Jores Okore insists he was right to snub Chelsea for Aston Villa transfer

New Aston Villa signing Jores Okore believes he was right to turn down Chelsea’s advances in January.

The 20-year-old caught the Blues’ attention after two impressive displays against them in the group stages of last season’s Champions League for former side FC Nordsjaelland.

But he rejected the opportunity to move to Stamford Bridge in January and instead opted for a £4m move to Aston Villa earlier this week.

And Okore insists he has no regrets over his decision, reaffirming his belief that the Villans will provide him with more opportunities for first team football.

‘I have a good feeling it was the right decision to turn down Chelsea,’ said Okore.

‘I feel that I have arrived at a club that believes in me.

‘The manager [Paul Lambert] has said all the right things and that has caught my attention. This is going to be good.’

Okore’s Chelsea snub came despite his admission that his childhood hero was former Blues captain Marcel Desailly.

But the youngster says he hopes to bring some of the Frenchman’s qualities to his performances for Lambert’s side.

‘I really looked up to Marcel Desailly when I was young and I still do,’ he added.

‘He was my favourite player and hopefully I can play like him and bring a lot into the Premier League like he did.’

Okore’s arrival at Villa Park came as part of a positive week for the Villans in the transfer market, as the west midlands club tiedl and also confirmed the arrival of midfielder Leandro Bacuna.

Roberto Soldado hints at Spurs transfer by revealing desire to play in England

Roberto Soldado has opened the door to a transfer to Tottenham by revealing that he wants to move to the Premier League this summer.

, with Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas known to be a huge admirer.

And in a week when Tottenham were linked with a £10million bid for Soldado, the striker has confessed that he would be keen on the switch.

‘I’m not closing the door to anyone,’ said Soldado.

‘I know that some of my Spain team-mates have left La Liga and done very well. The Premier League is very attractive.’

Spurs are desperate to land a proven centre forward this summer, with Leandro Damiao, Mario Gomez and Robert Lewandowski among the targets.

However, it is thought that Soldado is a more attainable target, with Valencia willing to sell to ease their continued cash crisis.

The 28-year-old enjoyed another fruitful campaign last season, scoring 30 goals in 46 appearances.

Julianne Hough's Geometric Dress Looks Like Construction Paper Couture

First things first: we love all the colors in julannie's Roksanda Ilincic cocktail frock, and they're doing wonders for her fair hair and deep complexion.
Now for the bad news: we're not sure we like all those colors together. Something about the patchwork shapes make the Rock of Ages star look like she's wearing our grad school art project—the one where we were told to rip up paper in tons of fun shapes and then glue it all together.
       

Maybe it's the tattered nature of the boucle wool? Or the fact that there's no rhyme or reason to the pattern? We're hesitant to call Julianne's choice a total miss, so we'll just say what Mom used to say in reaction to our grammar school art:
Oohh! How imaginative!
 

Edinson Cavani is in transfer talks with Manchester City, says his mum

Edinson Cavani has held transfer talks with Manchester City and Real Madrid but not Chelsea, his mother Berta Gomez has revealed.

Cavani, 26, is edging closer to the exit door at current club Napoli with president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirming earlier this week a deal could be done.

, but according to the player’s mum, a switch to either City or Madrid is more likely.

‘Edinson is talking to Manchester City and Real Madrid,’ she announced. ‘Napoli have spoken to Chelsea about my son, but there is nothing concrete there.

‘In 15 or 20 days we’ll know his destination. When there’s something concrete, his family will be the first to know.’

Cavani is unlikely to be sold for anything short of his buyout clause, which is currently set at £53million.

City are believed to favour the striker over their other targets that include Gonzalo Higuain of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski.

BEST LOOKS: SHAKIRA

On stage, Shakira is known for her high-energy performances and penchant for crop tops, but it is her stunning vocals in English and Spanish that have won her over 250 music industry awards and led to worldwide record sales of 75 million albums and counting. Over the years her bohemian style has developed a sophisticated edge, blending rocker-chic with a flare for loud prints and sequins. Take a look at the cover girl's best looks through the years.

Here, the new mom wears leather pants and a graphic print jacket for an interview on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.

Mark Clattenburg set for Stamford Bridge return for first time since racism row

Mark Clattenburg will return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since he was embroiled in a racism row with John Obi Mikel, when he takes charge of Chelsea’s must-win clash against Swansea.

The Blues’ 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United in October was marred as Clattenburg was  

The referee was following an investigation by the Football Association, but missed several weeks of action while the case was ongoing.

Following the findings, the Blues – in conjunction with the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials Limited – issued a statement insisting the would have no problem with the referee officiating their games in future.

