..::Football IV::..

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OFFICIAL: Arsenal's Chambers joins Middlesbrough on loan

Arsenal defender Calum Chambers has agreed a season-long loan move to fellow Premier League outfit Middlesbrough.The 21-year-old was moved on to the newly-promoted outfit to gain more first-team experience, given he was likely to struggle for time at the Gunners following Shkodran Mustafi's arrival.

Chambers had travelled to Middlesbrough's Rockliffe Park training ground on Tuesday to undergo his medical before sealing his move, much to coach Aitor Karanka's delight.

I’m really pleased,” the Spaniard told the club's official website. “It’s a position where we’ve been working towards bringing the right player in.“We haven’t been in a hurry because Calum was the player we were waiting for, and he’s going to help us a lot.

“I’d like to say thank you to him because we know he had another offer, but he wanted to come here. That’s important and we’re looking forward to working with him.”Chambers joined Arsenal in 2014 from Southampton but had failed to make an impact during his time in London so far.

The Gunners opted to loan him out given he was behind the likes of Mustafi, Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista in the pecking order.

 

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OFFICIAL: Arsenal complete Mustafi signing

Arsenal announced the signing of centre-back Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia for an undisclosed fee on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old's transfer was confirmed after manager Arsene Wenger announced that the completion of paperwork was the final hurdle to clear following Saturday's 3-1 win over Watford.

Wenger had been under pressure for a perceived lack of activity in the window but can now count on Mustafi to bolster a defence that has lost Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista to injury.

"He is at the right age. He has good experience," the Frenchamn told the club's official website. "He is a very focused player who can play with the ball as well.
"We have taken a great player but have prepared well for the future."It is a return to the Premier League for former Everton player Mustafi, who moved to Sampdoria before joining Valencia and making 64 La Liga appearances there.

The World Cup winner has become the third major signing of the summer for Arsenal following Granit Xhaka and Lucas Perez's moves to the Emirates Stadium.
Perez had been announced by the club earlier on Tuesday, as the title challengers race to make up for a slow start to the transfer window.

 

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PSG want David Luiz replacement before sending him back to Chelsea

David Luiz could be set for a sensational return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea enter negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over a £32 million transfer, Goal understands.

Chelsea have been in talks with Kia Joorabchian and Giuliano Bertolucci since failing to secure the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli.The 29-year-old is said to be open to a move and was a popular figure in his first spell at Chelsea after he originally joined the club from Benfica in January 2011 for £21m.

However, the move will hinge on whether PSG can secure a replacement defender first.Luiz won the Champions League at Chelsea but was eventually sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £50m – the highest price ever paid for a defender – in 2014.

Meanwhile, Marcos Alonso is also on the verge of joining the west London club from Fiorentina and is expected to be formally announced tomorrow subject to a medical.

 

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Witsel leaves Belgium camp to have Juventus medical

Axel Witsel is on the verge of completing a transfer from Zenit St Petersburg to Juventus, Goal understands.The Belgium international had vowed to stay at Zenit for another season and coach Mircea Lucescu confirmed that he had rejected a move to Everton.

However, the 27-year-old will leave Belgium's training camp to undergo a medical at the Serie A champions on Wednesday.Massimiliano Allegri's side will pay around €18 million for the midfielder with more to come through bonuses.

Witsel joined Zenit in 2012 and has won a Russian Premier League title as well as a Russian Cup and Super Cup. He is contracted to the club until June 2017.

 

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Malaga president hints at Isco move

Malaga president Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani has hinted that Isco could return to the club.

The midfielder has heavily been linked with a move away from Real Madrid after finding first-team opportunities limited at Santiago Bernabeu, with Malaga and Tottenham interested.Isco enjoyed a fruitful two years at Malaga before joining Madrid in 2013, and now the club's president has stoked the flames of a possible return.

Mauricio Pochettino was reported in Spanish publication AS on Tuesday to have contacted Isco with a view to convincing him to move to White Hart Lane on loan.
However, a return to Malaga is claimed to be more likely as the Spain international looks to reignite his career.

