Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that long-standing Manchester United target Robert Lewandowski will join Bayern Munich next year. Earlier this summer the Polish striker expressed his wish to join Bayern this transfer window, though Dortmund were adamant he would not leave before the start of the season, especially not to their Bundesliga rivals.
Manchester United and Chelsea were interested in taking advantage of this and luring him to the Premier League, but Klopp has said he will stay this season before moving to the Allianz Arena next year.
'I think it is a known fact that Robert is going to play for Bayern after the upcoming season,' he told Welt am Sonntag. 'Now the only question is how to shape the time until then.
'That is our concern and it is our commitment to our fans and members to ensure that we will have a more competitive team in the upcoming season.
'Up to a certain point we were with Robert's desire for change and were ready to talk. But nothing happened so we had to eventually say: '[A sale] now no longer works for us.'
'And now we want to prove that, with a quality player like Robert, we can be successful in the coming year. Our results in the coming season is what we're all about. I know that Robert and I see it the same way.'
Reports in the Italian media have claimed that Milan turned down an offer from Real Madrid for striker Mario Balotelli. The striker only made the move to San Siro from Manchester City in January for €20m (£17.6m), but according to the Corriere dello Sport, new Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has ordered his club to make a huge offer in order to tempt him to Los Blancos.
However, the Rossoneri have provided assurances that he is absolutely not for sale, nor is there any buy-out clause in his contract.
“Will Balotelli be sold? No, for the moment he won’t go, but in football those who are not for sale sooner or later go on the market,” agent Mino Raiola told the Corriere dello Sport.
“Milan have an important project in place with Mario and he is very happy here. You can be sure he won’t move for now, but tomorrow... I don’t know.
“It is very tough for Serie A to hold on to top players right now, as their revenue is only a third of what English or Spanish clubs make.”
PSG sporting director Leonardo says he has "presented a very interesting offer" to Napoli for forward Edinson Cavani.
There have been consistent reports that the French club is prepared to pay the full €63m (£54m) buy-out clause in the star's contract, and the Brazilian sporting director believes he could get his man.
“We presented an offer to President Aurelio De Laurentiis that I consider to be very interesting,” Leonardo told Il Mattino newspaper.
“The negotiations are continuing. We remain in contact and there could be new developments over the next few days.”
Leonardo is currently in Ischia – an island off the coast of Naples – on vacation, but he expects to move the deal along over the course of the coming week.
Paul Scholes could have been lining up alongside David Moyes in the Manchester United dugout next season, but the former midfielder turned the opportunity down.
There have been consistent reports that the French club is prepared to pay the full €63m (£54m) buy-out clause in the star's contract, and the Brazilian sporting director believes he could get his man.
“We presented an offer to President Aurelio De Laurentiis that I consider to be very interesting,” Leonardo told Il Mattino newspaper.
“The negotiations are continuing. We remain in contact and there could be new developments over the next few days.”
Leonardo is currently in Ischia – an island off the coast of Naples – on vacation, but he expects to move the deal along over the course of the coming week.
Paul Scholes could have been lining up alongside David Moyes in the Manchester United dugout next season, but the former midfielder turned the opportunity down.
Moyes has already named United legend Ryan Giggs, who will also continue as a player and his skipper at Everton former Red Phil Neville among his backroom team.
But Scholes declined a role in the set-up in order to take a break from the game, although Moyes pointed to the possibility of handing him a role in the future.
'I wanted to make sure I had connections to what happened here,' Moyes said. 'I spoke to Paul Scholes as well. He wants to have some time off with his family.
'Paul was fantastic with me and wanted to help a lot. I probably spent an hour or two on the phone with him. He wants to spend time with his family at the moment. We’ll bring him in when he’s ready.
'I also spoke with Rene [Meulensteen] but he wanted to move on. So then the obvious choice was Ryan.
'He’s an incredible footballer. To get him and Phil Neville together. I wanted to make sure I had some young members of staff behind me as well.'
Arsenal have raised a few eyebrows after making an ambitious enquiry for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez. Manager Arsene Wenger has been rebuffed in a similar enquiry for Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney and has a bid on the table for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.
But Scholes declined a role in the set-up in order to take a break from the game, although Moyes pointed to the possibility of handing him a role in the future.
'I wanted to make sure I had connections to what happened here,' Moyes said. 'I spoke to Paul Scholes as well. He wants to have some time off with his family.
'Paul was fantastic with me and wanted to help a lot. I probably spent an hour or two on the phone with him. He wants to spend time with his family at the moment. We’ll bring him in when he’s ready.
'I also spoke with Rene [Meulensteen] but he wanted to move on. So then the obvious choice was Ryan.
'He’s an incredible footballer. To get him and Phil Neville together. I wanted to make sure I had some young members of staff behind me as well.'
Arsenal have raised a few eyebrows after making an ambitious enquiry for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez. Manager Arsene Wenger has been rebuffed in a similar enquiry for Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney and has a bid on the table for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.
However, Liverpool have yet to receive any bids and maintain Suarez will have to ask for a transfer if he wishes to leave.