‘Chelsea FC made it clear they would welcome Mark Clattenburg back to Stamford Bridge in the future and PGMOL would have no issue in appointing him to a Chelsea FC match going forward,’ the statement said.

Chelsea and Clattenburg have not been involved in the same match since the incident but both parties will look to put the misunderstanding behind them as the Blues host Swansea on Sunday.

And it’s a doubly important day for the west London side, who will now feel they must win all of their remaining Premier League fixtures in order to secure a top four finish this season, following yesterday’s

Joe Hart berates complacent Manchester City team-mates after Spurs defeat

Joe Hart has hit out at his Manchester City team-mates following their capitulation against Tottenham.

Despite leading 1-0 through a fifth-minute Samir Nasri goal at White Hart Lane yesterday, the reigning Premier League champions conceded three goals in six second-half minutes to leaving goalkeeper Hart furious.

‘We took the lead and didn’t kick on from there. Second half we just kind of existed and paid the price,’ he said.

‘I just thought we took our foot off the gas and you can’t do that.

‘Spurs have got a lot to play for and congratulations to them but I’m not really interested in them.’

It’s not the first time this season Hart has 

The England international was reprimanded by boss Roberto Mancini for his comments following the Citizens’ 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid, during their disastrous Champions League campaign.

And Hart added the fact Manchester City have no excuse of fatigue due to their early European exit makes yesterday’s defeat even harder to take.

‘We messed up in Europe and we have had plenty of weeks rest so I don’t think that is what it is down to. It was just a poor second half,’ he added.

But Hart says despite the setback – which could allow Manchester United to clinch their 20th top-flight title tonight – the players will recover, especially with next month’s FA Cup final in mind.

‘We will bounce back easily, it is what we do,’ said the 26-year-old.

‘We have proved that many a time. We have a big game coming up (against West Ham).

‘It is always good to win at home and we have got the FA Cup final that all the boys are trying to win their spots for.’

Neil Lennon rewards SPL champions Celtic with holiday

Neil Lennon will reward his Celtic players for sealing the Scottish Premier League title by sending them on an early holiday.

The Parkhead men went into this afternoon’s match with Inverness needing a point to retain the championship and they turned on the style to run out 4-1 winners over the Highlanders.

Top scorer Gary Hooper hit a double, with Joe Ledley and Georgios Samaras also weighing in.

With the Scottish Cup final against Hibs more than a month away, Lennon will now reward his Double-chasing players with a week’s holiday.

He said: ‘There will be players getting a holiday now, from today. Four of them will get a holiday next week and after the Motherwell game (next weekend), there will be five getting a break.

‘Then we will have everyone back for the last two league games and then the cup final.’

Lennon revealed his overwhelming emotion was ‘one of immense pride in the players’.

The Northern Irishman said: ‘It is pretty special. I never take these things for granted so I hope the players enjoy the moment.’

Ledley turned his attention to next season’s Champions League after grabbing the second goal with a right-footed strike.

Gary Hooper had opened the scoring on the hour with a left-footed shot across Inverness keeper Antonio Reguero and the Celtic striker added a third when he flicked home Kris Commons’ driven cross.

Georgios Samaras crashed home the fourth goal from a tight angle before Aaron Doran netted an injury time consolation for Inverness.

Celtic face a battle to keep 28-goal striker Hooper and midfielder Victor Wanyama this summer but Ledley hopes the bulk of the side stay for another shot at Champions League qualification following this season’s run to the last 16.

The Welshman said: ‘There will always be ins and outs in football at every single club. We have a fantastic team and I’ll be very surprised if everyone stays.

‘Everyone has watched us in the Champions League and SPL, and there’s going to be a lot of interest in the majority of the players.

‘But if we can keep it together, we have a fantastic future and Celtic will go forward and, hopefully, qualify for the Champions League again.’

Hooper has been linked with several English Premier League clubs and, when asked if he will still be a Celtic player next season, he said: ‘We’ll see, won’t we?’

Inverness manager Terry Butcher said: ‘Celtic are worthy winners. They are difficult to stop when they are in that mood, especially when there is a title at stake.

Liverpool ‘would be mad’ not to back biting striker Luis Suarez, insists Joey Barton

Joey Barton is set to cause yet another Twitter storm after the Marseille midfielder said Liverpool ‘would be mad’ not to back Luis Suarez after the Uruguayan  during his side’s 

Despite almost unanimous criticism of Suarez from pundits, the media and fans on Twitter, Barton – never one to shirk an opportunity for controversy – decided to add his opinion into the mix, causing uproar as he called for Liverpool to back their divisive striker.

