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[King of Camelot]

Jelavic signs for Everton

Everton have completed the signing of Nikica Jelavic from Rangers.

The 26-year-old striker joins the Blues on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Jelavic completed a medical and agreed personal terms at Everton's Finch Farm training base on Tuesday before putting pen to paper on his new contract at Goodison Park.

He becomes David Moyes' third signing of the January transfer window, following deals for Landon Donovan and Darron Gibson.

Jelavic is a Croatian international who arrives in the Premier League having netted an impressive 36 goals in just 55 appearances for Rangers.

He was signed by Rangers from Rapid Vienna for £4m in the summer of 2010 and proved an instant hit at Ibrox.

Prior to his move to Scotland, Jelavic had proved equally effective in front of goal in the Austrian league, scoring 40 times from 93 games in three seasons at Vienna.

Tuesday's transfer came too late for him to be considered for selection for the visit of Manchester City.

However, he will be in contention for his first appearance in an Everton shirt on Saturday when the Blues travel to Wigan Athletic in the Premier League.

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Eisfeld delight at Gunners move

NEW Arsenal signing Thomas Eisfeld has expressed his happiness at joining the Londoners.

The 19-year-old wrapped up a move to the Gunners after Arsene Wenger agreed to pay Borussia Dortmund £600,000 for his services.

Eisfeld caught the eye of Arsenal scouts after scoring six goals and creating just as many assists in his 12 appearances for Dortmund's Under-19s this season.

The German youth international said: "I feel very proud to have signed for Arsenal. This is a great club, with many great players, and I'm so happy to be joining.

"It's a real honour to be team mates with the great players at Arsenal, and also training everyday with players like Tomas Rosicky — who I grew up watching play at Dortmund.

"I will give it everything I have here and do my best to make the manager, players and fans happy.

"I would also like to thank Borussia Dortmund, where I played for the last seven years, for everything they have done for me.

"I had a great time there, and there were many wonderful coaches who helped me get to where I am today."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger added: "Thomas is a player we have liked for some time.

"We've watched him closely this season, where he has excelled for Dortmund's youth team.

"He is young but has proven to us that he can play, that he has the attitude and technical ability to be a valuable addition to our squad.

"We're very pleased to welcome him to the club and look forward to his contribution in the coming seasons.

"He is a young prospect with good footballing talent. He has the good ingredients that could allow him to integrate into the quality of our team — the basics are technique, good movement and skill.

"We believe that he has a chance to develop well here.

"How much first-team football he has depends on him.

"Basically we planned to get him at the end of the season but we got him a bit earlier because he was at the end of his contract. We will use this period for adaptation."

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Toon ace Cabaye denies FA charge

NEWCASTLE midfielder Yohan Cabaye has formally denied a Football Association charge of violent conduct.

The 26-year-old's case will be heard by a regulatory commission tomorrow morning, meaning the Magpies will know whether he is available for the Premier League clash with Blackburn later in the day.

An FA statement read: "Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye has denied a charge of violent conduct.

"Cabaye was charged following an incident in the FA Cup fourth round tie against Brighton on Saturday, January 28.

"A regulatory commission will hear the charge on Wednesday, February 1, 2012."

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew launched a passionate defence of the former Lille star following his clash with Brighton defender Adam El-Abd, who has written a letter to the commission to support Cabaye's claims of innocence.

Pardew, who was unhappy at the extent to which the incident was highlighted during television coverage of the game, said: "I am absolutely livid about it, if I am honest, because firstly, when the incident happened, I didn't see anything wrong with it.

"After the game, someone said to me about the TV coverage, especially the presenter, Ray Stubbs, was so ferocious about it, and I couldn't understand that.

"He had two professionals on that show telling him that the guy was trying to keep the player from tumbling on him.

"I have reviewed that about seven or eight times and seriously, he is trying to stop the boy falling on him.

"He does make a gesture to push him away and in doing so, catches him just on the lip.

"If you find that that was a malicious attempt to do that, then my goodness, you have never played this game.

"I cannot believe that the referee, after the game, has gone back. Now whether this is pressure that he's under, I don't know.

"Yesterday, I had a call from the Brighton coaching team to suggest to me that their player wants to support our player, and I have never had that.

