Latest Transfer Update at 23-08-11

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Jose Mourinho: Not leaving Real Madrid
MOURINHO REJECTS MADRID EXIT TALK

Jose Mourinho has moved to deny talk he is on the verge of leaving Real Madrid, insisting there is "no way" he is about to quit as manager.
Reports surfaced in Spain on Tuesday that the Portuguese was poised to exit the Bernabeau following another tumultuous week during which he was involved in another fracas with Barcelona.
The 48-year-old appeared to put his finger in the eye of Barca's assistant coach Tito Vilanova during last week's Supercopa defeat, with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) today confirming they would be looking into the incident.
The flashpoint was the latest in a string of unsavoury incidents to have occurred involving Mourinho and the Catalans since he joined Madrid last summer.
The growing tensions have seen him become increasingly outspoken about Barcelona and their practices, with talk of his departure coming on the back of the latest blow-up.
He says the speculation is not true, though, and in an open letter to supporters on the club's official website, the dual-Champions League winner wrote: "Only those who don't know me can dream, make up or believe I may leave Real Madrid at this stage...
"I believe many people were surprised by the quality football showcased by Real Madrid during the pre-season and it would be surprising news to them if I left the club now. Impossible!
"I have a fantastic President who is very intelligent and with whom I have a great friendship. I also have a Director General who works for the club 24 hours a day, so my motivation is enormous and my Madridismo is even greater than that of some pseudo-Madridistas...
"There is no way I'm leaving. No way!
"I also wish to apologise to Madridistas, and only to them, for my attitude in our last game. Some people are better adapted to the hypocrisy in football than I am, and they hide their faces and speak in whispers deep inside tunnels.
"I'm not learning to be a hypocrite, and I don't want to."
Mourinho's comments came just a matter of hours after the RFEF confirmed their investigation into him.
The former Chelsea boss grabbed the ear of Vilanova and then appeared to make contact with his eye during the closing stages of Barcelona's 3-2 win at the Nou Camp, with the situation arising after Marcelo was sent off for a cynical foul on Cesc Fabregas.
Barcelona said on Monday that they would not be reporting Mourinho, but the RFEF have intervened.
In a statement on their website they announced suspensions for Marcelo, David Villa (who was also sent off) and Mesut Ozil, as well as confirming they would be looking at the behaviour of Mourinho and Vilanova.
The statement read: "We will examine the images of the behaviour of Jose Mourinho and Franciso Vilanova, by performing behaviour that could be in violation of Article 98 and/or Article 100 of the code of disciplinary of the RFEF."

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Vukcevic: New Rovers man.
BLACKBURN SIGN SIMON VUKCEVIC

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has completed his fourth signing of the summer with the capture of Montenegro winger Simon Vukcevic from Sporting Lisbon.
The 25-year-old has signed a three-year contract, and although he has yet to collect a visa and work permit, it is hoped he will be available for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at Ewood Park.
"Hopefully he'll be back in the country some time tomorrow," said Kean on Tuesday, whose side are at home to Sheffield Wednesday in a Carling Cup second-round tie on Wednesday.
"It's going to be difficult for him to be involved in (the Carling Cup) game because he has not even trained with us.
"But if he comes back with all the appropriate paperwork then he will train with us on Thursday and Friday in preparation for the Everton game."
It is understood Rovers have paid Sporting £2million for Vukcevic, who is his country's most-capped player.
Assessing Vukcevic, Kean added: "He is an exciting player who can play wide on either side.
"As a character, when you meet him he is a very focused guy, takes his football very seriously. He likes to take people on, to be the guy who makes a difference, a bit of a match winner.
"He is a very good player with lots of international games under his belt for a country in the top 20, so he has performed at that level at a consistent basis.
"He will give us a different dimension."
In revealing it had not worked out well for Vukcevic towards the end of his time at Sporting, Kean said: "So he has decided to come to us, which is brilliant for us.
"I've watched him a number of times live and if you can get the ball out wide to him and he can isolate a full-back, then it will be hard for anyone to stop him when he is on the run.
"That's exactly the type of player we have been after."
Kean has also confirmed he is close to signing centre-back George John from Major League Soccer side FC Dallas.
Rovers look set to pay a fee for John of around £1.2million to the MLS, who hold the player's contract.
Personal terms are close to being finalised, with Rovers finally poised to fill the gap vacated by Phil Jones' £16.5million move to Manchester United.
To avoid the necessity of obtaining a work permit, John has travelled to Athens to collect a passport, with the 24-year-old holding dual citizenship as his grandparents were born in Greece.
"All the paperwork with the MLS has been agreed, the player has travelled to Greece to get his passport, and hopefully he will be in the country either tonight or tomorrow," said Kean.
"We've been tracking him through a scout based in the USA, we have had a number of good reports, and I've seen him myself on a number of occasions.
"In times past I've been involved with a lot of American players - Eddie Lewis, Marcus Hahnemann, Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride - from my Fulham days.
"It's a very good market because you can get players who have great potential, who hit the ground running, and you can normally get them for a very competitive salary, and he fits the ball.
"He is 6'4", a commanding defender, he is quick, aggressive, and he has a really bright future."
Kean is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday night in a bid to sign a new striker, although claims it is not Bosnian Nenad Ibisevic.
Another player also interesting Kean is midfielder Jimmy Bullard, whose contract is in the process of being terminated by Hull following an incident on a pre-season trip to Slovenia.
"I've probably been linked with Jimmy because I met him on Sunday when he was out with his boy, and I had a chat with him and he was telling me about his troubles, and he could be available," said Kean.
"I had Bully when I was with Chris Coleman at Fulham, and he is a colourful character.
"But I don't know how his fitness is, whether he has done a full pre-season. But he is a quality player when he is on his game.
"It depends if we need somebody in that position, and if we have done our business and filled those slots, then it might not happen, but if we haven't, then you never know."

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Dyer: Pleased to stay a part of the Premier League side.
NATHAN DYER COMMITS TO SWANS

Swansea have tied yet another of their key players to the club after Nathan Dyer signed a new three-year contract at the Liberty Stadium.
The 23-year-old winger was set to be out of contract next summer but will instead remain with the south Wales outfit until the summer of 2014.
The former Southampton man was a key figure in the Swans' promotion charge last term, securing the Supporters' Player of the Year award.
And he has started the new season in a similar vein, winning the man-of-the-match award in the goalless draw with Wigan, and Dyer admits agreeing a new deal was straightforward.
"I'm really pleased. We've just got to the Premier League and I want to be part of things," he said.
"It's a great club so I'm happy to be here. Talks went well and it was nice and easy to sign a contract.
"We've made massive strides as a club and I don't see why I should want to go anywhere else.
"I can learn my trade here and keep improving as a player."
Dyer joins Ashley Williams, Andrea Orlandi, Angel Rangel, Joe Allen, Neil Taylor, Garry Monk and Tom Butler in agreeing a new deal, and he is hopeful that an encouraging display against the Latics on Saturday is a taste of things to come.
"I think we will do well this season," said Dyer. "First off, we wanted to achieve our Premier League status and now we want to stay there.
"The rest is about progressing as an individual and hopefully I will keep pushing myself and become a better player.
"Everyone wants to stay, fight for their place and play as much as they can.
"The fans have been with us on this journey to the Premier League - they have been outstanding - and we want to repay them by staying in the Premier League."