Latest Transfer Update at 29-06-11

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De Gea - five-year deal at United.
MAN UNITED AGREE DAVID DE GEA DEAL

Manchester United have confirmed Spain Under-21 goalkeeper David de Gea is to join them on a five-year contract.
De Gea flew to Manchester on Monday for a medical and although the deal is still to be completed, he has agreed to leave Atletico Madrid for Old Trafford and take Sir Alex Ferguson's summer spending beyond £50million.
The 20-year-old is rated as one of the brightest prospects in the game and Ferguson has no fears he will be able to fill the void left by the retirement of Edwin van der Sar.
De Gea, part of Spain's victorious squad at the UEFA European Under-21 Championships last weekend, told MUTV: "I feel very proud and I can't wait to start playing here.
"When a club the size of Manchester United comes in for you it obviously makes you very, very happy.
"I saw their interest as an extra motivation to work even harder to show off my ability.
"It's a great privilege to be part of a club like United and I'm keen to do my best and show what I can do."
United had known since Christmas that a replacement for Van der Sar would be needed.
Germany's Manuel Neuer was also linked with an Old Trafford move, although he eventually opted for Bayern Munich.
However, it is thought Ferguson had already put De Gea at the top of his wanted list and has persuaded the youngster he can adapt to life with the Barclays Premier League champions.
With Anders Lindegaard only arriving at the club in December, it now appears likely Tomasz Kuszczak will be allowed to leave, even though the Pole was on the bench for last month's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.
Ferguson has now made three signings since that Wembley setback, starting with former Blackburn defender Phil Jones before Ashley Young completed his much-anticipated move from Aston Villa last week.
However, it is thought United are still in the hunt for at least one new face following confirmation of Paul Scholes' retirement.
Luka Modric and Alexis Sanchez were both of interest to Ferguson, although it appears neither will end up with the Red Devils, while huge doubt remains over United's ability to land Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder - even though they landed a record 19th league title last term.

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Drogba - one year left on current deal.
DROGBA TO BE OFFERED NEW DEAL

Andre Villas-Boas insists there would be no players bought and sold at Chelsea before the squad return for pre-season training next week, while striker Didier Drogba is set to be offered a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
The new Blues boss is confident he will have the final say over comings and goings at Stamford Bridge this summer, with the club linked with a host of players before his arrival and speculation over the future of current squad members.
Chelsea had a £22million bid rejected for Tottenham star Luka Modric, while they have been linked since Villas-Boas' arrival from Porto with some of their new manager's former players, including striker Radamel Falcao.
"You know the kind of moves this club does," Villas-Boas said after being officially unveiled at Stamford Bridge.
"I won't speculate on names. All of them are interesting players: Modric, Falcao, (Fabio) Coentrao.
"If they can add to the squad..."
But he added: "Everyone in first, then decision making. At the moment, we're stopped in time."
Chelsea's players report back from their holidays next Wednesday and Villas-Boas insisted every one of them would be given the chance to prove they deserve to remain at the club.
Dismissing rumours linking midfielder Michael Essien with a move away, he said: "I'm more than happy with the actual squad.
"It's nothing new that, when a manager comes, radical changes are expected.
"We have plenty of time to judge the market.
"There's no fuss in the changes we might need to do or not. The guys have to feel important.
"They're top quality players, and I want to see them back so I can start taking decisions."
One decision that has already been taken regards the future of Drogba, who it is understood will be offered a contract extension amid interest from former club Marseille.
The striker's current deal expires next summer and the club have no intention of letting it run its course.
Drogba looked back to his best towards the end of last season, a trophyless campaign which raised questions about whether Chelsea's squad remained good enough or motivated enough to challenge for major honours.
Villas-Boas said: "I don't agree that the team is short of quality. I think we are up there.
"Minor changes can be done and we can put some input here or there in certain sectors, but my confidence in them is for them to return to me and judge from that.
"We have plenty of time up to August 31 to make a decision.
"These players have won a lot but still have hunger for success."
The are bound to be some changes, of course, and Villas-Boas will obviously want the final say on what they are.
There have been suggestions some of his predecessors did not enjoy that luxury.
Villas-Boas said: "Hopefully, that will happen as it does in any other club.
"We are able to go for the best in the market when we want, and we are able to find the best talent when we want.
"Everyone wants to come here.
"We have to bring the best quality players if we decide to bring them."
He added: "There are no players imposed on me."
Villas-Boas also insisted he would have "no problem" working with a sporting director, amid reports first-team coach Michael Emenalo will be promoted to the role within the next week.
"The main thing is to build on the future and put competent people in the right places," Villas-Boas said.
"We trust the people around this club because we've had a successful past six years that show we're on the right track."

