Wolves had been looking to sign the young defender to a permanent deal, but Chelsea were reported asking for between $6-7 million dollars, a fee Wolves were unwilling to pay. Mancienne made 22 appearances for the England U-21 national team and has only managed to crack the Chelsea first team four times.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger launched an attack on the Premier League’s fixture list this season after his side fell to a 1-1 draw against newly promoted Burnley at Turf Moor.

“The guy who organised the fixtures this season must have come from a special school, because he’s more intelligent than I am,” the Frenchman said.

“We have some teams who do not play at all. We play Sunday and Wednesday away and at home on Saturday against Hull, who have not played all week.”

Wenger’s criticism came in the wake of Manchester United’s victory against Wolves on Tuesday, in which Mick McCarthy rested ten of his regular starters with a weekend match against Burnley on the horizon.

The defending champions strolled to a 3-nil victory, despite fielding another makeshift back-line. Wolves supporters were heard singing “we want our money back!” throughout the match at Old Trafford.

“We will have to compete with Manchester United over 37 games instead of 38,” said Wenger.

“I believe it is a problem for the international credibility of the Premier League, but it is not my problem, it is a Premier League problem.”

The Premier League at least seems to share Wenger’s views on McCarthy’s selection, and league officials have written to Wolves to “request their observations” about the match.

Premier League rules state that teams must field a full strength side in all matches, although the rule is quite ambiguous given the famous fixture congestion during the winter period and a manager’s prerogative to rest players when he sees fit.

However, both Burnley boss Owen Coyle and Stoke boss Tony Pulis have backed McCarthy’s decision to field a weaker team.

“Wenger is moaning like a drain because it doesn’t suit Arsenal. He ain’t moaning because it doesn’t suit Stoke,” said Pulis. “He is saying it because it doesn’t suit him and that was what Mick has done.”

Arsenal’s dropped points came after an away victory against Liverpool last weekend, and Wenger’s men now sit eight points behind league leaders Chelsea with a match in-hand.

Everton Reach Donovan Deal

Everton have reached a deal to sign LA Galaxy striker Landon Donovan on loan in January. The loan will last for ten weeks, ending in mid-March.

The US star just signed a new four-year deal that will keep him with the Galaxy until the end of 2013.

But Donovan was very excited about his move to Goodison Park, saying, “Everton have been incredibly professional and expressed their interest and I feel that is a place where I would feel very comfortable.”

Galaxy manager Bruce Arena seemed happy about the deal as well, adding, “”Everton is a club with a small roster and a congested schedule over the next few weeks and months. It’s a great fit, we are pretty confident that is where he’ll end up.”

Donovan’s arrival will be a large boost to David Moyes’ injury plagued squad, as Everton enter the busy winter period of Premier League fixtures as well as the next round of the Europa League.