English Premier League Fixtures - 26th & 27th December 2010

Sun 26th December 2010
Fulham	v	West Ham Utd	12:00
Blackburn	v	Stoke City	15:00
Blackpool	v	Liverpool	15:00
Bolton	v	WBA	15:00
Everton	v	Birmingham	15:00
Man Utd	v	Sunderland	15:00
Newcastle	v	Manchester City	15:00
Wolves	v	Wigan Athletic	15:00
Aston Villa	v	Tottenham	17:30
Mon 27th December 2010
Arsenal	v	Chelsea	20:00

Brazilian Alex Signing Four-Year Deal with Chelsea

The spate of new contracts for Chelsea's current squad continued Wednesday with Brazilian centreback Alex signing a new four-year deal at the English Premier League leaders.

The 27-year-old has been sidelined recently following surgery on his groin but resumed full training this week.

"I am very happy to start again to train and feel no pain, and to sign for four more years," Alex said.

The defender is also targetting a return to the Brazil side in the run-up to next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

"To go back into the national team is important to me," he added. "Also the Chelsea team started very well this season, is at the top, and this season to win the Premier League is important to me. Now I want to play."

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said he was delighted to tie Alex down to a long term deal.

"He is just returning from injury and surgery but he is a player I know well," Ancelotti said. "I am familiar with all of his fantastic qualities, so I am delighted he will be with us for another four years."

Alex, who has made 80 Chelsea appearances and scored seven goals since signing from PSV Eindhoven in 2007, is the second Chelsea player to commit to a new contract this week.

Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou signed a new deal on Monday and Didier Drogba, John Terry, Ashley Cole, John Mikel Obi, Florent Malouda, Hilario and Michael Mancienne have all penned new contracts since the end of last season.

Chelsea have been keen to tie down their current players after being banned from signing any new players until January 2010 as a result of being found guilty of inducing teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago.

English Premier League Fixtures - 17th & 18th October 2009

Sat 17th October 2009
Aston Villa	v	Chelsea	12:45
Arsenal	v	Birmingham	15:00
Everton	v	Wolves	15:00
Man Utd	v	Bolton	15:00
Portsmouth	v	Tottenham	15:00
Stoke City	v	West Ham Utd	15:00
Sunderland	v	Liverpool	15:00
Sun 18th October 2009
Blackburn	v	Burnley	13:00
Wigan Athletic	v	Manchester City	16:00

Ronaldo Celebrated Imminent Move to Real Madrid withParis Hilton

Champagne-swilling Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris Hilton got down and dirty as they teamed up to celebrate the soccer ace's $131 million transfer.

The winking winger, 24, kissed and cuddled the 28-year-old socialite in a Hollywood club before they headed to her sister's home.

Ronaldo's move from Manchester United to Real Madrid sets a new world record.

A clubber who witnessed their frolicking said: "They were sucking each other's faces off like their plane was going down.

"At one point Ronaldo had a bottle between his legs and Paris was stroking it. It was very racy."

After sharing steamy cuddles and expensive champagne for two hours, Paris headed to sister Nicky's home in the Hollywood Hills at 2.05 a.m.

Ronaldo, 24, joined her there an hour later after a brief stopover at his hotel.

He left at 5 a.m. with a broad grin plastered across his face.

Carlos Tevez To Be Switched To Manchester City

Carlos Tevez appears to be edging closer to making a shock switch to Manchester City.

The Manchester United star, who is at the end of his two-year loan at Old Trafford, is seriously considering joining their city rivals, according to The Guardian.

Carlos Tevez has turned to Diego Maradona for advice as he decides which side of Manchester his future lies on.

The Argentine striker will decide this week whether to stay with United or move across town to City after both clubs agreed to match the price set by Tevez's adviser Kia Joorabchian.

And the input of Argentina coach Maradona could now hold the key. Tevez has been back in his homeland preparing for the World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Ecuador.

And he is torn between remaining a squad player under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford or becoming an Eastlands cult hero in the blue revolution being led by Mark Hughes.

United want to keep the Argentina striker but they have yet to agree a deal with the player's adviser Kia Joorabchian, who is demanding £25.5million when the current deal expires at the end of the month.

Reports last night suggested Tevez had already completed his switch to Eastlands and although they were premature, the chances of that happening are increasing by the day.

Tottenham Interested in Signing Ruud van Nistelrooy

Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, is considering a move for the Real Madrid forward, who is seen as surplus to requirements.

Van Nistelrooy turns 33 next month and has only recently returned to light training following surgery on his right knee.

Redknapp believes that, with Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko set to leave White Hart Lane, Van Nistelrooy’s Premier League experience could prove vital.

Wigan’s Paul Scharner is also attracting interest from Spurs and Fulham, along with Everton. The Austrian midfielder admitted: "Tottenham, Everton and Fulham are interested in me, just like Hertha (Berlin) and Hamburg. I would prefer to stay in England."

