Liverpool close to securing Adam deal

Liverpool are expecting to clinch a deal for Charlie Adam this weekend, unless Aston Villa delay proceedings by turning negotiations into a bidding war.
Damien Comolli, the Reds' director of football, will press ahead over the next 48 hours in an attempt to add Adam to the recent capture of Jordan Henderson. A meeting with Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston is booked, and Liverpool hope to conclude an £8 million transfer.

Oyston revealed 11 days ago that he had held initial talks with the Anfield club, saying in The Gazette: "We've had a few very preliminary discussions and enquiries but nothing of any substance."

Liverpool first lodged an £8 million bid in January, only to find the Tangerines holding out for £12 million. Oyston had hoped Adam would keep his club in the Premier League, but now he is left on weaker ground to barter, with the Scotland international desperate to stay in England's top flight.

The most likely scenario to scupper Liverpool's plans would be a last-ditch hijack attempt from Aston Villa, whose new boss Alex McLeish used to work with Adam at Rangers. Blackpool would hope a rival bid would drive up Liverpool's offer, which is expected to start as low as £6.5 million.

Adam is one of a handful of players wanted by Kenny Dalglish, who also has Comolli negotiating for Ipswich's Connor Wickham, Arsenal's Gael Clichy, and Aston Villa's Stewart Downing. The Reds are already believed to have had offers of £5 million and £12 million rejected for Clichy and Downing respectively.

Adam's arrival would create an overstaffing of midfielders at Anfield, where Alberto Aquilani has returned after Juventus cooled interest in a £14 million deal. Portugal international Raul Meireles has also been linked to the Turin club, but no formal movements have materialised.

Elijah Wood's 'Wilfred' a bizarre gem

After watching Thursday night's premiere of "Wilfred," I'm not sure there's enough to sustain a long-term series, but there's more than enough to keep me watching.

Elijah Wood stars in FX's remake of the critically acclaimed Australian series of the same title. Co-creator Jason Gann reprises the role of Wilfred, a dog who is seen by Wood's character, Ryan, as a man in a dog suit.

The show began with Ryan trying, unsuccessfully, to kill himself by swallowing a cocktail mixed with medication. At one point, he was interrupted by the yammering of what he believed to be his neighbor's boyfriend.

When the neighbor, Jenna, showed up at Ryan's doorstep the next morning, she asked him to watch Wilfred, and before long it became clear - to Ryan, at least - that this was not a side effect of the drugs (which turned out to be placebos).

In between musings on some of the habits of dogs, Wilfred was able to read Ryan like an open book and offer up sage advice from a canine point of view. Soon, after doing unspeakable things to the property of another neighbor who had threatened him, the once-suicidal Ryan discovered that he never felt more alive.

That's when the big twist took place: Wilfred planted Ryan's wallet at the scene of the crime.

Yes, I laughed out loud at some of the silly humor here. Despite the opening, it's not as dark as one might expect. At the moment the show's intriguing, if only because you just want to know the reason why Wilfred appears to Ryan this way. I worry, though, that the dog jokes may wear pretty thin after a few weeks.

The two biggest highlights here are the performances by Wood and Gann. Gann, especially, is extraordinary in this role, and hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of what he can do in the future.

Gasperini to replace Leonardo as Inter Milan coach

Gian Piero Gasperini's only top-flight coaching experience in Italy has been with Genoa.

Uncertainty over Inter Milan's coaching position ended on Friday as chairman Massimo Moratti announced that former Genoa boss Gian Piero Gasperini will be replacing Leonardo.

The 53-year-old, who guided Genoa into Serie A in 2007 before being sacked last November following a bad run of form, will sign a two-year deal at the San Siro.

He will be officially unveiled "as soon as the final bureaucratic formalities are completed" according to the Italian club's website.

Leonardo, who replaced Rafael Benitez in December 2010, is expected to take up a sporting director role with France's Paris St Germain -- a former club of his which has been recently bought by a Qatari group.
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Club president Massimo Moratti expressed his "full satisfaction with the choice" and the 67-year-old wished his new employee "the success that brought Inter the title of world champions."

While Benitez took Inter to the FIFA Club World Cup title, he was unable to successful follow on the exploits of Jose Mourinho -- who took Inter to an unprecedented treble in 2009-10, winning the European Champions League plus a domestic double.

Under Leonardo, Inter finished runners-up to city rivals AC Milan in Serie A last season and claimed a seventh Coppa Italia crown.

A World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994, the 41-year-old had been a surprise choice after both playing for and coaching Milan.

Moratti and Inter have reportedly suffered setbacks in their search for a new boss, with former Chile national team coach Marcelo Bielsa rumored to have been approached regarding the position.

Andre-Villas Boas was another coach linked with the post, but the 33-year-old has now been appointed manager of English Premier League club Chelsea.

England coach Fabio Capello, who has twice been in charge of Milan, was also linked with a move to Inter.

