Transfer news and Rumours: 2009-10

Kimi

Valencia have once again rejected any suggestions that there were any bids for star striker David Villa.

Intensified reports from Spain have suggested that Barcelona and Valencia have agreed on a deal surrouding Villa's transfer to Camp Nou.

But ex-president and now board member, Manuel Llorente, has told reporters that the club has yet to receive any bids from any club for the Spain international.

"There is absolutely no new development and we have not received any offers for Villa," he was quoted as saying by AS.

"For that reason, I do not have anything to say. The questions you ask me are always the same," he added in frustration.

Barcelona's lack of bid could be atributed to Samuel Eto'o refusal complete his transfer to Manchester City due to Barca's inability to give him a cut of the transfer fee.

Kimi

Real Madrid have accepted VfB Stuttgart’s €20 million bid for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who seems to be on his way out of the Bernabeu.

Stuttgart are believed to be the only club that have placed a bid that is equal to Real's valuation of the Dutchman, who joined Los Merengues from Ajax in January.

The German side have indicated that they are more than ready to match Hunterlaar's €3.8m-a-year wage packet, after the sale of Mario Gomez to Bayern Munich.

Marca have claimed that Huntelaar just has to agree on personal terms for the deal to go through.

Kimi

Manchester City have announced they have reached an agreement to sign Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez.

The 25-year-old, who left city rivals United at the end of last season, has agreed personal terms and is expected to pen a five-year deal at Eastlands.

City have confirmed the deal has been ratified by the Premier League and the Football Association, and Tevez is expected to have a medical shortly before meeting up with his new team-mates on their pre-season tour to South Africa.

Manager Mark Hughes told Home - Manchester City FC "It is terrific news. Carlos is an international player of the highest class who possesses all the attributes that will help drive this club forward."

He added: "He is not only outstanding technically but he is a reliable goalscorer and someone who will contribute fully to the team ethic. He gives us another exciting attacking dimension.

"I cannot wait to welcome him to City."

With rumours swirling round Manchester that Emmanuel Adebayor is about to be offered a five-year contract to leave Arsenal and continuing speculation over the future of Chelsea skipper John Terry, it is clear City are a club on the march.

It is Hughes' job to mould a team from the succession of star names being welcomed to the club, although it is a task to relish rather than one to fear, with ambition coursing through the veins of City's Abu Dhabi-based backers.

"This is yet another deal that shows the commitment of owner Sheikh Mansour to make this club the best it can possibly be," said Hughes.

"I am sure our fans will give Carlos an exceptionally warm welcome."

The Premier League have ratified all the paperwork and assured themselves City have sole registration of the only player to win the South American player of the year award three seasons running.

An Olympic champion with Argentina in Athens five years ago, Tevez has won successive Premier League titles at United, where he was a crowd favourite.

Whether such adoration will be maintained now he has become one of a select band to have joined both Manchester clubs will be tested at the Old Trafford derby on September 19.

However, having lost out on Tevez, Sir Alex Ferguson today declared his belief the former West Ham player had already done a deal to move on.

"I half expected Carlos Tevez would be going a long time back," said the United boss.

"I think he maybe did a deal around January because I spoke to him and gave him an offer on the night we played Inter Milan (in March) and he never came back to me.

"I phoned him on holiday and he never got back to me and I texted him twice and he never got back to me then either, so obviously he had made his mind up a long time ago.

"He was a good player and did well for us. But he obviously assessed the situation and wanted to go somewhere else."

Such talk seems slightly wide of the mark but, with his family settled in the north-west and City hardly scrimping on the value of contracts, Tevez spurned interest from Chelsea to effectively remain at his current base, merely exchanging a red shirt for blue.

It further strengthens an attack that includes Roque Santa Cruz, Robinho and Craig Bellamy, plus a further five experienced players, most of whom are likely to find themselves surplus to requirements.

That will definitely be the case if the transfer of Adebayor goes through, although Arsenal must know they will be putting their own Champions League place at risk by sanctioning such a deal.

In addition, Terry's situation needs to be clarified, with City willing to pay record wages to lure the England captain north from Chelsea.

With the Londoners ready to leave for their own pre-season tour on Thursday, it has been suggested some kind of press conference could be held where Terry outlines his own vision for the future, although as he apparently feels let down by the lack of big names heading for Stamford Bridge, manager Carlo Ancelotti could not be certain of its contents.

Kimi

AC Milan are unlikely to make an improved offer for Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano after having their initial bid rejected.

The Rossoneri had hoped to lure the Brazil international to the San Siro but have not met Sevilla´s asking price.

Milan general manager Adriano Galliani told Corriere dello Sport: "We have not made another offer for Luis Fabiano.

"The offer made is our initial one and nothing has changed."

The 28-year-old has a £26million release clause and the Italian club are said to be reluctant to pay such a fee.

Milan´s lawyer and transfer consultant, Leandro Cantamessa, added: "The negotiations for Luis Fabiano have led nowhere.