"We never instigated it, we never asked or put a phone call in to Brighton.

"We have sent our letter in, a strong letter, and we have also, after the contact from Brighton, asked the Brighton player if he would forward a letter to us, which he has kindly done, and that will go in as well."

Cabaye will be been banned for tomorrow night's game and the following two fixtures against Aston Villa and Tottenham if he fails in the bid to clear his name.

Pardew said: "If we had 18 cameras at every game, you would be sending two or three players off at every set-play because there's contract, trust me, more intended contact than there is with Cabaye's incident, for sure.

"I really do think they need to just take a deep breath on this one, have a good look at it.

"If you asked every Premier League manager about that incident, I would suggest 17 managers would say, 'No way'.

"The three teams we are playing might say yes, it probably should have, but 17 wouldn't. That's my opinion of it."

Meanwhile, full-back James Tavernier has followed midfielder Alan Smith in moving on loan from Newcastle to MK Dons for the rest of the season.

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Chelsea reduce their losses

CHELSEA have announced losses of £67.7million for the last financial year.

The accounts are dated until June 30 and show the deficit is down from the previous 12 months where it stood at £70.9m.

Turnover increased by less than 10 per cent to £222.3m from £205.8m.

Blues chairman Bruce Buck said: "We are focused on complying with the requirements of UEFA's financial fair play regulations while maintaining our ability to challenge for major trophies."

Roman Abramovich has bankrolled Chelsea since his takeover in 2003.

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Steven Pienaar returns to Everton

South African back on loan until the end of the season.

Steven Pienaar has rejoined Everton on loan until the end of the season.

The South African playmaker left the Blues to join Tottenham Hotspur during last January’s transfer window, but now makes a return to the Club where he became a Premier League star.

Blues Chairman Bill Kenwright and his counterpart at White Hart Lane Daniel Levy were working right up until the transfer deadline but managed to lodge the necessary paperwork by the 11pm cut off.

Pienaar, who signed a four-year deal in North London 12 months ago, made more than 100 appearances in his first spell with Everton and established himself as a firm fans’ favourite.

His creative play and instinctive understanding with Leighton Baines down the left marked him out as a key player in Moyes’ team.

Pienaar’s capture crowns a superb month for Everton in the transfer market following the permanent acquisitions of tonight’s match-winner Darron Gibson and Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, and the loan signing of USA captain Landon Donovan.

Evertonfc.com

[King of Camelot]

Transfer deadline timeline

9.36am: Chelsea kick it off by landing Kevin De Bruyne from Genk. But the £6.7million youngster heads straight back to Belgium on loan.

10.53am: Man City have the biggest budget but Roberto Mancini targets Roma's David Pizarro on loan.

10.59am: News breaks involving Chelsea and AC Milan. Fernando Torres moving to Italy? No, Philipp Prosenik is heading to the San Siro for an undisclosed fee.

11.12am: Blackburn's fans have been frustrated by club owners Venky's — and it will take more than Marcus Olsson, twin brother of Martin, on a free transfer to win them round.

11.15am: As revealed in SunSport yesterday, Ravel Morrison heads to West Ham, who also raid Bristol City for Nicky Maynard.

12.15pm: Nathaniel Clyne and Wilfried Zaha are destined for the Premier League — but not just yet. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish rules out selling.

12.38pm: Everton close in on Nikica Jelavic to pave the way for Louis Saha to make a shock move to Spurs.

1.59pm: Wayne Bridge was out in the cold at City but Martin O'Neill wants him at Sunderland. He lands the left-back for the rest of the season.

3pm: Spurs defender Vedran Corluka wants more first-team football and a loan to German side Bayer Leverkusen may give him opportunities.

3.38pm: QPR confirm Djibril Cisse's arrival and Mark Hughes wants to line him up with Bobby Zamora.

4.45pm: Surely Norwich would be mad to let Grant Holt leave? Paul Lambert agrees and a bid from Rangers is snubbed.

5.20pm: Sparky needs to trim his QPR squad, so Petter Vaagan Moen gets released, Bradley Orr goes to Blackburn and Matt Connolly heads to Reading.

6pm: The Italian deadline passes — and so does Carlos Tevez's hopes of a move to AC Milan.

