Transfer news: Dundee United expect Gary Mackay-Steven to stay

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara is hoping he can hang on to the services of Gary Mackay-Steven.

The 22-year-old winger has been attracting interest from England, with Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United said to be keen on taking him to the Championship.

Mackay-Steven is, however, tied to a contract at Tannadice until 2015.

McNamara acknowledges that every player has his price, and that a sizeable bid could force his hand, but for now he is looking ahead with Mackay-Steven very much part of his plans.

He said: "It's part and parcel (given the) player's ability.

"Johnny Russell left there going into his last year, which we had to do. We couldn't afford not to. That's the nature of the business. The club has a selling point if players aren't going to sign new contracts.

"Fortunately Gary has two years to go so it puts us in a stronger position.

"Speculation means he is doing things properly and doing well, so long may it continue."

McNamara has been giving more attention to additions than departures of late and has hinted that the return of Mark Wilson to Tannadice may not be the last piece of transfer business he completes before the summer window closes.

He added: "I never say yes or no. Things change.

"Before Mark came in, we thought that was us with the transfers, but the opportunity came in. Whether that's the last, we'll wait and see when the window shuts."

Levy does not want Coentrao as part of a deal for Bale

Negotiations for Gareth Bale appear to be gridlocked and the soap-opera surrounding his move looks unlikely to be resolved until next week. Real Madrid has tried to include Fabio Coentrao in a deal for the Welshman, as Villas-Boas is a fan, but Tottenham wants any deal for the Portuguese full-back to be kept completely separate from the Welshman’s departure.

The reason that Levy wants to keep the deals for Coentrao and Bale separate is none other than to sign off on the highest possible transfer fee for the Welsh midfielder. Real wants to seal a deal for €86m plus Fabio Coentrao, but Tottenham still values Bale at no less than €109m, with no player included in the deal.

As things stand, Bale’s move to Real Madrid has stalled, although the Spanish club remains convinced that Levy will end up accepting the offer and that the Welshman will join Real Madrid on a five-year deal.

The atmosphere at the Bernabéu is the same as that in the Tottenham dressing room, where Villas-Boas is training his squad and does not expect Bale to be part of his future plans. Despite telling the press that "Bale is Tottenham’s future" – as he did last week -, the truth of the matter is that the Portuguese knows that the midfielder’s move to Real Madrid is a case of when rather than if.

Kubrat Pulev knows he must beat Tony Thompson to stay on course for a world title shot

Kubrat Pulev believes his shot at the world title will come as he prepares to take on Tony Thompson in Schwerin, Germany on Saturday.

The two unfashionable heavyweights clash in what amounts to a final eliminator for the IBF version of the title, held like all the others bar the WBC by Wladimir Klitschko.

Thompson, twice defeated by Klitschko but riding his confidence after two stoppage victories over David Price, fancies his chances of another upset against the unbeaten Bulgarian.

But Pulev, who has ditched his European strap to take on the American, knows he cannot slip up with a shot at the champion beckoning in 2014.

"I must beat him," Pulev admitted. "Afterwards, nobody will be able to talk about a worthy world title challenger without mentioning my name.

"My aim is to become world champion. I guess (other fighters) have a fear of losing against me. Maybe these fighters see an easier chance to get a big fight.

"I have no problem with that, because I just want to go toe-to-toe with fighters who have an ambition to go up with the best and Tony Thompson is definitely someone like that."

New IBF champion Darren Barker sends out warning to Felix Sturm

Darren Barker has told Felix Sturm to forget about taking his world title as he targets a triumphant homecoming fight in London.

Barker was crowned as the new IBF middleweight champion on Saturday after a courageous points victory over Daniel Geale in Atlantic City and his first defence is expected to be against mandatory challenger Sturm.

The German has already ruined the world title hopes of two fighters from these shores as he held Martin Murray to a draw and claimed a contentious points win over Matthew Macklin during his reign as WBA champion.

Barker hopes to face Sturm in front of his own fans in London and is confident he can defeat the man from Cologne after studying footage of his defeat by Geale last year.

"He's a good fighter Felix Sturm, but I think his best days were when he lost to Oscar De La Hoya," Barker told skysports.com

"He won't be as lucky as he was against the other two. I'm looking forward to getting in there with him. Like I say, he's a good fighter, but I'll definitely be beating him.

"Watching Daniel Geale, I saw a lot of the Felix Sturm fight and Geale just outhustled him and outworked him. He's not that exceptional on his feet, so you can do your work and move. I know what I have to do to beat him and it will be a massive fight here in England.

"I'm with the best promoter in the country and he puts on huge shows does Eddie Hearn. It will be a great occasion. Defending my world title in London would be another dream come true and I'm hoping it will happen."

Barker had considered retirement after a string of injuries and concerns were raised about whether he was physically and mentally tough enough to win a world title.

But the 31-year-old believes he has silenced his doubters after hauling himself off the canvas in the sixth round following a brutal body shot from Geale.

"That nine seconds seemed like an eternity," he said. "So many thoughts came through my head.

