put in.

“He’s a good person. He’s bubbly and just loves playing football. For the style he is, both as a player and a person, I don’t think he’d find it difficult to fit in anywhere. That’s great credit to him.

“Obviously he will miss a lot of pre-season because he’ll be away with Uruguay at the Copa America, but he’ll be the same next season. Exactly the same. He comes into training every day with a smile on his face.”

The win moves Liverpool ahead of Tottenham Hotspur into fifth in the Premier League table, and Dalglish insists it was a deserved result.

“After we took the lead, they put us under pressure with set plays and crosses, but I thought we coped very well and in the second half we tightened up a wee bit and caught them twice for two goals,” said Dalglish.

“I think we deserved to win, but it was a difficult game for us. I didn’t expect to get a stroll in the sunshine. They [Newcastle] have been playing well of late and got a good 0-0 draw with Manchester United at home.

“With the Andy Carroll factor maybe it added a wee bit of spice for them, but we won 3-0. It was a tough game for us, but I think we were deserving winners.”