They are expected to speak further with their 26-year-old player of the year this week. He has been quoted widely in Uruguayan and Spanish media about his need to leave England and Real Madrid are still considered the most likely to make a bid.
Chelsea were linked with a move last week in Spanish media but they are pursuing other targets.
A move within England is considered unlikely for Suarez, not withstanding the fact he has to serve the rest of his 10 game ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic, and Arsenal's on-going pursuit of Gonzalo Higuain suggests they believe the player would prefer a move to Spain.
Higuain has started pre-season training at Madrid and the club have demanded £27m for the Argentine from Arsenal so they can pay Real Sociedad for Asier Illaremendi.
Monaco defender Ricardo Carvalho is confident that Cristiano Ronaldo will renew his contract at Real Madrid.
They are expected to speak further with their 26-year-old player of the year this week. He has been quoted widely in Uruguayan and Spanish media about his need to leave England and Real Madrid are still considered the most likely to make a bid.
Chelsea were linked with a move last week in Spanish media but they are pursuing other targets.
A move within England is considered unlikely for Suarez, not withstanding the fact he has to serve the rest of his 10 game ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic, and Arsenal's on-going pursuit of Gonzalo Higuain suggests they believe the player would prefer a move to Spain.
Higuain has started pre-season training at Madrid and the club have demanded £27m for the Argentine from Arsenal so they can pay Real Sociedad for Asier Illaremendi.
Monaco defender Ricardo Carvalho is confident that Cristiano Ronaldo will renew his contract at Real Madrid.
The Portuguese defender left Santiago Bernabeu this summer for the French club, but the veteran centre-back believes that his international team-mate will stay with Los Blancos, whilst also commenting on Lionel Messi and Fabio Coentrao's future.
“Cristiano will renew his contract,” he told A Bola. “Every player who has quit Real Madrid will have regretted it later. Cristiano is a winner, he always wants to play and win and that’s why I am in no doubt that he will continue with Madrid.
“Cristiano is a more complete player than Messi and I am not just saying that because I am Portuguese, looking at it objectively, it’s what I think.
“I think that Fabio wants to move on because he thinks that it would be the best thing for him to do career-wise.
“Personally, I think he should continue because he meets Madrid’s requirements. He played well in practically every game last season; he’s a great left-back – to the points where he even made a few of his critics change their opinion about him.
“I do think that he has a place at Real Madrid.”
USA striker Jozy Altidore will arrive on Wearside on Monday to complete his move to Sunderland.Press Association Sport understands the 23-year-old striker is due to fly in to undergo a medical having agreed personal terms.
The Black Cats agreed a deal with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar for the United States international over the weekend and are keen to push the transfer through as quickly as possible.
Former Villarreal and New York forward Altidore spent the 2009-10 season on loan at Hull City, scoring just once, but he has since become a key player in the Dutch league, hitting 23 top-flight goals last season.
Grant Holt will have a medical at Wigan after a fee was agreed a fee for the 32-year-old Norwich striker, according to BBC Cumbria. Holt would become Owen Coyle's seventh summer signing, joined the Canaries from Shrewsbury in 2009, and scored eight goals in 38 appearances last season.
Norwich were in League One when Holt signed from Shrewsbury and was a key member as the Canaries secured back-to-back promotions.
Malaga are hoping to lure Nicklas Bendtner to La Rosaleda, with the Danish striker reportedly in Spain to negotiate a contract.The Arsenal forward spent last season on loan at Juventus and has found himself unwanted at the north London side.
As such, Arsene Wenger’s men are willing to sell the 25-year-old for a fee of around €3m (£2.6m).
AS have claimed that Bendtner was on the Costa del Sol on Saturday to discuss a potential deal, however the Boquerones are only willing to offer the goalscorer a salary much-reduced from the one he’s been used to at the Premier League club.
Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins expects the record-breaking move for Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony to be completed within the next 24 hours.
Jenkins told the media that the £12million deal, which could rise to £13.8m with add-ons, will ‘hopefully’ be completed Today.
It will bring to an end a six-month pursuit for the profilic 24-year-old, with the transfer more than doubling the record £5.55m fee Swansea paid for Pablo Hernandez last summer.
Bony’s representative, Francis Kacou, went public with his anger after Vitesse delayed in responding to Swansea’s offer.
“Cristiano will renew his contract,” he told A Bola. “Every player who has quit Real Madrid will have regretted it later. Cristiano is a winner, he always wants to play and win and that’s why I am in no doubt that he will continue with Madrid.
“Cristiano is a more complete player than Messi and I am not just saying that because I am Portuguese, looking at it objectively, it’s what I think.
“I think that Fabio wants to move on because he thinks that it would be the best thing for him to do career-wise.
“Personally, I think he should continue because he meets Madrid’s requirements. He played well in practically every game last season; he’s a great left-back – to the points where he even made a few of his critics change their opinion about him.
“I do think that he has a place at Real Madrid.”
USA striker Jozy Altidore will arrive on Wearside on Monday to complete his move to Sunderland.Press Association Sport understands the 23-year-old striker is due to fly in to undergo a medical having agreed personal terms.