"I did think about the tough times and what I'd had to pull myself through. I kept reminding myself it was only a body shot, telling myself: 'get up, get up, you're better than this!' Somehow I managed to get up and I'm so glad I did. I was in bits.

"I've always had question marks over my stamina and my toughness. Everyone says I don't have that real grit and determination to go on and win a world title, so I really wanted to prove to everybody and myself that I've got it in me to tough it out when I need to. I'm proud in that sense as well."

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist has built up a reputation as a classy boxer, with polished ring skills, but he was happy to stand and trade with Geale during their gruelling battle.

Barker admits he was consumed by his burning desire for victory and abandoned his pre-fight tactics.

"I think it was me wanting to win so much," he said. "When you are travelling to fight for a world title on the other guy's show you've got to win the fight, and my desire and my will to win made me fight that way.

"I had to go and win the title. I had to grab it off him. I think at times that made me throw my game plan out the window a bit. Because our game plan was to stick to our boxing, attack when need be, instead of attacking all the time, but I think that was just my will to win. I really wanted to win badly."

Barker was not the only success story at the weekend as trainer Tony Sims guided his first fighter to a world title.

Sims has forged a close bond with Barker over the years and the victory was a fitting reward after the pair helped each other through some tough times.

Barker said: "Me and Tony have been to hell and back. He's had to put up with me.

"He's not only my trainer, he's a great friend. It's not just me winning this world title, I've done it for loads of people.

"My friends, my family, my brother and Tony is another person I have done it for because he's worked just as hard as I have.

"He does a lot, training me, getting me in fantastic condition, but as a friend he's put up with me because I'm a pain sometimes. He's a top man and deserves all the success as well."

Daniel Agger cannot help but learn from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard

Daniel Agger says he cannot help but learn from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard's leadership after succeeding Jamie Carragher as vice skipper.

Manager Brendan Rodgers appointed the Denmark centre-half, who captains his country, at the beginning of August as Sky Sports pundit Carragher's successor.

Agger told the club website: "I always have responsibility, no matter if you're vice-captain or not. You have to always be there, always be at the front and, of course, try to help some of the young players.

"Now I have been here for almost eight years and Stevie has been the captain all the way. He is an amazing captain: he is the one I will look at.

"Not only in his football skills, because that speaks for itself, but the person he is and the way he treats people - he's just the best."

Following the retirement of Carragher and Jose Reina's loan switch to Napoli, Agger automatically became the second-longest serving Liverpool player after Gerrard still in the dressing room.

The extra responsibility has not changed the 28-year-old's approach to his profession and he added: "It's the same in every single football team, in every single job - when somebody goes, somebody new has to take over.

"It has been like that forever. So there's nothing new there. Over the years, the players have changed a lot.

"So, of course, when you stay at one club for so long you become one of the senior players - even though it's a difficult word to say because I still feel the same as eight years ago.

"When I play for Denmark and I'm the captain for Denmark, I've learned a lot in the last 10 years of my career.

"I'm trying to take the best part of all the good things, also from Stevie, and put it together in the way I want to do it. I think that's the best way to describe that.

"It's the biggest thing you can achieve at international level, being captain of your country. Every time I put that armband on, it makes me proud.

"You learn something all the time and when you put that armband on, something happens to you. It's difficult to describe but it's a good thing."

Valencia's Jeremy Mathieu admits he may have to consider future

Jeremy Mathieu has revealed he could leave Valencia, if he is forced to play out of position by new coach Miroslav Djukic.

The French international only signed a new four-year deal at the start of the summer but has been unsettled by the prospect of having to play at full-back in 2013/14.

And with Bayern Munich and Barcelona both reportedly interested in the defender, it seems he would not be short of options if the situation cannot be resolved.

"I can't close the door on the possibility of leaving the club," Mathieu said.

"It all depends on the coming games and if I enter into the plans of the manager."

The 29-year-old was suspended for the opening day win over Malaga last weekend but has made it clear he expects to return to the side in his preferred position sooner rather than later.

He continued: "I don't want to play full-back. I stayed at the club to play in the centre. I respect the coach's decision but if it carries on I will have to talk to him.

"I am a little angry. For me it's normal to feel angry if I don't play. I don't want to spend the season sitting on the bench.

"If I'm not part of the manager's plans I can't close the door on a possible departure."

New Reading signing Royston Drenthe hoping for long-term stay at Royals

New Reading signing Royston Drenthe is hoping to stay with the club for a long time and says he finally feels settled.

The Dutch international moved to the Royals in June from Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, having played for four clubs in the past three years.

After living in the club hotel at the Madejski Stadium, the former Real Madrid winger has moved into a house and is happy in Berkshire.

Talking to the Reading Evening Post, the 26-year-old said: "I have a house and I don't have to stay at the stadium.

"I'm really happy to be here and I hope I can be here a long time."

He also says he is back to full fitness after being worked hard by Reading's coaching staff and manager Nigel Adkins.

"I have to thank the gaffer, I have to thank the coach and I have to thank everybody who is working around me," he said.

"They worked really hard with me. It was a really tough pre-season but I'm in really good shape now."