Mo will beat Bolt?

British distance superstar Farah - the Olympic 5000 and 10,000m champion - has challenged the undisputed king of sprints Bolt to a one-off race for charity.
Farah suggested a distance of between 600m and 800m, and Bolt has accepted the challenge, though he says 600m would be a fair distance.
Former 110m hurdles star Ridgeon says Farah will be far too fast for Bolt if they race over 600m but he says 550m would be too close to call.
"For me Mo Farah wins it every time. He's so fit. His range is from 1500m all the way up to the marathon. I think it is easier from him to drop down a little bit than for Usain Bolt to step up," he told Sky Sports News.
"Usain Bolt would definitely win at 500m, Mo Farah would win at 600m. So to create the ultimate race where they are both dipping over the line at the same time I think 550m would be the ultimate distance.
"At 550m, right now, I think Mo Farah would take it. Usain has run 45.3 seconds at 400m but after that he's in unchartered territory."
Professor Roderick King of Leeds Metropolitan University, an expert in Sport and Exercise Biochemistry, agrees with Ridgeon's analysis on distance: "The distance at which I think they would both be equal is about 550 metres.
"But both individuals would have to be strategic about how they ran.
"Usain would have to keep a little bit back in reserve, then perhaps do a sprint finish. Mo is going to go a little bit faster than he normally would do, but hope he can also do a limited sprint finish. If it's a 500m race Bolt is going to win it, if it's 600m then Mo is going to win it."
Campbell, a former Olympic champion himself, believes the race is a realistic prospect: "You can already tell how excited everybody is to potentially see Mo Farah against Usain Bolt. I think the fact that they are both represented by the same agent could mean that this could happen.
"How good this would be for the charities who would benefit from this race."
And Campbell says a 600m race would be a far more painful experience for Bolt than Farah.
"Usain Bolt is a 100m, 200m runner. There has been talk in the past about him moving up to 400m. But the pain sprinters feel when they move up to 400m is phenomenal. It's not a distance he would like to run but in aid of charity, 600m would probably be the limit.
"Usain would have been blessed with a tremendous amount of fast-twitch fibres. He wouldn't have a fantastic endurance pace.
"As a 100m, 200m sprinter a lot of the work he would do would be explosive work. The fact that he runs 200m means he will do over-distance work and 600m would probably be the limit of what he would do in training. He will run 600m but he won't run it very quickly.
"After 600m there would be a lack of oxygen that he wouldn't be used to. A lot of sprinters hold their breath so straight away, just the breathing patterns and the way he would attack and run the race, these are the things that would give Usain Bolt problems."
Campbell said tactics would be key, with both men having to think carefully about how to tackle the race.
"I think what Bolt would do is he would just try and stay with Mo. It would depend on the pace that Mo decided to go off at. If I was Mo Farah I would just try and attack it from the beginning. If Usain is able to go with the pace, then his kick will be tremendous," he said.
"But Mo has been working on his pace this year and we've seen that with him breaking the British 1500m record. It's not that he hasn't got any speed but we're talking about (racing) the great Usain Bolt.
"Mo can run 50 seconds for 400m. Usain could probably run 45 seconds for 400m. But when you take it up in distance it becomes very, very difficult for Bolt."

'Real preparing big Bale bid'

Real Madrid are prepared to pay over 90m euros for Gareth Bale to counter Barcelona's capture of Neymar.
The Welsh ace has flown back from Tottenham's pre-season trip to Hong Kong with the rest of the squad amid speculation he is nearing the exit door at White Hart Lane.
Reports have suggested Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has cut short a family holiday to meet the player while, on Friday, manager Andre Villas-Boas revealed contract talks with Bale were 'ongoing'.
However, Spain-based journalist Hunter says the La Liga giants are prepared to offer a huge sum to tempt the forward to Madrid.
"The briefing between Real and the Madrid media is that verbally - and I don't think there's a written offer - Spurs are aware that Real are willing to go to 93m euros for Gareth Bale.
"Real can't believe they'll have to go to the 100m euro mark to have a chance of signing this footballer but the briefing to the media is 'look how much we are willing to spend, more than we spent on [Zinedine] Zidane, [Cristiano] Ronaldo...'
"The general conviction is that [Real president] Florentino Perez - who has history of buying [Luis] Figo when Barcelona didn't want to sell, Zidane when Juventus didn't want to sell, Ronaldo from Inter Milan - is so intent on pulling this off it will still happen."
Response
Bale scooped the PFA Player of the Year Award and numerous other plaudits for his superb 2012/13 campaign, in which he bagged 21 Premier League goals - but Hunter hinted Real haven't targeted the Wales international purely for his on-field attributes.
Instead, Hunter suggested the move could in fact be a response to Barcelona signing Brazil prodigy Neymar, who joined the Catalan outfit for 57m euros earlier this year.
"In football terms it's possible to argue Gareth Bale's brilliant skills and athleticism aren't necessarily the prime thing Real need right now," said Hunter. "It's not predominantly a football signing.
"Perez fears Barcelona are a big brand name, have the best player in the world in Lionel Messi, are very well equipped football-wise and have signed a phenomenon in Neymar.
"Those who watched him in the Confederations Cup and watched him at his most scintillating know there is a marketing phenomenon emerging there.
"Real do not want to be swamped on the football front, nor on the revenue generation front, nor on this thing called identity; they want to be the most loved club in the world and they do fear the Neymar effect. It is part of what's going on."

