ESPN Soccernet - On The Move
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On The Move
Posted by ESPNsoccernet Staff on 07/18/2012

ESPNsoccernet's On the Move transfer blog is where you will find a hearty round-up of all the rumours and signings during the summer transfer window. Get your teeth into what's below to find out which player(s) your club are being linked with today.

Also, you can always check the full list of completed deals in England and the SPL by clicking right here.


Micah Richards could be on the way to Spain © PA Photos

23.59 BST: And that's it for tonight. Join us once more in the morning.

23.29 BST: It is being reported that Zeki Fryers spent Wednesday at Spurs' training ground ahead of completing a move from Manchester United.

22.50 BST: Quotes from Sir Alex Ferguson on Dimitar Berbatov:

"I do not need to herald the abilities of Dimitar Berbatov, he is a fantastic talent,'' he said. "Last season he didn't quite get the amount of football he wants. At his age, it was difficult for him to accept his position in the forward line.

"He had Rooney, Welbeck and Hernandez in front of him, and they are all young men. The boy has a future, but if he wants to leave it is a different matter. I am easy about it if he stays. I would be happy with that. But if someone comes in and Dimitar wants to leave, we will assess it.''

22.13 BST - DONE DEAL: Roma have confirmed the signing of Brazilian defender Leandro Castan from Corinthians for €5 million.

21.52 BST: BOOM! And it explodes with one of those ridiculous transfer stories. German tennis legend Boris Becker has reportedly announced that Robin van Persie has signed a new two-year contract. That's the deal done then.......... Blame Twitter.

21.30 BST: All quiet in the world of transfer right up, thought I'd update you.

20.55 BST: Some reports that Atletico Madrid's Oliver Torres has ruled out a loan to Manchester United. No verified quotes as yet.

20.34 BST: Here's the story on Brendan Rodgers talking about Clint Dempsey and Andy Carroll.

20.21 BST: Stefan Edberg confirms Carlos Vela signs three-year deal with Real Sociedad.

20.05 BST - BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed the club have made enquiries about the availability of Fulham forward Clint Dempsey. He also suggested the club are not looking to loan out Andrew Carroll. Full story follow.

19.41 BST: Trabzonspor have announced that Burak Yilmaz has left the club and is set to sign for Galatasaray in a €5 million deal. It comes after a move to Lokomotiv Moscow collapsed.

The club said: "Galatasaray made an offer in-line with article 6-D from Burak Yilmaz's contract which released him from the club. Galatasaray will pay €5 million upfront and 25% if Yilmaz is transferred to another club.

"The contract between Burak Yilmaz and Trabzonspor has been mutually terminated."

19.26 BST: Felipe Melo has just tweeted that he has agreed terms with Galatasaray and now called on his former club, Juve, to agree a fee. He said. "Hi GS fans! I'm in Orlando with my family and I miss a lot all you! My love for you and for GS made me accept the offer made to me!!! Now GS should show they want me and find an agreement with Juve.Cimbon! ‪#forzagalatasaray"

19.03 BST - DONE DEAL: Sporting Lisbon have signed Khalid Boulahrouz on a two-year contract after he left VfB Stuttgart.

18.31 BST: The Watford Observer reports that Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach is to have a medical at Ipswich Town on Wednesday ahead of completing a move.

18.12 BST: Ajax director of football Marc Overmars has dismissed reports of a bid from Newcastle for midfielder Vernon Anita. Read about it here.

17.50 BST: We're hearing that former England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is set to rip up his contract with Sheffield Wednesday after only a few weeks. He cannot cope with the long distance trips to and from training - as happened with another former England international with Richard Wright at Preston.

17.27 BST: New quotes deny that Alexandre Pato will be out of the door at AC Milan this summer. His agent, Gilmar Veloz, told Tuttomercatoweb.com: “Alexandre is calm, he is working towards the Olympics with Brazil and after that will be going back to Milan to become their protagonist,”

17.09 BST: You can read our story on West Ham signing Mobido Maiga right here.

17.01 BST - DONE DEAL: West Ham have completed a deal for Modibo Maiga from Sochaux on a four-year contract for around £4.7 million, though it is officially undisclosed.

16.31 BST: After Filipo Inzaghi was linked with Watford earlier today, talkSPORT believes Reading could win the race for the veteran striker.

