Real Madrid
Want-away Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has said that part of him has “already left” the Spanish club, German newspaper Bild reported Saturday.
Khedira, a member of Germany’s World Cup-winning side, faces renewed competition for a first-team place at Madrid following the arrivals of compatriot Toni Kroos and Colombia star James Rodriguez and there have been rumours of an impending transfer in recent weeks.
He has been linked with a return to his homeland with Bayern Munich and has rejected an offer of a new Real contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2015.
“Part of me has already left Real,” Bild quoted Khedira as saying during a visit to Leipzig to watch his brother play in a second-division match on Friday.
“Until August 31, anything is possible.”
In choosing to travel to Germany on Friday, Khedira will no doubt cause considerable controversy among Real fans, with the La Liga team in action in the Supercopa de Espana (Spanish Super Cup) at the same time, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid.
“I gave him permission (to go),” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said, adding however that he did not know where Khedira had gone.
Queens Park Rangers
Harry Redknapp returns to Tottenham on Sunday hoping his summer transfer dealings can prove enough to lead QPR to a famous win.
The 67-year-old Englishman goes back to White Hart Lane for the first time on Sunday since he was sacked in 2012, with a Rangers squad he feels can mix it with the best the Premier League has to offer.
Having signed Rio Ferdinand, Steven Caulker, Jordon Mutch and Leroy Fer, as well as bringing in Chile international pair Mauricio Isla and Eduardo Vargas on loan – it appears business is slowing down at Loftus Road
With several players shipped out in the summer and plenty of loanees returning to their parent clubs after gaining promotion through the play-offs, the west London club has seen plenty of comings and goings.
Fer and Vargas were the last players added to his ranks and, despite rumours of more potential arrivals, Redknapp has assembled a squad he believes is good enough to achieve his aim of top-flight survival.
“They are two good signings for us, I’m really pleased,” he said of his latest duo.
“The club have been great, I have been pleased with the players we have brought in, it has made a big difference.
“We came back in pre-season and we were really, really short of numbers and we have brought some quality players in. It is up to us now to get on and do the job, if there is another one to come in then great – if not then we will see.”
With the purse-strings now much tighter than under previous manager Mark Hughes, any further additions are likely to be on temporary deals as Redknapp has no qualms with once again making the most of the loan market – with Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha one name linked to QPR.
“We were the loan Rangers in the Championship last season,” Redknapp joked.
“We’ve still got two loans that we can use from the Premier League if we want to. If they were to loan him (Zaha), if he did become available I’m sure he would be a player a lot of clubs would be interested in. If we thought he was available he would certainly be of interest.”
Loic Remy started in attack for QPR last weekend as they lost 1-0 at home to Hull City, with the France international looking increasingly likely to stay.
Having looked certain to leave following a loan spell at Newcastle last season, a move to Liverpool fell through and now Redknapp feels he will have the 27-year-old available to lead the line after denying Sunday’s opponents Spurs had made their interest known.
“I’m confident he’ll be here,” he said.
“I’ve spoken with Loic, he’s been excellent in training and his attitude has been world class. Unless a top six club comes in, I think he’ll be happy to stay here. He’s seen we’ve brought some good players in.
“There’s been no Tottenham enquiry – there’s been talk of the chairman talking to Daniel, but certainly I’ve not been involved.”
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