Latest Transfer Update at 30-03-11

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Lucas - new Liverpool deal.
LUCAS LEIVA PENS NEW REDS DEAL

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has signed a new long-term contract with the club.
The Brazil international is currently enjoying his best season in a red shirt since arriving from Gremio in the summer of 2007 for £5million.
Lucas has grown in stature as a central midfielder following the departure of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in recent seasons and made his 100th Premier League appearance against Wigan in February.
With the 24-year-old's previous contract having only just over a year to run and continued speculation about Liverpool renewing their interest in Blackpool's Charlie Adam in the summer, there had been suggestions Lucas could be on his way out.
Only this week he was linked with Serie A side Napoli but the likeable Brazilian always insisted he wanted to remain at Anfield and he has got his wish.
Lucas was a much-derided figure among many fans for a lot of his early years on Merseyside, although former manager Rafael Benitez's confidence in the player was unerring.
The Spaniard's faith was ultimately proved well-placed as the midfielder has established himself with both club and country.
"For me it was an easy decision because I know how big Liverpool are and I can see Liverpool are committed to me and are planning for a future with me," said Lucas.
"The effort from the club was amazing and that makes me feel an important player. That's why it was an easy decision.
"I am pleased with the way Liverpool tried to keep me and now I want to keep doing my best for them.
"I don't think people thought I could stay here for so long, but now I want to just keep on improving.
"I am really happy. The last few weeks have been really good for me and now I have signed a new contract and can spend more years at Liverpool I will do my best all the time and try to help the club to be bigger and bigger, if that's possible."
Manager Kenny Dalglish praised Lucas, who just over a week ago was celebrating the birth of his son Pedro, not only for his work on his pitch but his attitude off it.
"He is a smashing lad to have around the football club but he hasn't been signed for that, he has been signed because of what he does on the pitch," said the Scot.
"Certainly since I came in he has been a great asset to the team and has done tremendously well.
"He's got wee Pedro to look after and now a new contract as well, and we're delighted for him because he's a really honest, genuine fella and that's reflected in the way he plays.
"He's happy to be here and play for the club and he's getting everything that he deserves at the moment - including being a fixture in the Brazilian team - because of what he's done on the pitch."
Director of football Damien Comolli conducted the contract negotiations, revealing Lucas' was a priority for him when he joined the club in November.
"One of the first things I did after I arrived was to look at the contract situation and to see where Lucas was at," said the Frenchman.
"I knew we had to do something quickly because we couldn't afford to lose him and didn't want to lose him.
"He is exactly what we want. He has the right mentality, quality and attitude.
"He understands what this club is all about and even though the discussions went on for quite a long time he always said to me 'I want to stay and we need to find a solution'.
"He could have gone to many clubs because he is highly rated around Europe, but he always said he wanted to play for Liverpool."
(reopens) Dalglish had some more good news on the fitness of captain Steven Gerrard, whose rehabilitation from a groin operation on March 10 appears to be ahead of schedule.
However, he revealed the recovery of defenders Fabio Aurelio and Martin Kelly from hamstring injuries had gone the other way.
"Steven's training so he has done really well to get where he is," the Scot told LFCTV.
"Fabio and Martin Kelly have had a setback with their recovery but Jonjo Shelvey is back training.
"Everyone has come back from the international matches and so far we have not had any injuries reported."

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Kranjcar - wants regular football.
KRANJCAR DROPS EXIT HINT

Niko Kranjcar has given his strongest indication yet that he may leave Tottenham at the end of the season.
The Croatia international has started just two league games for the Londoners this season and has often voiced his frustration.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has already stated that he is not interested in selling the 26-year-old, despite his reluctance to offer him regular football.
But, speaking after Croatia's goalless draw with France on Tuesday, Kranjcar reiterated his desire to seek pastures new in the summer.
Krancjar said: "I will be trying to find a football club where I can play regularly, like any footballer would. It depends who wants me, if anyone wants me."

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Craig Whyte hopes to take charge at Ibrox.
RANGERS TAKEOVER CLEARS HURDLE

Scottish tycoon Craig Whyte appeared to move closer to a takeover of Rangers on Wednesday after an agreement over the club's debt was reached with Lloyds Banking Group, it is understood.
The path seems to be clear for the protracted deal, reportedly worth £33million, to finally go ahead following months of negotiations.
Whyte will take over 75% of Sir David Murray's shareholding, with London-based property developer Andrew Ellis becoming a 25% partner, once the buy-out is rubber-stamped by the current owner.
A source close to the deal told Press Association Sport: "An agreement has been reached between Lloyds Banking Group and Craig Whyte.
"The debt is no longer an obstacle or an issue."
Rangers' debt stood at £27.1million in June and is expected to be slashed to around £21million when the club's interim results are announced.
The takeover appeared to be hanging in balance earlier in the week after reports suggested the bank's demands for an 'exit payment' of more than £1million was a stumbling block.
However, Lloyds responded by denying the existence of any exit or redemption fee.
It would appear progress has now been made, although a degree of caution still surrounds the deal at the moment.