6.40pm: Zamora edges closer to QPR by having a medical. Pavel Pogrebnyak lined up to replace him.

6.56pm: Arsene Wenger was frantic when the last window shut. This time he brings in Thomas Eisfeld from Borussia Dortmund for £400,000.

7.05pm: O'Neill bolsters his squad with another defender as Sotirios Kyrgiakos arrives from Wolfsburg.

7.35pm: Bolton bid for Watford youngster Marvin Sordell.

9.04pm: Ravel Morrison joins West Ham on a 3½-year deal from Man Utd.

9.40pm: Full-time whistles go up and down the country as clubs prepare for the final transfer push.

10.13pm: Zamora signs for QPR and Pogrebnyak is confirmed at Fulham.

10.33pm: Saha signs for Spurs, who loan defender Sebastien Bassong out to Wolves, as they try to land Ryan Nelsen from Blackburn. Steven Pienaar moves back to Goodison Park.

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Louis ’n Pienaar in shock swap

LOUIS SAHA sealed a shock move to Tottenham from Everton yesterday — with Steven Pienaar making a last-ditch switch in the opposite direction.

French striker Saha, 33, who had just six months left on his Goodison Park contract, has joined Harry Redknapp's high fliers for the rest of this season.

Spurs also have an option to take him for another year if he can prove his fitness.

Former Toffees favourite Pienaar, who endured an unhappy year at White Hart Lane after a £3million move, was delighted to get a loan deal back to Everton.

He tweeted: "Happy days, looks like we beat the clock."

A dramatic day on Merseyside also saw David Moyes' side complete a £6m swoop for Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, who was introduced to the fans at half-time during last night's 1-0 victory over Manchester City.

The Croatian hit 36 goals in 55 games for the Gers and was a target for West Ham. But they were blown out of the water once the Premier League side came in.

Tottenham were busy all day as Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko completed a £3m move to Lokomotiv Moscow.

His exit — which prompted Redknapp's move for Saha — was confirmed after SunSport reported a training-ground bust-up with Spurs No 2 Kevin Bond.

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Transfer window hit by recession

BOBBY ZAMORA'S £6million move to QPR was a rare big transfer on a thrifty deadline day.

Just £65m was spent by Premier League bosses during January — less than the cost of Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll last year.

But deals were done with Louis Saha joining Spurs and Steven Pienaar going the other way to Everton.

Rangers boss Mark Hughes said: "We needed a player like Bobby."

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

AVB finally puts heat on Torres

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS warned that Fernando Torres is running out of time to end his Chelsea goal drought.

The £50m striker drew a blank and Ashley Cole saw red as AVB's Blues grabbed a late draw at Swansea.

Torres has gone 1,074 minutes since last scoring against Genk on October 19.

And he has just two games before Didier Drogba is due back from the African Nations Cup on February 13.

Manager Villas-Boas said: "The two players are competing for the striking position and we all know the significance of Didier to this team and his record.

"We will have to see how tired he is when he comes back to us but no one can doubt his ambition to win trophies for us this season.

"With Torres, the situation does not change. We still believe in the player but he is taking his time."

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Harry on a high as Spurs rejoin race

HARRY REDKNAPP was dancing with delight as Tottenham roared back into the title race.

Redknapp has been stuck on his backside for the past week, in court facing tax-avoidance charges.

But two goals by Gareth Bale and another from Luka Modric had him up on his feet.

Redknapp said: "I've been sitting down all week. I was dancing around like a two-year-old, it was nice to get on my feet again.

The fans were great and our first goal was a brilliant finish by Gareth. I don't think anyone could have asked for more."

Spurs cut the gap to five points on top two Manchester City and United.

But Redknapp added: "We are back up there again — but I keep looking at the gap behind us.

"We are 13 points ahead of Arsenal and seven ahead of Chelsea. We just have to keep going."

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Red Andy stays put

KENNY DALGLISH snubbed talk of Andy Carroll leaving Anfield after the striker scored in this win at Wolves.

The £35million flop, linked with a switch to Manchester City in a dramatic swap deal for Carlos Tevez, netted the opener before Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt completed a second-half cruise.

Liverpool boss Dalglish said: "I said before the game that we weren't close to doing anything — people must think we lie, which I find insulting.

