Latest Football Transfer News 03-07-2012

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Latest Football Transfer News 03-07-2012

Rovers line up Gomes

Portuguese veteran arrives in England
Last Updated: July 3, 2012 7:55am

Nuno Gomes: Set for Blackburn deal

Sky Sports understands that veteran Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes has arrived in England for a medical at Blackburn Rovers.
Gomes, who will turn 36 this week, is available on a free transfer after leaving Braga.
He is now set to sign a two-year deal at Ewood Park, subject to him passing his medical with the Lancashire outfit.
Rovers, who have already landed Danny Murphy and Leon Best this summer, are believed to be lining up a number of Portuguese deals.


As well as Gomes, they are understood to be in talks with 19-year-old winger Fabio Nunes, who spent last season on loan at Parma from Portimonense.
And a third Portuguese deal is on the cards as they also look keen to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva.

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Potters confirm Ness deal

Pulis looking forward to adding midfielder to his squad
Last Updated: July 3, 2012 8:59am

Jamie Ness: Scotland Under 21 international is poised to join Stoke City on a free transfer

Stoke City have confirmed Jamie Ness is set to join the club on a free transfer after the midfielder rejected the chance to stay with Rangers.
Ness is one of a host of players to have refused to transfer his contract over to Charles Green's newco and he is following the likes of Steven Whittaker in heading out of Ibrox.


Sky Sports revealed last week that Stoke were looking to push through a deal for Ness and that he was undergoing a medical with the Premier League club.
The Potters have now stated that Ness has agreed personal terms, reported to be a four-year deal, and the club are waiting for international clearance.
Tony Pulis is pleased to have lined up his first signing of the summer and he is hoping the 21-year-old can make an impact at the Britannia Stadium.
"Jamie is a lad with enormous potential who is clearly determined to make the most of this fresh start in the game," Pulis told the club's official website.
"It's important that we introduce some young blood in strengthening the squad and he certainly fits the bill as someone tipped for a bright future."

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Toon cool on De Jong

Newcastle ready to focus on other targets
Last Updated: July 3, 2012 9:09am


Luuk de Jong: No Newcastle deal


Sky Sports understands that Newcastle United have cooled their interest in Luuk de Jong and are now looking at other targets.
The Magpies sent a delegation led by managing director Derek Llambias to Holland last weekend.
They made a firm offer of €12million (£9.6m) and, as is the policy under owner Mike Ashley, the whole fee would be paid up-front - which is almost unheard of in football.


Despite the appeal of a full payment, FC Twente have stood firm over their valuation of De Jong - which is believed to be in excess of €15million.
German side Borussia Monchengladbach also remain keen, but they too are baulking at Twente's demands and manager Steve McClaren looks set to get his wish of keeping the player for at least another season.
Sky Sports understands that Newcastle have now already switched their attention to other targets.
Newcastle also held talks about Twente defender Douglas at the weekend, but he has to remain in Holland until August 24th to qualify for his passport - so there is no rush to push that move through.

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Internacional keen on Forlan

Brazilian side ready to pounce if striker leaves Inter
Last Updated: July 2, 2012 9:53pm

Diego Forlan: Struggled to make an impact in his debut season with Inter

Brazilian club Internacional will attempt to sign striker Diego Forlan if he departs Inter Milan this summer, according to vice-president Lucian Davi.
Uruguay international Forlan struggled to make an impact on his debut season in the Serie A last term, scoring just twice in 14 appearances.
The 33-year-old has been tipped to leave the Nerazzurri this summer and has been linked with several clubs, including Inter's fierce local rivals AC Milan.
Internacional chief Davi says the Brazilian side would be interested in signing the former Manchester United, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid frontman.
Inter are offloading their ageing stars, recently terminating the contract of veteran defender Lucio, and Davi would be keen to sign Forlan on a free transfer.
Interested

Internacional will try to capture the striker if he becomes available, the vice-president told Brazilian newspaper Lancenet: "If that information is true, we'll be interested.
"Internacional will have to be creative to know how to handle this kind of situation. If Forlan becomes a free agent, we will have to work something out regarding his wages."
The signing of Forlan would offset the potential departure of striker Leandro Damiao.
The Brazilian has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Tottenham.

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Hill-Wood unaware of Van Persie bids
Last Updated: July 3 2012, 8:40 BST

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood says he is unaware of any club making an offer for Robin van Persie and has reiterated that the striker is not for sale.



Robin van Persie: Has one year left on Arsenal contract
Van Persie only has 12 months remaining on his contract and Hill-Wood admits they are not currently in talks with the Dutchman as he is taking a break following Euro 2012.
He has been linked with a move away from Emirates Stadium this summer, with Manchester City understood to be interested in securing his services.
Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also believed to be keen on Van Persie, who enjoyed a stunning campaign last season.
However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has always insisted that he expects to keep hold of the 28-year-old and Hill-Wood maintains they do not want him to leave after talk of a bid from Juventus emerged on Monday.


"As far as I am aware nobody has made any offer for him and he is away so we are not in any dialogue at all," said Hill-Wood.
"We're not in the remotest bit interested in selling him."
Reports suggest that Van Persie will speak to Wenger by phone this week in an attempt to sort out his future.
Arsenal have already strengthened their attacking options this summer with the signings of Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski.