 

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Benteke: I would have been Liverpool success if Rodgers stayed

Christian Benteke insists he did not fail at Liverpool, but feels his time there would have been more successful had the club not sacked Brendan Rodgers.Benteke was a £32.5 million purchase from Aston Villa in July 2015 under former Liverpool boss Rodgers.

The 25-year-old started the first six league games of the season before Rodgers was sacked in October, with Jurgen Klopp taking the Northern Irishman's place at Anfield.

While he scored in his first two games under Klopp, Benteke was used predominately off the bench under the German for the rest of the season, preferring to play Firmino and Divock Origi up front.

Having joined Crystal Palace this summer for £32m, Benteke believes his time at Liverpool was not an unsuccessful one, but he conceded he could have done more to keep his place in the squad. "I don't see my time there as a failure," the Belgium international told the Daily Mail. "When I signed there was another coach and with him it might have turned out differently.

"I did not fit the tactical system of the new coach. That was not easy mentally because I was left to fight a losing battle. But I must not look for excuses. I could also have done better in those few minutes I got. I have not performed as expected.

"Liverpool is a big club and, there, you do not go looking for the coach, knocking on the door of his office. I am grown man and I was able to deal with it."He had a particular system and I did not fit in. It was up to me to find a solution. These are things that happen in a career. There are no regrets."

Now at Selhurst Park, Benteke hopes to get back to his best, saying: "Crystal Palace is a good step for me. I am now on a team that might not have the same ambitions as Liverpool, but I can play well and can show me every weekend.

"Of course my dream continues to break through to play at a big club and in European competitions. But I did not go to Palace with the idea to perform and then move on after one season."Palace was not my only option. I could earn more elsewhere. But I am 25, a crucial age, and it is important for me to play and feel the confidence.

"I really want to show what I can do this season. I had the chance to call and talk in advance with Alan Pardew. He knows my qualities and, although I had hardly played, I knew I had a good pre-season behind me at Liverpool and would not need much time before I was ready to play."

 

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OFFICIAL: Torino complete Hart swoop

Joe Hart has completed a season-long loan deal to join Torino after falling out of favour with new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

The England international goalkeeper found himself second choice behind Willy Caballero for City's opening games of 2016-17, with Claudio Bravo's arrival from Barcelona seemingly demoting Hart to third choice.Hart arrived in Turin on Tuesday, with the loan moved confirmed on transfer deadline day.

He was made captain for City's Champions League play-off game against Steaua Bucharest last week and bade an emotional farewell to the club's supporters.

The 29-year-old will now have a chance to prove himself again after a pair of high-profile errors on international duty with England at Euro 2016."Suddenly my career has undergone a change, and I took it as a sign of destiny and I had to do something," he told the official Torino website.

"The selection of Torino has come at the right time and in the right way. I am very happy to be able to compete in a beautiful and difficult league like Serie A."Italian goalkeeping is recognised throughout the world, so I am convinced I can still learn a lot here.

"This is why I immediately accepted with great enthusiasm the proposal of president [Urbano] Cairo."In the staff I already know [Attilio] Lombardo, who I worked with in Manchester and won, so we hope to relive many beautiful emotions together.

"I read some interviews about Torino. The coach wants players who are humble and have ambition. I really like this too, that's how I want to be."England and Hart, capped 63 times for his country, face Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday in what will be Sam Allardyce's first match in charge of the national team.

Hart could then make his Serie A debut for Torino at Atalanta on September 11.
He joined City in 2006 and has made 348 appearances for the club, with his honours including the 2011 FA Cup and Premier League titles in 2011-12 and 2013-14.

 

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PSG ask Chelsea for £38m for David Luiz

Paris Saint-Germain have told Chelsea that their initial offer for David Luiz is not enough and are demanding £38 million for him.The Blues' bid of £32m fell short of the French champions' valuation of him and PSG won't sanction the sale until they find a replacement.

However, Les Parisiens have been looking into options from their shortlist since Tuesday night, but are yet to put in any formal offers on replacements with the transfer window due to close at 23:00 BST on Wednesday.

