Transfer news and Rumours: 2009-10

Kimi

AC Milan have signed American defender Oguchi Onyewu on a free transfer from Standard Liege.

The USA international has penned a three-year contract with the Rossoneri outfit.

A statement from the club read: "AC Milan announces the signing on a permanent deal of defender Oguchi Onyewu from Standard Liege.

"The player has signed a contract with AC Milan through 30 June 2012."

The 27-year-old, whose Liege contract was ending this summer, made a big contribution to Standard winning the Belgian League title last season. Onyewu, who played on loan at Newcastle in the 2007-08 campaign, is Milan's first summer signing.

The Washington-born centre-back recently helped the USA finish second in the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Kimi

Spanish football club Real Madrid seems to have lost interest in Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Spanish giants, who have spent around 180-million-pounds this summer, claim they cannot afford the midfielder.

Real wanted Alonso to provide the chances for their new strike trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Karim Benzema.

But general director Jorge Valdano said: "Alonso is a priority if he fits into our budget and this doesn't seem the case.

"Liverpool have taken up a difficult stance over Alonso. I don't like to talk about the private details of negotiations. We are studying many alternatives,” The Sun quoted Valdano, as saying further.

Kimi

Barcelona have reportedly reached an agreement with Valencia over the transfer of striker David Villa.

A Nou Camp insider has confirmed that Villa will fulfill his wish to join the Spanish champions this offseason.

Barca and Valencia have been involved in talks and La Blaugrana president Joan Laporta even admitted that an offer had been tabled during a television broadcast midweek.

The Spanish press has now revealed that the deal has been agreed upon and Villa is Nou Camp-bound, though no details of the transfer has been revealed so far.

Laporta has hinted that the deal is at least worth €40million, and coupled with Vicente Soriano's promise to placate the player, means that the Catalans have a new weapon in their massive arsenal.

The Villa deal could hasten the departure of Samuel Eto'o, with both Man United and Man City monitoring the Cameroonian's situation.

Real Madrid declined signing Villa after being told that he was not for sale, settling instead on Karim Benzema, who is valued at €41million by Olympique Lyonnais.

Kimi

Rafa Benitez believes Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano owe it to Liverpool to stay at the club.

Midfield duo Alonso and Mascherano have both been strongly linked with moves away from Anfield to Spain this summer.

Real Madrid have openly declared their interest in Spanish ace Alonso, while Barcelona are keeping tabs on Mascherano.

Benitez is confident the key duo will remain on Merseyside and he has revealed he would like the pair to show some loyalty to Liverpool.

"I do not think Alonso or Mascherano will go. It is clear that they both are under contract with long-term agreements. That is it," insisted Benitez.

"There has been a lot of things written, a lot of rumours, but both players are under contract and we have no more need to talk about things.

"They are both very good players and I will be very pleased to keep them. They both have very good contracts.

"We signed them both from different situations. Alonso was coming from Real Sociedad and nobody had really heard much of him outside of Spain, he did well and we renewed his contract because of that.

"Mascherano came from West Ham where he had not been doing well. We brought him here and gave him a good contract, so we are very pleased with them both and that Liverpool has been very good to them.

knoughtyd

David Villa for Barcelona

and I thought he was heading for Real Madrid

Kimi

Originally Posted by knoughtyd

David Villa for Barcelona and I thought he was heading for Real Madrid

He was,,But those dumbnuts in Valencia said Villa is not for sale and so Real signed Benzema..Now they are in need of money again and so selling him off to Barcelona i guess

Valencia

knoughtyd

Barcelona have the best player in the world (Lionel Messi), the best central midfielder (Xavi), the best attacking midfielder (Andres Iniesta) and one of the two best right-backs (Daniel Alves). They also have one of the two best strikers in the world (Samuel Eto'o) and (Henry) & now over tat another best striker David Villa possibly to their squad...pheww

But I guess bringing David Villa would mostly mean that Eto is going out

Kimi

Originally Posted by knoughtyd

Barcelona have the best player in the world (Lionel Messi), the best central midfielder (Xavi), the best attacking midfielder (Andres Iniesta) and one of the two best right-backs (Daniel Alves). They also have one of the two best strikers in the world (Samuel Eto'o) and (Henry) & now over tat another best striker David Villa possibly to their squad...pheww

But I guess bringing David Villa would mostly mean that Eto is going out

Yeah,Eto is going to Manchester,either City or United....And Barca too strengthening their squad being afraid of Real i guess

C.Ronaldo

Barcelona and Real would be the clash to watch this season! Hope that Villa moves there!

Kimi

Reports in Spain suggested Madrid could turn to Arsenal captain Fabregas after baulking at Liverpool's asking price for Xabi Alonso and seemingly being rebuffed by Roma over Daniele de Rossi.

Madrid have long been linked with Fabregas, as have the Spain international's former club Barcelona, but Pardeza is adamant the 22-year-old is not on their radar.

"He is a great player, there's no doubt about that. But at this moment he is not an target for Real Madrid. The club are working on other alternatives," he said.

Pardeza also confirmed they had come up against brick wall regarding Alonso, but insisted that did not necessarily mean their hopes of bringing the Euro 2008 winner to the Bernabeu were now over.

"Madrid must not discard an option until it's totally gone. Now there is an insurmountable financial barrier, but it's something that could change. We're looking for alternatives, although there aren't many."

Madrid have already spent close to £200million on four new signings - Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol - this summer but are still looking to add a couple more players as they seek a return to winning ways after ending last season empty-handed.

Two of those new arrivals, Ronaldo and Benzema, were part of the Madrid squad that started pre-season training today.

Also taking to the pitches at Madrid's Valdebebas training ground this morning were new coach Manuel Pellegrini, who replaced Juande Ramos in June after five seasons at Villarreal, as well as Ezequiel Garay and Alvaro Negredo.

Centre-back Garay was signed from Racing Santander last summer but remained on loan at the Cantabrian club, while highly-rated striker Negredo has spent the last two seasons on loan at Almeria.

A selection of youth team players were amongst the 29 players who trained today, while Mohamadou Diarra and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who both missed most of last season with injury, also took part in the session.

However, the club's other two big summer signings to date, Kaka and Albiol, along with Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Javi Garcia and Dani Parejo were all absent as they are still holidaying due to their international commitments this summer.