Source: Daily_Mail
Premier League stars back in training
ShareThe stars of the Barclays Premier League are back in training as the scramble for signatures hots up. [LNB]Defending champions Manchester United welcomed their players back at Carrington this morning, including Ryan Giggs ahead of what will be his 21st top-flight season at the club. [LNB] Look who's back: Ryan Giggs drives into United's Carrington HQ on Monday morning[LNB] [LNB] Focus: Giggs in his car[LNB]The winger will undoubtedly find himself under intense scrutiny after the revelations regarding his affairs behind his wife's back.[LNB] United, who will certainly notice the absence of retired duo Edwin van der Sar and Paul Scholes as they regroup, have already spent ?50million on Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David De Gea this summer. [LNB]But they are still intent on finding a replacement for Scholes, who was pictured wandering the streets of Manchester with his wife as he prepares to concentrate on life away from the game. [LNB]Boss Sir Alex Ferguson could still make a late move for Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri, although Luka Modric and Wesley Sneijder also remain in his sights. [LNB]Arsenal's players are also back today for fitness tests before they kickstart their pre-season training on Tuesday. [LNB]Cesc Fabregas, who returned a day earlier than expected, and Gael Clichy are also set to follow Nasri out - to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively. [LNB]Clichy dined in Manchester on Sunday night before heading for a medical on Monday morning. City are also confident of sealing Nasri for a joint fee of ?27m. [LNB]Chelsea's stars, who again return to a new manager in Andre Villas-Boas, are not expected to start training until Wednesday, although Ashley Cole was among a number of players who turned up at Cobham today. [LNB]Villas-Boas is understood to be tailoring individual fitness programmes for his squad after assessing their data from their body mass to eyesight. [LNB] Back for good: Martin Skrtel, Danny Wilson, Andy Carroll and Alberto Aquilani train at Liverpool, while (below) Kenny Dalglish chats to Damien Comolli, Steve Clarke, John Acherberg and new coach Kevin Keen[LNB] [LNB] Liverpool's squad regrouped today with manager Kenny Dalglish going into his first full season in charge since his incredible return to the helm.[LNB]England striker Andy Carroll, who was dogged by injuries since joining from Newcastle for ?35m in January, wasjoined by outcasts Alberto Aquilani and Joe Cole at Melwood.[LNB]Reds owner John Henry expressed his surprise at how short the summer was for footballers. 'Incredible. A month and a half after the season ends, the first day of LFC 2011/12 training begins," he wrote on Twitter.[LNB]'MLB (Major League Baseball) has 4 months off. Next stop China (where the club play their first friendly against Guangdong Sunray Cave on July 13).'[LNB] Out and about: Retired Paul Scholes (left) relaxes in Manchester, where Gael Clichy was on Sunday night[LNB]Gareth Bale, who has also been the subject of interest from leading clubs, was back in training withy Tottenham at Spurs Lodge.[LNB]Players, who have had between a month and six weeks off from the game, often dread the return of pre-season. [LNB]However, Everton's veteran captain Phil Neville Tweeted his delight at heading back to their Finch Farm training ground on Tuesday. [LNB]He said: 'Morning all last day off before I'm back in for pre season. I'm just as excited now as I was when I did my 1st pre season 18 years ago! COYB!'[LNB] Back in the swing of things: Gareth Bale was assessed at Spurs Lodge[LNB] Countdown to kick-off: Our guide to all the Premier League pre-season fixturesClub-by-club guide to all the Barclays Premier League summer transfersBad luck, Joe! If you thought blue was bad... new England keeper's kit is garish green Martin Samuel: Face it, Arsenal can no longer attract a genuine superstar [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Ashley Cole, Luka Modric, Wesley Sneijder, Edwin Van Der Sar, Andy Carroll, Kenny Dalglish, Joe Cole, Alberto Aquilani, Martin Skrtel, Danny Wilson, Gareth Bale, Cesc Fabregas Places: Barcelona, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, United Kingdom, China
