Sharapova Sidelined in US Open

Maria Sharapova has admitted it was "a really tough decision" to pull out of the US Open with a shoulder injury.

Sharapova had been seeded three at Flushing Meadows but inflammation in her right shoulder has forced her to withdraw.
The four-time grand slam champion released a statement on her Facebook page explaining: "I have done everything I could since Wimbledon to get myself ready but it just wasn't enough time.
"I have done many tests, received several opinions and it all comes down to taking the proper amount of time to heal my shoulder injury properly.
"It's certainly not an easy decision to make ahead of one of my favourite tournaments, but I know it's the right one that will get me back on the courts soon.
"I plan on taking the next few weeks off, receiving proper treatment and rehabilitation."
Sharapova, who won the title in 2006, will be replaced as third seed by Agnieszka Radwanska.
Tournament director David Brewer said: "Maria has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the US Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament.
"We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year."

United launch new Bid for Fellani and Baines

United have launched an improved £35 million double bid for Everton duo Fallaini and Baines on Thursday.

The fresh bid values the Belgian midfielder at £20m and the left-back at £15m

United's offer values Fellaini at less than the £23.5m release clause that expired in July but sources have told Goal that the Old Trafford club have set a £20m ceiling for the 25-year-old and that there is no room for manoeuvre. Everton manager Roberto Martinez has publicly stated his desire to keep both players at Goodison Park but the Spaniard wants the situation resolved quickly so that he can re-invest in the squad before the close of the transfer window. United manager David Moyes is a huge fan of Fellaini and Baines, having worked with them at Everton before replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford at the end of last season.

The Red Devils boss is prepared to pursue a separate deal for Baines should the Toffees reject United's final bid for Fellaini. The Scot believes that Everton need the money from the sale of at least one of their star players this summer, with the Merseyside club lining up a move for Wigan winger Callum McManaman. Moyes put Fellaini and Baines at the top of his target list, having failed this summer with his pursuit of Thiago and Cesc Fabregas.

Everton responded angrily to United's first bid, with director of communications Alan Myers saying: "Those bids were rejected out of hand as derisory and insulting. "The club did not make public these details as it was vital Roberto Martinez's preparations for the opening game of the Premier League season were not disrupted in any way."

Everton were particularly angered that United did not improve on the £12m that they offered for Baines, 28, in June while the £16m valuation of Fellaini fell well below the now-expired buyout clause.

Arsenal moves for Benzema and Di Maria

Arsenal are prepared to launch a joint bid for Madrid stars Benzema and Di Maria.

The Gunners are willing to pay around €41 million to sign France international Benzema, who moved to the Spanish capital for €35m in 2009. Madrid are willing to negotiate over a deal for Di Maria, who Arsenal value at around €17.5m, but the future of Benzema is less given that the 25-year-old is the only senior striker at the club. The Londoners have missed out on a number of high-profile targets this summer, most notably Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and former Madrid hitman Gonzalo Higuain, who moved to Napoli.
Arsene Wenger has been urged to spend money by disgruntled supporters following their Premier League opening-day defeat at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Benzema is los Blancos' sole forward following the sale of Higuain, with Spain youth internationals Jese and Alvaro Morata providing back-up, meaning Carlo Ancelotti would likely have to seek a marquee replacement before the transfer window closes.

Argentine winger Di Maria's place in the Madrid line-up is said to be under threat should Bale be brought in, and he had indeed been linked with a move to White Hart Lane as part of any potential deal for the Welshman.

But it is the Gunners who are actively pursuing the 25-year-old, who is left-footed but usually plays on the right wing at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Wenger admits defeat to Suarez chaze following his side's 3-0 win over Fenerbahce in the Champions League play-offs on Wednesday evening.

Messi suffer New Injury

Barca face an anxious wait to determine the severity of Messi's hamstring injury after he was forced to come off at the end of the first half in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid

A first Blaugrana goal for Neymar cancelled out David Villa's opener for Atleti in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday, but Messi's withdrawal at the break marred the visitors' spirited fightback.

"Messi has been replaced as a precaution following some discomfort in the back of the left thigh," read a Tweet on the club's official Twitter stream during the game.

The Argentina international will now undergo further tests on Thursday which will reveal the full extent of his problem, with supporters no doubt hoping he hasn't suffered the same problem that kept him out of the end of last season.
Messi sustained a hamstring injury in the first-leg of Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

He then appeared as a substitute in the second leg to inspire Barca to victory, but the 26-year-old only aggravated the injury further and sat out the final three games of the campaign with the Liga title already secured.

Mou to wait for Rooney Negotiations

Jose Mourinho has revealed Chelsea will temporarily halt their pursuit of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney until after the two clubs meet at Old Trafford on Monday.