16.15 BST: The Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon has confirmed that the club are in talks to sell 24-year-old midfielder Isaiah Osbourne, who has reportedly attracted a bid of £250,000 from Blackpool after only a year at Easter Road.

16.14 BST: Crystal Palace prodigy Nathaniel Clyne, 21, is reported to have completed a move to Southampton on a four-year contract – a move that had been widely predicted for some days.

Newly-promoted Southampton will be due to pay Championship Palace compensation for the full-back because he is under the age of 24.

15.56 BST: Chelsea: Being linked with the world, one player at a time. The club will complete a deal for Marseille defender Cesar Azpilicueta in the next 48 hours, the Daily Star, reporting other reports, reports.

The paper says the Blues will pay £7 million for the Spain international. Newcastle and Liverpool are also thought to have expressed an interest in the 22-year-old but, according to L’Equipe, Roberto Di Matteo’s the manager leading the race.

15.51 BST: Reports say Birmingham City are set to sign Chelsea left-back Ben Gordon on a six-month loan deal. The 21-year-old defender has already spent spells on loan with Tranmere, Kilmarnock, Scunthorpe and Peterborough.

If the deal goes through, he will join striker Peter Lovenkrands, goalkeeper David Lucas and defender Hayden Mullins, who have all been brought to St Andrew's by new Blues manager Lee Clark this summer.

15.19 BST: And a little more from Steve Kean on midfielder Steven Nzonzi revealing his desire to leave Blackburn after they were relegated from the Premier League.

Nzonzi, 23, joined Rovers from Amiens in France in 2009, but Kean said the player was adamant that now was the time to move on.

"He's asked for a transfer,” Kean told BBC Radio Lancashire. “He doesn't want to play for the club any longer. I had two meetings with his father, and he wants to play elsewhere.

"We'll be listening to offers but, as it stands, he remains under contract and we haven't had any offers at all."

15.03 BST - DONE DEALS: Two more for transfer-crazed Leyton Orient: Colchester midfielder Lloyd James, 24, has signed a two-year deal and 20-year-old ex-West Brom and Millwall goalkeeper Ryan Allsop has agreed a six-month contract.

14.57 BST: More details on the long-anticipated and finally confirmed Ibrahimovic-PSG switch:

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from AC Milan on a three-year contract.

PSG sporting director Leonardo announced on Tuesday that the deal was on the verge of completion and, on Wednesday, Ibrahimovic was unveiled at a press conference.

It is reported that the Sweden international will earn €13 million a year, with his arrival following that of former Milan team-mate Thiago Silva. The two were signed in a combined deal worth €65 million.

PSG have also sealed the signature of Pescara midfielder Marco Verratti, with the Italian agreeing a five-year contract at Parc des Princes.

14.44 BST - DONE DEAL: Leicester City have completed a deal for Hungarian striker Marko Futacs, who left Portsmouth this summer a year after moving to English football from Werder Bremen and went on to score five goals in 12 games.

The 22-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the Foxes, whose manager Nigel Pearson said: “Marko is a very gifted player whose technical strengths should not be underestimated.

“He has shown all of the physical and mental attributes to be successful at this level, and we are delighted.” He said the 6ft 5in Futacs “naturally offers some variety to our attacking options”.

14.22 BST - DONE DEAL: PSG have confirmed the captures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti. Ibrahimovic joins on a three-year deal, Verratti for five years.

14.22 BST: Wigan have reportedly recruited two 19-year-old Spaniards, Eduard Campabadal and Guillermo, for their development side. Campabadal is a La Masia graduate who has played for Spain at several youth levels.

14.11 BST: The Daily Star reports that David N'Gog could be heading for a return to French football, with St Etienne chasing the Bolton striker.

14.02 BST: Reports suggest Arsenal's attempts to bring in 17-year-old striker M'baye Niang from Caen have stalled, with the French club rejecting their initial offer.

13.51 BST: Blackburn midfielder Steven Nzonzi has handed in a transfer request, the Championship club's manager, Steve Kean, has confirmed.

13.27 BST: Brazilian defender Maxwell says he is looking forward to Zlatan Ibrahimovic joining him at PSG, with the pair already having been team-mates at Ajax, Inter Milan and Barcelona.

The Sweden striker is expected to complete his move from AC Milan to the Parc des Princes later on Wednesday, and Maxwell told L'Equipe TV: “With his height, his physical presence and his technical skills, there is nobody like him.”