The Black Cats agreed a deal with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar for the United States international over the weekend and are keen to push the transfer through as quickly as possible.
Former Villarreal and New York forward Altidore spent the 2009-10 season on loan at Hull City, scoring just once, but he has since become a key player in the Dutch league, hitting 23 top-flight goals last season.
Grant Holt will have a medical at Wigan after a fee was agreed a fee for the 32-year-old Norwich striker, according to BBC Cumbria. Holt would become Owen Coyle's seventh summer signing, joined the Canaries from Shrewsbury in 2009, and scored eight goals in 38 appearances last season.
Norwich were in League One when Holt signed from Shrewsbury and was a key member as the Canaries secured back-to-back promotions.
Malaga are hoping to lure Nicklas Bendtner to La Rosaleda, with the Danish striker reportedly in Spain to negotiate a contract.The Arsenal forward spent last season on loan at Juventus and has found himself unwanted at the north London side.
As such, Arsene Wenger’s men are willing to sell the 25-year-old for a fee of around €3m (£2.6m).
AS have claimed that Bendtner was on the Costa del Sol on Saturday to discuss a potential deal, however the Boquerones are only willing to offer the goalscorer a salary much-reduced from the one he’s been used to at the Premier League club.
Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins expects the record-breaking move for Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony to be completed within the next 24 hours.
Jenkins told the media that the £12million deal, which could rise to £13.8m with add-ons, will ‘hopefully’ be completed Today.
It will bring to an end a six-month pursuit for the profilic 24-year-old, with the transfer more than doubling the record £5.55m fee Swansea paid for Pablo Hernandez last summer.
Bony’s representative, Francis Kacou, went public with his anger after Vitesse delayed in responding to Swansea’s offer.
Kacou had said: ‘Why does it take so long? Six months ago, we made arrangements for a lump sum of 12 million (euros), regardless of goals.
‘Swansea wanted to pay and Bony has seen that, but Vitesse wanted more. Now there is an offer of 14 million plus two million in bonuses.
‘Why is Bony still in Arnhem? We do not know what they want.’
Kacou also claimed to have had had contact with West Ham, Liverpool and Everton over the striker, who scored 31 goals in 30 games last season.
New Stoke boss wants to sign Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe and reunite the England striker with Peter Crouch. Spurs are ready to sell the striker and want £6million for him and Hughes is keen to take him to the Britannia Stadium, according to The Sunday People.
The 30-year-old England star knows he will be down the pecking order at White Hart Lane once Spurs add David Villa to the frontline as well as the possibility of another striker - either Christian Benteke or Valencia’s Roberto Soldado.
Defoe has two years left on his £65,000-a-week contract, though, so the Potters would have to make him their highest-paid player to seal the switch.
Crouch and Defoe have played alongside each other for Tottenham, Portsmouth and England and Hughes believes they can forge an effective partnership again.
In order to see the pair reunite for a third time, Hughes will have to block Harry Redknapp’s attempts to take Crouch back to QPR.
Crouch, 32, nearly signed Rangers – the club where he made his professional debut in 2000 – in January but the deal did not get over the line. And Loftus Road boss Redknapp was hoping to resurrect it as soon as the transfer window reopened last week.
Redknapp is willing to pay around the £5m mark for the England international, who became Stoke’s record signing when he joined the club for £10m on a four-year deal in 2011.
Monaco are the latest team with Andre Villas-Boas in their sights although the Tottenham manager has made it known he wants at least one more year at White Hart Lane. Villas-Boas has been in charge of four different teams in as many years since his first managerial job at Academica in Portugal in 2009.
He signed a three-year deal at Spurs last summer and despite failing to keep them in the top four he has been in demand.
Crouch and Defoe have played alongside each other for Tottenham, Portsmouth and England and Hughes believes they can forge an effective partnership again.
In order to see the pair reunite for a third time, Hughes will have to block Harry Redknapp’s attempts to take Crouch back to QPR.
Crouch, 32, nearly signed Rangers – the club where he made his professional debut in 2000 – in January but the deal did not get over the line. And Loftus Road boss Redknapp was hoping to resurrect it as soon as the transfer window reopened last week.
Redknapp is willing to pay around the £5m mark for the England international, who became Stoke’s record signing when he joined the club for £10m on a four-year deal in 2011.
Monaco are the latest team with Andre Villas-Boas in their sights although the Tottenham manager has made it known he wants at least one more year at White Hart Lane. Villas-Boas has been in charge of four different teams in as many years since his first managerial job at Academica in Portugal in 2009.
He signed a three-year deal at Spurs last summer and despite failing to keep them in the top four he has been in demand.
Paris St Germain were interested in luring him away from London before they employed Laurent Blanc and his style is admired by those in power at Real Madrid.
Now super-ambitious Monaco, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Dmitry Ryblovlev, are eying the 35-year-old as a long-term successor to Claudio Ranieri.
Now super-ambitious Monaco, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Dmitry Ryblovlev, are eying the 35-year-old as a long-term successor to Claudio Ranieri.
Wenger just wants 2 give us hypertension
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