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Vodafone e-Vouchers Promotion
Vodafone Ltd have the following e-Vouchers live and valid until 1st April 2011 (subject to stock).
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Double Minutes Promotion
Certain plans will have richer tariff allowances as below.
OPTION 1
£15 Essentials 100 mins /500 texts /250mb becomes £15 Essentials 200 mins /500 texts/250mb
This to be available on ALL Essentials handsets, including BB 8520.
OPTION 2
£35 Premium 600/Unlimited/500mb, becomes double minutes (i.e. 1200/Unlimited/500mb)
£40 Premium 900/Unlimited/750mb, becomes double minutes (i.e. 1800/Unlimited/750mb)
Available on the following handsets:
- Samsung Galaxy S
- HTC Desire HD
- Desire Z
Mick Jagger Not Dead
‘RIP Mick Jagger’ Hoax Declares Stones Singer Dead
Panic in cyberspace this morning as RIP Mick Jagger suddenly became a trending topic on Twitter.
The micro-blogging site was inundated with responses following a Tweet that Jagger had passed away. The report quickly became viral and within minutes he was a trending topic on Twitter.
However, rumours of Jagger’s death have been greatly exaggerated. The Rolling Stones front-man was at the Grammy awards on Sunday night performing a tribute to the late soul singer Solomon Burke. He looked alive and well and although he has yet to issue a formal denial of his demise, one suspects such a statement need not be forthcoming.
Once the trend was realised to be a hoax it was followed by anger but also some humour among Twitterers:
Lord G Almighty said stated: “Just because there’s more meat on a chariot’s whip than on Mick Jagger, doesn’t mean he’s dead. RIP Twitter Sanity,” while a popular re-Tweet was “Mick Jagger? No, no, no. He’s not dead. He just looks like he is.”
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Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Wednesday 16 February
Fabregas Real Move Is A Non-Starter
A move to Real Madrid for Cesc Fabregas is receding after the club’s president Florentino Perez said he was happy with his squad and Fabregas’s father suggested that Cesc only has eyes for Barcelona.
Reports at the weekend suggested that Fabregas may be the subject of a bid from Real in the summer with a figure of £54 million suggested as a possible transfer fee. However, Fabregas senior Francesc Fabregas has told reporters in Spain that his son won’t be on his way to the Bernabeu for next season.
“He said everything he had to say very clearly last year,” Fabregas senior said. “He is an Arsenal player at the moment and, for now, there is nothing more to say about that.”
The Arsenal skipper was the subject of a £30 million bid from Barca last summer but despite his willingness to leave the Emirates for Catalunya the transfer was scuppered by Arsenal’s insistence that he was staying with them.
Meanwhile, Real president Florentino Perez has denied his club a preparing a bid for Fabregas this summer.
No, it’s not true,” he said “Cesc is a fantastic player, but at this moment we are very happy with our squad and the level of competition we have in it.”
Manchester United Transfer News, Wednesday 16 February
United Watch Dortmund Teenager
Manchester United are keen on Borussia Dortmund’s teenage midfielder, Mario Goetze, according to reports from Germany.
The 18-year-old has had an impressive season as his team have surged to the top of the Bundesliga table as they seek their first German title since 2002 and United are believed to have sent scouts to watch him in action.
Goetze made his debut for Dortmund in November 2009 at the age of just 17 and made four further appearances for the club last season. However, he has forced his way into the team as an automatic first choice this season making 21 appearances and scoring four goals. He also made his international debut in November in the game against Sweden and also played in Germany’s 1-1 draw with Italy last week.
Dortmund are reported by the Daily Mirror to have upped Goetze’s value from £12 million to £20 million though reports from Germany suggest there has been no official bid.
Lloris Admits Lure Of United
Meanwhile, The Sun reports that Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris says he would be interested in a move to Old Trafford this summer.
The 24-year-old has been touted as a possible replacement for Edwin van der Sar when he retires at the end of the season and sits on a list that also includes Manuel Neuer of Schalke 04, David de Gea of Atletico Madrid and even Pepe Reina of Liverpool.
However, Lloris has firmly thrown his hat into the ring by telling the newspaper:
“Manchester United is a great football institution.