13.18 BST: Defender Kader Mangane has joined Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal from Rennes. The 29-year-old Senegal international has signed a three-year deal with the club, managed by former Paris St Germain boss Antoine Kombouare, after the clubs agreed a fee reported to be £2.35m.

12.59 BST: Edin Dzeko’s agent says the Manchester City striker is being targeted by AC Milan following the sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG – and claims talks about a move have already been held.

Dzeko, 26, who started the season strongly for City but fell down the pecking order as the campaign wore on, could be allowed to leave by manager Roberto Mancini.

And his agent Sead Susic told told spaziomilan.it: "Edin would love to play in Serie A and with the Rossoneri. A move to AC Milan is more than possible.

"There have been discussions and they are continuing. Let's see what will happen in the coming days. After the departure of Ibrahimovic, Dzeko would be an ideal replacement.”

12.29 BST - DONE DEAL: Leicester midfielder Matt Robinson has signed a two-year deal with non-league Luton Town after being released by his home town club. Hatters boss Paul Buckle said: "He's a smashing kid and has a great work ethic."

12.27 BST - DONE DEAL: Another signing for Leyton Orient – the Os have brought in 28-year-old centre back Nathan Clarke following his release by Huddersfield Town. He has signed a two-year deal with the East Londoners.

12.21 BST: Fulham have denied that Clint Dempsey is joining Liverpool after a website affiliated with the Anfield club appeared to confirm the move.

In an article linked from Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group's website and published on NESN.com, it was reported that the Reds had "added Clint Dempsey to a team that game (sic) within a game of winning the FA Cup" and tha the 29-year-old would join the Reds on tour. Any mention of Dempsey on the webpage was later removed.

A Fulham spokesperson told BBC Sport: "It is totally not true. We have not received any bids."

11.48 BST: Reports suggest Newcastle are awaiting a response from FC Twente after submitting a €4 million bid for defender Douglas. The 24-year-old has been a Toon transfer target for some time, and it is believed the offer is not far off Twente's asking price for him.

11.45 BST: Swansea have not received any offers for midfielder Joe Allen, reports say. Allen has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield, where former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers is now in charge.

11.04 BST: This from the NESN (New England Sports Network) - it's quoted verbatim: “The Boston Red Sox are celebrating Fenway Park's 100th Anniversary this season, and Liverpool FC is going to be a part of the historic summer.

"The football club will be partaking in a three game North American tour, which includes a stop in Boston for a game at Fenway Park. The team has added Fabio Borini and Clint Dempsey to a team that game within a game of winning the FA Cup."

So perhaps there is something to that speculation about a £10 million Dempsey deal from earlier today... or perhaps not.

10.49 BST - DONE DEAL: Burnley have signed 22-year-old defender Joseph Mills on loan for the season from Premier League newcomers Reading. He becomes the Lancashire club’s fourth signing of the summer.

10.47 BST - DONE DEAL: Borussia Monchengladbach have completed the signing of Dutch striker Luuk de Jong from FC Twente after what seemed like months of negotiations.

Netherlands international De Jong has signed a five-year deal with the Bundesliga club, who had made the 21-year-old their top summer target. The forward scored 39 goals in 75 appearances for Twente.

“We are really delighted that this transfer has finally gone through,” Gladbach director of sport Max Eberl said.

10.43 BST - DONE DEAL: Sunderland left-back Michael Liddle has completed a permanent move to Accrington, where he made 12 appearances on loan last season. Liddle came through the ranks at the Stadium of Light.

10.21 BST: Juventus have said they are interested in signing Stevan Jovetic – even though his club, Fiorentina, insist the Montenegro international is not for sale.

Juve sporting director Beppe Marotta has indicated that 22-year-old Jovetic is a target, saying: "We like Jovetic, but he's a Fiorentina player and they have the right to keep him.

"But he is the profile of player we are looking for. He's an interesting young player with real value and technical qualities that would be good for us. But I can't say more.”

10.04 BST: Just to reiterate: Andy Carroll has told Liverpool he wants to stay at Anfield rather than be sent out on loan or sold off in a cut-price deal.

Carroll is not interested in a return to Newcastle or a move south to London with either West Ham or Fulham. "Andy has told them that he does not want to move," an ESPN source said.

10.01 BST - DONE DEAL: Freiburg have signed 21-year-old Norway international Vegar Eggen Hedenstad from Norwegian first division side Stabaek IF for an undisclosed fee.

