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<U>World Leagues</U>
<SPAN class=art-title2><SPAN class=art-title2>Transfer activity picks up pace</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Still in the colours of Real Madrid, but for how much longer? David Beckham, pictured here during a training session on 12 January, has agreed to join LA Galaxy during the summer and, having been told he will not play again for Real under Fabio Capello, is said to be seeking an early exit from the Bernabeu.
</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">16 Jan 2007</SPAN></SPAN>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"></SPAN>With the traditionally sluggish start to January trading out of the way, the European market is now awash with business, buzz and rumours as clubs angle to sign recruits for the second half of the season. Deals are being brokered right across the continent's most prestigious leagues and all the indicators point to even more frenetic activity before the end of the month.
No prizes for guessing the most headline-grabbing deal of all those done so far, with the details and motives behind David Beckham's pre-contract agreement with MLS outfit LA Galaxy dominating column inches and dicussion ever since the move was announced last week.
Beckham will, however, only move to the US during the summer, while other clubs have been drafting in more immediate reinforcements, with Fulham, for example, signing Italian international striker Vincenzo Montella on loan from AS Roma. At 32 years of age, the man nicknamed l'aeroplanino (little aeroplane) is keen to re-launch his career after a series of injury problems and coach Luciano Spalletti's gradual loss of confidence in his abilities. "I'd always hoped to play in England one day so I'm happy to be finally doing it," explained the striker, who made his debut against West Ham at the weekend. "From now on, I'm going to enjoy myself and score some goals for this club."
Not content with that prize signing, the team owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed have also brought in talented American midfielder Clint Dempsey, who sets out on his European quest from the New England Revolution, the MLS side that gave him his first professional start. He will have had precious little time to introduce himself to Luis Boa Morte though, as the Portuguese forward has moved across London, swapping Fulham for West Ham. Still toiling away in the relegation zone, the Hammers have also boosted their ranks by securing the signature of experienced Scottish midfielder Nigel Quashie from West Bromwich Albion.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, third-placed Liverpool have likewise been keeping the media busy with transfer agreements, although their two new arrivals look to be investments for the future. Fans of the Anfield outfit will therefore be keeping their ears out for news of Italian Under-21 goalkeeper Daniele Padelli (on loan from Sampdoria) and exciting 18-year-old left-back Emiliano Insua, signed from Boca Juniors and an Argentinian Under-20 international. For their part, struggling Sheffield United will be praying Senegalese defender Mamadou Seck and explosive Jamaican marksman Luton Shelton, signed from Le Havre and Helsingborgs respectively, can help turn their season around.
Two of the Nantes new boys,
<SPAN class=art-title2><SPAN class=art-title2>Transfer activity picks up pace</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=paddingall><TD vAlign=top>
<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Still in the colours of Real Madrid, but for how much longer? David Beckham, pictured here during a training session on 12 January, has agreed to join LA Galaxy during the summer and, having been told he will not play again for Real under Fabio Capello, is said to be seeking an early exit from the Bernabeu.</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">16 Jan 2007</SPAN></SPAN>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"></SPAN>With the traditionally sluggish start to January trading out of the way, the European market is now awash with business, buzz and rumours as clubs angle to sign recruits for the second half of the season. Deals are being brokered right across the continent's most prestigious leagues and all the indicators point to even more frenetic activity before the end of the month.
No prizes for guessing the most headline-grabbing deal of all those done so far, with the details and motives behind David Beckham's pre-contract agreement with MLS outfit LA Galaxy dominating column inches and dicussion ever since the move was announced last week.
Beckham will, however, only move to the US during the summer, while other clubs have been drafting in more immediate reinforcements, with Fulham, for example, signing Italian international striker Vincenzo Montella on loan from AS Roma. At 32 years of age, the man nicknamed l'aeroplanino (little aeroplane) is keen to re-launch his career after a series of injury problems and coach Luciano Spalletti's gradual loss of confidence in his abilities. "I'd always hoped to play in England one day so I'm happy to be finally doing it," explained the striker, who made his debut against West Ham at the weekend. "From now on, I'm going to enjoy myself and score some goals for this club."
Not content with that prize signing, the team owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed have also brought in talented American midfielder Clint Dempsey, who sets out on his European quest from the New England Revolution, the MLS side that gave him his first professional start. He will have had precious little time to introduce himself to Luis Boa Morte though, as the Portuguese forward has moved across London, swapping Fulham for West Ham. Still toiling away in the relegation zone, the Hammers have also boosted their ranks by securing the signature of experienced Scottish midfielder Nigel Quashie from West Bromwich Albion.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, third-placed Liverpool have likewise been keeping the media busy with transfer agreements, although their two new arrivals look to be investments for the future. Fans of the Anfield outfit will therefore be keeping their ears out for news of Italian Under-21 goalkeeper Daniele Padelli (on loan from Sampdoria) and exciting 18-year-old left-back Emiliano Insua, signed from Boca Juniors and an Argentinian Under-20 international. For their part, struggling Sheffield United will be praying Senegalese defender Mamadou Seck and explosive Jamaican marksman Luton Shelton, signed from Le Havre and Helsingborgs respectively, can help turn their season around.
Two of the Nantes new boys,
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