BPL updates

Cardiff City teenager Aaron Ramsey has completed his £5m move to Arsenal.

Champions League winners Manchester United and Premier League giants Everton were also in the hunt for the 17-year-old Welsh prodigy.

But Ramsey has signed a long-term deal at Arsenal after they flew him to Switzerland for face-to-face talks with boss Arsene Wenger at Euro 2008.

"He was a big factor in my decision to join Arsenal," said Ramsey. "I'm so happy to have signed for Arsenal."

Ramsey spoke to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on the telephone as initially Premier League champions United looked favourite to sign him.

Cardiff made no secret of the fact they wanted him to join United to take advantage of the loan-back agreement.

He also met Everton manager David Moyes before being flown out on a private jet to Basel last Saturday to meet with Wenger.

"Arsene talked to me for a long time about the club and the plans for the future, which really excites me," said Ramsey.

"Arsenal is a club which always gives young players an opportunity at the highest level of the game and I am going to work my hardest to be part of future successes here.


Liverpool will make an improved offer to sign Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry after having a second bid - believed to be £13m - turned down.

BBC Sport understands boss Rafael Benitez is poised to go back to Villa in a renewed attempt to bring the acrimonious saga to a conclusion.

The £18m-rated 27-year-old has told Villa he wants to sign for Liverpool.

Liverpool hope to sell Xabi Alonso to Juventus to help fund the deal, but have yet to receive a serious offer.

O'Neill has been critical of Liverpool's pursuit of Barry, who captained England for the first time and scored his first international goal during the recent friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

Liverpool are keen to partner Barry in midfield with his England colleague Steven Gerrard and have declared their interest publicly, much to O'Neill's fury.


England midfielder David Bentley has told Blackburn he wants to leave Ewood Park for a new challenge.

"The situation is I want to move on. I want to be playing Champions League football, or in Europe.

"I've been here for three years and I love the club and I love playing for them but I feel I've done everything I can," the 23-year-old explained.

Bentley, who began his career at Arsenal, has been linked with possible moves to Liverpool or Manchester City.

City are now managed by former Rovers boss Mark Hughes, who has been promised substantial transfer funds by owner Thaksin Shinawatra with the aim of turning them into one of the Premier League's elite clubs.

Luiz Felipe Scolari says a new challenge and financial security were two reasons why he agreed to become the new manager of Chelsea on 1 July.

The current Portugal coach said: "Five and a half years is a record for me in a job. It's good to change."

The Brazilian conceded that there was some financial motivation behind his decision because the 59-year-old wants to retire before he is 70.

"Yes, that is one of the reasons," added Scolari.

"I spent 20 years as a club manager, so I think I know the ins and outs of club management.

"When I work with my players, I speak English, Portuguese, German, Italian because football is one language.

"I feel comfortable anywhere in the world as I'm someone who always has good relations with people around me."

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