Post-breakup Paris Hilton reconnects with old friend

A newly single Paris Hilton was feeling the love at a shindig for Charlotte Ronson on Tuesday, as the heiress was all hugs and smiles with former BFF/supposed frenemy Nicole Richie.

According to TMZ, the two were seen exchanging hugs and hanging out at the Hollywood event. Hilton tweeted later, “@NicoleRichie, Bill, great seeing you tonight at #Iheartronson. You looked so beautiful! Love you. Love Sill :) xoxo”

The 30-year-old heiress, who is currently starring in the Oxygen reality show “The World According to Paris,” recently broke up with her boyfriend of one year, Cy Waits, and says that she’s now taking a closer look at her life.
"Cy is a good guy," she tells E!. "We've been friends for years and always will be. I just need some time alone to focus on myself. We speak all the time. I have nothing but great things to say about him."

A source adds that the reality TV star does feel bad “for ending the relationship, but she felt that she needs time to reevaluate her life."

Lindsay Lohan stands up Matt Lauer

Lindsay Lohan’s been open about what life is like under house arrest – giving an interview to Life & Style, filming commercials – but when Matt Lauer from “Today” showed up at her Venice Beach, California, home, Lohan clammed up.

The New York Post reports that Lauer flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday to interview the 24-year-old actress, who is now due back in court because she failed an alcohol test again.

According to the Post, once Lauer arrived at her home, Lohan wouldn’t come down out of her bedroom. An unnamed source told the paper, "They had been talking about it for a long time. But she refused to come down at the last minute. Matt was sitting in the chair on the first floor, waiting to do the interview with his crew all set up."

Although the Post cites an anonymous source claiming Lohan was to be paid for the interview, a rep for “Today” denies that there was any “licensing or payment agreement of any kind.” The “Today” spokesperson explains that "When [Lauer] arrived, she had a change of heart and wasn't prepared to talk for more than 15 minutes, as she had agreed, so the interview was canceled."

Lohan’s rep concurs, noting that he was the one to pull her out of it. "No money was involved, and I was the one who called [the interview] off."

Lauer did address the situation this morning on “Today,” telling viewers after a segment about Lohan’s impending return to court, “Some of you may have heard that I was with Lindsay on Tuesday afternoon at her home in Los Angeles. We were supposed to sit down for an interview to talk about her current situation and her plans for the future.”

At the last minute, Lauer continued, “Lindsay and her people did express concerns about the timing of the interview and it was canceled. I think we're learning more this morning about the reasons for their concern."

Young seals Manchester United switch

Ashley Young joined Aston Villa from Watford for $15 million in January 2007

Premier League champions Manchester United have confirmed the signing of England international winger Ashley Young from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.

Young, 25, is United's second signing of the transfer window, after defender Phil Jones joined from Blackburn Rovers, and has signed a five-year deal at Old Trafford.

"The opportunity to come and play for one of the biggest clubs in the world is one I couldn't turn down," Young told MUTV.

"It's a chance to hopefully become part of their history by helping them to win their 20th title.
"It's a prospect I always looked at from being a child -- to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world," he added.

"I've got that opportunity now so I've just got to take it with both hands."

The former Watford forward moved to Villa Park for $15 million in January 2007 and captained the Birmingham-based outfit for part of last season.

He made 157 Premier League appearances for Villa, scoring 30 goals, and has 15 caps for his country.

"Ashley has made a terrific contribution for Villa over the past four-and-a-half seasons and everyone at the club wishes him the best for the future," newly-appointed Villa manager Alex McLeish told Villa's official website.

"He has become an important player in the England team during that time and I'm sure he will be looking forward to this new challenge," added McLeish.

Young scored the equalizer for Fabio Capello's England side in their recent 2-2 draw with Switzerland at Wembley, and has started their last three matches.

United's latest recruit scored against his new employers for Villa in a 2-2 draw in November 2010.

France to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

France will start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, following a timetable similar to the one U.S. President Barack Obama announced, the French president's office said Thursday.

"This withdrawal will be done in consultation with our allies and with the Afghan authorities," the statement from Nicolas Sarkozy's office said.

All French troops could be out of Afghanistan by 2013, French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet told France Info radio Thursday.

Longuet declined to give specifics, citing the "safety of our soldiers and the people they protect.

"So we cannot say right now it will happen from such a place or it will be this type of troop because we have no information to give to our adversaries, the Taliban," he said.

But he said that NATO had planned on "a complete transition in 2014," and that "what has emerged today is that we will undoubtedly gain a year on this calendar."

France has 3,935 troops in Afghanistan, according to the NATO mission there.

Obama said Wednesday that the U.S. would withdraw 33,000 U.S. troops by September 2012. That will leave just under 70,000 Americans there.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose country has the second largest number of foreign troops in Afghanistan, welcomed Obama's announcement.

He said the British will keep "force levels in Afghanistan under constant review," adding: "I have already said there will be no UK troops in combat roles in Afghanistan by 2015 and, where conditions on the ground allow, it is right that we bring troops home sooner."