Top Transfer News (Football) ● Morgan to make Yeovil departure: Yeovil striker Adam Morgan is set to leave Huish Park, just months after arriving from Liverpool. The 20-year-old made only seven substitute appearances after making his loan move from Anfield permanent in January and Glovers boss Gary Johnson confirmed he will be playing his football elsewhere this season. His future lies away from here, he told BBC Somerset. We feel he wont be in our squad so we need to help him find somewhere to play some football. ● Fiorentina announce signing of midfielder Joshua Brillante: Fiorentina have announced the signing of Australia defensive midfielder Joshua Brillante from A-League side Newcastle Jets. Brillante underwent a medical on Monday before completing his permanent transfer to the Viola. Im very happy to be in Florence, Brillante said on the clubs official website. I look forward to seeing the team soon. I cant wait to get started. Brillante, who also holds an Italian passport due to his roots, made 46 A-League appearances in his two seasons with the Jets. The 21-year-old has signed a four-year contract with Fiorentina and becomes the second Newcastle Jets youngster to have moved to a European club since the end of last season. Australian striker Adam Taggart signed with Fulham last month. Brillante, who was in Australias 30-man preliminary squad before being dropped from the final roster for the World Cup in Brazil, will begin pre-season training with his new team in Trentino on Tuesday. Fiorentina, coached by Vincenzo Montella, finished fourth in Serie A in the 2013-14 campaign and will compete in next seasons Europa League. ● Jeremy Mathieus Barcelona links played down by Valencia: Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo has denied that defender Jeremy Mathieu missed training because he is preparing for a move to Barcelona. The French centre-back was a notable absentee from Sundays pre-season training session in Germany, staying in the teams hotel despite no indication that he was injured. Mathieu has been touted as one of Barcelonas top transfer targets this summer as they seek to strengthen their defence following the retirement of veteran captain Carles Puyol, but Valencia president Amadeo Salvo has publicly insisted that the club will only sell the 30-year-old if the Catalans pay his 20million euro (£16m) release clause. The defenders absence from training inevitably generated suspicions that a move to the Nou Camp was imminent, but Nuno sought to cool the speculation in a press conference on Monday. He is a Valencia player, but we thought it was opportune that he rested so he would be in perfect conditions today, said the Portuguese coach, who took over the club earlier this month following the sacking of Juan Antonio Pizzi. Nuno takes charge of his first Valencia game on Tuesday against Bavarian minnows SpVgg Bayreuth, who play in Germanys regionalised fourth tier. Next up is a match with Bundesliga side Nurnberg, and then the club head to Peru and Chile for pre-season games with Allianza Lima and Universidad Catolica respectively, before taking part in the Emirates Cup at Arsenals Emirates Stadium in August. Midfielder Ever Banega has returned to Valencia following a loan spell with Newells Old Boys in Argentina and travelled to Germany with the team, as has new signing Nicolas Otamendi and forward Carles Gil, recalled to the club after a year on loan with Elche. Nuno admitted that there would be changes to the squad between now and the start of the summer but said no decisions had been made yet. The club have sold left-back Juan Bernat to Bayern Munich and last week parted ways with Adil Rami, who has joined AC Milan permanently. The only player I cant count on is Rami, because he has left Valencia, but I can count on everyone else, added Nuno. ● Arsenal favourites to sign Sami Khedira with Sky Bet: Sky Bet have slashed the odds on Arsenal signing Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira this summer following a significant run of bets. The online bookmaker now make the Gunners just 1/7 to secure his services this summer, with reports in Spain suggesting they have beaten off competition from Chelsea, who have drifted out to 8/1. Khedira, 27, is thought to have already agreed a four-year deal, with a fee of around £23million potentially taking Arsene Wenger’s summer spending towards £60m following the acquisition of Barcelona and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez. Khedira has just one year left on his Real Madrid contract. Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the Champions League winners want him to sign a new deal but Khediras agent says he is in no rush to negotiate. Seemingly convinced the Khedira deal is imminent, Sky Bet have also responded by cutting Arsenal’s Premier League title odds from 11/1 to 13/2, leapfrogging Liverpool in the market. Sky Bet’s Chris Spicer said: “Such has been the conviction of the betting on a deal being done, we’re assuming it is more than just speculation and have therefore trimmed Arsenal’s title odds again, having previously also done so when the Sanchez deal was confirmed. “The addition of Khedira could arguably be even more vital given his physical presence in midfield and much-need experience, having won the World Cup and Champions League in a matter of months.” Find Sky Bet’s latest odds here: x2t/Sky_bets ● Udinese striker Luis Muriel wants to stay with Serie A club: Luis Muriel insists he wants to stay with Udinese, several weeks after saying he was looking to leave for a bigger club. The Colombian striker had claimed that Fiorentina and Torino were tracking him in June, but he now says he wants to prove himself at the Udine-based outfit. The 23-year-old has been with the club since 2010 and, following loan spells at Lecce and Granada, scored 11 goals in his first season back at his parent club. Only four followed in 2013/14, but he now appears intent on repaying Udinese’s faith in him. “I have to thank Udinese and the fans for these years of happiness and a few disappointments,” he declared on his Instagram page. “I want to prove myself here as a player. I’m starting again with a lot of enthusiasm, and I want, with my team mates’ help, to reward the supporters. ● Lazar Markovic has Liverpool medical with deal close: Liverpool are very close to completing the signing of Benfica winger Lazar Markovic, who is having a medical ahead of a £20m transfer. The Serbian has already sent a message to the Benfica fans, which said: “Thank you for everything and goodbye.” And Sky Sports reporter Vinny O’Connor said on Monday afternoon: “Lazar Markovic is all set to become Liverpool’s fourth summer signing. “He has just left Liverpool’s training ground in a