Latest Transfer Update at 01-07-11

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Per Mertesacker - knows Werder need more players.
MERTESACKER: WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN

Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker admits the team are desperately short of players for the coming Bundesliga season.
The Germany international claims injuries in defence have left Bremen in urgent need of new recruits.
"We are totally understaffed, simply because we have too many injuries," Mertesacker, who has himself been suffering from a heel problem since May, said in the Bild newspaper.
Bremen returned to pre-season training on Wednesday, but defenders Mikael Silvestre and Lukas Schmitz, signed last month from Schalke, were also unable to take part.
"I would be pleased if we brought in fit players," added Mertesacker.
Bremen could only finish 13th in the Bundesliga last season, just five points above the bottom three.

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Gomes - made the move to Braga.
GOMES JOINS BRAGA

Europa League finalists Braga have signed experienced Portugal striker Nuno Gomes on a free transfer after his contract with Benfica expired.
Gomes, 34, scored 126 goals during two spells with Benfica and won two Primeira Liga titles with the club, but did not start a match at all last season.
He has now signed a one-year deal with Braga and revealed the club's recent upturn in form was the main reason behind the move.
"This is just like my first day at school," he said. "I chose Braga because of how much the club has grown recently. Braga will be fighting for the top four places in the Portuguese league."

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Adam - starts his training at Blackpool.
ADAM BACK AT THE SEASIDE

Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam will return to training with the npower Championship club next week despite knowing long-time suitors Liverpool are still in the hunt for his signature.
The 26-year-old was the subject of two failed bids by the Reds back in January.
Seasiders chairman Karl Oyston dug his heels in over the fee as he hoped keeping hold of Adam would help secure the club's Barclays Premier League survival.
Ultimately that was unsuccessful and although the club took up the option of another 12 months on the Scotland international's contract last month they have held talks with Liverpool about a proposed transfer.
With initial negotiations not providing a satisfactory outcome Adam is preparing to return to pre-season training next week.
"I go back to Blackpool on Monday and that's the way it is," he told the Blackpool Gazette.
"Everybody knows the situation - the club have met with Liverpool but that's as far as it has gone.
"I had a conversation with the chairman but that will remain private.
"It's important that we keep everything in-house - whatever happens will happen."

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Musona - will talk with Hoffenheim.
CELTIC QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE THWARTED

Celtic have been told they cannot gazump Hoffenheim's attempts to sign Kaizer Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona.
Celtic have expressed interest in the 21-year-old Zimbabwe forward but he is due to travel to Germany for a trial after he receives a visa on Monday.
And his club manager, Bobby Motaung, insists the forward will not be derailed from his German trip even if Celtic step up their interest.
Motaung told www.kickoff.com: "We know there is Celtic's deal coming into play, but firstly Musona is not on auction. Secondly, we are not going to play a pick and choose game or money game.
"There has been an invitation for the player from Hoffenheim and we are going to follow through that process and we will exhaust that process before we consider any other offer.
"For now we will park the proposal that has come through. It is only fair for us to act ethically.
"We will respond accordingly to Celtic and acknowledge their interest, but Musona is not on auction."
Celtic have also expressed interest in Israel striker Omer Damari but his club may have threatened the deal after revealing details of a proposed agreement, which would see Maccabi Petah Tikvah earn 30% of any future transfer.
However, Celtic later stressed they had made no bid for the player despite holding talks.
Meanwhile, Celtic manager Neil Lennon has been denied the chance to see another transfer target in action.
Central Coast Mariners midfielder Mustafa Amini has been ruled out of the Australian club's pre-season friendly against Celtic with a groin injury.
Celtic striker Gary Hooper is looking forward to the occasion after recovering from the long journey.
"Training was tiring," Hooper told www.celticfc.net. "I didn't get much sleep as I am still getting used to it, but it's done now and we improved our fitness from it, and now I am just looking forward to tomorrow.
"I think my fitness is good just now. Everyone in the squad has returned back really well and really fit.
"We aren't doing much running, we are just doing football to get our sharpness back, and it's been going really well.
"I just want to get on the pitch, play a bit of football like we have been doing in training and score some goals.
"It's important for everyone to play well but for strikers it's also vital to score, and that is my aim. However, the main thing is to get a good result."
Meanwhile, Celtic have announced a charity legends match against Manchester United at Parkhead on August 9.
The match will see celebrity fans and former players line up with Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Lubo Moravcik and management team Neil Lennon, Johan Mjallby and Alan Thompson featuring against the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

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Frings - off to the MLS.
FRINGS MAKES MLS MOVE

Former Germany international midfielder Torsten Frings has signed for Major League Soccer side Toronto FC after leaving Werder Bremen at the end of his contract.
It was anticipated that Frings, 34, would retire, but he revealed a conversation with former Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann made him decide to sign a two-year contract with Toronto, despite interest from other clubs.
"I first came in touch with Toronto FC via Jurgen Klinsmann," Frings told Kicker. "He just told me good things about the club. Then I soon came to the conclusion I want to be at Toronto FC and help the club improve.
"I had several offers and enquiries from clubs in Europe, in the United States, in the UAE as well as from the Bundesliga.
"Some looked lovely, some appeared lucrative. Anyway, it was the challenge of playing overseas that tempted me most. I was impressed and the whole package was just right."
The Canadian club have also agreed a deal with former AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven forward Danny Koevermans, who had been linked with a move to npower Championship side Birmingham.

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Vine - off to Doncaster.
ROWAN IS JUST VINE FOR DONCASTER

QPR striker Rowan Vine has been allowed to leave the club to spend a period on trial with npower Championship outfit Doncaster.
The 28-year-old has struggled to establish himself in west London since joining the club from Birmingham in 2008, spending loan spells at Hull, Brentford and MK Dons last season.
Vine will now join up with Doncaster from Monday in a bid to prove his worth to Sean O'Driscoll's side and gain first-team football.
Meanwhile, Rangers welcomed back Italian duo Alessandro Pellicori and Matteo Alberti from loan spells in their homeland.
Pellicori made 23 appearances for Serie B side Torino last season, while Alberti enjoyed a season-long spell with Lega Pro Prima Divisione A side AC Lumezzane.

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Wilshere - keen for the trio to remain.
WILSHERE HOPES TRIO STAY

Jack Wilshere is desperate for Arsenal to keep hold of Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas.
Manchester City are understood to be closing in on a deal for left-back Clichy and are also reportedly interested in Nasri, who had previously been linked with Manchester United.
Fabregas' future also remains the subject of intense speculation as stories continue to circulate regarding a move back to boyhood club Barcelona.
Midfielder Wilshere is not sure what will happen but is due to report back for pre-season training this weekend and hopes all three players will carry on at Emirates Stadium.
"Obviously we want them to stay," he told Sky Sports News.
"They are part of Arsenal and big players for the club so we want them to stay, but we will see.
"I am going back for pre-season tomorrow and we will see."