mardi 14 juillet 2015

Sevilla take Ciro Immobile on loan from Borussia Dortmund

The Europa League champions, Sevilla, have sealed a deal to take the Italy striker Ciro Immobile on loan from Borussia Dortmund for the 2015-16 season, pending a medical, the La Liga club said.
Immobile, 25, will take his medical on Monday before joining his new team-mates at their training camp in south-east Spain, Sevilla said on their website.
Sevilla were in the market for a goalscorer after they sold the Colombia forward Carlos Bacca to Milan and will be hoping Immobile can rediscover the form that made him the top scorer in Serie A when playing for Torino in 2013-14.
He had a disappointing campaign with Dortmund last season, managing only 10 goals in 32 appearances.
Immobile had loan spells at Siena, Grosseto, Pescara and Genoa before joining Torino and then moving to Dortmund for £13m a year ago.

dimanche 12 juillet 2015

Manchester United 'to sign Bastian Schweinsteiger'


Manchester United have had a bid accepted by Bayern Munich for the midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, according to reports in Germany.
The 30-year-old has been offered a three-year contract worth £140,000 a week according to Bild and would become Louis van Gaal’s third signing of the summer for a fee of around £15m.
Schweinsteiger, who has a year remaining on his Bayern contract, played under the United manager at Bayern between 2009 and 2011, where they enjoyed a strong working relationship. After 13 years at Bayern Schweinsteiger believes now is the right time to move on.
Matteo Darmian, the Italy defender, flew to Manchester on Friday for a medical before completing his transfer from Torino while Memphis Depay was officially unveiled. United are also said to be interested in bringing in the Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and have had offers for the Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin rejected

Johnson completes Stoke City move


The former Chelsea defender becomes the Potters' sixth signing of the summer after agreeing a two-year deal with the Britannia Stadium outfit
Stoke City have completed the signing of Glen Johnson on a two-year contract after the England international was released by Liverpool.

The full-back was not offered a new deal by Brendan Rodgers having spent six years at Anfield following his arrival from Portsmouth in 2009.

And he becomes Mark Hughes' sixth signing of the summer as he agreed a deal to keep him at the Britannia Stadium until 2017 while he has the option of a third-year.

The 30-year-old has flown to Singapore with the rest of the Stoke squad as they prepare to face Everton in the Premier League Asia Trophy on Wednesday, and Hughes admitted he was thrilled to have signed the ex-Chelsea man.

"Glen will be a fantastic addition to our squad," he told the club's official website. "He commanded a huge transfer fee when he left Portsmouth for Liverpool but dealt with the pressure that comes with that. 

"He’s a talented defender who also chips in with goals - as we discovered last season when he scored the winner against us at Anfield – and having spoken to him I know how much he’s looking forward to being a Stoke player."

Casillas signs two-year deal with Porto


The goalkeeper's departure from Real Madrid was confirmed on Saturday and he has now completed his move to Portugal
Porto have confirmed the signing of Iker Casillas on a two-year deal, with the option of an additional season.

The goalkeeper's departure from Real Madrid was announced on Saturday after weeks of rumours that he would leave the club.

Porto revealed in a statement on Sunday that the Spain international has put pen to paper on a deal that ties him to Julen Lopetegui's side until at least 2017.

"Goalkeeper Iker Casillas, 34, signed for Porto for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, with an option of further season," the Portuguese club said in a statement.

"The Spain international and former Real Madrid man becomes the player of the club with the richest history in the Portuguese league and also becomes the first former world champion teams to represent the Dragoes."

Casillas then gave his reaction to the move on Twitter: "Happy to start this new stage of my career #SomosPorto."

Casillas gave an emotional press conference earlier on Sunday in which he said goodbye to the club with whom he has been playing for since 1990.

Fabiano was Porto's No.1 last season but was signed by Fenerbahce earlier this month, meaning Casillas will be first choice for last season's Champions League quarter-finalists.

