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Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Paladini Rejected Three Shittu Bids

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Ben Kosky, Kilburn Times
QPR blocked three attempts to prise Danny Shittu away from Loftus Road before the transfer window closed, chairman Gianni Paladini has revealed.
Premiership strugglers Birmingham City were rebuffed in their efforts to sign the Rangers defender after lodging a bid that Paladini described as 'derisory'.
Promotion-chasing Sheffield United and fellow Championship side Norwich - who have cash in the bank after selling Dean Ashton to West Ham - were the other suitors to be spurned.
"The offers were derisory, nowhere near good enough and I said 'no way in the world'," Paladini told the Times.
"We've no intention of selling Danny anyway. He knows about the clubs that were after him and he's very happy to stay with us and help build up QPR."
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce had been keeping tabs on the Rs' centre-back for some time, but his offer - believed to be less than £1m - fell a long way short of Shittu's asking price.
And the Blues manager then turned his attention elsewhere, signing Czech defender Martin Latka on loan from Slavia Prague earlier this week.
Rangers, meanwhile, concluded their search for a striker by signing Danish forward Sammy Youssouf until the end of the season. Youssouf, 29, spent a brief period in Scottish football with St Johnstone four years ago, but enjoyed his most prolific spell with AB Copenhagen, where he netted 12 goals in 23 games.
More recently the 6ft 1in forward has been playing for Dutch side Roosendaal and was then based in Portugal with Maritimo before joining QPR on a free transfer. Youssouf's arrival also means that Rangers have shelved their interest in Linfield striker Peter Thompson for the time being.
Manager Ian Holloway has been watching Thompson in recent weeks, but the Irish League club turned down QPR's initial bid for the striker - who has hit 33 league goals for them this season.
And Paladini confirmed that the offer would not be increased, saying: "That deal's dead for now.
"They don't want to release him until the end of the season, but I know Ollie likes him and maybe we can go back and do something in the summer."
As well as clinching a new shirt sponsorship deal with Car Giant for next season, Paladini also announced that the club have agreed a four-year contract with kit suppliers Le Coq Sportif."I'm very pleased about this deal - it will bring us in excess of £250,000 into the club each year," added Paladini.
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