Beckenbauer hits back at Blatter

In an interview with Switzerland's Blick newspaper on Sunday, Blatter suggested the vote for the host of the 2006 World Cup had not run smoothly and he suspected malpractice. Blatter suggested the vote had been fixed to favour Germany over his own preference of South Africa.

However, Beckenbauer, who was head of the organising committee for that tournament, was unhappy with the comments.

"I cannot understand the remarks and suggestions of Sepp Blatter," he told Bild.

Germany eventually won the right to host the tournament by 12 votes to 11, with New Zealand's representative of the Oceania confederation abstaining.

"When we talk about a World Cup being bought, I remember back to 2006 where, at the very last moment, somebody left the room and, instead of having a vote of 10-10, it finished 10-9 for Germany," said Blatter.

"I am pleased because I did not have to cast a deciding vote but for somebody to suddenly leave the room - maybe I was too kind or too naive at the time."

When asked if he presumed the vote had been fixed, Blatter said: "I don't presume anything, I am stating facts."

But those facts, according to Beckenbauer, are flawed.

"He has even got the result wrong," he said. "It was 12-11 and not 10-9. And what was decisive was that the eight Europeans all united behind us and voted for us."

The president of Germany's Football League, Dr Reinhard Rauball, has called for Blatter to step down as a result of the ISL bribery scandal which has recently come to light, but Blatter has ruled that out.

He said: "The truth is, Rauball called me last Friday and told me that I should resign. I told him that it is not as easy as he imagines. The fact is, I have been elected by the congress."

Luuk de Jong 'set for Gladbach'

Netherlands striker Luuk de Jong is set to leave FC Twente for Borussia Moenchengladbach, according to Kicker magazine in Germany.

De Jong, 21, has been linked with several clubs, including Newcastle United, as he looks to capitalize on a season that saw him score 25 goals in 31 Eredivisie matches.

And with Gladbach coach Lucien Favre looking for added firepower in anticipation of a Champions League campaign, De Jong has emerged as the prime target to replace Marco Reus, who joined Borussia Dortmund this summer.

Kicker claimed that Twente have accepted a €14 million bid, although chairman Joop Muntermann had been holding out for 20m.

Gladbach finished fourth last season and will enter the Champions League at the third qualifying round.

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Gomis committed to Lyon

Russian club Rubin had a £7 million bid for the forward turned down on Friday, with Lyon reportedly wanting closer to £10m.

However, the 26-year-old France international has said he has no interest in leaving the Stade Gerland in any case.

"I have always protested loudly about wanting to stay in Lyon," he told reporters. "I am for this club.

"I want to be part of the project. The coach is counting on me so I intend to defend the colours.

"I want to prepare well for this season and getting back into the Champions League."

Gomis may be a part of Lyon's future, but club president Jean-Michel Aulas is still hopeful of getting some of the team's biggest names such as Michel Bastos, Kim Kallstrom and Aly Cissokho off the wage bill.

Lyon embark on a pre-season tour of USA next week, and they are scheduled to face Ligue 1 champions Montpellier at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena on July 28.

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Roma confirm Bradley signing

Roma have signed American midfielder Michael Bradley from fellow Serie A club Chievo.

Reports in Italy suggest the US international has signed for a fee of 3.75 million euros.

Bradley, 24, has penned a contract that will keep him at the Stadio Olimpico until June 2016.

He has joined up with new Roma manager Zdenek Zeman and his side at their Brunico pre-season training camp.

The former Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder has also spent time on loan at Aston Villa.

Bradley's father, Bob Bradley, is the Egypt national team coach and former USA boss.

It has also been reported that Chievo youngster Adrian Stoian has moved the other way as part of the deal.

The Flying Donkeys have received 50 per cent of the Romanian's rights in exchange for 500,000 euros, which is believed to be a reduced price on account of the Bradley deal.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic's move to Paris Saint-Germain will not be completed

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's move to Paris Saint-Germain will not be completed on Monday, according to club sporting director Leonardo.

The AC Milan striker is in talks with the Ligue 1 giants over a possible move to the Parc des Princes this summer.

"We continue to hold talks with Zlatan," Leonardo told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The negotiations are going forward but I can assure you that today we have no meetings scheduled."

AC Milan have accepted PSG's reported offer of 65million euro (just over £51million) for Ibrahimovic and Brazil defender Thiago Silva.

Silva already completed his transfer to PSG at the weekend and the French giants expect to soon land Ibrahimovic.

The Sweden international was Serie A's top scorer last season, netting 28 goals as the Rossoneri finished runners-up to Juventus.

Reports in Italy claim PSG have offered Ibrahimovic a four-year deal that would see him earn nine million euro per season - the same figure he currently gets as the highest paid player at Milan.

However, the 30-year-old wants to sign a three-year deal worth 15million (£11.7million) euro per season.