Suarez, who has previously been banned for seven matches for biting Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax just three years ago, is now set to face action from the Football Association.

But Barton believes the Uruguayan should be allowed to get away with his hungry antics because he is a good player.

‘Suarez is a good as a player as there is in world football at the minute. Yes, he’s messes up and shouldn’t have bitten another player, but a player like him has a right to play on the edge,’ Barton tweeted.

Jessica Alba: March's most fashionable

As a California girl through and through, we could forgive Jessica Alba the sin of turning up at frosty Paris Fashion Week in a puffa jacket - just about. But there's no climate the honey-skinned actress can't dress to perfection for, and she's spent the past month proving as much.

Partaking in Paris Fashion Week's headline acts with a front row seat at Stella McCartney, Kenzo and Valentino, the Sin City star also found herself in demand at Carine Roitfeld's stylish soiree to launch her second issue of C.R Fashion Book. Naturally, a cute, black Valentino frock adored with large bows was at her disposal.

Next stop on Alba's tour: back home to L.A, where her relaxed and occasionally grungy penchant for bright knits, ripped jeans and biker boots (by Zadig & Voltaire) are ideal for a busy mother-of-two who finds herself the daily subject of many a paparazzo's lens.

With only a couple of days to re-organise her closet, Alba was whisked off to New York City to promote her book, The Honest Life, a tome about making healthy living "fun, real and stylish".

Her designer friend Jenni Kane provided punchy florals for trouser-loving Alba to go with her leather-sleeved Michael Kors jacket, while she looked to Narciso Rodriguez for a teal, keyhole-cut dress for an appearance on Good Morning America.

Several photocalls later, and we now firmly know that Jessica loves the power of a bold jacket or pair of statement trousers worn with a dainty heel.

Back to the Golden State (that's a lot of travelling in 31 days) and Alba was running errands again in printed blazers, designer arm candy and negotiating a look by Mary Katrantzou for the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.

PSG president wants David Beckham’s stay extended

David Beckham’s amazing football career looks like it’s far from over, with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar increasingly likely to stay at Paris St Germain for next season.

The club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is set to open talks with Beckham about extending his stay in the French capital.

The 37-year-old joined Carlo Ancelotti’s side on a five-month deal in January, and his contributions so far have been impressive, helping PSG to consolidate their position at the top of the French league, and setting up a Champions League quarter-final clash with Barcelona.

In the past few days, Beckham has spoken of his happiness in Paris, and he may well be enjoying the delights of the city for some time to come.

‘Recruiting David was one of my best decisions,’ Al-Khelaifi said in an interview with L’Equipe.

‘As a man, player, ambassador, he is exceptional. It creates something in this group. Everyone loves it.

‘We will talk with him. Whatever his decision, we support David. He is very happy in Paris. Frankly, we want to keep him with us next season.’

Beckham, who has started one match and made four substitute appearances since signing for PSG, confirmed on Saturday that he would be open to talks over an extension to his time with the French giants.

He told Le Parisien: ‘We’ll see. Who wouldn’t want to stay at a place like this?

‘It’s very special but I’m not getting any younger so we’ll see how I feel at the end of the season. It’s always nice to be wanted.’

Beckham’s storybook career has already seen him make over 100 appearances for England, playing at three World Cups. He helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s United to a host of trophies in his time with the club, and won a Spanish league title with Madrid, before spending five years with LA Galaxy

Sir Alex Ferguson: Defence ‘caught napping’ for Demba Ba strike

Sir Alex Ferguson admits his Manchester United players were ‘caught napping’ as Demba Ba’s wonder-strike sent Chelsea through to the FA Cup semi-finals.

 was enough to separate the sides in today’s replay at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues now set to face Manchester City at Wembley in two weeks.

And Ferguson admits his defence were caught out by Juan Mata’s pass which was expertly tucked away by Ba after 49 minutes.

‘We were comfortable in the first half and I couldn’t see them getting into the game or being any great threat to us. But the goal, as it always does, changed the game,’ he said.

‘We spoke about Ba and the experience we had with him a couple of years ago at Newcastle when he scored exactly the same type of goal. We were caught napping, to be honest. It wasn’t a good start for us right at the beginning of the second half.’

The visitors had chances to equalise through substitute Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez, who was denied by a stunning save from Petr Cech, but Ferguson admitted his side just couldn’t find the cutting edge to bring the scores level.

‘After that [Ba’s goal] I think we lacked the composure to win the game and create proper openings. We had a lot of possession but didn’t make the best use of it and they caused us quite a few problems on the counter-attack,’ added the Scot.

