Big European teams want Reus, claims agent

The versatile attacker's representative has refused to rule out a summer transfer amid interest from several big clubs

Marco Reus' agent Dirk Hebel has claimed that a number of major European teams are closely monitoring his client's situation at Borussia Dortmund with a view to a potential transfer.

The Germany international has a contract with BVB until June 2017, but he's available for a limited fee release clause of €35 million in the summer of 2015.

Dortmund are keen to hold on to Reus, though, and have offered the 25-year-old a payrise in an attempt to convince him to agreeing to remove the buyout clause from his current deal.

However, contract talks have so far been unsuccessful and the attacker's representative has refused to rule out a move elsewhere.

"Marco would make any big European team stronger," Hebel was quoted as saying by Bild. 

"That's why it's completely normal that a number of these major European teams are interested in signing him. 

"But his main priority for now is to get back to top fitness and return to the pitch. Everything else is not important at this stage."

Reus, who missed Germany's successful World Cup campaign due to injury, has been linked with clubs such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool in the past few months.

Mourinho: Modric rejected Chelsea move

The Portuguese worked with the midfielder during his time at Real Madrid and was keen to lure the 28-year-old to Stamford Bridge

Jose Mourinho has revealed he approached Luka Modric about a possible move to Chelsea but the Croatia international rejected him to stay at Real Madrid.

The 28-year-old midfielder joined the Spanish club from Tottenham in 2012 and worked under Mourinho for a season before the Portuguese left for Chelsea.

Reports have suggested that the pair could be reunited at Stamford Bridge this summer but Mourinho claims Modric will remain at Madrid.

"I called Modric only privately but he doesn't want [to join] Chelsea,” Mourinho told Croatian newspaperSportske Novosti.

"You know I really appreciate Luka Modric and his qualities. But he stays in Real Madrid.”

Modric made 49 appearances in all competitions for Madrid last season, scoring two goals and providing eight assists, while Manchester United have also been linked with a bid for the 28-year-old

Dortmund will struggle to hold on to Reus, says Rummenigge

The former West Germany international believes the Signal Iduna Park side will find it difficult to resist offers for the attacker after he rejected a new contract with the club

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes Borussia Dortmund will face a tough battle to hold on to star player Marco Reus.

On Tuesday, German newspaper Bild reported that the 25-year-old rejected the opportunity to sign a new contract in order to engineer a move elsewhere.

The German international has a reported €35 million buyout clause in his current contract, which expires in 2017, and is being chased by some of Europe’s top clubs, including Manchester United and Barcelona.

Bayern are also thought to be interested in the attacker, who has scored 30 goals in 62 appearances since he joined BVB in 2012, and Rummenigge thinks Reus’ intention is clear following his decision not to extend his current dea at Signal Iduna Park.

"I think that it is hard for Borussia Dortmund,” Rummenigge told Bild.

“Europe’s top clubs will be very interested to find out Reus’ buyout clause [after he rejected a new contract] as the player is in high demand from a lot of big clubs other than FC Bayern Munich.”

The 25-year-old Reus missed this summer’s World Cup after he picked up an ankle ligament injury, but he has recently returned to light running and he hopes to make a full recovery by the start of the 2014-15 season.

Ancelotti: James an investment for Madrid

The World Cup star arrives at Real Madrid next month but is already being considered as an important figure in both the club’s present and future

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says James Rodriguez is an "investment for the future" for the Champions League winners.

The Blancos faced Inter on Saturday and took the lead after 10 minutes, as Gareth Bale fired home from outside the box, but the Italian giants fought back from the penalty spot as Mauro Icardi clipped the ball home when Nemanja Vidic was fouled in the box.

Following the 1-1 result, which Inter won on penalties, Ancelotti assessed his squad’s attacking players and looked forward to the arrival of €80 million man James.

"He arrives on August 1," Ancelotti told reporters. "He is a very important player. He has the quality to play in our team.

"He is a very young player. He is an investment for the future."

With James and Toni Kroos already signed, Radamel Falcao is believed to be the next target for the Blancos but the coach denied that the club are pursuing a striker this summer as he perceives the club have plenty of attackers.

"In our current template, we can play excellently with several options," he began, "First, we have Benzema who is very reliable.

"Isco can play a false nine. It is not important to have a striker who scores many goals. We want a player who can receive the crosses of Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We are not going to recruit another forward because we don’t need one.”