"Andy scored a great goal but there's no 'i' in team. Everyone made a contribution.

"It was a highly professional, high-quality performance."

The Reds climbed to fifth but Wolves stay one off the bottom and are without a win in 11 games.

They were booed off and boss Mick McCarthy admitted: "All we can do is crack on from here.

"We have lost to a far superior side — yet the first half was fine ... a silver lining to a very black cloud."

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Darron day!
United reject puts Fergie level

DARRON GIBSON put his old club United level at the top with City as Roberto Mancini accepted the blame for defeat.

Old Trafford misfit Gibson hit Everton's winner while Alex Ferguson's side beat Stoke 2-0.

City boss Mancini admitted he had underestimated injury-hit Toffees and made mistakes in his preparations.
He said: "I thought it would be easier — I probably under-estimated them. I should have known that it's never easy here.

"I hold my hand up. Sometimes it is possible to make mistakes. I don't think we prepared very well during the week.

"There were some mistakes I made and I know I can't do them again in the next game."

Hero Gibson was delighted to do his old United pals a favour. He said: "There might be a few calls coming my way from Manchester.

"But I'm just pleased we got the result. To get a goal against the top-of-the-league team is a nice way to win the fans over."
United, who won with penalties from Javier Hernandez and Dimi Berbatov, expect to have Wayne Rooney, Nani and Ashley Young back

from injury for Sunday's clash at Chelsea.

Boss Fergie was pleased with the display against Stoke but already has the Manchester derby re-match at the Etihad on April 28 circled in his diary as crunch time.

He said: "I always see March as the important month and we've got City in April.

"It's been a good night. But I'm more pleased about our own performance. I thought it terrific, we kept our composure and were very patient."

United threw in rookie keeper Ben Amos, 21, for a league debut in the absence of Anders Lindegaard and David de Gea.

Ferguson said: "Anders got injured in training and David got injured at the end of training so we had a right nightmare.

"Ben didn't have a lot to do but was confident, composed."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: "I think the title race is very open. Tottenham are still in it.

"But the one thing United have got over them is they've done it before and usually get stronger after Christmas."

Mancini added: "United won at home but that changes nothing. We are still on the top and there are 15 games to go.

"We knew December and January would be difficult months with injuries and players missing."

Everton boss David Moyes said: "That might be one of the best wins I've had at Everton when you consider the players I had missing and who we were playing against."

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Man Utd to beat Stoke

MANCHESTER UNITED are the War Horse of the Premier League.

Hit by injuries, knocked to the floor by the enemy and temporarily lost in battle.

But they never give in, pick themselves up and start to gallop forward once more.

Defeats at the hands of Blackburn and Newcastle, plus an FA Cup loss to Liverpool, had them ducking bullets from their critics.

It was the same last year when their title credentials were questioned before they ultimately triumphed.

No, it's not vintage — as Alan Hansen is quick to point out. But what does that say for everyone else?

They might lose the odd battle but they have the experience to win the war with Alex Ferguson marshalling his troops.

Last night they had to look deep into their stables to find a 21-year-old lad who could be a hero.

While Ben Amos was never called upon to do anything dramatic, he looked comfortable on his Premier League debut between the sticks with Anders Lindegaard injured and David de Gea ill.

He was still in nappies when Paul Scholes was knocking on the first-team door here.

And again the veteran did what he does best — keeping possession and wearing the opponents down.

Towards the end of a first half in which Stoke had barely touched the ball, the 37-year-old's deft touch finally opened things up.

With his back to goal, Scholes spotted Ji-Sung Park out of the corner of an eye and flicked a ball through with the outside of his boot. It was enough to give the South Korean that yard on Jermaine Pennant, who stretched to challenge but fouled.

Javier Hernandez has been relatively quiet this season but the Mexican striker tucked away the perfect penalty low into the corner — his fourth goal in three games against Stoke.

Another spot-kick sealed it in the 53rd minute.

In-form Antonio Valencia won it, charging into the box before being hauled back by Jon Walters.

This time Dimitar Berbatov picked up the ball and, while Thomas Sorensen guessed right, the kick had too much power on it.

Stoke had parked the bus, hoping to catch United on the counter or with a long ball to Peter Crouch. But the breaks never came and Crouch was subbed.