"With Vegar Eggen Hedenstad, we have found a player who can help us as a full-back,'' the Freiburg director of sport, Dirk Dufner, said. "He is regarded as a major talent in Scandinavia, and now he will get the chance to develop further with us in the Bundesliga.''

09.36 BST: Rennes striker Jires Kembo Ekoko is hoping to put pen to paper on a new contract, saying he doesn’t want to leave – a refreshing change to hear someone say that sort of thing this summer.

The former France Under-21 international, who has spent his whole senior career with the Brittany club, told L’Equipe: “I am very happy to start the season with Rennes. It's my club and the town where I grew up.”

09.25 BST: Norwich City have had a bid for Leeds United skipper Robert Snodgrass rejected, with Leeds manager Neil Warnock telling his club’s official website: "It's been made public that they have bid, but from our own point of view it's not what we're looking for.

"It's difficult when players get their heads turned, but I'd like to keep Rob at the club and that's what I'm trying to do at the moment. Unless they come up with a valuation that the club thinks is satisfactory then that's what we want to do."

09.15 BST: Maybe they’ll finally, formally announce it today, then: Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has said "the deal is done" to sign AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

PSG have already snapped up Ibrahimovic’s Milan team-mate Thiago Silva as part of a €65 million double swoop and have settled personal terms with Ibrahimovic after days of wrangling with his agent, Mino Raiola.

09.14 BST: More from Stamford Bridge: Chelsea have had a £26 million offer for playmaker Willian turned down, according to the Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu.

Willian has been linked with the Champions League winners for the past 12 months, with Chelsea having a £16.7 million bid rejected in January.

"I told Willian he can leave, but only if the right offer is made," Lucescu told Romanian TV station Dolce Sport. "He's a great player. Willian was the biggest investment Shakhtar have made in a young player - we have to respect that."

09.11 BST: Roberto Di Matto’s playing it coy: Oscar has arrived in England, but the Chelsea boss won’t be drawn on the prospect of the forward moving to Stamford Bridge.

Oscar, 20, flew into Heathrow Airport as part of the Brazil squad for the Olympics, but his club future is a subject of speculation, with a £25 million fee reported to have been agreed between Chelsea and Internacional.

Di Matteo told Chelsea’s official website: "I can tell you that he's not a Chelsea player so it's difficult for me to talk about a player that doesn't belong to us.

"I know there has been speculation we are interested in this player and, in due course, if there is anything to announce we will do. All I would say is that he is a very young talented midfield player."

09.04 BST: Apparently determined to get rid of £35 million striker Andy Carroll, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is on the verge of making an addition to his attacking options in the shape of Fulham’s Clint Dempsey.

The Mail reports that Liverpool have agreed a £10 million fee with the Londoners for Dempsey, and says the deal could be tied up by the end of the week.

The 29-year-old “has an impressive scoring record, as a striker or attacking midfielder, and is due on Merseyside to complete the formalities in the next few days”, the paper says.

09.01 BST: More on another player whose name has been pretty constantly involved in the whirl of summer speculation – Porto’s Hulk.

The Daily Mail says Spurs boss Villas-Boas is lining up a move for the Brazilian. It says AVB “wants him to be his marquee signing at White Hart Lane and has been given the go-ahead to initiate talks”.

08.58 BST: Shy and retiring Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has rejected a third Chelsea bid for Victor Moses, one of the stars of the show in the Latics’ superb finale to last season.

Whelan rejected one Stamford Bridge offer as “taking the Mickey” earlier this summer, but the Sun says the Blues have increased their bid to £5 million. Whelan values the player at £10 million.

But Whelan wants the 21-year-old to stay where he is and continue his development as a player under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, and said: “They [Chelsea] have made three bids and we’ve not accepted any. We’re still hoping that he signs an extended deal.”

08.53 BST: The Sun says Rafael Van der Vaart is staying at Tottenham – and he’s targeting the title.

The Netherlands international was thought to be considering a move after Harry Redknapp was sacked, but says he is looking forward to working with Andre Villas-Boas.

“My place is at Spurs - I want to win the title with this club,” the paper quotes him as saying. “Each summer, my name appears in the transfer market.

“The new coach has good plans for me, and this is important. I have heard excellent reports about AVB. We have very good attacking and if AVB imposes an offensive system, the team could be a real spectacle.”

