Sporting CP Restart Talks With Rangers' Pedro Mendes – Report

The Gers’ financial worries could force them to part with Mendes, who has had trouble with injury in recent months...

By Robin Bairner

Pedro Mendes
Sporting Lisbon are set to rekindle their interest in Rangers star Pedro Mendes after initial talks had crumbled due to the wage demands of the attack-minded midfielder.

Last Friday, the Portuguese club announced that there would be no let up in their attempts to sign the 30-year-old, despite well publicised boardroom problems at the club. However, no action seemed to be forthcoming as the trail went quiet.

According to a report from the BBC, Sporting were not prepared to meet the initial wage demands of the former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth player but they are now ready to go back to the negotiating table with the midfielder.

Mendes has indicated previously that he is in no hurry to depart the Glasgow club, who hold a healthy lead atop the Scottish Premier League. Rangers, however, may be willing to allow one of their most technically gifted players to leave as they are in serious financial problems.

Having not played since the autumn due to a knee issue, Mendes could leave the Ibrox side for a fee in the region of €1 to 2 million, following French loan signing Jerome Rothen quickly out of the door.
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2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.

We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!

Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.

From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!

2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.

Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:

"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.

"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.

"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."

Full story HERE


2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.

“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.

(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)

“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.

“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.


Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.

“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.

“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”


2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.

"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."

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