Kevin Phillips joins Blackpool on free transfer

Striker Kevin Phillips has joined Blackpool on a free transfer after being released by Birmingham City.

The 37-year-old has agreed a one-year-deal with the Seasiders with an option for a further 12 months.

Phillips has scored 254 goals in 561 career appearances for seven different clubs and won eight England caps.

"I've scored many goals in my career and I still believe I've got many in me," Phillips told the official Blackpool website.

KEVIN PHILLIPS' CAREER

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• Started his career as a right-back in Southampton's youth team
• Released by the Saints, he converts to a striker at non-league Baldock Town
• Joins Watford for £10,000 in 1994
• Scores 24 league goals for the Hornets before joining Sunderland for £350,000 in 1997
• Won the European golden boot in 2000 with 30 Premier League goals
• Eventually scored 113 league goals for Sunderland
• Leaves Birmingham having scored 254 career goals

"I did a fair bit of work last year for Sky television watching Blackpool when I was commentating.

"Like everyone else in the country, I enjoyed watching Blackpool play and creating chances. It was exciting to watch and Ian Holloway is an infectious manager. That was certainly a major factor in me wanting to join Blackpool.

"Hopefully I can get on the end of a few of those chances that we create."

Phillips made 20 appearances for Birmingham last season, scoring four goals, but was released by the club following their relegation to the Championship.

He began his career with Baldock Town and subsequently played for Watford, Sunderland, Southampton, Aston Villa and West Brom, before moving to St Andrew's.

He is Blackpool's third summer signing following the recruitment of former Manchester United winger Bojan Djordjic and Preston North End left-back Matt Hill.

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Arsenal duo Manuel Almunia & Nicklas Bendtner in move talks

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and striker Nicklas Bendtner are in talks with unnamed clubs over moves away from the Emirates.

Bendtner, 23, and Almunia, 34, were left out a 23-man squad that will travel to Asia for a pre-season tour.

An Arsenal spokesman confirmed this was so the pair could undertake negotiations over potential transfers.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is expected to clarify details over the impending moves at a press conference on Monday.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, who has been strongly linked with a move to former club Barcelona this summer, will also miss the tour in order to receive treatment on a muscle injury.

The other notable absentee is defender Emmanuel Eboue, who is nursing a calf strain.

However, midfielder Samir Nasri - reportedly the target of interest from Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea - will travel with the squad.

Arsenal first head to Malaysia on Sunday to face an All-Star XI before heading west to face Hangzhou Greentown in China.

THE BENDTNER EFFECT

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Arsenal were unbeaten in all the games that Nicklas Bendtner scored in last season

Should Bendtner and Almunia exit the Emirates that will make three notable departures from Arsenal this summer following Gael Clichy's £6m move to Manchester City.

Spaniard Almunia, who moved to London from Celta Vigo in 2004, began last season as Arsenal's first-choice keeper but spent much of the campaign sidelined through a combination of injury and Wenger's preference for Wojciech Szczesny as his number one.

Denmark international Bendtner joined the Arsenal academy in 2005 and spent the 2006/07 season on loan at Birmingham.

Last season he made 32 appearances for the Gunners (18 of them as a substitute) and scored eight goals, including a hat-trick against Leyton Orient in an FA Cup fifth-round replay.

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Chelsea suffer Michael Essien injury blow

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has sustained a knee injury in training.

A statement from the club said: "Michael suffered an injury to his right knee during training this week.

"He will undergo tests over the next few days to determine the extent of that injury. Until we have the full results of those tests we will not be commenting further."

The 28-year-old Ghanaian was ruled out for more than six months in 2008 when he sustained cruciate ligament damage.

Essien also missed the 2010 World Cup because of a knee problem, and the midfielder's latest setback is a blow to new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, who is preparing his squad for their trip to the Far East, where they will compete in the Asia Cup.

ESSIEN'S KNEE TROUBLES

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• September 2008 - misses six months following injury while on Ghana duty
• January 2010 - ruled out of World Cup after breaking down at Africa Cup of Nations
• July 2011 - injured in training and set to undergo further tests

Essien joined the Blues from French club Lyon in 2005 in a £24.4m deal and has gone to to establish himself as a key player at Stamford Bridge.

He has helped Chelsea to two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, as well as the Carling Cup in 2007.

Despite being ruled out for the majority of the 2008-09 campaign, Essien has amassed 229 appearances for the London side, scoring 26 goals.

While the club have not elaborated on the severity of the problem, Essien will be mindful of what happened to him while playing for Ghana in a World Cup qualifier against Libya three years ago.

On that occasion he landed awkwardly during the match and was subsequently told he faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, the Blues have named Michael Emenalo as their new sporting director.

Emenalo was assistant first-team coach for most of last season, taking on the role after Ray Wilkins left the club.

The 45-year-old will oversee a scouting network and youth development programmes, as well as supporting Villas-Boas.

A statement on Chelsea's website read: "Michael takes on a vital role that will assist the overall long-term football strategy of the club."

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Tottenham broke agreement, claims Modric

Tottenham will stand firm on their refusal to sell Luka Modric - even after his claim that chairman Daniel Levy reneged on an agreement by rejecting a £22m bid from Chelsea.

BBC Sport understands Spurs will insist there was no agreement made between Modric and Levy.

Modric said: "Last summer [Levy] said we would find a satisfactory agreement if a club like Chelsea came in.

"I hope eventually we go our separate ways in an appropriate manner."

Modric's representative told BBC Sport on Thursday that he would not ask for a transfer, but the 25-year-old made his discontent clear in an interview with Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti.

Chelsea retain an interest in Modric and their need for increased midfield reinforcements is now more urgent after Michael Essien suffered another knee injury in training.

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Now Levy doesn't want to talk to me and said there is no possibility that I can leave Spurs.

Luka Modric

Modric's criticism will not force a change in policy from Levy, who remains adamant no price could tempt him to sell despite what appears to be his increasing dissatisfaction.

"A lot has been published in the press about the meeting with Levy, who gave the public a twisted account of what happened," Modric said.

"I must say that I am genuinely disappointed about what Levy said to me. He didn't care about what I was telling him. It all only convinced me further that I was right to consider moving on to another club.

"I reminded the chairman of our gentlemen's agreement when we were in Dubrovnik last summer and I agreed a contract extension with Tottenham. Then I had an open chat with Levy - that if a bigger club came in with a concrete offer, we would consider it and agree the best solution for all concerned.

"The chairman said, 'OK, we'll sit and talk [about any offers]'. Now Levy doesn't want to talk to me and said there is no possibility that I can leave Spurs.

"He threatened me - he said if I didn't accept the club's stance, they would make me sit on the bench or in the stands."

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