not much around really. all mirror stuff
Fulham target Keane and Ireland as new boss Jol is handed £25m war chest - Exclusive
Martin Jol has broken his silence on why he has turned his back on Ajax to make a dramatic return to England with Fulham.
Mirror Sport revealed on Friday that Jol was set to take over from Roy Hodgson, now at Liverpool.
The 54-year-old Dutchman, sacked three years ago by Spurs, has been handed a £25million war-chest by Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed - in stark contrast to Ajax where his best players are being sold.
Jol said: “On Thursday evening Fulham contacted me. Fulham said they wanted me as their new manager and they contacted Ajax.
“The Premier League is the best competition in the world, and I like London very much. Fulham is a great opportunity.
“The way it is going at Ajax we cannot play for the title, or the biggest prizes.”
Despite missing out on the title by just point last season and qualifying for the Champions League, Jol is unhappy that the Ajax board are ready to sell the likes of World Cup striker Luis Suarez.
He added: “For the past two weeks I have been very worried about what is going to happen with Ajax.
“In the past they have paid too much for not so good players and now they have no money to invest in the squad.”
Jol has put Spurs striker Robbie Keane top of his wish-list.
The Dutchman is also targeting free agent David James to replace Arsenal-bound Mark Schwarzer in goal and is keen on rivalling Aston Villa for Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland.
Fulham will pay Ajax £1.2million compensation for the former Spurs boss, who will be officially unveiled before their friendly at Swedish side Halmstad on Thursday.
Jol has lined up brother Cornelius and fitness coach Mike Lindemann to follow him from Amsterdam to Craven Cottage.
The trio combined to lead Ajax to runners up spot in the Dutch league last season, missing out on the title by a single point to Steve McClaren’s FC Twente.
Spurs paid £12million to bring Keane back from Liverpool two seasons ago.
But Keane, who played the best football of his career at the club under Jol, struggled under Harry Redknapp.
The Irishman was made captain under Jol’s reign and - despite an early bust-up which saw Keane storm from the bench at Birmingham after all three subs had been used - Keane prospered.
The striker’s main strength under Jol was that he was able to find the net in away games while then-strike partner Dimitar Berbatov and Jermain Defoe were mostly prolific at White Hart Lane.
Spurs are keen to offload 30-year-old Keane for around £5million to accommodate Craig Bellamy from Manchester City.
Read more:
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Fulham-target-Tottenham-s-Robbie-Keane-and-Manchester-City-s-Stephen-Ireland-as-new-boss-Martin-Jol-is-handed-25m-war-chest-Exclusive-article530443.html#ixzz0uAlsxsSG Villa set to bid £10m for Celtic star
Read more:
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Aston-Villa-transfer-news-Martin-O-Neill-set-to-bid-10m-for-Celtic-star-Aiden-McGeady-article530521.html#ixzz0uAmE45pz Martin O'Neill is set to table a £10million bid for Celtic’s Aiden McGeady.
The Aston Villa boss will step up his bid to land the Republic of Ireland winger as part of a summer recruitment drive.
McGeady is desperate to leave Celtic and team up again with his old manager at Villa Park. He has been left out of Celtic’s tour of the US and Parkhead boss Neil Lennon knows he is facing a losing battle to keep him.
Spartak Moscow had an £8m offer for McGeady rejected.