Finally, Ancelotti addressed rumours linking Angel Di Maria, one player whose place is threatened by the arrival of James, with a move away from the club.

"Di Maria is very close to PSG," he concluded, acknowledging reports linking the Argentine winger to the French champions, “I have no news. Di Maria is the same as the others."

Up next for Madrid are Roma on Wednesday at the Cotton Bowl.

Simeone: Brilliant Griezmann would shine for Atletico

As the Spanish champions close in on the signing of the France international, the Rojiblancos coach has praised his would-be new recruit

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is confident that summer transfer target Antoine Griezmann would be a brilliant signing.

Goal revealed this week that the France international is close to joining La Liga's champions after the Rojiblancos have seen off competition from Tottenham and Monaco.

Although he praised the 23-year-old, Simeone stressed that negotiations being held with the attacker do not make him an Atletico man yet.

"He’s a brilliant player," Simeone began, speaking to reporters ahead of Atletico’s friendly match against San Jose Earthquakes. "He is very quick and can give us a lot of options in attack.

"However, it’s also true that a lot of other players have been talked about as possibly coming [to Atletico], and we could make two teams out of all of them."

The coach, who took Atletico to the Spanish title last season, also expressed how content he is with his team’s progress during their pre-season so far.

"It has stood us in good stead," he continued. "Above all I am happy with the new boys. I hope I can have the whole group available as soon as possible, but right now that’s not possible.

"I’m satisfied with our work over these three weeks."

Bayern: We'll never fire Guardiola

Club chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has guaranteed that the German giants will not suffer a World Cup hangover

Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has reassured fans that Pep Guardiola will "never be fired" by the Bavarian giants.

The five-time European champions have often stuttered in the seasons following a World Cup: Felix Magath was fired in January 2007, while Louis van Gaal was dismissed in April 2011, as both men struggled with a squad fatigued after an insubstantial summer break.

Rummenigge has assured fans that a similar malaise will not befall the club this season and that Guardiola, whom was hired last summer, need not fear for his future.

"Bayern Munich will never fire Pep Guardiola," the club chief affirmed to Morgen Post. "I give you that in writing.

"He will be our coach until at least June 30, 2016, when his contract ends.

"Admittedly, for the players it is not easy to begin again after a short holiday due to the World Cup, but thankfully we have a coach who is very relaxed in dealing with this situation.

"This week, he told me, 'I know what I must do and how we manage it' - Pep knows this very situation from 2010, when Spain became world champions and World Cup stars then barely recovered before returning to Barcelona."

Rummenigge, who starred for West Germany and Bayern in his playing days, also spoke of his own pride at seeing his compatriots lift the World Cup in Brazil.

"I have rarely enjoyed such a tournament like the Brazil one," he continued. "After the final, I was happy because our players were unharmed, unlike Franck Ribery at the Euro 2008 or Arjen Robben at the 2010 World Cup. 

"But also because the older players such as Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger finally had the title which they had been working for so meticulously for all these years.

"Germany longs for such heroes, Germany loves such heroes.

Japan New Cruise Train.

Japan has a real fascination for trains, especially ones that are highly technological and modern. Since most train routes in the country were privatized in the late 80s, companies that wanted to invest in a more peculiar type of transportion were able to create their vehicles and bold designs with greater freedom, bringing desginers from other areas to assist in the process. Former Ferrari designer, Ken Okuyama, is one of those individuals.

The JR East company called Okuyama design models called “Cruise Trains”, meant to be an extraordinarily luxurious train in Japan, but it sure looks a lote more like a large five star hotel. The whole train is composed of five wagons and will seat only 34 passengers, however they have access to suites, double rooms, living rooms, and much more. The private areas will include two floors: on the top is a small area with table and chairs, and beneath it is a room with double bed. There is also an exclusive bathroom with a big bathtub. The wagons have large windows so that passengers can enjoy the view and the natural light of dusk and dawn – Dinner is under natural starlight and moonlight.

The train wagons cost a total of more than US$50 million and will certainly be quarreled over by some millionaires – tickets will definetely be way out of line for most of us. One look at the project design and you can tell how much its really gonna be worth.

The Cruise Train is already in the development process by JR East and is expected to enter effectively into service only in 2017 – the interesting thing is that the huge vehicle can ride on electric or normal rails and can be adapted according to the route.

- See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/japans-new-cruise-train-ultra-luxury-on-rails/#sthash.devgL3FO.dpuf