Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor has put pen to paper on a new contract which should keep him at the club until 2012. The 24-year-old, who scored 30 goals last season, was the subject of much transfer speculation during the summer, with both Milan and Barcelona expressing a keen interest. As a result the £35m-rated striker has received a mixed reception from Arsenal fans so far this season. His manager Arsène Wenger said: 'We have to get behind him. What happened in the transfer period did not always reflect his deep desire and there was manipulation from agents on both sides, but overall I am positive he will recover. Every player needs to feel wanted.' The new deal is believed to be worth around £80,000 a week.
Chelsea
Adrian Mutu has vowed to appeal against the £13.8m fine he has been ordered to pay Chelsea, calling Fifa's ruling "unjust" and "inhumane". The ruling body said that Mutu, who cost Chelsea £15.8m from Parma, must make the payment after being sacked for testing positive for cocaine in 2004. He has since rebuilt his career with Juventus and now Fiorentina. "This sanction is not right because I don't think I have committed a crime that merits such an amount," he said. Mutu is expected to present an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although a decision will not be made this year.
West Ham United
Dean Ashton has been passed fit despite limping out of West Ham's defeat of Wigan after 72 minutes with what was feared to be a calf injury. The results of a scan have allayed those concerns and, although the 24-year-old will continue to be monitored, he is hopeful of figuring on Sunday at Manchester City. "It was just cramp," Ashton said last night. "I should be training tomorrow. I am really glad that is not a bad injury."
Portsmouth
Harry Redknapp wants to bring the 26-year-old Algerian left-back Nadir Belhadj on loan from the French club Lens. "I'd like to get the Algerian but don't know if I can," said Redknapp. "It would only be a loan. That's what we're looking for. We have a problem on the right and we need someone with pace."
Stoke City
Southampton have accepted a £1.3m bid for the defender Andrew Davies, their 23-year-old player of the year last season. "He's a good young player who's got some ability and some experience in the Premier League," said Stoke City's manager Tony Pulis. The return of Michael Svensson following four years of injury trouble means Southampton can allow Davies - who has yet to recover from a summer knee operation - to move on. "Andrew is one of the high earners at the club and the financial pressures placed on us by the bank have not been made secret," said the manager Jan Poortvliet, who was content to let him go." His agent has been keen for him to complete a deal away from the club and if players and agents feel that way then it doesn't help the rest of the team."