Everton have signed Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old - regarded as one of the brightest stars in the four-time European champions' academy - scored 18 times in 32 appearances for Bareclona's B side last season and recently signed a long-term contract.
Manager Roberto Martínez told the club's official website: "Gerard is a real diamond of Spanish football and a boy with incredible footballing talent and I am delighted that he has chosen to take the next step of his career with Everton."
His arrival marks Martinez' fourth signing in three days after he brought in former Wigan players Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Joel Robles, who was also at the DW Stadium last season.

"Gerard is a real diamond of Spanish football and a boy with incredible footballing talent and I am delighted that he has chosen to take the next step of his career with Everton."
Roberto Martinez

Deulofeu is a graduate of Barcelona's famed La Masia and has played for Spain's Under-17s, Under-19s, Under-20s and Under-21s.
He will join up with the Blues squad later this summer as he is currently on a break after involvement in the recent Under-20s World Cup in Turkey.
Most of the squad are now in Austria preparing for a friendly against Austria Vienna on Saturday.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho welcomes summer signings

Jose Mourinho has given his seal of approval to Chelsea's three summer signings as the Premier League club prepare for their trip to Asia. The Europa League champions had brought in Germany international Andre Schurrle and Holland midfielder Marco van Ginkel before they confirmed the arrival of veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on Tuesday night.
All three will head overseas with Mourinho and their new team-mates on Thursday as the Portuguese prepares to start his second stint in charge of the club, and the 50-year-old is happy with the business the Blues have done.

"He is a player who is absolutely ready and he gives us more than one position in attack and adds quality. He will be important for us."
Mourinho on Schurrle

"Andre Schurrle is still so young but he already has great history because he plays in his national team, he has played Champions League and he played three complete seasons for Leverkusen," he told Chelsea's official website.
"So he is a player who is absolutely ready and he gives us more than one position in attack and adds quality. He will be important for us.
"Marco van Ginkel is one of the best prospects. He is not yet like Schurrle - close to being a finished product - but he is a player with great potential.
"Of course he needs to play and he will, because he is a player with great potential and physically he is more than ready. He is a natural athlete.
"By the technical and the tactical point of view of course he is a kid, he has to learn, but I think he is very open-minded and we analysed him for quite a long time."
Schwarzer is at the other end of the age scale at 40 and has penned a one-year deal as he looks to remain in the frame ahead of next year's World Cup.

"Mark Schwarzer is what we need. I never say this one is the first choice and this one is the second and this one is the third, but of course as a starting point Petr Cech is Petr Cech - he is the best in the world with deference to all the others and Mark knows that he comes to be an important member of the squad."
Jose Mourinho

Mourinho does not see a way he can dislodge Petr Cech, but he is pleased to have the Australian on board.
"Mark Schwarzer is what we need. I never say this one is the first choice and this one is the second and this one is the third, but of course as a starting point Petr Cech is Petr Cech - he is the best in the world with deference to all the others and Mark knows that he comes to be an important member of the squad.
"To compete with Petr and to give us in that position what we have in any other position where we have competition and options, giving protection to each other.
"With Mark we have a goalkeeper who has played an incredible number of matches in the last 10 years in the Premier League and he is more than ready for this."
Mourinho, back in England after six-year absence with Inter Milan and Real Madrid, is also counting Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Tomas Kalas as new signings.
The trio have been out on loan at West Brom, Werder Bremen and Vitesse, but are now considered ready for action.
"They are good players with a very good value in the market and we have these players this season for free, after an investment that the club did before," Mourinho added.