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Di Matteo - set for Chelsea return.
CHELSEA CONFIRM DI MATTEO No2 ROLE

New Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed former West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo as assistant first-team coach at Stamford Bridge.
The former Porto boss unveiled ex-Blues midfielder Di Matteo during his first press conference since succeeding Carlo Ancelotti.
The club also revealed the news with their official Twitter feed reading: "AVB confirms Roberto Di Matteo returns to Chelsea as assistant first team coach."
Villas-Boas spoke of Di Matteo's appointment when asked about what brand of football he hoped to bring to the club.
He said: "If you see the technical staff in front of me, and my appointment of Roberto, these are people who like the quality of the game and have a philosophy.
"It's not just a case of winning it's a case of flair.
"Everyone likes attacking football and the Premier League has a certain amount of goals in every game and it should be an entertaining game for the fans and that is what we will look to do."
The 33-year-old also insisted he is not fazed by the demands for success placed on managers at Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti was sacked just a year after he had guided the club to their first league and cup double, while not even Mourinho could deliver the Champions League for owner Roman Abramovich.
But Villas-Boas says the challenge of consistently securing silverware is one he will relish.
He said: "The expectations are for the maximum. We want to win trophies, that is the challenge we face day by day in any business.
"Everyone wants to be the best and win something and the challenge is to win as soon as possible and to build a platform for the future.
"This is nothing different from any other club, the challenge in your everyday life is to be successful in what you do and that is the challenge I face here."

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Wickham - new arrival on Wearside.
SUNDERLAND SIGN CONNOR WICKHAM

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce could not hide his delight after snatching teenage striker Connor Wickham from under the noses of his more illustrious suitors.
Big-spending Liverpool, the club the 18-year-old Ipswich frontman has supported since he was a boy, as well as north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, have long been credited with an interest in the Hereford-born player.
However, amid speculation that one of them might attempt to hijack the Black Cats' swoop for him after they showed their hand last night with an £8.1million bid, the Wearside club made sure their move was decisive by tying him up in a four-year deal to leave Bruce beaming.
He said: "A number of top sides have been chasing Connor for some time now, so naturally we are absolutely delighted he has chosen to come to Sunderland.
"He's still very young, but at 6'3", he's a physical presence. With his height and style of play, he will offer us a threat in front of goal and complement our existing strikers.
"We have been watching him for a while now and he is improving and developing all the time. He's a great prospect and I'm sure our supporters will love watching him play."
Wickham's fee could eventually rise to £12million depending on a series of add-ons, but Sunderland are confident they have got their hands on a player of genuine potential whose best days are ahead of him.
The England Under-21 international made his senior debut for Ipswich at the age of just 16 years and 11 days back in April 2009, and scored nine npower Championship goals for the Suffolk club last season after establishing himself in the first team.
He fits Bruce's profile for young, hungry players, but having arrived with such a relatively large price tag, will have much to prove as he attempts to make his way in the Barclays Premier League.
Wickham's physical presence will give Sunderland something they have largely lacked in attack since Kenwyne Jones' switch to Stoke last summer, and he will provide a foil for record signing Asamoah Gyan.
The Ghanaian was the club's only fit senior frontman at the end of last season and there is likely to be at least one more addition in that department with South Korea international Ji Dong-won close to completing his own move from Chunnam Dragons.
The Black Cats have, of course, raked in more than £40million in transfer fees during this calendar year after selling striker Darren Bent to Aston Villa in January and midfielder Jordan Henderson to Liverpool earlier this month.
But with loan signings Nedum Onuoha, John Mensah, Sulley Muntari and Danny Welbeck having returned to their clubs and Bolo Zenden having rejected the offer of a longer stay, they have holes to plug simply to stand still - and that is way short of their ambitions.
Bruce's men secured a 10th-place Premier League finish last season despite having to contend with a seemingly endless injury crisis, and they will aim higher this time around.
The manager has already secured Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood and Birmingham winger Sebastian Larsson on free transfers - they will formally sign on Friday - and is awaiting developments after lodging a joint bid of more than £12million for Manchester United trio Darron Gibson, Wes Brown and John O'Shea.
In addition, Larsson's former City team-mate was due on Wearside today to discuss his move to the Stadium of Light with Bruce, backed by chairman Niall Quinn and the chequebook of owner Ellis Short, wasting little time in launching his recruitment mission.
Connor Wickham Factfile:
1993: Born in Hereford on March 31.
2002: Joins Reading.
2006: Moves to Ipswich.
2009: March - Becomes Ipswich's youngest ever player at the age of just 16 years and 11 days, beating the previous record by 46 days, with his substitute appearance against Doncaster.
August - Scores first senior goals, netting twice in 3-3 draw at Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup first round.
November - Reportedly the subject of interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
2010: March - Scores first league goal for Ipswich with an injury-time winner against Scunthorpe.
April - Signs a professional contract with Ipswich, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal.
Named Football League Young Player of the Month.
May - Picked for England's Under-17 squad for the European Championship. Scores both goals in a semi-final victory over France and the winner in a 2-1 success over Spain in the final.
2011: January - Having established himself in the first team, signs an extension to his Ipswich contract, committing him to the club until 2013.
February - Scores the last goal in a 3-0 win over Sheffield United - running from inside his own half before finishing - then two games later scores a hat-trick in a 6-0 win at Doncaster.
March - Named Football League Young Player of the Year.
April - Signs another deal with Ipswich, extending his contract with the club until 2014.
May - Scores in the final game of the season against Leicester, taking his tally for the season to nine goals.
June 29 - Signs a four-year contract with Sunderland, in a deal which could cost the Wearside club £12million.

