Premiership football news and latest transfer rumours

Jermaine Pennant wants to join Manchester City for nothing a year after Mark Hughes refused to pay £5million for him. The 26-year-old was linked with City last summer after he was told to find a new club by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. But Hughes was not tempted and Pennant eventually spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Portsmouthwhile his contract ran down.During his time at Anfield, Pennant scored three goals in 81 matches and played a starring role in their Champions League final defeat in 2007, but injuries and off-field problems have dogged his career.The winger is desperate for a move to a north west club and would prefer City over Wigan Athletic, who could come in for him when Antonio Valencia joins Manchester United


Sporting Lisbon are considering coming back to City with an improved bid for Felipe Caicedo after falling short with their £5m offer.The Ecuadorian international was the subject of an unsuccessful bid from the Portuguese giants but City did not discourage a follow-up offer. The 20-year-old is keen on a switch to Lisbon after failing to win a regular place in Mark Hughes' first choice line-up and, with Hughes expected to make a move for Roque Santa Cruz, he could be sat on the bench again next term.He said: "The possibility of playing Champions League football with Sporting is very attractive. I'm waiting for news."


Steve Bruce says he's already excited about the new season but admits his first home game against Chelsea will be a 'baptism of fire'.

The Premier League fixtures were announced on Wednesday and have paired the Black Cats with just one of the 'big four' before October. Unfortunately for Bruce that is the first home game of the season against Carlo Ancelotti's side, but despite the tough home debut for the former Manchester United defender Bruce says he is still excited about getting underway as the Black Cats boss. "I can't wait to get started with Sunderland next season and the publication of the fixture list really brings home how close the start of the season is," said Bruce."You would always like to be at home for the first game but away to Bolton will be a good test, we would all love to get off to a winning start and get the first points on the board."The first home game against Chelsea is a tough one on a Tuesday night so it's going to be a bit of a baptism of fire. But these are the kind of games you really look forward to."We want to make the Stadium of Light a difficult place to play, so all of our home games are important and last season showed there are no easy games in the Premier League."

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has told Sunderland target Paul Scharner he can leave the club, but believes he won't join the Black Cats.
The Austrian defender has been heavily linked with a £6million to the Stadium of Light since Steve Bruce took up the managerial hot seat on Wearside. That move could now go through after Whelan revealed he won't stand in Scharner's way if he wants to leave the DW Stadium this summer. However, Whelan doesn't believe the 29-year-old will join the Black Cats after revealing the player himself said he felt it would be a step backwards to join Sunderland. "Scharner may go. He is an unusual character to say the least," Whelan told The Sun. "He even said if Steve Bruce tries to take him to Sunderland he wouldn't go because it was a backwards step. "But if he comes to me and asks to go I'll say 'yes' - even though we don't want him to go."

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has told Sunderland target Paul Scharner he can leave the club, but believes he won't join the Black Cats.The Austrian defender has been heavily linked with a £6million to the Stadium of Light since Steve Bruce took up the managerial hot seat on Wearside. That move could now go through after Whelan revealed he won't stand in Scharner's way if he wants to leave the DW Stadium this summer. However, Whelan doesn't believe the 29-year-old will join the Black Cats after revealing the player himself said he felt it would be a step backwards to join Sunderland. "Scharner may go. He is an unusual character to say the least," Whelan told The Sun. "He even said if Steve Bruce tries to take him to Sunderland he wouldn't go because it was a backwards step. "But if he comes to me and asks to go I'll say 'yes' - even though we don't want him to go."