"Our negotiations have only been with Sevilla and not with the player.

"Our offer was turned down. I don't know if we will make another offer but I don't think we will."

Luis Fabiano is under contract at Sevilla for two further seasons.

C.Ronaldo

Adebayor 'close' to City switch

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is reported to be on the verge of becoming the latest big-name signing made by Manchester City.

City boss Mark Hughes confirmed that negotiations with the Gunners over their Togo striker had been held during the press conference to unveil another new signing in Carlos Tevez on Tuesday.

The ambitious Eastlands club are believed to be ready to pay £25million for the 25-year-old striker, who scored 16 goals for the Gunners this season.

Further reports claim that Adebayor was in Manchester on Tuesday attempting to secure a work permit and could be unveiled as a City player in time to be on Wednesday's flight to South Africa for a pre-season tour.

Speaking at the press conference, Hughes revealed: "There has been discussions between ourselves and Arsenal.

"It is not the right time or place to discuss it but yes, there has been contact and possibly there is a deal to be done.

"It has not been concluded as we speak. Until it happens, it is not the time or the place to talk about it."

Hughes has already signed Tevez, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz and goalkeeper Stuart Taylor during a busy summer of transfer activity at Eastlands.

He has also been linked with a move for Chelsea and England captain John Terry.

Source : football.co.uk

C.Ronaldo

Birmingham to sign former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson

Birmingham City are close to completing the signing of former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson from Rangers.

The 31-year-old midfielder worked under Blues boss Alex McLeish during his time in charge of both the national side and the Gers and could be unveiled at St Andrew's before the end of the week.

Ferguson's future at Ibrox has been uncertain following the disciplinary problems which led to him being banned by Scotland and stripped of the club captaincy last season.

Kimi

Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo has joined Juventus in a 25 million euro transfer from Fiorentina, the Turin giants confirmed.

Melo has signed a five-year contract with Juventus after undergoing a medical in Brazil.

A statement from the club read: "Felipe Melo is a Juventus player.

"The player, who is currently on holiday in Brazil, will join the team on July 22.

"He has been signed on a permanent transfer in a 25 million euros transfer fee to be payable over three years.

"Juventus and the player have signed a five-year contract."

Melo, who arrived in Florence from Spanish side Almeria last summer, was also a target of Arsenal.

The 25-year-old, who won the Confederations Cup with Brazil last month, said after putting pen to paper: "I am delighted to have joined Juventus.

"I can´t wait to start work with my new team.

"I have a lot of belief in this s

Kimi

Manchester City are now rumoured to be preparing for transfer bid Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Alonso has been consistently linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, but the Daily Mail reports that Man City have been spurred into action as Alonso is keen on leaving Anfield.

However, Sky Blues manager Mark Hughes admits that the midfield maestro might not fancy a move to Eastlands, after holding out for a move to Madrid all summer long.

Therefore, Man City are prepared to beat Los Blancos in the only department they can: in signing-on bonuses, lucrative weekly wages and huge transfer fees.

Liverpool have slapped a price tag of approximately £35 million for Alonso, after many weeks of negotiations with Real.

Kimi

Inter discuss swap deal with Barca

Inter Milan have confirmed they are in talks with Barcelona over the possible transfer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Nou Camp.

This deal which could cost Inter €40million would also see Samuel Eto'o as well as Alexander Hleb move the other way.

Inter president Massimo Moratti met his Barca counterpart Joan Laporta last night to discuss the future of both players.

"It was interesting for them (Barcelona) to know something about Ibrahimovic, and talk about Eto'o, two players of the same quality," said Moratti on the club's official website, F.C. Internazionale Milano - Sito Ufficiale.

"We are trying to see if it is possible to enter both players in a deal.

Kimi

Bayern Munich have confirmed the sale of defender Lucio to Italian champions Inter Milan.

The Brazilian will put pen to paper on a three-year deal in Milan, according to Bayern's general manager Uli Hoeness.

"Lucio is transferring immediately to Inter Milan and will receive a three-year contract there," he said at a press conference.

"The clubs have reached an agreement and the player is also in agreement with Inter."

Lucio is now due to undergo a medical in Lombardy before all the transfer formalities can be completed.

The 31-year-old's future at Bayern had been in doubt since new coach Louis van Gaal arrived and hinted it may be difficult for him to earn a regular place in his team.

The Dutch coach warned nobody could be given a guaranteed starting berth and Lucio's late return to pre-season training, due to his involvement for Brazil at the Confederations Cup, could put him at a disadvantage compared to his team-mates.

And Hoeness confirmed Lucio had made it clear he wanted to leave after leading Brazil to glory in South Africa.

"He knew that he wanted to leave the club since the Confederations Cup," explained Hoeness.

Lucio joined Bayern from Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen in 2004 and played 144 times for the record German champions, scoring seven goals.

Bayern and Inter have agreed on an undisclosed fee for the transfer of a player whose contract was due to expire next summer.