club car but he is expected back later to complete the formalities of the medical. “It is a deal which could drag into tomorrow but the club are hoping to announce today that he is a Liverpool player.” The 20-year-old Markovic can play out wide or as an orthodox striker, and has already been capped 12 times by Serbia. Having begun his career with Partizan Belgrade, he helped Benfica to the Portuguese league title last season. However, he missed the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla through suspension, having been sent-off during injury-time in the second-leg of the semi-final against Juventus. He had already been taken off in the 0-0 draw but was dismissed for scuffling with Juventus substitute Mirko Vucinic. Markovic is now poised to follow Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Emre Can, who have all signed for Liverpool since the conclusion of the 2013/14 campaign. But the Reds have parted company with last season’s top scorer Luis Suarez, who is to join Spanish side Barcelona. ● Elliot Grandin wanted by three Championship clubs: Sky Sports understands three Championship clubs are weighing up moves for free-agent Elliot Grandin. Grandin is available after leaving Blackpool earlier this summer when his contract expired. The 26-year-old Frenchman rejoined the Seasiders in February on a deal until the end of the season after departing Crystal Palace. New Blackpool boss Jose Riga is now considering offering Grandin a third spell at Bloomfield Road as he looks to bolster his threadbare squad. However, they could face competition for his signature with Millwall and Brighton also keeping tabs on the situation. Millwall boss Ian Holloway is a huge admirer of Grandin from during his time in charge of Blackpool and is thought to be looking into a move to be reunited with the winger. ● Mikele Leigertwood on trial at Nottingham Forest : Former Reading midfielder Mikele Leigertwood has travelled with Nottingham Forest on their pre-season trip to Portugal. Leigertwood is available on a free transfer after seeing his contract with the Royals expire and he has been training with Stuart Pearces side. The 31-year-old was due to feature in last weeks friendly game at Ilkeston but he suffered a minor knee injury during the warm-up. However, he will get the chance to impress this week when the Reds do some warm-weather training. He is on trial. It was unfortunate against Ilkeston, he just turned and twisted his knee a little bit during the warm-up, Forest assistant manager Steve Wigley told the Nottingham Post. But we said to him that there are two games in Portugal coming up and he will be with us. He has done really well in training. He is wise enough to know that it was not right to risk it. He will get his chance. We are looking to add to the squad. At one end of the spectrum we are looking at players who will cost us money. But at the other end, you are also looking for players who are still hungry and he falls into that category, you can see that. He has done well in training and the fact is that we have not got a midfield player of his type, in a powerful figure with real physical presence. He has been promoted with clubs before, he has played in the top flight as well. Sometimes football is funny. Sometimes you can pay a couple of million for a player, other times you can pick them up for nothing - and you still get the same thing. We are prepared to look at anyone who can come in and give us something that we havent got. That is the test. We want to try to find something that is a little bit different. Leigertwood has also played for Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and QPR. ● Newcastle United closing on Daryl Janmaat: Newcastle are hopeful of signing Daryl Janmaat, which would trigger the transfer of Mathieu Debuchy to Arsenal, according to Sky sources. The Magpies are desperate to secure some new faces before they head off to New Zealand on Friday for their pre-season tour. However, as with France midfielder Remy Cabella, Janmaat would not travel Down Under due to his particpation in the World Cup finals with Holland. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has already signed Alexis Sanchez but has been forced to wait to finalise a deal for defender Debuchy with Newcastle holding off as they search a replacement. And, according to Sky sources, it appears the delay for Wenger could be over with officials at Newcastle and Feyenoord continuing discussions over the Dutch right-back. Newcastle have now agreed a deal for Janmaat and the player is expected to have his medical on Tyneside on Tuesday. The St James Park club are also hoping to secure the acquisition of Monaco striker Emmanuel Riviere for a reported fee of £6m. ● Liverpool forward Iago Aspas on verge of Sevilla move: Liverpool forward Iago Aspas is on the verge of a return to La Liga with a transfer to Sevilla, according to Sky sources. The 26-year-old arrived at Anfield from Celta Viga in June 2013 for £7.2million but appears to be on his way after just one season in the Premier League. Aspas started just six matches for Liverpool last season and scored his only competitive goal for the team in the 2-0 victory over Oldham in the FA Cup. Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has travelled to Spain to conduct negotiations with Sevilla. During his previous spell in Spain with Celta Vigo, Aspas scored 46 goals in 136 appearances for the club. ● Bruno Martins Indi confirms Feyenoord departure: Feyenoord defender Bruno Martins Indi has confirmed he is leaving De Kuip, with Porto set to clinch his signature. The 22-year-old impressed at the World Cup finals with Holland and that saw a number of clubs linked with a summer move for his services. But Porto are set to land the imposing defender in a deal worth around €8million, although Martins Indi would not reveal which club he would be joining. Its true that I am leaving, but now its Feyenoord that will have to say more about the subject, he told RTV Rijnmond. Feyenoord, who have already sold Graziano Pelle to Southampton this summer and look set to lose Stefan De Vrij and Daryl Janmaat in the coming weeks, have bolstered their squad with the signing of experienced Dutch international Khalid Boulahrouz, who returns to his homeland from Danish outfit Brondby. Technical director Martin van Geel told the official Feyenoord website: With Khalid we have signed a very experienced and good defender. He is fully fit and can play in various positions in the defence. With his experience and qualities he can give great value for the development of the younger players in our squad.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 07:38:17 +0000
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