Brazil international Luiz left Chelsea just two years ago in a £50m transfer, but he is open to a move back to the club with whom he won the Champions League. Chelsea have been in talks with Kia Joorabchian and Giuliano Bertolucci, who brought Luiz, Kenedy and Oscar to the club, after failing to secure the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli and Alessio Romagnoli from AC Milan.The deal won't have any effect on the imminent move signing of Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina to Chelsea.

 

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OFFICIAL: Stoke complete Bony capture

Wilfried Bony has escaped from an unsuccessful spell at Manchester City by joining fellow Premier League outfit Stoke City in a season-long loan deal on transfer deadline day.

The 27-year-old will bolster a Stoke squad without a win in three Premier League matches this season as he aims to recapture the prolific form he displayed at Swansea City to earn an ill-fated switch to the Etihad Stadium.Bony joined Swansea for a then club-record fee from Vitesse in 2013 and scored 35 times in 70 matches.

That return included 20 Premier League goals to stand as the division's top scorer in 2014 but his spell in Manchester has been defined by form and fitness struggles.
He scored 11 goals in 46 appearances for the club and has failed to secure a place in Pep Guardiola's plans as head coach.

"Bringing Wilfried in was a no-brainer for us to be perfectly honest, because he knows the Premier League and has scored plenty of goals at this level," Stoke boss Mark Hughes told his club's official website.

"He has power, speed and very good physical attributes which will undoubtedly help us, and his technical and finishing skills are outstanding too."Eighteen months ago he was being bought for a hugely significant amount of money, so we know that we are bringing in a top quality striker.

"Everybody is aware of Wilfried and what he is capable of, and it was no surprise that one of the bigger clubs came in for him on the back of his performances for Swansea - the only surprise has been that he didn't enjoy the success with Manchester City that we all thought he would."

Bony follows Joe Hart as a deadline day departure at Manchester City, after the England goalkeeper's loan move to Torino was confirmed, while Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala have been tipped to join Sevilla and Valencia respectively.Stoke confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Lee Grant from Derby County earlier in the day.

 

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Summer Transfer Window Deadline Day 2016

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Manchester United Deadline Day sign 1kakata yana 1kak naha wage.​

 

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OFFICIAL: Samir Nasri joins Sevilla on loan

Manchester City have announced that Samir Nasri has joined Sevilla on a season-long loan.The French midfielder was said to be close to a move to Turkish side Besiktas, but Sevilla were able to capture him ahead of the close of the transfer window.

Sevilla sporting director Monchi revealed that Nasri is a player they have "been chasing all summer", but that City had instead opted to hold onto him.But the Europa League holders were able to complete a deal, with Nasri undertaking a medical on Tuesday.

Nasri will spend the remainder of the season at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, although the loan agreement does not feature an option for Sevilla to buy – suggesting the player might still have a future under Pep Guardiola.

Playing their first season with coach Jorge Sampaoli at the helm, Sevilla have lost creative talents Ever Banega and Yevhen Konoplyanka to Inter and Schalke respectively, meaning Nasri will have a vital role in countering those losses as they return to Champions League action.

Los Rojiblancos have been drawn alongside Serie A champions Juventus, Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage of Europe's premier club competition.

 

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Perez: Impossible to improve Real Madrid squad

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez does not believe it would be possible to improve the Real Madrid squad.

The only big-name arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in the transfer window has been Alvaro Morata, as their other big target, Paul Pogba, secured a world record move to Manchester United.

However, the relative lack of activity is not a concern for Perez, who does not believe any player could raise the quality of the squad of the European champions.

"We have already claimed the UEFA Super Cup and won the first two Liga games. We have a spectacular squad, impossible to improve," said the president at a media conference.

"Zinedine Zidane, his whole coaching staff and the players are very conscious of their responsibility and want to show that they are capable of."This is a sacred place for football and a place in which millions of fans place their dreams."

 

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My mother rejected Milan approach – Totti

Francesco Totti has revealed that AC Milan tried to sign him as a 13-year-old – but his mother rejected the approach.

The Roma stalwart, who is playing in his 25th season for the Giallorossi after signing a one-year contract extension at the club, also admitted he nearly left Stadio Olimpico for Real Madrid in 2004, but was persuaded to stay after discussions with his family and the Serie A side's former president Franco Sensi.