The Blues have seen two bids for the unsettled forward rejected by the Premier League champions, with manager David Moyes insisting the England international is not for sale. It was exclusively revealed on Wednesday that United are planning on re-opening discussions with Chelsea as they look to include Juan Mata as part of any deal - but Mourinho insists no talks will take place ahead of Monday.

"We did [bid for Rooney] before and we will do [again] later," the Portuguese told reporters after Chelsea's 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

"[But] I don't want Chelsea to do it before we go there ... from the ethical point of view."

On the night, Chelsea were pushed all the way by a revitalised Villans, with Antonio Luna's own goal and a late Branislav Ivanovic header maintaining their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season. There were question marks over whether Ivanovic should have been given his marching order minutes before netting the winner after appearing to elbow Christian Benteke, but Mourinho deemed the incident as "50/50".

"That was very hard. I missed that about the Premier League! Normally matches in the Bernabeu we win every match very comfortable, this was very hard, it's what I like. I told Paul Lambert that they deserve a point, it wouldn't be unfair. "Benteke makes a lot of fouls and the opponent who plays against him has to make a lot of fouls.
"Paul Lambert reminds me of me at his age. Now I complain with some decisions, at his age I complained at every decision. Paul complains at every decision, I was the same. Benteke and Ivanovic, they are two giants, it was 50/50."

Rooney for Mata: United meet with Chelsea

United have re-opened informal dialogue with Chelsea over the proposed sale of Rooney- and have also enquired as to the availability of Juan Mata as part of discussions.

Despite continued public insistence from United manager David Moyes that Rooney is not for sale, officials from both clubs have held informal dialogue over a potential deal for the forward in the last 48 hours. Talks has been the disparity in the two clubs' valuation of the Rooney, with United holding out for £40 million having instantly rejected Chelsea’s second bid for the 27-year-old, worth around £30m.
However, United have also used discussions to reiterate their interest in Mata, who was rumoured along with David Luiz to be offered to the Premier League champions as part of the Blues’ initial offer for Rooney. Chelsea at the time denied including any of their own players in the deal while confirming that their written bid had been rejected. But United's willingness to re-enter dialogue about a potential deal only 12 days before the transfer window closes will encourage the Blues in their hope of yet doing a deal for the England international.

While the club and Moyes are not keen on selling him to a rival on the back of a frustrating summer transfer window, United feel compelled to explore all avenues should he submit a transfer request in an attempt to force a move. They believe the arrival of Juan Mata - although unlikely - would certainly go a long way to appeasing fans should that happen. Mata was left on the bench for Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Hull having missed much of the club’s pre-season preparations following the Confederations Cup.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that Mata is part of his plans this season but their are doubts over how the attacking midfielder will fit in to the Portuguese’s system.Mourinho is desperate to land a top class striker this summer having started the season with Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku and Demba Ba as his three forwards.

Chelsea failed with attempts to bring Radamel Falcao, Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski to Stamford Bridge before turning their attention to Rooney. Mourinho claimed in July that Rooney was his only target, but insisted this week that the Londoners have been making alternative plans.

"We have plans B and C. Don't ask me names. It's difficult to speak about players from other clubs," Mourinho said. "We have the conditions to try to improve our team by bringing in one more player and we are going to try that till the end."

Wenger Slams Transfer Gossips

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he does not have to justify his club's transfer business to anyone.

Wenger was reacting to criticism from Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, who claimed he dropped midfielder Yohan Cabaye for the 4-0 thrashing at Manchester City, because Arsenal had unsettled the player by making a bid for him on the eve of the game.
But the Gunners boss, who has found himself under increasing pressure from both media and fans because he has not acquired any of his transfer targets this summer, was in no mood to take any flack over Cabaye.
"There is nothing to explain," Wenger said. "First of all, you don't know what we have done, you don't know if we did bid and you have come to a conclusion without knowing everything that has happened.

Wenger defends Cabaye bid

"It is quite amazing that all of the people don't know and yet they always have opinions about things they don't know.
"I won't explain to you what happened. It is not down to me to explain to you everything I do. It is impossible.
"If we do a transfer, we will announce it. We always inform you. As for the rest, you have to leave us to do our own things.
"We don't want to hurt anybody, not Newcastle, not anybody. You can't reproach us on one side for not buying and yet on the other side when we try to buy to reproach us as well. That is a bit contradictory.
"I would just like to reiterate to you that in the last 16 years we have been very successful with transfers - if you look at the players who play tomorrow, they are top quality players, and you should never forget that."
Wenger added: "It is not always to think what is outside is better than what you have. What is important as well is to rate what you have and our fans have to understand that as well.

"We don't want to hurt anybody, not Newcastle, not anybody. You can't reproach us on one side for not buying and yet on the other side when we try to buy to reproach us as well."

Arsene Wenger

"What is important is to go out and see a good football game. All that other stuff is good for the newspapers, but it is not real football."
Speaking ahead of the Arsenal's match tonight, Wenger admits the tie presents a test of character but he is confident his men can overcome.