THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 SPORTS Premier League spending will only increase — experts LONDON: Foreign clubs are the main beneficiaries of Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) and Son They can also offer financial packages that are very years,” he added. “So spending is not only going to the Premier League’s transfer dealings and will contin- Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) respectively. attractive to international players. continue, it is going to increase. Clubs will still have ue to be so with forthcoming increases in broadcast Gross transfer fees to overseas clubs of 585 million “Not only is the Premier League a net importer of the ability to spend at these kind of levels if they so revenue, financial analysts predicted as the summer pounds were 10 per cent up on the previous year, talent, way ahead of other leagues in gross and net choose.” According to Deloitte’s figures, Premier window finally closed this week. according to the annual analysis by the Deloitte busi- spending, but Germany and France have actually been League clubs’ record gross spend of 870 million Although many fees remain unofficial, it was gener- ness advisory firm. “Since the introduction of the new net exporters.” Given that a lucrative new domestic pounds was more than double that of Italy’s Serie A, ally agreed that of the 10 most expensive deals involv- (Premier League) broadcast deal for 2013-14, spending broadcast deal, a 70 percent increase on the existing the second highest. ing English clubs since the end of last season, seven of on overseas players has nearly doubled,” Deloitte’s Alex one, comes into effect next season, with overseas But there was an unexpected benefit in the the players were bought from other leagues. Thorpe told Reuters in an interview. rights still to be negotiated, Thorpe sees no reason strength of the pound against the euro, which accord- Germany’s Bundesliga benefited most, with VfL “In 2012 it was 300 million pounds. This summer it why the current trends will not continue. ing to corporate broker Foenix saved them 85 million Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen receiv- was 585 million. “That shows how broadcast revenues “Looking to the future, the biggest factor driving pounds in buying players from European clubs. The ing almost 100 million pounds ($153.09 million) have driven the increase in clubs’ spending in the transfer spending has been broadcast revenue, so that next transfer window for all Europe’s major leagues between them for Kevin de Bruyne (sold to international market. And it’s not just the transfer fees. has already been taken care of for the next three opens on Jan. 1. — Reuters Conte targets Euro ticket MILAN: Coach Antonio Conte has demanded Italy seal their Euro 2016 ticket this weekend but has warned that only first team regulars will figure in his travelling plans for next summer’s tournament in France. Italy host Malta in Florence on Thursday before travelling to Palermo to host a Bulgarian side desperate to relaunch their qualifying campaign with four games remaining in Group H. Victory from both games would see Italy book their ticket for the European Championships with two games to spare. Conte, who led Juventus to three consecutive titles prior to taking over the Italy job, advised his squad to put aside what is going on in domestic competition. “It’s an important week for us. With two wins against Malta and Bulgaria we can qualify for Euro 2016,” said Conte, who took over from Cesare Prandelli following Italy’s first-round exit from last year’s World Cup. “I want the players to forget what’s happening in their various clubs. All we should be focusing on is winning our games. “We want to win them all and finish top of the group to give our confidence and self-esteem a boost.” Italy are only one point behind group leaders Antonio Conte Croatia, who on paper have 14 but were deducted a point following a 1-1 draw with Italy in June after a group’s whipping boys. They are bottom of the pile it.” Conte added Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne to swastika was scrawled on the pitch before the fix- with one point from six games in which they mostly his squad after Toronto FC striker Sebastian Giovinco ture in Zagreb. But among Italy’s squad, competition frustrated their opponents by defending en masse suffered an injury knock. for places is tight. Conte has rejuvenated his squad and striking on the counter. Conte says he wants no There is still no room for Liverpool misfit Mario with players like Simone Zaza, but the striker’s move slip-ups over the coming two fixtures. “It’s crucial we Balotelli, who has returned to AC Milan on loan in a back to Juventus following a successful loan spell at take the six points, it would allow us to start prepar- bid to resurrect his career, and in the meantime Sassuolo could come at a price if he fails to play reg- ing for June. Malta’s squad has grown a lot in the Brazil-born Eder has laid claim to one of the striker’s ularly. “I will pay close attention to what’s going on past years, they defend with eight players and spots. Sampdoria striker Eder has hit four goals in and who is playing... if some of the players are not they’re a tough nut to crack for most teams.” two Serie A games so far to top Italy’s scoring charts playing then they will be at risk.” AC Milan midfielder Andrea Bertolacci agreed and pledged his loyalty to Conte’s cause. “I don’t While Bulgaria have given Italy plenty of food for with Conte’s assessment. “We know we can qualify if know if I will start but I’m giving my all every day thought in past encounters, notably holding them we win these two games, so on Thursday and and I’m here if and when the coach calls on me,” he to a 2-2 draw in Sofia last March, Malta are the Sunday we’ll be lining up looking to rubber stamp said. — AFP Toure-less Ivory Coast FRANCE: France’s forward Anthony Martial kicks the ball during a training session days ahead of the team friendly match against Portugal. — AFP launch title defence Marked man Martial must JOHANNESBURG: An Ivory Coast team lacking find place at Man United superstar Yaya Toure launches this weekend what they hope will be a 10-match climb back to the pinnacle of African football. LONDON: If Anthony Martial felt unsure dle. But United manager Louis van Gaal’s The Cup of Nations title-holders have a about the scale of the challenge awaiting emphasis on Martial being a “multi-func- Group I date with fellow-west Africans Sierra him at Manchester United, it will have tional forward” suggests he may be Leone in a fixture switched from Freetown to been made plain by a comment from his asked to serve at least part of his appren- Nigerian commercial capital Lagos because of new team-mate Morgan Schneiderlin. ticeship on the flanks. the Ebola epidemic. It will be the first of four Addressing journalists at France’s In Van Gaal, Martial could hardly have qualifying games for the ‘Elephants’ as they training camp, which the 19-year-old asked for a coach with a better reputa- seek to top the table and secure a place at the Martial had just left in order to sign for tion for developing young talent. The 2017 tournament in Gabon. Ivory Coast had a United, Schneiderlin said that Wayne Ajax team that Van Gaal led to matchday 1 bye last June in a three-team mini- Rooney had spoken to him about the Champions League glory in 1995 league completed by Sudan. club’s newest recruit. “Wayne Rooney remains a symbol of the power of youth New France-born Ivory Coast coach Michel came to speak to me and asked me who and Patrick Kluivert was a year younger Dussuyer must do without Manchester City this Martial was, because the English than Martial when he scored the winner stars Toure and Wilfried Bony plus Newcastle press were starting to really talk about it,” against AC Milan in the final. United midfield enforcer Cheick Tiote. Schneiderlin said. “‘Do you know him? In that there is a caveat, however, with National team captain Toure, voted African What’s he like?’ Those were his ques- several youngsters having been given Footballer of the Year a record four consecutive tions.” chances at Old Trafford in recent months- times since 2011, asked to be excluded while Not only is Martial alighting at Old Tyler Blackett, Jesse Lingard, Paddy he considers his international future. Trafford as the most expensive teenager McNair to a lesser extent-only to then Now 32, the midfielder who specialises in in the game’s history, having cost a sink from sight. United’s recent record turning edge-of-the-box free-kicks into goals reported initial fee of £36 million ($55.1 when it comes to big-money signings suffered a dip in form when he returned last million, 49 million euros). He is doing so does not bode particularly well, with Di February from the triumphant 2015 Cup of as a relative unknown. Maria having left after a year and Juan Nations Cup campaign in Equatorial Guinea. It is believed the fee could rise to £58 Mata, Ander Herrera and Marouane Dussuyer, a former goalkeeper who guided million, but though the deal is said to be Fellaini still finding their feet.