It is important that we have managed to keep a world-class goalkeeper and a world-class striker, so that we are well covered at both sides of the pitch. Currently, four players have left, but I am hopeful others will decide to stay with us.”. Wolverhampton Wanderers opted for pedigree over potential yesterday when they named Glenn Hoddle’s successor as manager, bringing in Mick McCarthy, who led the Republic of Ireland to the last 16 of the World Cup in 2002, rather than promoting the supporters’ choice, Paul Ince, from the playing ranks. McCarthy, 49, was on holiday in Portugal when he learnt of his new challenge, which starts with a friendly at Crewe Alexandra next Wednesday. “There’s a big job to do at Wolves and I’m relishing the challenge,” he said. “With two weeks to go before the new season, there’s lots to be done. It’s going to be a busy time, but an exciting one.”
His previous post, at Sunderland, ended in the sack last March.

However, his feats in the two previous seasons – in which he led the Wearside club to third in the Championship and then to first place – gave McCarthy the edge as Wolves assessed his credentials against a field that included two internal candidates, Ince and assistant manager Stuart Gray.Jez Moxey, the Championship club’s chief executive, described those achievements as “one of the most impressive managerial jobs I’ve seen in this division”. So far Lilian Thuram, Fabio Cannavaro, Emerson and Gianluca Zambrotta have left, while Patrick Vieira is reportedly on the verge of a move to Internazionale.However, Buffon, reportedly a target of Arsenal and Milan, has indicated he is willing to stay, and Deschamps said: “We have managed to keep the goalkeeper I am 100 per cent certain that Buffon is staying. They continue to be linked with Arsenal and England’s Ashley Cole, with reports stating he could complete a £16m move across the capital as early as next week.In Italy, the Juventus manager Didier Deschamps has claimed that his World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is following Alessandro Del Piero’s example by staying at Juventus in Serie B.Juventus will start next season in Italy’s second division with a 30-point deficit after they were found guilty of match fixing. Chelsea have accepted an offer from Valencia for their defender Asier del Horno. They have not revealed any details of the fee involved, but Del Horno has travelled to Spain to discuss the deal with the La Liga club. Del Horno, 25, joined the Premiership champions from Athletic Bilbao for £8m last summer but struggled to hold down a regular place in Jose Mourinho’s side.
The imminent sale could prompt Chelsea to move for another left-back. “I spoke to David Gill [United's chief executive] on the phone yesterday and there is no development as far as Real Madrid is concerned “They have made an offer: we have rejected it.

If they don’t come back in and increase their offer, he won’t be going and I would be content with that It would not bother me one bit. He is a striker who can score upwards of 20 goals a season and there are not many of those going around.” United wrap up their three-match South Africa tour in the Vodacom Cup final against Kaizer Chiefs in Pretoria today ­ a rematch of the game between the sides in Cape Town on Tuesday, which United won with a late strike from Dong Fangzhou.. Real moved in once the World Cup was over and, with their new coach, Fabio Capello, confirming his interest in signing him, it was thought Van Nistelrooy would join Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson as incomers at the Bernabeu. Instead, discussions have stalled over the fee, with Real refusing to meet United’s £15m valuation. Bayern remain hopeful of luring Van Nistelrooy ­ a fluent German speaker. That move prompted an angry response from Van Nistelrooy, which resulted in him being ejected from the team hotel, barred from playing in Roy Keane’s testimonial three days later and, to all intents and purposes, closed the door on his Old Trafford career.

“Ruud is not definitely leaving and I expect to see him at training on Monday,” Ferguson said yesterday. However, no deal will be completed over the weekend, meaning that the striker is expected for the start of pre-season work. The Dutch striker’s future has been the subject of speculation throughout the summer, with both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich linked with the 30-year-old. A move at some point seemed inevitable, given Van Nistelrooy’s end-of-season falling-out with Ferguson, who hardly played the forward through the latter stages of the campaign, then dropped him in favour of Giuseppe Rossi for the last game against Charlton.