Latest Transfer Update at 18-04-2012

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Dan Smith: Completes Anfield move

LIVERPOOL SWOOP FOR CREWE YOUNGSTER

Liverpool have completed the signing of highly-rated Crewe youngster Dan Smith.
The north west clubs have agreed a fee in the region of £300,000 for the 16-year-old midfielder, who is the latest sought-after name to emerge from Alex's famed youth production line.


Former Anfield stars Rob Jones and Danny Murphy started their careers with the Railwaymen before making the move to Merseyside.
Smith, a member of the Crewe Academy since the age of 11, was set to join Manchester City last month but the deal fell through.

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Alessandro Del Piero: Will leave in the summer

DEL PIERO 'SCARED' OF LIFE AFTER JUVE

Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has revealed the prospect of leaving the Turin giants this summer after 20 years at the club "scares him".
The 37-year-old's contract with the Bianconeri outfit expires this summer and the club will not offer him a new deal.
"From June 30, I am without a contract," Del Piero said in an interview with Vanity Fair Italian edition. "I don't know how to imagine my future, it's going to be a big change and it scares me a little bit.
"It's like leaving home for a second time.


"But the way I approach this is as I did when I played the video games I liked as a child, that is to overcome a new level.
"Would I have wanted to end my career with the Juve colours? It was my dream.
"The past 20 years have been rich with emotions, with hard times and extraordinary ones.
"I have been able to achieve many of club's records. But things have changed."
Del Piero holds the all-time goalscoring record at Juventus while he is also the club's all-time highest-capped player.
However, under coach Antonio Conte, Del Piero has seen his playing time reduced this season, making just 19 league appearances for the Bianconeri so far.
"It has been the most difficult campaign of my life," the veteran forward said. "I have been hit with a reality that I had never experienced before, that of not playing or playing very little.


"[Juventus president Andrea] Agnelli in October announced that this would be my last season at the club. It surprised me.
"But a captain can never forget his duties and what he represents.
"We are in the race to win the Coppa Italia and Serie A and we don't need any controversies because they have never been part of my career."
Del Piero has been strongly linked with a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) this summer.
"I am the first to know when I will retire but not yet," he said. "My passion for the game is still very much alive."
Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo has admitted his club cannot afford to sign Del Piero this summer.


"Del Piero is a champion who would be an asset to any club, including Udinese," Pozzo said to Gazzetta dello Sport.
"But there is a very simple reason why we will not try to lure a matured champion like him, even if his experience would be good for the team, and it is a financial issue.
"He doesn't fit into the budget of a small club like Udinese."

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Matthieu Delpierre: Set for Hoffenheim move

DELPIERRE HEADING TO HOFFENHEIM

Stuttgart defender Matthieu Delpierre will join Hoffenheim on a free transfer at the end of the season, both clubs have confirmed.
The 30-year-old Frenchman, who has been at Stuttgart since 2004 but whose contract runs out in the summer, has signed a two-year deal with Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim coach Markus Babbel told the club's official website: "Matthieu is an outstanding defender, who will help us become even more solid at the back.

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Paul Pogba: Yet to decide on future

POGBA YET TO MAKE JUVE DECISION

Paul Pogba's agent has again stressed that the young Frenchman is yet to decide whether to join Juventus or not.
The Manchester United midfielder is out-of-contract in the summer and the young Frenchman has thus far refused to pen a new deal at Old Trafford.
Juventus have been tracking for a number of months and deal is on the table for him in Turin, and fresh reports in Italy had claimed he had finally opted for the Old Lady.


However, Mino Raiola says Pogba is yet to decide on United or Juve.
"Paul has not agreed any move yet. He has a straight choice between United and Juventus but I think he will make his mind up soon," Raiola told TalkSport.