Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese has questioned the conduct of clubs chasing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The 17-year-old winger is hot property at the moment, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal all keen to snap him up.
The Saints are reluctant to part with their prized asset, though, believing his development would be better served at St Mary's.
For that reason Cortese was reluctant to discuss a deal during the January transfer window, although he admits the manner in which some Premier League suitors went about their business hardly helped their cause.
"I have experienced a lot of things over the past month about the behaviour of some Premier League clubs," Cortese told the Telegraph.
"Some have really behaved very well. There has been professionalism and there has been the complete opposite as well.
"Some simply sent a fax. No communication, nothing. It gave the impression that they didn't care about the boy. Those faxes went straight into the bin. The others made a phone enquiry and I said I didn't want to get involved in negotiations."
Focus
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was among those to publicly state his interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cortese believes the Frenchman was out of order in his efforts to unsettle the youngster.
"It definitely did not help their cause," he said.
"We focused on what we wanted to do and not what others wanted to do. I was in the driver's seat. There was not a second I doubted that he would stay."
Southampton are now hoping that Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is expected to make his England U21 debut against Italy on Tuesday, will remain on the South Coast until at least the end of the 2011/12 campaign.
"We care about the boy," said Cortese.
"I believe that for Alex the best place for him to progress over the next 18 months is here."
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has refused to rule out a move to bitter rivals Manchester United.
United are considering their goalkeeping options as they seek a replacement for Edwin van der Sar when the Dutchman hangs up his gloves at the end of the season.
Reina has been mooted as a possible transfer target after establishing himself as one of the best keepers in Europe during his time at Liverpool.
The 28-year-old has admitted he could be tempted to make the move to Old Trafford as he wants to be challenging for trophies on a consistent basis.
"Yes, well Van der Sar will hang up his gloves in the summer so of course they are looking," Reina told Spanish radio station Ondo Sera. "I can't do anything. I can't say anything logically as I have a contract with Liverpool.
"Of course one likes to fight for titles and be in a team that does that. We always fought to be in the Champions League and try to win the title. But unfortunately it hasn't been the case in the last couple of years."
Former Barcelona and Villarreal custodian Reina has left the door open to quit Anfield if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
"I won't lie, I want to play in the Champions League and challenge for titles," added Reina
Javier Hernandez was voted Player of the Month for January by ManUtd.com readers. It's the second time he's won the award this season - in that respect he's on level pegging with Ji-sung Park.
2010/11 Players of the Month
August - Paul Scholes
September - Dimitar Berbatov
October - Javier Hernandez
November - Ji-sung Park
December - Ji-sung Park
January - Javier Hernandez
Sir Alex Ferguson Laments 'Crazy' Midweek Internationals Ahead Of Manchester Derby
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned the sense behind this week's international fixtures, admitting that they are an unwanted disruption as he prepares for next Saturday's Manchester derby.
Ferguson, who saw his side lose for the first time this season in the league at Wolves on Saturday evening, admitted that the midweek international friendlies are a distraction that he and his side could well do without.
Speaking to MUTV, the United boss also spoke of the importance of the clash with his side's city rivals.
He said: “It’s a terrific game for us now. It’s a massive game that we’ve got to look forward to. Unfortunately we have got international matches in midweek which in my view is crazy, but we have to get on with it.
“We have got plenty of players who will not be involved in internationals and will play next week. The ones that travel we have to give consideration to the fact that they have been travelling before they play at lunch time on Saturday.”
United midfielder Darren Fletcher says the clash against Roberto Mancini's side is a great opportunity to bounce back from the disappointing performance at Molineux.
The 27-year-old said: “All of the lads will be up for it and it’s one of those games that provides the perfect opportunity to bounce back.
“It’s a local derby so all the players will be up for it, the fans will be up for it and we’ll be ready for the game.”
[quote]Gary Neville抯 leadership qualities are one of the major losses to United抯 dressing room following his retirement last week. But Nemanja Vidic, the man who earlier this season took over the armband from Neville, has seamlessly taken to the role
Gary Pallister has rejected claims that Manchester City's training ground bust-ups are replicated across the country.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure came to blows during training
Twice this season pictures of players clashing at City's Carrington training complex have emerged. Jerome Boateng and Mario Balotelli had to be separated, as did former Arsenal team-mates Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.
The argument was immediately put forward that such rows only ended up in the public domain because sessions can be watched from vantage points outside Carrington, something not possible at Manchester United just down the road, and tempers flare everywhere else.
It is not an argument Pallister buys into. As a member of United's 1994 Double-winning squad, the former central defender was part of one of the most fiercely competitive dressing rooms modern-day football has known.
Pallister himself, Steve Bruce, Paul Ince, Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel could all handle themselves, none of them particularly noted for their laid-back nature. But never did Pallister, now 45, see anything resembling the pictures that have emerged from City.
"I don't buy into all that about this kind of thing happening everywhere else,'' he said. "In my time at Manchester United, I never saw a punch thrown let alone an actual fight on the training ground.
"Yes, you would have arguments and if someone caught you with a tackle you would say something. But if you have respect for each other it doesn't boil over.
"That is the worrying thing about City. You keep hearing about all these egos and people not getting on. That can be detrimental to a squad. I keep hearing that they are showing this winning mentality in training. It goes a lot deeper than that. There are problems there.''
WAYNE ROONEY can get back to his best for England, insists Bobby Charlton.
Manchester United ace Rooney will start up front alongside Darren Bent for England's friendly in Denmark on Wednesday.
The striker has netted just ONE goal for England since September 2009.
But England and United legend Charlton, speaking in Abu Dhabi ahead of tonight's Laureus Awards - the Oscars of sport - said: "He's been showing signs that he is getting back to normal.
"He had a bit of an upheaval earlier in the season and that cost him a lot. But he is still a great player and will get better."
Post time 8-2-2011 07:00 PM
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