The Spain U21 international, who helped his country to European U21 Championship success on Tuesday, has admitted to receiving offers from Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Two European heavyweights are ready to slug it out for Isco’s signature, but they will also need to reach an agreement with his current employers for a transfer to be pushed through.

Malaga appreciate that talks are inevitable, but have made it clear that they will hold out for the best possible price.

Isco has a clause in his contract which requires interested parties to put €35million (£30m) on the table before discussions can begin, and vice-president Moayad Shatat says that fee will have to be matched if one of Spain’s brightest young stars is to be on the move this summer.

“He’s a magnificent player, very important to us and if the offers do not match what we are looking for then we will not sell the player,” Shatat told reporters at the unveiling of new Malaga coach Bernd Schuster.

“We will only sell for the right price, and that price has been set.

“We have no need to sell if the price is not right.”

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The 24-year-old endured an injury-ravaged campaign last season, with ankle and then knee troubles restricting him to just eight appearances.

But the signs are that Richards is very much part of the plans for new boss Manuel Pellegrini, and City’s hierarchy, including director of football Txiki Begiristain, are ready to talk terms.

Sky Sports understands that Richards’ representatives are due to meet the club this week and the prospects are that the England defender will commit his long-term future to the club.

A number of clubs from the Premier League and the continent had been keeping tabs on Richards’s situation but, subject to terms being agreed, he seems set to remain with the club he has spent his whole career with.

Richards has two years left on his current deal, which he signed in 2011.

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The 24-year-old finalised the deal, which is understood to have cost the Hammers £15.5million plus a further £2million in add-ons, after successfully undergoing a medical last night.

Despite the lengthy contract, West Ham have the option to add a further two years if they wish.

Carroll spent last season on loan at the Boleyn Ground, scoring seven times in 24 league appearances in a campaign which was dogged by injury.

“It’s fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent,” he told whufc.com.

“The fans, the lads and the club itself has been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football.

“Since the end of the season I’ve had a lot of time to think, I’ve missed it and that’s why I’m back.”

The club’s website described Carroll as their “marquee signing” who “represents a significant step for the club”.

Liverpool sold Carroll at a significant loss, having bought him from Newcastle for a British record £35million on transfer deadline day in January 2011.

He never really fitted in at Anfield despite the best attempts of Kenny Dalglish, the manager who signed him.

Carroll scored 11 times in 58 appearances, but when Dalglish was replaced by Brendan Rodgers last summer it became apparent his chances of regular first-team football would be minimal.

A deal to loan him to West Ham was secured the penultimate day of the transfer window and despite some encouraging performances for the Londoners – which earned him an England recall – it was made clear to the striker Rodgers had not changed his view of him.

“Everybody at Liverpool FC would like to wish Andy all the best for the future,” said a statement on liverpoolfc.com.

Carroll finished last season with a heel injury, which ruled him out of the national team’s friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil and could keep him out of the new campaign, which the Hammers start at home to promoted Championship winners Cardiff.

Andy Carroll factfile:

1989: Born January 6 in Gateshead.

2006: April 3 – Scores first goal for Newcastle reserves against local rivals Sunderland.

November 2 – Makes first-team debut in 2-0 UEFA Cup win against Palermo.

2007: July 29 – Scores first senior goal in a pre-season friendly against Juventus.

September 11 – Scores on England Under-19 debut against Belarus.

November – Scores first competitive league goal while on loan with Championship side Preston.

2009: January 10 – Scores first competitive Premier League goal for Newcastle on full home debut against West Ham.

March – Signs a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the Magpies.

August 11 – Makes England Under-21 debut.

October 9 – Scores twice against Macedonia on first Under-21 start.

2010: May – Finishes the season as Newcastle’s 19-goal top-scorer as the club win promotion from the Championship at the first attempt.

August 22 – Scores maiden senior hat-trick against Aston Villa.

October 8 – Pens improved five-year deal at St James’ Park.

October 18 – Charged with assault of his ex-girlfriend, and granted bail on condition he lives with Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan.

October 21 – Has his car burned out on Nolan’s drive.

October 25 – Fined £1,000 after admitting assaulting a man in a nightclub in December 2009.

November 13 – With seven Premier League goals to his name, is named in England squad for friendly international against France.

November 17 – Makes senior England debut in a 2-1 defeat to France at Wembley.