‘Fortunately we didn’t lose another goal, but I couldn’t really see us scoring either.’

Vogue Fashion’s Night Out moves to Manchester

Londoners looking forward to Vogue 's celebratory night of free cocktails and high street discounts will be sorely disappointed, as Fashion's Night Out is heading up north for 2013.

Thursday October 10 2013 will see Team Vogue descend upon Manchester's landmark Exchange Square for a joyous - and sometimes bank-account crippling - union of retailers and shoppers.

Manchester fashion behemoths Selfridges and Harvey Nichols have already signed up to take part in the celebration, with galleries, restaurants and museums also promising to open their doors to eager shoppers for the night.

Why the Manchester move? "Once at the heart of a vibrant textiles industry, Manchester's importance to fashion is unquestionable," notes Editor of Vogue , Alexandra Shulman. Whereas London has seen tens of thousands of shoppers enjoying the perks of Fashion's Night Out for the last four years, "we're looking forward to sharing this experience with a new audience," enthuses Shulman.

The future of the annual event was cast into uncertainty last month when it was announced that it would not take place in New York this year. It was masterminded by US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her team in 2009 as a way of boosting the retail economy when the recession was at its gloomy peak.

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber feud echoes row which killed my father, warns Jacques Villeneuve

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve has likened the current feud between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber to the one which killed his racing driver father.

The Red Bull duo brought simmering tensions to the boil at last weekend’s Malasysian Grand Prix when Vettel overtook Webber to win the race despite both drivers being instructed by their team to hold their positions.

Villeneuve’s father, Gilles, was tragically killed in a 1982 accident while trying to beat the qualifying time of then Ferrari team-mate Didier Pironi.

The pair had fallen out at the previous Grand Prix at San Marino when Pironi defied team orders to pass Villeneuve on the final lap for victory – a situation Jacques believes Vettel and Webber would be wise to take heed of.

Villeneuve told Auto Bild: ‘It’s easy to make excuses but in the end, Vettel’s got the win and the points. Mark has nothing. It was a deliberate decision by Vettel.

‘The team give you the contract and pay you the money, and so you do what they want you to do. It’s very simple.

‘Ignoring is just plain wrong. The best example is my father and Didier Pironi. Just look at the problems that caused.

‘(Vettel’s) behaviour was just stupid. Such negative energy does not help the team. If he now needs help from Mark, he cannot be sure he will get it.’

David Haye to confirm his ring comeback as he looks to set up Klitschko clash

Britain’s former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye will confirm his return to ring action at a press conference on Thursday.

Haye has not fought since demolishing Dereck Chisora in five rounds at Upton Park last summer.

The outspoken 32-year-old had said that he would not put on the gloves again unless it was against one of the Klitschko brothers – Wladimir, the IBF, WBO and WBA champion who easily beat Haye in 2011, or Vitali, the WBC belt holder.

However, with Wladamir reluctant to give Haye another shot and Vitali seemingly focusing on his fledging career in politics, the Londoner’s attempts to set-up a big-money, box-office, championship fight have so far fallen on deaf ears.

And it seems that Haye has now accepted that the only way he will get his shot at redemption with the Klitschkos is to go down the route of making himself the mandatory challenger for one of the titles.

His first step along that path will be announced on Thursday with Russia’s Alexander Povetkin a possible opponent.

Haye’s promotions company, Hayemaker, confirmed the comeback with a simple statement: ‘Heavyweights be warned, The Hayemaker is back.’

Paolo Di Canio ‘heading to Sunderland for more manager talks

Paolo Di Canio is understood to be heading to Sunderland to conclude talks over becoming their new manager.

The Italian, who resigned as Swindon boss in February, could be in charge for his first game at Chelsea on Saturday before turning his attention to the Tyne-Wear derby with Newcastle at St James’ Park.

The 44-year-old is believed to have held initial talks over replacing the sacked Martin O’Neill with Black Cats chairman Ellis Short in London, and is now reportedly travelling up to the Stadium of Light in order to finalise a deal.

Sunderland sit just one point outside the bottom three, while joint 18th-placed Wigan, who beat Norwich yesterday, have a game in hand.

The Black Cats have failed to win since their victory at Wigan on January 19, losing five of the eight games since, and the appointment of wildcard Di Canio is largely seen as a last-ditch bid to inject some passion into this ailing side.

However, the fiery Italian would represent a significant gamble for Short, as Di Canio has a history of falling out with chairmen, players and supporters throughout his career.

