Latest Football Transfer News 18-07-2012

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Fulham refute Dempsey talk
Last Updated: July 18 2012, 12:31 BST

Fulham have moved swiftly to quash reports that striker Clint Demspey has been signed by Liverpool.



Dempsey: No bids, say Fulham
A story on the website of Fenway Sports Group, the Reds' owners, claimed the club had "added Clint Dempsey to a team that came within a game of winning the FA Cup".


Liverpool lost to Chelsea in last season's FA Cup final.
But a Fulham spokesperson told the BBC: "It is totally not true. We have not received any bids."
The website is the official homepage of Fenway Sports Group and hosted by sports network company NESN.com, who posted the original story at 05:44 BST.


This report was removed five hours after its original uploading on Wednesday morning.
Speculation has increased in recent weeks over the future of Dempsey, who bagged 23 goals in 46 appearances last season.
The USA international has one year left on his contract at Craven Cottage.

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Fergie happy for Berbatov to stay
Last Updated: July 18 2012, 22:48 BST

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed he would be happy for Dimitar Berbatov to stay at Manchester United but accepts why the Bulgarian wants to leave.



Berbatov: Future uncertain
United's record signing has cut a lonely figure since being left out of the squad for the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in 2010.
Berbatov was further squeezed out last term thanks to the emergence of Danny Welbeck, in addition to the presence of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez.
Berbatov took to his Facebook site earlier this week to question how he was still at Old Trafford when it was obvious he had no future.
And, after the £30.75million man featured in an advanced midfield role in Wednesday night's 1-0 win over AmaZulu in Durban, Ferguson explained his mixed feelings over Berbatov.


"I do not need to herald the abilities of Dimitar Berbatov, he is a fantastic talent," said Ferguson.
"Last season he didn't quite get the amount of football he wants. At his age, it was difficult for him to accept his position in the forward line.
"He had Rooney, Welbeck and Hernandez in front of him, and they are all young men.
"The boy has a future, but if he wants to leave it is a different matter.
"I am easy about it if he stays. I would be happy with that
"But if someone comes in and Dimitar wants to leave, we will assess it."


Berbatov has been linked with AC Milan, who have just sold Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris St Germain and also a possible move to Turkey.
It does appear certain that at some point prior to the August transfer deadline, he will end an ultimately unfulfilling four-year stint with the club.


He did at least have the satisfaction of setting up the only goal for Federico Macheda in an unconvincing victory.
Ferguson introduced £17million new boy Shinji Kagawa for the final couple of minutes, although he should have more meaningful involvement in Saturday's encounter with Ajax Cape Town.
Ferguson has already stated that the number one priority for him this season is to reclaim the Barclays Premier League title from Manchester City.


And he is expecting Paul Scholes to play a big role, even though he will celebrate his 38th birthday in November.
"He showed when he came back in January that he has not lost any ability," said Ferguson.
"It is not easy after being out for seven or eight months, although I felt he should never have gone away anyway.
"It was a good decision to come back and he can contribute in a big way for us.


"He will be 38 in November and like any player of that age we know that his legs will go eventually.
"But, as we have seen so often, there is no one else in England who can dictate the pace, rhythm and tempo of a game and control that midfield area the way he does."

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Zlatan completes PSG move
Last Updated: July 18 2012, 20:09 BST

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is looking to make his mark at Paris St Germain after completing his move to the French club from AC Milan.



Ibrahimovic: Signs for PSG
The Sweden international has become the latest big-money signing to join PSG this summer, with Ibrahimovic's former Milan team-mate Thiago Silva and former Napoli winger Ezequiel Lavezzi already at the Parc des Princes.
And Ibrahimovic, who has signed a three-year deal after a fee reported to be 20million euros (£15.7m) was agreed, believes his new club are capable of achieving great things.


"I'm finally here in Paris," he said at his unveiling on Wednesday afternoon. "It's a dream which has become reality, for me it's a big step in my career. Playing for PSG is an incredible thing.
"It's a beautiful project and one I'm happy to be a part of. Now that I'm here I want to play my part in the history of this club.
"I'm here to win and that's the most important thing."


Carlo Ancelotti's men finished second behind Montpellier in Ligue 1 this season but his squad has been heavily bolstered, with PSG also announcing the signing of Italian Under-21 international Marco Verratti from Serie A outfit Pescara on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who was called up to Italy's pre-Euro 2012 squad, is highly rated and has signed a five-year contract.
Ibrahimovic said: "(PSG) is a dream team that wants to keep on growing. They've bought Thiago Silva, the best player in the world. There aren't many clubs as strong as us in Europe. I don't know of many.


"I am here to win with this incredible squad and we want to win against all opposition we come up against.
"We're looking forward and thinking only of winning, which is the most important thing. At PSG I can play with the best in the world, elsewhere that couldn't happen.
"I want to give my all for this squad which is the future of European football."
Ibrahimovic, who had a contract with Milan until June 2015, was Serie A's top scorer last season, netting 28 goals as the Rossoneri finished runners-up to Juventus.


The former Barcelona, Juve, Inter Milan and Ajax striker added: "I've got nothing bad to say about Milan. I'll always have great memories of the Rossoneri because they gave me great joy and the whole time I spent there was great.
"Now it's time to think only of PSG. I wish Milan all the best and I hope they go on winning without me. I gave all I had for the Rossonero shirt and I don't want to cast doubt on my great memories.
"It wasn't (Massimiliano) Allegri who asked for my transfer. I'm here of my own accord and that's that."