La Liga - Valencia keen to keep veteran stars

La Liga - Valencia keen to keep veteran stars

Valencia are not looking to get rid of dropped players David Albelda, Santiago Canizares and Miguel Angel Angulo, club president Juan Bautista Soler has said.

"It is a technical decision taken by [coach Ronald] Koeman. They haven't been separated from the squad, or sacked. They simply haven't been selected," Soler stated.

Koeman has told the experienced trio that they no longer featured in his plans after the club fell out of European competition and off the pace in the Liga title race.

"This is the official version from the club. The coach said he did not count on them for now. No one has said they will not be recalled to the side again. I hope they will return to play for the club," Soler added.

Both Albelda and Canizares believed they were being forced out and have asked the club to honour and release them from their contracts so they can seek transfers.

Spain midfielders Albelda and Angulo and former Spain goalkeeper Canizares are three of the longest-serving members of the squad.

"These types of things have happened in other clubs. Real Madrid decided to get rid of Ronaldo, and dropped David Beckham, Raul and Guti last season and these same players ended up coming back to win them the league," Soler added.

"It is a temporary situation. The people who hold the key to reversing the decision are the players. It is in the hands of the players and the coach."

Valencia are seventh in the standings, 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid.

reference: "eurosport"

Dortmund In For Lehmann - Report

Dortmund In For Lehmann - Report

Representatives of Borussia Dortmund have flown to London in a bid to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, according to reports in Germany.

With Borussia goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller facing three months out with a shoulder injury, his predecessor has emerged as their No 1 target this winter.

"I cannot rule anything out," said Dortmund director of sport Michael Zorc. "It is logical that the name Lehmann is linked to us."

Furthermore, Friday's Bild newspaper shows pictures of Lehmann in Dortmund before Christmas, where he bought a new car from a local showroom.

Lehmann left the Westphalian club for 3.5million euros to join the Gunners in 2003 having won the Bundesliga with Dortmund in 2002.

The 38-year-old lost his place in the first-team place at the Emirates Stadium to Manuel Almunia earlier this season and is keen to play top-flight football to cement his place in the Germany squad for Euro 2008.

Bundesliga - Schlaudraff happy at Bayern

Bundesliga - Schlaudraff happy at Bayern

Bayern Munich striker Jan Schlaudraff has said that he will stay with the club despite limited playing time since joining from Alemannia Aachen in the summer.

Schlaudraff, 24, cannot currently get a game because of the preference for team-mates Miroslav Klose, Luca Toni and Lukas Podolski.

However he told Kicker that he wants to extend his current deal: "I hope to stay even longer."

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has already said that he has no intention of allowing Schlaudraff to leave the Allianz Arena.

"[Other clubs] can save themselves the phone call," he said. "We are not in any way prepared to discuss Jan Schlaudraff."

reference: "eurosport"