December 13 – Assault charge against Carroll in case involving his ex-girlfriend is dropped, the Crown Prosecution Service deciding there was no realistic prospect of conviction.

2011: January 31 – Newcastle reject two bids in excess of £30million from Liverpool for Carroll. Carroll then hands in a transfer request. Newcastle reluctantly accept a club-record offer from Liverpool, of around £35million, and Carroll completes a switch to Anfield making him the most expensive British player.

March 6 – Makes his Liverpool debut as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield.

April 11 – Scores his first Liverpool goals as he nets twice in a 3-0 win over Manchester City.

September 7 – England manger Fabio Capello complains about Carroll’s lifestyle off the pitch claiming that he “needs to drink less than others”.

2012: April 13 – Scores the winning goal to send Liverpool to the FA Cup final at the expense of city rivals Everton.

May 5 – After coming on as a substitute in the FA Cup final he scores and has another cleared off the line but Liverpool lose 2-1 to Chelsea.

June 15 – Heads in the opening goal as England beat Sweden 3-2 at Euro 2012.

July 10 – New Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits he is open to the idea of loaning out Carroll.

August 30 – West Ham sign Carroll on a season-long loan deal.

September 1 – Makes his West Ham debut in a 3-0 home victory over Fulham.

November 25 – Scores his first goal for West Ham in 3-1 defeat at Tottenham. He scores a total of seven Premier League goals in 26 league appearances for the Hammers in the 2012-13 season.

2013: May 21 – Liverpool and West Ham agree a reported fee of £15million to make Carroll’s transfer to Upton Park permanent, pending the player accepting the move and passing a medical.

June 19 – West Ham pay Liverpool an undisclosed club record fee after Carroll passes a medical and signs a six-year contract.

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Brendan Rodgers will hope for a good start to the campaign on August 17 as he bids to return his Merseyside club to the top four.

Liverpool, who have already been busy in the transfer market this summer, then visit Aston Villa before hosting arch-rivals Manchester United prior to the end of August.

November 23 will see Liverpool make the short trip to Everton for the first Merseyside derby of the season while Boxing Day brings a difficult game at Manchester City.

Rodgers’ team will also take on Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea on December 28 while a returning meeting with Everton comes one month later.

Liverpool end the season on May 11 by hosting Newcastle United in a fixture which has been a Premier League classic over the years.

Click here to see Liverpool’s full fixture list for the 2013/14 Premier League season

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Paul Lambert’s men go to the Emirates for their season curtain-raiser, before hosting Liverpool in the first home game of the new campaign.

A trip to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea follows, before a home match with Newcastle.

Newly-promoted Crystal Palace are the visitors on Boxing Day, whilst there is a trip to Sunderland on New Year’s Day.

This season’s trip to Old Trafford will be late in the season, March 29, but otherwise Lambert will not be too disappointed with the run-in.

The last six games see them host Fulham (April 5), Southampton (April 19) and Hull (May 3) with trips to Palace (April 12), Swansea (April 26) and – on the final day of the season – Spurs (May 11).

Click here to see Aston Villa’s full fixture list for the 2013/14 Premier League season

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A trip to Fulham follows but Arsenal’s third game of the season is a mouth-watering north London derby with Spurs at the Emirates.

Boxing Day’s fixture is at West Ham and, on New Year’s Day, Arsene Wenger’s men will host newly-promoted Cardiff City.

The second match with Tottenham takes place at White Hart Lane on March 15, the first of a run of four potentially huge matches, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton to follow.

Arsenal face champions Manchester United away on November 9, and at home on February 11.

Arsenal’s run-in looks a good one, with home fixtures against West Ham and Newcastle on April 12 and 26 respectively, and away trips to Hull (April 19), West Brom (May 3) and Norwich on the last day of the season.

Click here to see Arsenal’s full fixture list for the 2013/14 Premier League season

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19.06.2013

MOURINHO PLEASED WITH BRIDGE BEGINNING

Jose
Mourinho
will
wait
no
longer
than
the
opening
weekend
of
the
Barclays
Premier
League
season
to
be
reacquainted
with
the
Stamford
Bridge
support…

19.06.2013

MOURINHO PLEASED WITH BRIDGE BEGINNING

Jose
Mourinho
will
wait
no
longer
than
the
opening
weekend
of
the
Barclays
Premier
League
season
to
be
reacquainted
with
the
Stamford
Bridge
support…