jeudi 25 juin 2015

Payet set to complete £10.7m West Ham move


The 28-year-old has agreed a five-year deal and on Friday will become Slaven Bilic's second summer signing, and the club's third big-money forward arrival in as many years
West Ham have agreed a £10.78 million deal with Marseille for Dimitri Payet, with the forward flying in to undergo a medical on Thursday, 

The 28-year-old will become Slaven Bilic's second signing since replacing Sam Allardyce, having already secured midfielder Pedro Obiang on a four-year deal from Sampdoria.

Payet has agreed a five-year contract and becomes the yet another high-profile exit from the Ligue 1 outfit, after Swansea City's capture of Andre Ayew, following a failure to qualify for the Champions League.

Goal understands Payet will earn £55,000 a week, becoming one of West Ham's highest earners, and will undergo medical tests on Thursday before an official announcement is made on Friday.

Payet's agent, Jacques-Olivier Auguste, insisted earlier on Wednesday that despite the France international closing in on a move to Upton Park, Marseille remained in a position to extend the player's stay.

However, it is understood that an improved contract offer from Marseille is not forthcoming and Payet will now become West Ham's third big-money forward arrival in as many years, following on from Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia.

Juventus sell Berardi to Sassuolo for £7.1m


Reports suggest the Bianconeri have retained a buyback option on the 20-year-old but will let him spend the upcoming season away from Turin due to their multitude of attackers
Domenico Berardi has sealed his move to Sassuolo for €10 million [£7.1m], ending his co-ownership with Juventus.
However, the Scudetto holders are reported to retain a buyback option rumoured to be €18m [£12.8m] with the view of signing the Italy Under-21 international in 12 months time.
Massimiliano Allegri is believed to want Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata and Simone Zaza – who is expected to be bought from Sassuolo in the coming weeks – as four of his five forwards, with Berardi to be brought in next season and potentially room for one more face in 2015-16.
Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez has agreed to return to boyhood club Boca Juniors, Fernando Llorente is up for sale and Alessandro Matri's loan has ended seeing him return to AC Milan.
This has permitted Sassuolo to redeem the remainder of the striker's rights this summer for €10m, which will be payable over four years, as they look to build on 2014-15's 12th-placed finish in Serie A.
"Juventus have reached an agreement with Sassuolo for the termination of Domenico Berardi’s co-ownership deal between the two clubs," the Bianconeri confirmed on their official website.
"Sassuolo will now own the player’s full registration rights."

Manchester City to sign Turkish wonderkid Unal


Manuel Pellegrini's side have beaten away competition for the striker's signature from Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, with an agreed fee potentially rising to £2 million
Manchester City have tied up a deal to sign 18-year-old Turkey international striker Enes Unal from Bursaspor.

The teenager has only scored four goals in 35 league games for the Turkish club but is seen as his country's most exciting young talent - with an astonishing record of 181 goals in 108 games for youth teams - and has already represented his nation at senior level. At 16 years, three months and 15 days, he also holds the record for the youngest goalscorer in the Super Ligue.

Unal had offers from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United as he entered the final year of his contract but opted for City, with Bursaspor president Recep Bolukbasi confirming the agreement on Thursday.

"We have an agreement with Manchester City," he told reporters. "Enes will go to England at the weekend to complete the transfer."

Manuel Pellegrini's side have set a fee that could rise to £2 million, as well as including a 10 per cent sell-on clause in Bursaspor's favour.

A work permit for Unal is yet to be confirmed and it is understood that the youngster would be loaned out for a year if one is not granted.

Arsenal sign Romania starlet Dragomir


The Romania Under-16 captain, who had also been linked with Inter, has agreed a three-year deal with the Gunners and will be a first-year scholar at the club next season
Arsenal have completed the signing of Vlad Dragomir from ACS Poli Timisoara for £71,000, with the teenage midfielder penning a three-year deal.

The 16-year-old is the Gunners' first signing of the summer transfer window and will join the club's academy as a first-year scholar.

Dragomir, who captains the Romania Under-16s, had been linked with Inter but admitted that the chance to join Arsenal was too tempting to turn down.

“The Arsenal offer seemed the best to me, I felt that this is my place,” Dragomir told Pro Sport following the move.

“I am very glad [to sign] and I hope not to disappoint anyone.”

Dragomir's agent, Catalin Sarmasan, added: “I offered Vlad to Arsenal a year and a half ago and they have monitored him closely.

“In my opinion, he is one of the most talented young players in Europe at the moment.”

Everton sign Deulofeu in £4.2m deal from Barcelona


The 21-year-old has committed to a three-year deal with Roberto Martinez's side but has a release clause which allows Barca to bring him back to Camp Nou within the next two years
Everton have completed the €6 million (£4.2m) signing of Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona.

The 21-year-old, who spent the 2013-14 season on loan at Goodison Park, has signed a three-year contract, while Everton have the option of extending the deal for a fourth term.

Deulofeu's contract includes a release clause which will enable Barcelona to sign the winger within the next two years. The Spanish champions will also have first refusal if Everton decide to sell the player.