Di Canio’s only managerial experience has come at Swindon where he won promotion from League Two at the first time of asking, but resigned in February due to off-field financial problems.

Steven Gerrard insists Liverpool are out to nick fifth place from rivals Everton after coming from behind to claim all three points against Aston Villa.und

Steven Gerrard insists Liverpool are out to nick fifth place from rivals Everton after coming from behind to claim all three points against Aston Villa.

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With Liverpool now seventh, three points behind rivals Everton in sixth, Gerrard says all the Reds will be going all out to usurp their city rivals.

‘We have to win every game, finish as high as we can,’ said the Liverpool skipper.

‘If we can nick fifth or six, that’s what we’ll try and do.

‘We felt hard done-by to be trailing at half-time. We thought we should have been at least level.

‘We needed to give an extra 10 per cent.

‘We had to take a few more risks in their final third and it came off today.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers praised the character of his players after they rallied from a goal behind.

‘Our character was outstanding today,’ Rodgers told Sky Sports 1. ‘We created chances in the first half, in the second half we upped the tempo.

‘It was a real tough game for us.

‘Our quality was there as well, and the rhythm and flow of our passing was good.’

A disappointed Lambert was left ruing Matthew Barker’s sloppy challenge on Luis Suarez which gifted Liverpool their winning goal.

He said: ‘I the first half I thought we were excellent, I really did. We were right in.

‘In the second half there wasn’t much in it. But you can’t give goals away like we did – it was definitely a penalty.’

Asked if Villa can beat the drop, the Scot replied: ‘Yes, definitely. I think anybody who was here today would say the same. We’re certainly playing well enough. We don’t look like a team down the bottom at the minute.

‘If we going the way we’re going, we’ll win more games than not.

Brendan Rodgers confident lack of European competition will not hamper Liverpool’s summer transfer dealings

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers remains adamant he will be able to bolster the Reds squad even if they fail to secure a place in Europe for next season.

Rodgers’ side are currently nine points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and five points adrift of Arsenal, who occupy the only Europa League qualification spot.

But the Northern Irishman, while urging his team to continue battling for as higher-placed finish as possible, says he has no concerns over the calibre of player he can bring to Anfield over the summer, even without the lure of European football.

‘Whether we are in Europe or not we are going to be able to attract good players here,’ Rodgers said.

‘That (Europe) is where we would like to be but if it isn’t to be then I still believe we will be able to get in players who can improve us.

‘That is the challenge, to bring those players in over the coming months.’

Meanwhile, Rodgers has also urged his players not to let their season ‘peter out’ after the disappointing defeat to Southampton before the international break.

‘It is very important the season doesn’t peter out and it can’t do,’ added the former Swansea boss.

‘We are at a stage of the season when we don’t have a trophy to play for as such but we have to fight.

‘Of course we always want to be challenging for trophies but if that is not the case you represent the shirt and the city and every game is vital.

‘We are looking to finish the season with strength and continue. It is very important we finish the season well as that can provide a really good platform for us for next season.’

Liverpool travel to Premier League strugglers Aston Villa tomorrow, with the hosts having won their last two games to help lift them out of the drop zone.

Manchester United stretch Premier League lead to 18 points with Sunderland victory

Manchester United moved 18 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over strugglers Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

A Titus Bramble own goal was enough to separate the two sides in today’s lunchtime kick-off, with the defender bundling the ball past Simon Mignolet after 27 minutes.

The Black Cats were without star striker Steven Fletcher, who picked up an injury while on international duty for Scotland last weekend which has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, as well as skipper Lee Cattermole, who is also unable to play again this term.

But despite their weakened side, Sunderland managed to keep the champions elect at bay for nearly half an hour, until Robin van Persie’s angled shot took an unfortunate deflection off Bramble to wrong-foot Mignolet in the home goal.

Their lead could have been doubled 10 minutes later but Mignolet was equal to Ashley Young’s free-kick, before the Belgian stopper dealt with another set-piece – this time from Van Persie – just before the break.

Martin O’Neill’s side saw more of the ball in the second half, but struggled to test David de Gea in the Manchester United goal. The most danger the Spaniard faced was from his own defence, as he needed treatment after clashing with Nemanja Vidic.

But if De Gea had a quiet afternoon, the same certainly couldn’t be said of his opposite number, who certainly earned his wages.

Alex Buttner cut inside the Sunderland defence and unleashed a ferocious shot which was tipped round the post by the superb Mignolet, who had kept his side in contention throughout.

And despite a late flurry of pressure from the hosts in the closing stages, O’Neill’s side still couldn’t create any chances of note as their relegation fears increase.