Modric interest over : Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas has suggested that the signing of Raul Meireles has ended Chelsea's interest in Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric.

Chelsea snatched Portugal international Meireles from Liverpool for £12 million in the dying minutes of the August transfer window, having admitted defeat in their summer-long pursuit of Modric.

Reports suggest Chelsea made several offers for the diminutive playmaker - the final bid reached £40m - only to be told that he was not for sale, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy eager to ensure the player remained at White Hart Lane.

Villas-Boas is believed to be concerned over a lack of creativity in the Chelsea engine room and, having also lost the inventive Yossi Benayoun in August, his squad still looks light in that regard.

But, when asked if Chelsea would return to Tottenham with another bid for Modric in the New Year, Villas-Boas said: "No I don't think so. The market is closed and I won't speculate what happens in January."

David Beckham on the Verge of Premier league return?

QPR are set to launch an audacious bid to land former England captain David Beckham.

The LA Galaxy star is out of contract at the end of the MLS season which ends in October, and he is reported to be considering a return to the Premier League.

Beckham is desperate to play for Team GB at next summer's Olympics and believes another stint in England's top flight could see him seal a place in the squad.

Beckham

According to The Sun, new owner Tony Fernandes is prepared to spend big to bring the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star to Loftus Road. 

A source is quoted as saying  'Tony promised Neil Warnock plenty of support in the transfer market and proved that in the recent window.

'But bringing Beckham back to England next month would top the lot - and it's not a pipe-dream.'

Beckham has been offered a new contract by the American side but has so far failed to commit to a new deal.

Barca denied Manchester City bid for Messi

Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has rejected rumours that Manchester City made an audacious bid for superstar Lionel Messi during the latest transfer window.

Messi

Reports in Spain suggested big-spending City had tabled €50million plus striker Mario Balotelli to bring Argentina ace Messi to the Etihad Stadium but Barca had rejected the bid.

However, Bartomeu insists no such offer was made.

He told : "Our policy is not to sell our stars but on this subject it certainly did not (happen)."

Meanwhile, Bartomeu made no guarantees over the future of Barca coach Pep Guardiola but hopes the Spaniard will stay on at Camp Nou.

The Barca chief added: "The decision lies with Pep but we hope to go on with him on the bench."