08.48 BST: Interesting times for those of a Watford persuasion. The Pozzo takeover, as well as offering an opportunity for pretentious Waiting for Godot-type jokes, could see two genuine legends of the Italian game at Vicarage Road.

The Mirror says: “Gianfranco Zola has lined up fellow Italian legends Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero as two sensational summer signings for Watford.

“World Cup-winning duo Inzaghi, now 38, and Del Piero, 37, are free agents after leaving their Serie A clubs this summer.” Wonder what they’d make of life in the Championship?

08.35 BST: The first of many Van Persie tales today, you’d suspect: the Star says the (for now) Arsenal man has turned down a £300,000-a-week offer from Juventus and will now join Manchester City.

Yesterday, he was supposed to have wanted to join Juve to avoid playing for a Premier League rival of Arsenal’s. Then he was supposed to have been keener to join Manchester United than City. Now he doesn’t want to go to Italy and does want to go to City. It'll be different on Thursday, and again on Friday. And again. And again.

Anyway, the paper says the Juve move would have made Van Persie the highest-paid player in Italy, an accolade (or something) previously held by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is on the brink of completing a move to Paris Saint Germain.

One more snippet from the Star: the paper says West Brom are hopeful of completing a deal for Argentine midfielder Claudio Yacob, who is out of contract, but have cooled their interest in Rennes midfielder Tongo Doumbia

08.25 BST: Good morning, and here’s one you might not have seen coming after another day of Robin van Persie-related hoopla on Tuesday – Micah Richards is wanted by Real Madrid, who have apparently made contact with Manchster City about the possibility of signing him.

The Daily Star says Real coach Jose Mourinho is a big admirer of the England full-back and is willing to pay £20 million to bring him to the Bernabeu. Mourinho also tried to sign Richards during his time as Chelsea manager.

Richards agreed a new £70,000 a week deal at the Etihad recently, but the Star says City manager Roberto Mancini could be willing to accept a £20 million offer.

The paper reported a source as saying: “Real Madrid made contact with City a few weeks ago and Micah is waiting to see what City do, but he would definitely be interested in the move.

“Jose Mourinho has always rated him and reckons he would be a great addition to his squad as they look to defend their Spanish title and try to win back the Champions League.”

The paper also reports that Lokomotiv Moscow have made an approach to City for Emmanuel Adebayor amid doubts over the striker’s hopes of completing a permanent £6 million move to Tottenham, where he was on loan last season.

Comments

Posted by Mark on 07/18/2012

The answer to 'what will Inzaghi and Del Piero make of life in the Championship' is simple. They will love it. Especially our three-sided ground and egg-themed shirts. Who would have thought that Filippo Inzaghi and Lloyd Doyley would ever be in the same team?!

Seriously though, our best striker Troy Deeney is in prison at the moment, leaving us with Chris Iwelumo and Joe Garner. Inzaghi and/or Del Piero might be getting on a bit, but they're a vast improvement on those two already. Plus it would be mind-boggling to see two genuine legends of the modern game at the Vic!

I'd think of them as being like Kevin Phillips when he joined Blackpool - won't play every game, but still lethal in front of goal. I think Phillips had the highest shot conversion percentage in all Europe last season, something like 80%?

Now to hope that Reading don't hijack any move...

Posted by george on 07/18/2012

News coming from Newcastle is that Demba Ba will be part of a swap plus cash deal for Andy Carroll.

Posted by Chris on 07/18/2012

Can someone please explain to me (and Chelsea and PSG) how FIFA's 'financial fairplay' rules are supposed to work? Will they ever actually enforce it, or are they simply 'suggestions'?

Posted by Will on 07/18/2012

I never thought I'd see the day when a historic club like Milan sold the farm to a club in Ligue 1. I wonder that same thing Chris 57. The beautiful game has essentially become a competition of oil barons collecting expensive footballers. Where's the soul in that?

Posted by Jake Nazar on 07/18/2012

I know it may sound a little bit crazy but if Chelsea do send Romelu Lukaku out on loan that would leave us needing another CF, and in my opion for £5 million Dimitar Berbatov would be a good option. He may be past 30 but for just 2 years it's not a bad option. He's a smart footballer, creative, and when he plays for Man Utd he puts the ball in the back of the net. A good option if Torres stutters. I doubt Man Utd would sell him to us but why not put in a bid for him?

Posted by Jose on 07/18/2012

Tons of comments these past two days eh fellas?

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