Ibrahimovic is tied to the Rossoneri until June 2015.

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Arbeloa 'happy' for Modric link

Real Madrid players have revealed their admiration for Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Luka Modric amid reports that the Croatian is to join the club this summer.

Modric has been the subject of intense speculation over his future, with many expecting the 26-year-old to leave White Hart Lane this summer after four years at Spurs.

Even the London club's new head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, accepts that the player will leave if an acceptable deal is put on the table.

Chelsea and Manchester united are the two Premier League clubs most closely linked with a move for Modric, but La Liga champions Real Madrid appear to be leading the chase for the £30 million-rated midfielder.

When questioned about Modric's potential arrival while on a pre-season tour of Indonesia, Marca reported Real right-back Alvaro Arbeloa as saying: "Modric is a great player. I'm happy he could join Real Madrid. We have many good midfielders, so they have to compete for a spot."

Arbeloa's fellow Real defender, Pepe, simply added:  "I know he's a good player."

Real's players talking up a potential new signing is similar to what several Barcelona players did last summer when they repeatedly spoke of how well Cesc Fabregas would fit in if he returned to his boyhood club, something which caused ire among Arsenal fans and inside the club.

In the end, the deal was completed, though relations between the two clubs have suffered as a result.

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Ajax plan raid on young Barcelona stars

Barcelona defender Marc Muniesa has been recommended to Ajax by Johan Cruyff, with the Dutch club also eyeing up moves for several of Barca's other young stars.

The man who enjoys legendary status at both clubs for his achievements with them as player and manager has advised Ajax's new sporting director Marc Overmars to sign versatile B team defender Muniesa, according to Spanish sports daily Marca.

The 20-year-old has only made four appearances for the first team since making his first in 2009, although he was named as an unused substitute for the Champions League final that year.

Overmars, who also played for both Ajax and Barca, is also weighing up making offers for attacking trio Isaac Cuenca, Cristian Tello and Gerard Deulofeu.

One of the first jobs of new Barcelona head coach Tito Vilanova is to decide which of the young prospects in the B team and on the fringes of the first-team squad he is to accommodate in the senior side.

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Rodgers: Borini can be Liverpool favorite

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says new signing Fabio Borini will be a great asset for the club in the future.

After the Italy international signed a long-term deal to move from Roma to Anfield, Rodgers said Borini's versatility would make him a fans' favorite.

"I was very keen to bring him here. Fabio fits the model of what we're trying to do in building not only for now, but also for the future," he told Liverpool's website.

"He's a big talent, 21 years of age, he scores goals, and his passion, focus and concentration is a very important part of his game - and a big part of what you want from a player."

Borini previously worked with Rodgers in Chelsea's youth set-up and more recently when he was on loan at Swansea City in 2011.

"He is arguably the best physical player I've worked with"
- Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers added: "[Chelsea] took him in from Bologna when he was 16 and he progressed incredibly well as a young player to go on to play for the first team at Chelsea.

"It didn't work out in terms of he couldn't agree a contract, but before he left I took him on loan to Swansea and he made a big, big impression there and really helped us in our promotion charge that season.

"He left and went away (to Roma) and in the last season he's done incredibly well.

"I think the supporters will love him. As I said, he's a goalscorer, but he's a multifunctional player who can play in a number of positions - and someone I believe has got great growth."

Borini, 21, made four first-team appearances for Chelsea, before firing six goals in 12 appearances at Swansea.

Rodgers said: "He is arguably the best physical player I've worked with in terms of his pace, power and fitness.

"Mentally, he's very strong. We've got a player who is on the up and someone who I think Liverpool will benefit from."

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England rise in FIFA rankings

England have climbed up to fourth in the latest edition of the FIFA rankings with five-time world champions Brazil dropping out of the top ten for the first time.

Roy Hodgson's men, who progressed through to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals before losing to Italy on penalties, are up two places.

Italy meanwhile remain behind the Three Lions despite reaching the final, climbing six places into sixth.

Brazil drop six places to 11th, meaning they are out of the top ten for the first time since the rankings were created in 1993.

Their fall down the rankings is because they have played significantly fewer competitive matches than other leading nations in 2012.

This is down to the fact they are hosting the 2014 World Cup and therefore do not have to play qualifying games.

Reigning world and European champions Spain remain in first place, with Euro 2012 semi-finalists Germany climbing above Uruguay into second.

Unchanged

Portugal, another one of the semi-finalists in Poland and Ukraine, move five places into fifth with Argentina unchanged in seventh.

The Netherlands, Croatia and Denmark make up the top ten but have all seen their rankings slip thanks to their group stage exit at the Euros.

Among the other home nations Northern Ireland were the only country to move up, climbing one place to 102nd.

Chris Coleman's Wales remain in 38th while Scotland fall eight places down to 49th.

The Republic of Ireland, who lost all three of their group matches at Euro 2012, fall to 26th from 18th.