“Gerard needs no introduction to anyone here at Everton, for we are all well aware of his incredible footballing talent,” Everton boss Roberto Martinez told the club's official website.

“We got to know him really well from his loan period, not only as such a talented player but also his great character. He will be a fantastic asset to our club.”

Deulofeu scored four goals in 29 appearances during his first spell with Everton, while he made only 17 La Liga appearances during his season-long loan stint with Sevilla last term.

Deulofeu becomes Everton's second transfer this summer after the club completed the signing of Tom Cleverley on a free transfer from Manchester United earlier in June.

Liverpool sign Roberto Firmino


The Brazil international moves to Anfield for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of €40 million, with the future of fellow attacker Raheem Sterling uncertain
Liverpool have completed the signing of Hoffenheim's Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino for an undisclosed fee, subject to a medical.

Reds' chief executive Ian Ayre flew out to Chile - where Firmino currently is for the Copa America - to wrap up a deal worth €40 million, with €30m paid to the Bundesliga club up front and a potential €10m in add-ons.

The 23-year-old will complete a medical after the conclusion of the tournament and has penned terms on a long-term contract at Anfield.
Firmino has also attracted interest from Manchester United, having scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions last season, but has now opted to join Brendan Rodgers' side. 

The attacking midfielder, who can also play as a striker, has spent four years with Hoffenheim and made his international debut in November 2014 after impressing in the Bundesliga. 

Liverpool's acquisition of Firmino may have been accelerated by Manchester City's interest in Raheem Sterling, with the Premier League giants looking to buy the 20-year-old this summer. 

City are set to make a final €63m offer for Sterling - who has told Liverpool he wants to leave - in the coming days, and Firmino may indeed have been acquired as a replacement ahead of the England international's proposed departure. Firmino has also attracted interest from Manchester United, having scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions last season, but has now opted to join Brendan Rodgers' side. 

The attacking midfielder, who can also play as a striker, has spent four years with Hoffenheim and made his international debut in November 2014 after impressing in the Bundesliga. 

Liverpool's acquisition of Firmino may have been accelerated by Manchester City's interest in Raheem Sterling, with the Premier League giants looking to buy the 20-year-old this summer. 

City are set to make a final €63m offer for Sterling - who has told Liverpool he wants to leave - in the coming days, and Firmino may indeed have been acquired as a replacement ahead of the England international's proposed departure. 

Chile 1-0 Uruguay ,Isla strike sends hosts into semi-finals


The Juventus full-back fired home with 10 minutes remaining to set up a clash with either Bolivia or Peru in the last four of the Copa America
Chile are through to the semi-finals of the Copa America after Mauricio Isla's 81st minute strike was enough to see off nine-man Uruguay at the Estadio Nacional.

The full-back drove his shot low into the corner to settle an ill-tempered encounter which saw both Edinson Cavani and Jorge Fucile dismissed in the second half.
Cavani received his marching orders for slapping Gonzalo Jara in the face, capping a turbulent week for the Paris Saint-Germain star after his father was allegedly involved in a car crash that led to a fatality in Uruguay on Monday.
Uruguay's centre-back pairing of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez were an immovable force up until the 80th minute, when Isla controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired Chile - bidding to win Copa America for the first time - into the final four of South America's premier tournament.
The match was blighted by a late red card to Uruguay defender Jorge Fucile, who sparked an all-in melee and a delay in play, while coach Oscar Tabarez was sent to the stands as the 2011 champions lost their heads.
Chile, who will face the winner of Bolivia and Peru on Monday, made one change to the team that routed Bolivia 5-0 in their final group fixture last week, with Eugenio Mena replacing Jean Beausejour.
Godin returned to Uruguay's starting line-up at the expense of Sebastian Coates after missing the 1-1 draw with Paraguay, while Fucile and Cristian Rodriguez came in for Alvaro Pereira and Abel Hernandez, respectively.
The opening 45 minutes in the Chilean capital - brutal at times with numerous challenges - was a half of few chances, Uruguay happy to sit back and stifle Chile with players behind the ball.
It proved effective as Chile, who dominated proceedings, struggled to create anything clear-cut, with the hosts forced into strikes from distance.
Charles Aranguiz came close to breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute, though his shot was straight down the throat of Fernando Muslera, while the Uruguay goalkeeper also dealt with Arturo Vidal's stinging long-range effort 11 minutes later.
The second half followed a similar path, with Chile dictating play without reward.
However, Uruguay had an opportunity to take an unlikely lead from a set piece after the ball fell to the feet of forward Diego Rolan, who reacted quickest but was unable to generate enough power in his volley to trouble Claudio Bravo.
Cavani left Uruguay with a mountain to climb, when he was shown a second yellow card in the 63rd minute.
Despite being down to 10 men, Uruguay engineered two good openings, while a Chile corner flashed across the six-yard box and eluded everyone.
Chile, however, finally made the most of their numerical advantage via Isla, who fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net with nine minutes left on the clock.
Uruguay's woes were compounded in the penultimate minute of regulation time, when Fucile saw red for a second bookable offence in a disappointing end for Tabarez's men