United had simply not allowed them the ball.

At one point, the home crowd chanted: 'There's only one Darron Gibson'.

Something they didn't do when he was here.

But his goal for Everton last night means that United are once more level on points at the top with Manchester City.

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Chelsea draw at Liberty Stadium

FERNANDO TORRES passed 1,000 minutes without a goal and Ashley Cole saw red on another night to forget for Chelsea.

Even a stoppage-time equaliser — when Neil Taylor deflected in a Jose Bosingwa shot — could not disguise the poverty of this Blues display.

And to make matters worse for a team going nowhere fast, they were upstaged by one of their former fringe players.

Scott Sinclair spent five years on Chelsea's books yet never started a league game for them before he was flogged to Swansea for £1million 18 months ago.

But the England Under-21 international lashed home a 39th minute goal that was in stark contrast to Torres on the anniversary of his £50m British record transfer.

A year after arriving from Liverpool the Spaniard has pocketed £9m for five measly goals. If that was a city banker, questions would be asked in the House.

With John Terry and Frank Lampard injured and Didier Drogba at the African Nations Cup, this confirmed how ordinary Chelsea have become without their stalwarts.

Things got worse as Cole was sent off in the 86th minute for a second yellow card. Blues were played off the park by a Swansea side put together for £7.5m by former Blues coach Brendan Rodgers.

Like Andre Villas-Boas, Rodgers learned his trade under Jose Mourinho before branching into management.

It is probably fair to ask if Roman Abramovich appointed the wrong man when he turned to AVB last
summer.

Rodgers' team could have been out of sight before Sinclair latched on to Bosingwa's poor clearance to send a looping shot over Petr Cech.

Danny Graham should have scored early on but stabbed a great opportunity wide under pressure.

And there was a double escape for the visitors when Gylfi Sigurdsson dispossessed Cech outside his area.

Sigurdsson's shot was blocked by Branislav Ivanovic before Graham's follow-up was cleared by David Luiz with Cech still trying to recover his ground.

So it was a cruel blow for the Swans when Chelsea struck deep in stoppage time.

thesun.co.uk

[King of Camelot]

Wolfs loses at home turf

EVEN Andy Carroll scored as Liverpool signalled they're not just interested in the Cups.

Kenny Dalglish is after a top-four finish too and this three-goal romp saw the Merseysiders go fifth.

And with Luiz Suarez and the rested Steven Gerrard to return against Spurs on Monday things look good.

A Carling Cup final place is assured after victory over Manchester City, an FA Cup fifth round spot secured after dumping United... so why not a win against Tottenham?

Except Harry Redknapp's side will surely prove a more testing proposition than bottom-but-one Wolves.

This was easy with misfit Carroll able to celebrate a year at Anfield with a rare goal. Incredibly it was only his fifth in the league since Dalglish splashed a club record £35million to sign him on deadline day last year

The 6ft 4in forward powered in to break the deadlock in the 52nd minute.

Charlie Adam's cross from the left was just perfect for the Geordie to muscle past Eggert Jonsson and convert.

His joy — and probably relief — was clear to see as he reeled away to celebrate his first league goal since the win against West Brom way back in October.

He clearly likes the boys from the Black Country but the truth is that Carroll's contribution was completely overshadowed by strike partner Craig Bellamy, who was in scintillating form.

It needed all the brilliance of Wayne Hennessey to keep him at bay. The Wolves keeper denied him on three occasions in the first half.

But Carroll was on target just seven minutes into the second half before Bellamy was finally rewarded.

He burst from halfway and curled a low shot beyond Hennessey just after the hour.

It was left to Dirk Kuyt to add a third 12 minutes before the end with a crisp finish.

The win ended a miserable January for the Merseysiders in the league with four points out of a possible 12.

But Wolves have now gone nine league games without a win and a chorus of boos greeted Kuyt's late score — followed by a mass exodus.

The deserters missed a 25-yard rocket from Sylvain Ebanks-Blake which crashed against Pepe Reina's left post.

And that prompted an ironic chorus of 'We've had a shot at goal!' from the die-hards who stayed on.

But whether boss Mick McCarthy will be staying on must now be debatable.

thesun.co.uk