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Sanchez - Mancini interest over.
MANCINI - SANCHEZ INTEREST OVER

Manchester City have pulled out of the race to sign Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez, according to coach Roberto Mancini.
The Chile international is a target of Barcelona and is under contract with Udinese until June 2014.
"I have spoken to Sanchez," said Mancini to Sky Italia. "He said he was open to the idea of coming to City but then we have pulled out (of negotiations).
"After our last offer, we are out of the race to acquire the Chilean player."
Udinese, meanwhile, confirmed the 22-year-old winger would prefer a move to Spain rather than England.
."Have City pulled out of the race?," Gino Pozzo, son of Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo, said to Corriere dello Sport. "You should ask them. We have not entered negotiations with City.
"The will of the player is to go to Barcelona. The negotiations with the Catalan club are going forward.
"With calmness, we will find a solution. We will speak to Barca and we will see."
Pozzo has not ruled out the possibility that Sanchez, who is valued at 50million euros (£44.95million), could remain at Udinese for a further season.
"He (Sanchez) said it yesterday and we have reiterated it in the past," Pozzo said."It is an option."
Meanwhile, Mancini is confident Carlos Tevez will remain at the club next season despite the Argentina forward recently expressing his desire to leave the club.
Tevez, who played a pivotal role in the Eastlands club winning the FA Cup and securing a top-four Premier League finish, has been strongly linked with a move to Italy this summer.
"Tevez is a good player," Mancini added. "I believe he will remain with us."
The 27-year-old is under contract with City until June 2014 and is a reported target of Inter Milan.

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Rooney - Birmingham switch.
BLUES SWOOP FOR ROONEY

Birmingham have signed former Inverness striker Adam Rooney on a two-year-deal.
Rooney, 23, was a free agent after his contract with Inverness expired at the end of last season.
He scored 21 goals in 42 games for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League club during the 2010-2011 campaign.
He becomes City's fourth signing of close season after Marlon King, Chris Burke and Morgaro Gomis.

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Thiago - linked with move away from Barca.
BARCA EXTEND THIAGO CONTRACT

Barcelona have agreed a two-year contract extension with highly-rated youngster Thiago Alcantara.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp this summer, is now tied to the European champions until June 30, 2015 while his new contract has a buy-out clause of 90 million euros.
Thiago last weekend helped Spain win the Under-21 European Championships, scoring a brilliant goal in their 2-0 win over Switzerland in Saturday's final.
Italy-born Thiago is the son of 1994 Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho.

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Kranjcar - frustrated at Spurs.
SPURS TO DECIDE ON KRANJCAR - AGENT

Niko Kranjcar's agent says it is up to Tottenham whether the midfielder stays at the club, amid mooted interest from Fiorentina.
The 26-year-old Croatia international endured a frustrating season at Spurs last year as first-team opportunities were hard to come by.
He has been strongly linked with a White Hart Lane exit and Serie A outfit Fiorentina are reportedly monitoring his situation.
Kranjcar's agent Adrian Aliaj told firenzeviola.it: "At this moment I cannot comment on any market rumours, it is for Tottenham to decide whether the player leaves or not.
"I read a lot of news about him in newspapers, but his future is in the hands of the English club.
"Niko has a contract with Tottenham, and then I cannot say if he wants to stay or not. Certainly his priority is to play with more regularity."
Kranjcar only made 21 appearances for Spurs during the last campaign despite the North Londoners' heavy schedule.