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Diego Forlan - 'really happy'.
FORLAN WON'T RULE OUT MOVE

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan is refusing to rule anything out as speculation over his future continues unabated.
The 31-year-old Atletico Madrid star was once again asked about repeated rumours linking him with a return to England following Tuesday night's 3-2 friendly victory over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
However, the former Manchester United frontman was consistent in his response.
Speaking at the Aviva Stadium, he said: "At the moment, I have two years' more contract at Madrid and I am really happy.
"I always say if there is a good offer, we will see what is going to happen."
Forlan spent two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford after making a £7.5million move from Independiente in January 2002, but has blossomed since leaving England for Spain, firstly with Villarreal and now at Atletico.
He was one of the stars of last summer's World Cup finals in South Africa as he helped his country reach the last four, and he admits the secret to his recent success is simple.
Forlan said: "I have had the chance to play all the games. Your confidence when you have the chance to play every game is different.
"You get more confident and of course more experience, and you are learning different things. It's because of that."
Experience was something Uruguay had plenty of and Ireland little with the likes of Shay Given, John O'Shea, Sean St Ledger, Kevin Kilbane, Damien Duff, Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle all missing.
The South Americans responded to successive defeats by Chile and Estonia by racing into a 3-1 first-half lead, courtesy of some sublime finishing.
There was an element of good fortune about skipper Diego Lugano's 12th-minute opener, but after Shane Long had levelled three minutes later, Forlan's strike partners took over.
Edinson Cavani and Abel Hernandez gave keeper Keiren Westwood no chance, putting Uruguay in complete control - or so it seemed.
The Republic were back in it three minutes after the restart when, after Martin Caceres had felled both James McCarthy and Andy Keogh, Keith Fahey made it 3-2 from the penalty spot.
Giovanni Trapattoni's side battled all the way to the whistle for a share of the spoils, but the visitors held out despite the absence of most of their big names.
Forlan said: "You have to play against the team on the day and it was a difficult game - maybe if we had been playing against more experienced players, we might have got more chances.
"You never know in football. With the experienced players who were missing, the team should be better - that's logical - but you never know."
Asked if he knew any of Trapattoni's under-studies, Forlan said: "I am always watching and I knew quite a few of them. I know it was going to be a really tough game."

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Pinto - delighted with new deal.
PINTO PLAYING FOR KEEPS

Barcelona reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto today expressed his delight after signing his contract extension to remain at the club until June 2012.
The agreement was announced on Monday and the 35-year-old, who joined Barca from Celta Vigo in 2007, put pen to paper at a media presentation at the club's offices on Wednesday afternoon.
Pinto, who is the understudy to Victor Valdes at the Nou Camp, told Barca TV: "I'm very happy because this is where I wanted to be.
"The truth is that since I arrived it was all very clear to me.
"I came for six months, but my mind was already focused on carrying on. In this respect nothing has changed.
"I am happy here and my family too, and when that happens you can't ever consider anything but to carry on."
The veteran has made 12 appearances this season - three in the Primera Division - and is proud of what he has achieved.
"I'm happy to prove myself on the pitch, because sometimes what you do to help the team in training and not in games is not easily seen," he said.
"I am very happy because I feel valued and I can contribute both on and off the pitch."
He added: "We'll carry on doing what we have been doing up to now. We'll give everything, whether it goes right or wrong, so we must be calm and encourage each other in difficult times.
"Being together and united as a team is the only way to achieve everything."

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Roma - deal agreed.
ROMA SALE DEAL AGREED

The deal that will see American businessman Thomas Di Benedetto purchase Roma has been agreed.
Di Benedetto - who is also a partner in New England Sports Ventures, the company that owns Liverpool - is to assume control of the club from the Sensi family.
Details of the proposed buy-out initially emerged on Monday, with the sale having now been agreed between Di Benedetto and the club's holding company, Italpetroli.
An official statement released by Roma and Di Benedetto said: "Italpetroli S.p.a., UniCredit S.p.a. and Di Benedetto AS Roma LLC announce that negotiations in Rome over the past few days have reached a basic agreement to buy up control of AS Roma S.p.a.
"Based on this agreement, the buy-out should be completed by a company made up of 60% Di Benedetto AS Roma LLC and 40% UniCredit S.p.a.
"There is also an option for UniCredit to sell their shares to other strategic Italian investors.
"Over the next few days we will proceed to write out the definitive versions of the agreements reached today, which also include commitments for the reinforcement and future development of AS Roma."
Should the deal go through as planned, Roma will become the first Italian club to be under foreign ownership.

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Joseph Yobo - wants out of Everton.
YOBO EAGER TO MOVE ON

Joseph Yobo is hoping to secure a move away from Everton when his loan spell at Fenerbahce ends.
The Nigeria centre-half is coming towards the end of a season-long loan in Turkey and is under contract to the Toffees until 2014.
David Moyes sanctioned the move, with Yobo blaming his fall from grace at Goodison Park on his decision to go to last year's Africa Cup of Nations.
"At times in life you have to move on," he told the Liverpool Echo. "I spent eight seasons at Everton and I enjoyed every moment and I still have exciting memories of my stay there.
"But I guess my loyalty to my country's team did not go down well with some people there. Playing for Nigeria in 2010 was the reason I lost my place.
"If I had my way I will not return to Everton. But I still have a three-year contract at Everton and I am only on loan to Fenerbahce. I will wait until the end of the season to determine that."