Official : I licic joins Fiorentina :
Fiorentina have confirmed the signing of Josip Ilicic from
Palermo for an undisclosed fee believed to be €9 million
plus add-ons.
Palermo need to balance the books having been relegated to Serie B last season which sees the Slovenian midfielder join the Viola, though the 25-year-old's contract length is yet to be disclosed.
Fiorentina chief Andrea Della Valle has insisted that the club's summer spending spree will continue, as they look to build on signing the likes of Mario Gomez, Massimo Ambrosini, Marcos Alonso and Joaquin.
"Ilicic will arrive and the surprises aren’t over yet," he told fans at a pre-season training camp on Tuesday. "We will reinforce the midfield and make this team even stronger."
The transfer of Ilicic, who had been linked with AC Milan and Liverpool, is the first sign of activity from the Florence club since selling Stevan Jovetic to Manchester City earlier in July.
The 22-times capped Slovenia international scored 11 times in 32 Serie A and Coppa Italia appearances last season.
Denis Cheryshev may be a back up option to Marcelo at LB :
We dont have Marcelo as he would be our default LB. Now why Cheryshev? I think he can become a brilliant LB, all he needs to do is to concentrate more on his defensive ability. I believe Zidane and Carlo know that he has the ability of playing in that position, they wouldn't have played him there otherwise. Naturally he would be a much better LM but he wont be able to replace Ronaldo, not for at least 5 years (assuming Ronaldo extends his contract).We need to have a LB that would be able to support Ronaldo and react to his quick movements and Cheryshev is extremely fast and very strong. Throughout the Bournemouth game his runs on the left side were sensational, he was able to move forward and back very easily and was always ready to facilitate play when the team was attacking. With him on the left playing alongside Ronaldo, i think the combo can be deadly.
We need a backup to Marcelo and instead of looking at other teams and hoping that someone will sell us a half decent one we can create a great LB in Cheryshev.
Sevilla and Real Madrid have reportedly
reached a €15 million agreement for France
U20 star defensive midfielder, Geoffrey
Kondogbia :
Sevilla and Real Madrid have reportedly reached a €15 million agreement for France U20 star defensive midfielder, Geoffrey Kondogbia.According to Mundo Futbol, Sevilla and Real Madrid have reached a principal agreement but have not finalised all the details.
Higuain will most likely not travel to
Lyon as his transfer is very close :
Higuain will most likely not travel to Lyon as his transfer is very close.Higuaín signing for Napoli will be officially announced tomorrow. €37m (+3m bonus). Salary: €4.5m. According to "El Mundo".
Several Real Madrid players up for Liga
BBVA awards :
Several Real Madrid players up for Liga BBVA awards that will be voted on by coaches:- Cristiano Ronaldo (best striker)
- Sergio Ramos (best defender)
- Isco (best attacking mid)
- Illarramendi (best midfielder and best new player/revelation)
LITHUANIA 0 SPAIN 2 | UEFA U-19 EURO CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP MATCH :
The Spanish U-19 National Football Team managed another important victory over host Lithuania 0 - 2 in the Group UEFA U-19 Euro Championships. Three points more that now sums up six & puts Spain closer to qualifying for the semi-finals. The match overall was not brilliant but the job was done with ball control & minimizing the home side attacking opportunities. The two goals came from Iker Hernandez the first in the 5th min & the second in the 74th min. Once the local side defensive lines were broken with the first goal things become easier as Lithuania opened up looking for goals.
The next Group match for Spain is against Holland next Friday.
Transfer situation of some big names :
Here's a rundown of the who, the where, the why and the how likely.
GARETH BALEWhy would he go?
After last season Bale is at his optimum value. Selling for £85m would be good business sense especially if his form dips next season. He wants to play for a top side and although signs are promising with Paulinho aboard, Tottenham have still to buy the stars to support him.Why would he stay?
Andre Villas-Boas has been assured the player will remain at White Hart Lane as he strives to deliver Champions League football and more for chairman Daniel Levy. Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett enjoys a strong relationship with Levy. Bale is settled with his young family.Where is the deal at?
Real Madrid are exhausting all possibilities. They will offer players and cash, and cash alone. Manchester United also want to step in. Tottenham may instead gamble on what they can achieve with him this year, offer a new contract and consider inserting a buy-out clause.
WAYNE ROONEY :
Why would he go?
Fabregas’s arrival might allow Rooney to leave. Rooney (right) aims to flourish in his preferred striking role with a World Cup to look forward to. He believes a move can breathe fresh life into his career. Arsenal appeal to him but Jose Mourinho and Stamford Bridge is the preference.
Why would he stay?
United don’t want to sell - and certainly not to Chelsea or Arsenal. David Moyes hopes he can work with him one to one and reassure him of the role he has to play, which is still as one of United’s frontline strikers.Where is the deal at?
Arsenal have enquired and Chelsea’s offer has been rejected. The situation may change depending on United’s success with their purchases but that seems unlikely. Real Madrid and Barcelona have interest but other priorities.
CESC FABREGAS :
Why would he go?