Totti has been promised the role of technical director when the 2016-17 season comes to an end and the curtain falls on a one-club career that began in 1989, when he joined Roma's youth ranks at the age of 13.That career could have taken a different course entirely had it not been for the insistence of Totti's mother, Fiorella, that he should play for Roma.

"When I was 13, there was a knock at our door," Totti told The Players' Tribune."The men from AC Milan were asking me to join their football club. An opportunity to make it with a big Italian club. What would I choose?"Well, it was not my decision, of course. My mamma was the boss. She still is the boss. And she was rather attached to her boys, let's say. She did not want me to leave home for fear that something might happen.

"No, no, she told the directors. That's all she had to say."It was hard saying no to AC Milan. It would have meant a lot of money for our family. But my mother taught me a lesson that day: your home is the most important thing in life."Just a few weeks later, after being scouted at one of my youth matches, Roma made me an offer. I was going to wear the yellow and red."

The Roma captain has since made more than 600 Serie A appearances for the club and he has won the Scudetto, as well as two Coppa Italia titles and the Supercoppa Italiana on two occasions.

Totti said he was close to leaving the club at the end of the 2003-04 season, in which he scored 20 goals to help Roma finish second to Milan in the title race.
"There was even a moment 12 years ago when I thought about leaving Roma for Real Madrid," the 39-year-old explained.

"When a very successful team, perhaps the strongest in the world, asks you to join, you start to think about what life might be like elsewhere. I had talks with the president of Roma, and that made a difference. But in the end, the talk I had with my family reminded me what life is about.
"Home is everything."

 

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OFFICIAL: Mangala joins Valencia on loan

Valencia have signed France international defender Eliaquim Mangala on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City.

The 25-year-old arrives as a timely defensive reinforcement for the Liga club following Shkodran Mustafi's departure to Arsenal on Tuesday, while Aymen Abdennour is reportedly a target for Chelsea.

Mangala follows Joe Hart, Wilfried Bony and Samir Nasri in making loan exits from City on deadline day having failed to make a matchday squad since Pep Guardiola succeeded Manuel Pellegrini as manager.

He moved to the Etihad Stadium in August 2014, becoming the most expensive defender in Premier League history at the time, but a succession of high-profile errors hindered Mangala's attempts to become a first-team fixture.

The former Porto man was part of Didier Deschamps' France squad that finished as runners-up to Portugal on home soil at Euro 2016, though he did not make a start during the competition.

Mangala was pushed down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium following the arrival of England international John Stones from Everton.A City statement read: "Everyone at City would like to wish Eliaquim the best of luck at Valencia."

 

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OFFICIAL: Cuadrado returns to Juventus on three-year loan

Juventus have agreed a deal with Chelsea that sees Juan Cuadrado return to the club on a three-year loan.

After failing to establish himself at Stamford Bridge following his move from Fiorentina in February 2015, Cuadrado spent the 2015-16 campaign at the Turin giants.

The Colombia international made 40 appearances in all competitions as Juve became the first club in Italian history to claim the Serie A and Coppa Italia double in successive seasons.And now Cuadrado will continue his career on loan at Juve, with the agreement running until June 30, 2019.

The Bianconeri will pay Chelsea €5million per season for the next three campaigns and have the opportunity to purchase him outright in a deal worth €25m.

An official club statement read: "Juventus can today confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chelsea for the loan of Juan Cuadrado until 30 June 2019, for an annual consideration of €5 million.

"Juventus has the right to acquire the player on a permanent basis, or will be obliged to upon the achievement of agreed team results during the loan period, for a fee of €25 million, payable in three financial years, minus the loan fees already paid.

"Should Juventus achieve certain sporting results during the player's contract of employment, the club will owe Chelsea an additional €4 million in contingent payments."

Cuadrado featured for the Blues in pre-season but was not used by Antonio Conte in any of Chelsea's first three Premier League games this term.

 

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OFFICIAL: Tottenham complete N'Koudou signing

Tottenham on Wednesday completed the protracted signing of Georges-Kevin N'Koudou from Marseille on a five-year deal.The winger has reportedly been training at Hotspur Way for over a week as both clubs negotiated a fee thought to be £10 million.