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Vertonghen focused on Ajax
Last Updated: July 3 2012, 9:08 BST

Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen has vowed to give his all for the Amsterdammers despite continued speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham.



Jan Vertonghen: Has been heavily linked with Tottenham
The Belgium defender reported for pre-season training with his team-mates on Monday but it remains unlikely he will be on board when Ajax open the defence of their Eredivisie crown against AZ Alkmaar on August 8.
Vertonghen told the club's official website: "Of course it goes through my head that there is still no clarity about my future.
"It is difficult and I can't say I don't think about it but that's how it is and I have to adapt. For now I play for Ajax and I will always give 100% for them.


"I am a professional athlete and despite all the issues for me it is simply the beginning of a new season. And that, for me, starts at Ajax."
Vertonghen is hoping the situation is resolved as soon as possible.
He added: "It is obviously impossible to say how long these things take but well before August 31 (the closing of the transfer window) there must be clarity.
"Until then I will just focus on Ajax."

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Amauri delighted by Parma return
Last Updated: July 3 2012, 9:03 BST

Brazilian striker Amauri is delighted to have returned to Parma on a permanent deal.



Amauri signed a two year deal on return to parma
The 32-year-old, who played on loan at the Ducale club in the 2010/11 campaign, has re-joined the Emilia-Romagna outfit on a free transfer.
Amauri, whose contract with Juventus expired last month, has signed a two-year contract with Parma, with the option of a third.
"I am delighted," Amauri told Corriere dello Sport. "For me it's like returning home.
"It only took 10 minutes to reach an agreement, nothing more.


"I had been very happy here and now I want to pick up where I left off."
Amauri scored seven times in 11 league appearances in his previous spell at Parma.
The South American spent last year on loan at Fiorentina after failing to play a single game for Juventus since returning from his loan stint at Parma.

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Stoke confirm Jamie Ness deal
Last Updated: July 3 2012, 9:15 BST

Stoke have confirmed Jamie Ness is set to join the club on a free transfer after the midfielder rejected the chance to stay with Rangers.



Ness: Will join Stoke when international clearance is received
Ness is one of a host of players to have refused to transfer his contract over to Charles Green's newco and is following the likes of Steven Whittaker in heading out of Ibrox.
It was revealed last week that Stoke were looking to push through a deal for Ness and that he was undergoing a medical with the Premier League club.
The Potters have now announced Ness has agreed personal terms on what is reported to be a four-year deal, and the club are now only waiting for international clearance.


Stoke boss Tony Pulis is pleased to have lined up his first signing of the summer and he is hoping the 21-year-old can make an impact at the Britannia Stadium.
"Jamie is a lad with enormous potential who is clearly determined to make the most of this fresh start in the game," Pulis told the club's official website.
"It's important that we introduce some young blood in strengthening the squad and he certainly fits the bill as someone tipped for a bright future."

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Samp name Ferrara as coach
Last Updated: July 3 2012, 8:55 BST

Sampdoria have confirmed the appointment of Ciro Ferrara as their new coach.



Ciro Ferrara: New Sampdoria coach
Ferrara has left his position as the boss of Italy's Under-21 team to return to club management for the first time since a spell at Juventus in the 2009-10 campaign.
A statement from Sampdoria read: "Ciro Ferrara will be the new coach of Sampdoria. The agreement with the new Partenopeo tactician will be ratified in the next few days."
The 45-year-old Ferrara replaces Giuseppe Iachini, who took over the Genoa outfit last November and led the team to promotion to Italy's top flight via the play-offs.


The statement continued: "The club wishes to thank Giuseppe Iachini and his staff for their excellent and successful work done in recent months, culminating in promotion to Serie A.
"Sampdoria give their best wishes to Iachini and his staff and the best professional and personal fortune for the rest of their careers."
Ferrara is set to sign a two-year contract with the Blucerchiati outfit, with an option for a third.

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PSV furious with Labyad

Dutch club claims the teenager is still under contract
Last Updated: July 3, 2012 12:06pm


Zakaria Labyad: Moroccan teenager is caught in the middle of a controversy


PSV are seeking legal action against Zakaria Labyad for allegedly dishonouring his contract with them and signing for Sporting Lisbon.
Labyad was officially presented as a Sporting player on a five-year contract on Monday, with the Portuguese club claiming that they had signed the 19-year-old on a free transfer.
However, PSV dispute the deal struck between the Morocco international and Sporting, claiming that the midfielder is still under contract with them.


Labyad signed a three-year deal with PSV when he was 16 with the Dutch giants retaining the option to extend it by two more years.
The Eredivisie outfit later cancelled that option but stated that they wanted to negotiate a new contract. However, Labyad and his father, who is also his agent, refused to do so, pointing out that according to a Fifa rule, a 16-year-old cannot sign a five-year contract with PSV.
Nevertheless, in May PSV said that Labyad will remain with them for one more year at least, and the teenager and his father forgot to formally announce that he will leave the club in the summer as they are bound by law to do.
PSV have now lashed out at both Labyad and Sporting and are looking to take the case to court, and could put pressure on the Lisbon outfit for a transfer fee.