If United miss out on Ronaldo, they’ll be desperate for Fabregas. He will consider his future if Barcelona say he is not part of new coach Gerardo Martino’s plans or he will be pushed further on to the periphery of the first team. Arsenal would still like him but United’s record for winning trophies and joining Robin van Persie also appeal.Why would he stay?
Fabregas worked extremely hard to get his move back to Barcelona from Arsenal and remains settled among old friends and new family at the club and city he loves. Although not a regular starter, he has still played a lot of games in various roles.Where is the deal at?
United have had two bids rejected and been told by Barcelona, in writing, that he is not for sale. A further offer of around £35m is expected. Barcelona still have to fund bids of their own but Fabregas may need to ask to go.LUIS SUAREZ :
Why would he go?
With Rooney unlikely to move to an English club, Arsenal will be determined to land Suarez (right). He wants Champions League football but signing for Arsenal would leave questions over his motives when he complained of his treatment in England. Spain seems to be his preference.Why would he stay?
Liverpool consider Suarez better than Edinson Cavani and want £55m. That may be beyond the reach of Arsenal, who have surprisingly set the pace. Real Madrid will also balk as they focus on Bale.Where is the deal at?
Finely poised. Arsenal’s £40m bid will have Suarez’s agents and Arsenal questioning the clause in his contract. Liverpool are standing firm but still expect Real Madrid to come in as they need another top finisher to replace Gonzalo Higuain.GONZALO HIGUAIN :
Why would he go?
If Rooney and Suarez snub the Emirates, could Wenger land Higuain? The 25-year-old (right) wants to assure himself of a place in Argentina’s World Cup team - not easy when up against Messi, Tevez and Aguero among others. He yearns for regular football.Why would he stay?
Only if negotiations over his image rights falter with Napoli. The Italian club like to have total control of that part of their players’ contracts. Real Madrid see him as a player who can offset some of their spending and Arsenal’s interest helped raise the price.Where is the deal at?
He should sign for Napoli this week for a £32m fee. Rafa Benitez looks to have seen off Arsenal, who may have to start again if they continue to be snubbed on Suarez.
Latest Real Madrid transfer news: Real to offer 50m for Arturo Vidal :
The latest Real Madrid trasnfer news includes the possibility of Los Blancos making a 50 million euros offer to sign midfielder Arturo Vidal.The Chilean is one of Carlo Ancelotti’s favourites, and according to French website Voila, the Italian hasn’t ruled out his signing, although it seems complicated.Juventus has refused several times to negotiate for the centre-half, but Real could have offer a big offer of 50 million in order to convince the Bianconeri, according to Voila. Vidal has a contract with Juve until 2016.Another Juventus player who has been linked with Los Merengues, Andrea Pirlo, will not move to Bernabeu, according to Italian website CalcioNews24. The digital sports magazine claims that this transfer rumour published by Tuttosport was completely false.If there is a player closer to signing for Real, that is Guilherme Siqueira, who has been pointed by Spanish media as the replacement for Fabio Coentrao in case the Portuguese leaves Madrid.Spanish sports daily As reports that the Brazilian left-back has asked Granada’s president to allow him to sign for Real. Although his buy-out clause is 25 million euros, As claims Granada’s owner would let him go for 14m.
Pepe closer to Manchester City
British paper Daily Star claims that Manchester City have not given up on signing Pepe. According to the tabloid, the Citizens would be willing to offer 26 million euros for the Portuguese.Italian sports website Tuttomercatoweb claims that the centre-half sale to City would go up to 35 million, and Real would invest that money in bringing Luis Suarez to Santiago Bernabeu for 40 million. However, Raul Albiol’s move to Napoli has made it difficult for Ancelotti to let Pepe go.Another player who could be wanted in Manchester is Luka Modric. Manchester Evening News reportsthat United would go for the Croatian in case they fail on signing Cesc Fabregas.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic rules out Real Madrid
switch :
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played down talk of linking up with his former boss Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.The PSG forward, who used to play for Barcelona, has been rumoured to be on Real’s wish list following Ancelotti’s arrival in June.Speculation has also mounted about the 31-year-old’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu as it is known Los Blancos are on the hunt for a striker and missed out to PSG for the signing of Edison Cavani.Despite the talk of a move, Ibrahimovic, who scored 35 goals last season, said he is happy in Paris.The former Milan, Inter and Ajax forward said: “It is business as usual, on vacation I am linked with all the clubs. I still have a two-year contract and there is no reason for me to leave. I belong to PSG and have not thought about my future.”
Madrid Press: Gareth Bale
reaches agreement with Real
Madrid :
Spanish most sold sports newspaper Marca states in its front page that Gareth Bale has agreed a “six-year deal with Real Madrid”, earning “ten million euros per season”.“Bale’s signing is hot”, they publish. “The player has told Tottenham he wants to leave and the transfer could be close during a meeting in Los Angeles”, Marca reports.As claims today in its front page that Real Madrid have reach an agreement to sell Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli for 37 million euros and will use that money to sign Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.“Luis Suarez for Higuain”, titles As. According to the Madrid daily, Napoli will make one payment of 37 million and could pay three more depending on their results in the next years.“Liverpool are still waiting for an offer that is close to Suarez’s real value”, As states. And that could be over 40 million euros.