Former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, has told the club’s new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim that they could worse than taking Redknapp back to Fratton Park for a third time. Now at Leicester, Mandaric said: "You've got to do the right thing and if bringing Harry to the club is what he needs to do, that is what he has to do."

Meanwhile, Spurs’ Mexican forward Giovani dos Santos could be set for a return to Spain, with Espanyol.

Manchester United to Sign Brazilian Youngster Dodo

The 17-year-old centre-back currently plies his trade with Corinthians and is regarded as an extremely exciting prospect for the future.

Dodo has been quoted as saying that he expects to join the Red Devils over the summer in a transfer that would see him link up with compatriots Rafael and Fabio da Silva and Rodrigo Possebon.

United have yet to indicate whether they will swoop for Dodo but the thought of such a move has angered 1970 World Cup winner Carlos Alberto.

Alberto finds it infuriating that big European clubs are able to sign Brazilian youngsters and has called on Fifa to change its laws.

"It is disgraceful United are allowed to do this to Brazilian football," Alberto said in the Manchester Evening News.

"The big teams have the money and can take our best players. It is a big problem in Brazil.

"The clubs cannot keep good young players because they can make much more money in other countries. They should change the law so, at least until the age of 20 or 21, the best players play in Brazil and get experience before moving to Europe.

Dimitar Berbatov "I Am More Than Just a Goalscorer"

Berbatov has been criticised by United fans since his club-record £30.75 million move from Tottenham for his laid back approach and nonchelant demeanour on the pitch.

It did not help matters that the Bulgarian managed only 14 goals in all competitions last season, with a section of United supporters even booing the 28-year-old towards the end of the campaign.

Notoriously haughty Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov has shown his deferential side by admitting that he regards Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson as an unquestioned authority.

"All the players have huge respect for him," he said. "You can be tying up your boots but when he begins to talk you just freeze and listen to him. His word is law to us."

The 28-year-old's high-and-mighty demeanour has not exactly endeared himself to the United fans, who will have perhaps been pleasantly surprised to hear him strike such a submissive tone when speaking of the gaffer.

However, Berbatov believes the criticism is unfair and that he contributes more than just goals.

He said: "I want people to remember me as a very good and skilful player. I don't want to be remembered as a top scorer.

"I have played with strikers with 100 goals who can't control the ball. It seems like a three metre pass when they are trying to control the ball with their feet."

Recent reports have suggested Berbatov might even be on his way out of Old Trafford. However, the player's agent, Emile Danchev, has said such claims are wide of the mark.

Danchev said: "Despite speculation that he may leave, I want to declare that Dimitar will play for Manchester United next season.

"He will stay and we hope he will win what he missed out on this year." The former Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham star went on to insist that lifting the Premier League trophy meant more to him than winning the Champions League would have.

"Yes, it was my number one aim," Berbatov was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "Probably, I was much more pleased than my team-mates but it was my first title after all.

"I think it's understandable since Ryan Giggs told me he has eleven championship medals."

Real Madrid Bid 80 Million Pound for Christiano Ronaldo

Manchester United have accepted a world record 80 million pound bid for Christiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. Manchester United said on Thursday they have received a world record 80 million pound bid for forward Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

According to reports the club has accepted the offer from Real.

The Portuguese winger has been insisting to join the Spanish giants after two years of courting.

"At Cristiano's request - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player," a statement on the United website said.

"Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice."

The move comes just four days after Kaka was confirmed as the first signing of what will be a incredible summer of spending from Madrid.

Sources said the deal was agreed when Ramon Calderon was at the helm of affairs at the Santiago Bernebeu and the new president Florentino Perez has merely ensured the formalities are completed.

Perez has promised to deliver a "spectacular sporting project" built around the world's greatest players, and local media have spoken of a 300 million euro war chest which will be used to finance a second 'Galactico era' at the Bernabeu.

Having lured the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham to Real earlier in the decade, Perez's flagship first signing on his return was Kaka.

It was a declaration of intent and a dig at his predecessor.

He has also spoken of interest in Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, Bayern Munich's Ribery, Liverpool's Xabi Alonso and Valencia duo David Villa and David Silva.

New coach Manuel Pellegrini is the man tasked with blending these talents into a team capable of challenging treble-winners Barcelona.

Birmingham Sign Ecuador Striker Christian Benitez

Birmingham have agreed a deal to bring exciting young Ecuador striker Christian Benitez to the English Premier League. The newly-promoted club announced that they have agreed a fee with Benitez's Mexican club Santos Laguna and finalised personal terms with the 23-year-old, who will travel to England next week for a medical.

Birmingham would not disclose how much they have agreed to pay for the striker but the fee is reported to be in the region of nine million pounds, which would surpass the previous club record of 6.25 million paid for Emile Heskey in 2004.

Benitez - son of Ecuador's all-time leading goalscorer, Ermen - played for his country at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany and has scored 31 goals in 58 games in Mexico's Primera Division over the last two campaigns.

He recently underwent surgery on a shoulder injury.

Agence France-Presse