vendredi 10 juillet 2015

Manchester City set to sign Fabian Delph from Aston Villa for £8m

Fabian Delph is expected to become Manchester City’s first signing this summer after the club activated the midfielder’s £8m release clause in his contract with Aston Villa.
City require homegrown players and Delph’s profile as an established England international and Villa captain has convinced Manuel Pellegrini, the manager, that he has the requisite quality for the club.
However, Delph, who is not with Villa on their pre-season tour of Portugal, understands it will be difficult to establish himself given the chequered history of other English players who have been signed by City recently. Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell each failed to make an impact after joining from Swansea City and Everton, respectively.
Sinclair is now at Villa, Rodwell at Sunderland and their countryman James Milner has left City for Liverpool. The 29-year-old Milner did enjoy a successful career at the club, winning every major domestic trophy, but was still frustrated in his attempt to hold down a starting place in central midfield.
This is the position Delph hopes to play but as City have Yaya Touré, Fernandinho and Fernando as regular first-team players in the position the 25-year-old has a stiff challenge.
Micah Richards, another Englishman whose career at City faltered, warned Delph this week about making the move. The right-back, who is also at Villa, said: “Every player wants to play at the highest level. If he’s going to be playing Champions League, I don’t know, but if he’s going there to be a squad player, then no. James Milner has played six or seven positions and still wanted to leave.
“So if he gets assurances he’s going to play then the decision is his. I wouldn’t say don’t go to Manchester City, because if he’s playing well he could play.”
Delph signed a new four-year contract at Villa in January and said at the time: “I am a loyal person and committing my future will hopefully show everybody what type of guy I am. Hopefully it will give everyone a bit of a lift and show the fans that we are looking to do big things here and bring excitement back to the club. We want to get through this season, do well and I feel the up-and-coming years will be big. There was no way I was going to bail out. I am here for the long run.”

Crystal Palace sign PSG’s Yohan Cabaye and close on deal for Scott Dann

Scott Dann is set to follow James McArthur by committing his long-term future to Crystal Palace with an enhanced contract. Palace have also completed the signing of Yohan Cabaye for a record fee.
The France international’s transfer from Paris Saint-Germain for an initial £10m, rising to nearer £12.5m with add-ons, on a three-year contract has been confirmed following a medical.
Cabaye, who started only 13 Ligue 1 games last season, also attracted interest from West Ham and two Champions League clubs in Roma and Atlético Madrid before agreeing to link up again with Alan Pardew, under whose management he flourished at Newcastle.
He told Palace’s website: “I’m happy to be here. I’ve been waiting for the decision, had the medical and now I can’t wait to focus on my new team, a new season and my new life.
“I wanted to come and play for Palace because there are some really strong players here. They finished very well last season and I think they can compete to get into the top eight.
“I also know the gaffer and have worked with him before and I’m confident with him. I want to do my best for him because he’s made a big effort to get me to come here, as well as the chairman, so I have to say a big thank you to both of them.”
While Palace will add further to their squad, and are to enter the running for Charlie Austin at QPR as well as Chelsea’s Loïc Rémy, the co-chairman Steve Parish is also intent on retaining key players from the side who finished 10th last season.
McArthur, a Scotland international who joined from Wigan last summer, signed a three-year deal earlier this week with Dann, a £2.65m arrival from Blackburn Rovers in January 2014 while Tony Pulis was in charge, set to follow suit despite having two years to run on his deal.
The 28-year-old’s form carried him into contention for England recognition last season and attracted the attention of Everton but Palace hope to secure his future at around £65,000-a-week until 2019.
Pardew still aspires to partner Dann with Swansea’s Ashley Williams next season, despite securing Damien Delaney and Brede Hangeland to new terms already this summer.
Palace also announced the Mansion Group as the club’s new main shirt sponsor, replacing Neteller.

Liverpool to name Gary McAllister as new first-team coach

Gary McAllister is to be appointed Liverpool’s new first-team coach following productive talks over the vacancy with Brendan Rodgers.
The 50-year-old former Leeds United and Coventry City manager met Rodgers on Wednesday to discuss replacing Mike Marsh, who was released at the end of his contract last month. His return to the club where he became a hugely popular figure during a two-year spell as a player will be announced before Liverpooldepart for a pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia on Sunday.
McAllister won the Uefa Cup, FA Cup and League Cup with Gérard Houllier’s Liverpool in 2001 and has been out of football since leaving Aston Villa in 2011, having been assistant manager to Houllier before the French coach’s departure on health grounds.
Rodgers was keen to add a coach with Liverpool credentials to his backroom team this summer following the exits of Marsh and the club’s assistant manager Colin Pascoe. The former Bournemouth and Doncaster Rovers manager Sean O’Driscoll arrived from the Football Association as Pascoe’s replacement and the highly rated Pepijn Lijnders has been promoted from Liverpool Under-16s to the newly created position of first team development coach.
McAllister’s impending arrival as first-team coach will complete the backroom team for the new Premier League campaign.