'Thiago Silva wants to be at Barcelona' - Adriano

Thiago Silva - PSG

Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva wants to join Barcelona, according to his friend and compatriot Adriano.
The Brazil international, 28, is widely considered one of the finest centre-backs in European football and has been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou this summer from Parc des Princes.
The current Barca utility man believes that his compatriot is keen to join the Catalans but appears stuck at PSG due to only having joined last season.
"He told me if he could come to Barcelona would be a dream," Adriano told RAC1. "He has always wanted to wear the Barca shirt, we are friends and I talk a lot with him. His arrival would be very good news if Barca signed him.
"If it were up to Thiago, he'd be here. But it doesn't just depend on him. PSG have also invested heavily in him and, if Barca want him, they need to find an agreement with the club.
"We had more injuries last year than other seasons but these things happen. Whomever comes in to help us will be a welcome addition."
However, Silva’s agent Paulo Tonietto has been quick to offer a rebuttal and denied that there is a move for the defender to the Blaugrana in the pipeline.

The representative said on Twitter: "Thiago Silva and his agent Paulo Tonietto deny the information referring to the transfer of the player to Barcelona."

Santos left with €9m from Neymar fee

Neymar - Barcelona

Santos were paid just over €9 million by Barcelona for the purchase of Neymar earlier this summer, according to documents which emerged on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old, who starred in Brazil's successful Confederations Cup campaign in June, joined the Catalans for €57m in one of the most high-profile transfers of 2013. The total outlay has been confirmed by Barcelona.
However, Radio Globo reporters were leaked minutes from a Santos board meeting which shed new light on the detail of the agreement.
According to the documents, Barca paid €17.1m for the full ownership of Neymar, though just €9.35m went to the Brasileirao club with two companies that owned part in his registration - Teisa Group and DIS - splitting the other 45 per cent.
The report also claims the remaining €40m was paid in commission to other parties, including Neymar's father, as the Camp Nou club fought off competion from rivals such as Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Santos may receive more financial profit from the move eventually through arranged friendlies that the two sides agreed to, with the first on August 2 in Spain, and potential objectives for the forward to achieve which were included in the contract.
The documents also show that Neymar’s father wanted his son to depart Brazil ahead of the World Cup because he did not want him to become a "hero or villain" at next summer's tournament in the South American country.
The attacker, who has scored an impressive 24 goals in 39 Selecao appearances, will meet up with his new Barca team mates next week.

Arsenal prepare €40m Suarez bid

Arsenal are preparing a €40.7 million offer for wantaway Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

The Gunners will make a concerted push to sign the Uruguay international after contacting the Merseyside club last week about his availability.

There were reports on Monday that Arsenal had made a €34.9m bid for Suarez but the the north London outfit are ready to pay up to €40.7m for the Reds attacker.

It is understood that Arsene Wenger has switched his main focus to capturing Suarez because Arsenal are still struggling to agree a fee with Real Madrid for Gonzalo Higuain.

The Gunners do not anticipate making any signings before they depart for their pre-season tour of Asia on Thursday, but they are actively trying recruit a marquee striker.

Suarez is regarded by Wenger as an upgrade on Higuain, who came close to joining Arsenal at the end of last week after they made an improved offer of €26.9m.

However, Madrid are holding out for €29.7m for the Argentine, and, although Arsenal's interest in Higuain is still alive and a deal has not been ruled out, Wenger has decided to explore other elite options.

With the biggest transfer kitty in Arsenal's history available to him this summer, the Frenchman sanctioned the shock move for Suarez last week.

The Gunners' enquiry was met with a 'hands-off' warning by Liverpool, who are fighting to hold on to a player who has spoken frequently this summer of his interest in a move, most specifically to Real Madrid.

Arsenal will now make a concerted push for Suarez after learning from the Uruguayan's camp that he is interested in a move to the Emirates as he pursues his ambition of playing Champions League football next season.

In an interview given to the Uruguayan radio station Sport 890 on Tuesday, Suarez claimed that "two or three clubs" want to sign him and that he values interest from Arsenal.

He laughed off reported interest from Chelsea but admitted he is prepared to interrupt a holiday in his native Uruguay should a potential transfer develop.

"Are there any concrete options? No, so far there hasn't been any. There are two or three clubs who I think are willing and the club knows that.

"I have to present myself on the July 21 with Liverpool for their tour of Australia but no one knows what could happen. I've already said what I have to say, and initially I have to be there on July 21 but maybe a phone call one day can change all your plans.