“It’s one of the clubs with the most titles in the world. So, of course, they’re one of the teams I dream about playing for.”
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Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Sunday 13 February
Arsenal ‘Want £80m For Fabregas’
This summer’s instalment of the Cesc Fabregas transfer saga looks to be already under way with three months of the football season left to go.
Already the Arsenal captain has been linked with a move to Real Madrid after the Spanish club’s board reportedly sanctioned a summer bid.
Yesterday it was being reported that Real are set to put in a bid of up to £54 million for the 23-year-old but according to today’s Sunday People that figure is not enough for the Gunners. The paper reports that Arsenal are set to demand a figure that will equal the world-record £80 million that Real spent on Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 and that they will want the fee paid in cash and with no player-swaps involved.
It was being reported yesterday that Real are ready to offer striker Karim Benzema and/or 19-year-old attacking midfielder Sergio Canales but the People suggests those offers will be turned down by Arsenal.
As ever the only newsworthy item is that Arsenal would be prepared to sell Fabregas as manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s AGM in October that he expected the player to be at the club for some years to come. It is also barely conceivable that Fabregas himself would sanction a move to Real Madrid so soon after failing in his bid to move back to Barcelona, the club of his youth. The Catalan side’s pockets aren’t as deep as Real’s and £54 million is out of the question for them.
That Real are interested is probably correct, it’s just the chances of Fabregas moving there are still relatively slim.
Manchester United Transfer News and Rumours, Sunday 13 February
United Linked With £40m Bale
Manchester United are being linked with a £40 million bid for Spurs winger Gareth Bale.
The Sunday Mirror says that the 21-year-old is at the top of Sir Alex Ferguson’s wanted list this summer but that he will have to pay top whack in the face of competition from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Ferguson sees the Welsh winger as a replacement for his compatriot Ryan Giggs who is coming to the end of his career at Old Trafford but despite Spurs putting a ‘not for sale’ sign on Bale the Mirror suggests that former Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick could be used as a bargaining chip in a bid to entice the youngster from White Hart Lane.
United to Return With Fresh Bid For Young
Manchester United could also return with a summer bid for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.
The Sunday Mirror reports that Young was the un-named player for whom Sir Alex Ferguson put in a bid that was rejected last month. Young is out of contract in 2012 but is stalling over a new deal.
United’s January bid was said to have been £15 million and Ferguson is expected to return with a new bid at the end of the season.
United Favourites To Sign Southampton Youngster
Manchester United are expected to pip Arsenal in capturing the signature of Southampton winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain according to the Sunday Express.
The 17-year-old was expected to join Arsenal last month in a deal the paper says was worth £5 million up-front plus a further £5 million in add-ons; however, the Express says the deal with the Gunners stalled after United made their interest known and it adds that United have indicated that they will top any bid Arsenal make in terms of transfer fee and wages.
Liverpool were also interested in signing the 17-year-old but a faxed offer from Anfield was dismissed by Southampton.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has scored seven times for Southampton this season and turned provider for Richard Lambert to head the Saints’ winner against Carlisle yesterday.
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Arsenal Tranfer News and Rumours, Saturday 12 February
Real Madrid ‘To Put In £54m Fabregas Bid’
After yesterday’s report that Real Madrid want first refusal in the unlikely event that Arsenal decide to sell Cesc Fabregas this summer, The Sun reports that the Spanish giants are to put in a bid of £54 million.
Real boss Jose Mourinho is hoping to tempt Arsenal by offering striker Karim Benzema or attacking 19-year-old attacking midfielder Sergio Canales in part-exchange for Fabregas.
Last year the Arsenal skipper underwent a protracted transfer saga when he was the subject of a bid from Barcelona.
Having been so keen to re-join the club of his youth last summer it seems inconceivable that he will accept an offer to join their greatest rivals, something not lost on Barcelona keeper and friend of Fabregas, Victor Valdes. “I sincerely cannot see Cesc in a Real Madrid shirt. His desire is to play for Barcelona,” Valdes said.
This one still appears to be a non-starter.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to battle other Premier League clubs for two of their long-standing transfer targets.