The deal included Spurs forward Clinton N'Jie moving to the Ligue 1 outfit on loan in return.N'Koudou appeared to confirm the move on Twitter on Tuesday night and now Spurs have announced their third summer signing.

N'Koudou first broke into the first team at Nantes in the 2013-14 season and became an integral part of the side which finished 14th in Ligue 1 to earn a move to Marseille.

The 21-year-old notched 10 goals in 41 appearances last term, with Marseille reportedly earning 10 times their investment of 12 months ago with the transfer to Tottenham.

 

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OFFICIAL: Chelsea re-sign David Luiz from PSG for £38m

Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazil international David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain for £38 million (€45m).The 29-year-old returns to Stamford Bridge just two years after leaving Chelsea, who opened talks with their ex-player on Tuesday.

Luiz has signed a contract and completed a medical according to sources close to Goal but details have yet to emerge over the length of the deal.

PSG have decided not to sign a replacement for Luiz despite only having three recognised centre-backs in Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe, with Serge Aurier capable of deputising. Chelsea have officially announced the signing of Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina while they also have the option of signing Aymen Abdennour on loan from Valencia.

Meanwhile, Juan Cuadrado has also officially left Chelsea for Juventus on a three-year loan with the option to buy.

 

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OFFICIAL: Balotelli leaves Liverpool for Nice on permanent deal

Liverpool and Mario Balotelli have finally ended their malfunctioning association, with the striker signing for Nice on a free transfer.

The 26-year-old was only due to be out of contract next summer, but the Reds pushed to get him off the books completely 737 days after taking a £16 million gamble on the Italian.

The Ligue 1 side had originally slated a season-long loan for Balotelli, but negotiations continued well into deadline day for a more permanent solution, which was agreed after he passed a medical.

Nice ousted FC Sion and Palermo to acquire the talented yet troubled forward.He will train for the first time with his new team-mates on Thursday morning, before being officially unveiled on Friday.

Club president Jean-Pierre Rivere, the driving force behind the deal, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Mario.“We hope that Nice, in a family atmosphere, will help him rediscover his joy for the game.

“We both know that nothing will be easy, but with the desire and support of all our fans, we’ll help him to flourish and bring his talent to the service of the team.”Negotiations over a transfer had not been straightforward since Balotelli travelled to the south-east coast of France for talks last week.

An initial consultation with Rivere and senior officials following the Europa League draw proved obstructive to an agreement.The three-time Serie A winner gave off the impression that Nice would be lucky to have him, rather than displaying a willingness to recalibrate his career at the club.

However, a follow-up meeting on Saturday morning proved more productive. There was also a separate gathering with the coaching staff to determine their thoughts on working with Balotelli.

Manager Lucien Favre needed some convincing, but a vote was held in the affirmative to push on with proceedings.

 

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OFFICIAL: West Ham sign Arbeloa

West Ham have completed the signing of defender Alvaro Arbeloa on a one-year deal.The 33-year-old has become the Hammers' 12th signing of the transfer window and will provide competition for Sam Byram at right-back.

Arbeloa, who had been a free agent since leaving Real Madrid in the summer, returns to the Premier League having played for Liverpool between 2007 and 2009.And the full-back, who helped Spain win the World Cup in 2010 as well as the 2008 and 2012 European Championships, is delighted to be back in England.

"I am really happy to be here in a great Club in a great league," Arbeloa told West Ham's official website. "I'm really happy to be back in England and, for me, it's a great chance and I'm looking forward to playing with this side.

"The Stadium is amazing. It's really nice and looks fantastic. Hopefully I'm going to see the Stadium full with all our fans and I'm really happy to be here
"For me, this is a great chance to be back in England and in the Premier League, which is a fantastic league and I want to put myself here again. This is a big Club and a great Club with fantastic players and a great coach.

"Slaven wants to see me training as soon as possible. I was talking with [Croatia internationals] Luka Modric and Matteo Kovacic and they told me good things about the coach, so I want to work with him and hopefully I can learn a lot of things."