Lille’s Eden Hazard is known to be a target of Arsene Wenger for this coming summer. Last month Wenger told French TV programme Telefoot that Hazard is a player he has followed for some time, but today’s Daily Mail says that Hazard is now a target for Chelsea. The Blues have already made an enquiry about the 20-year-old winger.
Arsenal also look set to be disappointed in their enquiries about Ajax winger Christian Eriksen. The 18-year-old Dane, who impressed in the friendly with England on Wednesday says he is happy at Ajax and isn’t looking to leave the Dutch side for another 18 months.
Liverpool Transfer Rumours, Friday 11 February
Liverpool, Newcastle Eye Up Gervinho
Liverpool and Newcastle are set to tussle for Lille forward Gervinho this summer. The Reds have previously been linked with a move for the Ivory Coast international – as have a number of top European clubs – and the French side have now decided to sell him at the end of the season with a fee of around £10million being bandied about.
Gervinho joined Lille from Le Mans in 2009 for a transfer fee of 8million euro. He has scored 17 goals in 40 league games including 10 in 21 games this season. He has also scored five times in 19 games for his country.
Sammy Lee Watches Dane
Meanwhile, Liverpool are said to have stepped up their interest in 18-year-old Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen.
Assistant manager Sammy Lee watched the Ajax player in action for Denmark against England on Wednesday and after the match Eriksen said “Every time Ajax play there are clubs watching me. That’s just the way it is. So yes, Liverpool have seen me but I’m not spending time wondering about it.”
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Arsenal Transfer News, Friday 11 February
Real Want First Refusal Over Fabregas
Real Madrid want first refusal on Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas if the Gunners decide to sell their skipper this summer. That’s the unlikely report in the Daily Mail today.
Real’s arch-rivals Barcelona were involved in a protracted transfer tussle with Arsenal last summer over Fabregas and the paper reports that the Catalan giants will be back in for Fabregas this summer. However, the Mail reports that Barca are unwilling to pay more than £35 million for Cesc and ‘sources in Spain’ report that Real have given the go-ahead for a bid of up to £50 million.
Real’s director general, Jose Angel Sanchez, has apparently spoken to Fabregas’s advisers after club president Florentino Perez gave the go-ahead for the bid.
The chances of such a bid succeeding appear to be rather slim. First of all given Arsenal are still unwilling to part with their talisman and manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s AGM in October that he expects Fabregas to be at the club beyond next summer “and for years to come.” Secondly, given Fabregas’s fondness as a Catalan for Barcelona and his willingness to move there last summer, a move to their arch-rivals would amount to a serious error of judgment on his part and one that would go down particularly badly in Catalunya.
However, one aspect of the Mail report is correct in that Jose Mourinho knows he has to buy top-drawer players to overtake Barcelona and Fabregas comes into that category.
‘Erm, Actually…. I Think I’ll Stay On’ – Mubarak Change Of Mind Angers Egyptians
Anger As Mubarak Announces He Won’t Quit
Hosni Mubarak is refusing to quit as President of Egypt.
In an extraordinary address this evening the 82-year-old President was widely expected to announce his resignation. Instead, he has decided to stay on until presidential elections in September but says he has handed over some of his powers to Vice-President Omar Suleiman; however, he hasn’t said which new powers have been conferred on Vice-President Suleiman.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square ready to celebrate the departure of a dictator who has ruled Egypt as a police state since 1981. But they were disappointed. When it became clear the president was staying on demonstrators chanted “Down with Mubarak”, and protesters waved their shoes in disgust.
Meanwhile, there seems to have been a last-minute change of plan. A US source has told CNN “this was not what we were told…nor what we hoped would happen.” But in his speech this evening President Mubarak said he would ignore “diktats from abroad” and said that emergency powers in place for almost 30 years would be lifted “when the time is right.” A similar promise made earlier this week by Vice-President Suleiman was rejected by protestors.
After the presidential speech opposition leader Mohammed El-Baradei said “Egypt will explode. The army must save the country now” and there were reports that protestors had begun to make their way to the state TV station in Cairo and to the Presidential palace some 10 miles away.
Protestors later described their mood as “angry”. One told the BBC “We can’t believe what we have heard today.”
