Transfer News

Higuain transfer talks ongoing.

Arsenal are still in talks over capturing Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid, with Juventus also chasing his signature, according to his father.

The Gunners have been considered as front-runners for the Argentine striker since it emerged that he could be tempted into a move away from the Spanish capital.
Arsene Wenger is believed to have been given the green light to bring established names to Emirates Stadium this summer, with Manchester United's Wayne Rooney also linked to Arsenal.
However, Juventus are rivalling the North London club in the race to sign 25-year-old Higuain, who scored 16 goals in 28 La Liga appearances last season.
According to speculation, Higuain had agreed personal terms with Arsenal but his father, Jorge Higuain, has indicated that his son could also still move to Juventus.
"Nothing has been signed yet but I can assure you there are advanced talks between the clubs," said Higuain senior in the Mail on Sunday.

Mertens passses Napoli medical.

Napoli have confirmed Dries Mertens has successfully passed a medical as the PSV Eindhoven winger's move nears completion.

Mertens is set to become Rafa Benitez's first signing as Napoli coach after a fee reportedly in the region of €9.5million (£8.1m) was agreed with PSV.
The Belgium international is expected to sign a five-year contract and Napoli confirmed there were no problems with Mertens' medical tests.
A club statement read: "Dries Mertens has undergone his medical for Napoli this morning.
"The medical had a positive result."

Transfer News

Marchisio is not for sale.

Juventus general manager Guiseppe Marotta says that midfielder Claudio Marchisio is not for sale, after reports of interest from Manchester United.

Speculation has linked the 27-year old with a switch to Old Trafford in recent weeks as David Moyes looks to bolster his midfield, with the retirement of Paul Scholes and uncertainty over Darren Fletcher's long-term future due to illness leaving him with limited options.
Marchisio has spent his whole career with the Serie A champions, but the Italian has already admitted that he would be "very proud" if United did make an offer for him.
The midfielder is currently away with the Italy national team at the Confederations Cup, where his side have already reached the semi-finals after two opening group stage wins.
Marotta remains hopeful of keeping hold of Marchisio, who is under contract in Turin until 2017, and he says they will do their best to ensure that he stays.

Paulinho set for Spurs switch.

Corinthians have confirmed that negotiations are gathering pace with Tottenham regarding the transfer of Paulinho.

The Brazil international, who is currently impressing in the Confederations Cup, has long been linked with a move to Europe with Tottenham among the clubs interested.
Spurs were yet to have firmed up their interest as recently as last week, but reports now suggest that a £17million bid for the midfielder has been accepted.
Corinthians director of football Edu - a former Arsenal player - has confirmed that there have been further developments and a move to London now looks likely.
When asked about the interest from the White Hart Lane club, Edu told UOL: "The situation is well underway.

Transfer News

Liverpool agree fee for Mignolet.

Liverpool have agreed a fee in excess of £11m with Sunderland for goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, according to Sky sources.

The two clubs are understood to have reached an agreement after protracted discussions and the Belgium international could now undergo a medical and discuss personal terms next week.
Mignolet, who moved to the Stadium of Light from Belgian side Sint-Truiden three years ago for £2m, still has two years remaining on his contract but Sunderland appear to have found it too hard to resist Liverpool's overtures.
A deal will increase speculation over the future of the Reds' established No 1, Pepe Reina.
The Spaniard has been linked with a summer return to Barcelona but has three years left on his own contract and has not yet been the subject of any approach.

Cavani "too costly" for City.

Napoli claim Manchester City have pulled out of the race to sign Edinson Cavani over his asking price.

President Aurelio de Laurentiis, speaking at a news conference to officially unveil Rafael Benitez as the Serie A club's new manager, told reporters City were not prepared to meet a £54m buy-out clause for the highly-rated striker.
"Manchester City do not have money to pay for Cavani because they say we won't pay that," De Laurentiis said on Friday.
"Abu Dhabi (City's owners) say they would never pay 63m euros (£54m) for Cavani."
Real Madrid are leading the hunt for a player Chelsea also admire but though De Laurentiis revealed the Spanish giants have bid for the Uruguayan's services, he believes his exit is far from inevitable.
"At this time, Real Madrid are the only club who have made a firm offer for Cavani," De Laurentiis added.
"It is human, if Real Madrid call, to answer. He knows he has a clause and must decide.

Messi summons over Spain tax fraud

A Spanish judge has summoned Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi to appear in court on 17 September over tax fraud allegations.

The 25-year-old Argentine, who has four times been named World Player of the Year, and his father are accused of defrauding the Spanish authorities of more than 4m euros (£3.4m).
They are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use Messi's image.
They both deny the allegations.
Messi's net salary from Barcelona is said to be about 16m euros a year, making him one of the world's most highly-paid sportspeople.
He has also signed multi-million-dollar endorsements with commercial sponsors around the world.
The player and his father, Jorge, are accused of three times defrauding the Spanish state of taxes.
The income related to his image rights included contracts with Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Proctor and Gamble and the Kuwait Food Company.
If he is convicted, Messi could face up to six years in prison and a big fine, according to Spain's Efe news agency.
He wrote on his Facebook page, after the allegations became known last week: "We have never committed any infringement. We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations."
Messi's achievements on the field have made him one of the most marketable in the business.
He came from a modest background and has overcome a serious health issue, joining Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000 and making his first-team debut only three years later.
He was ranked 10th among Forbes' list of sports stars' incomes this month.

Confederations Cup

Here are the results of the Confederations Cup games in Group B:

Spain 10-0 Tahiti.

Fernando Torres scored four goals and David Villa grabbed three as Spain completed a resounding Fifa Confederations Cup win over Tahiti.

Chelsea's Torres beat Tahiti goalkeeper Mikael Roche and waltzed past Roche again after David Silva's finish.
Villa then scored either side of half-time before the Spanish forwards sealed their hat-tricks from crosses.
Juan Mata made it 8-0 and Torres ran in a fourth after missing a penalty before Silva pinched a second late on.
Spain are not assured of their place in the semi-final just yet but they look odds-on to reach the last four after this record win in the competition.
And although the scoreline marked the gulf in class between the two sides, Tahiti once again won new fans with their willingness to get on the scoresheet rather than defend in numbers.

How did Tahiti reach the Fifa Confederations Cup?

Tahiti qualified by becoming the first team other than Australia and New Zealand to win the Oceania Cup last June.

 The defeat matched a record loss for the South Pacific islanders, who lost by the same scoreline against New Zealand in 2004, but their endeavour and undoubted class made this occasion far more than a straightforward thumping.

Torres's goal after five minutes, where he beat Roche at his near post after a one-two with Villa, looked like it might signify a goal rush but Tahiti's amateurs played with some distinction for the first half hour against the reigning world and European champions.
Coming after their historic goal in the 6-1 defeat by Nigeria in their Group B opener, Tahiti again employed a high defensive line.

Nigeria 1-2 Uruguay.

Diego Forlan marked his 100th cap with a stunning second-half winner in Salvador as Uruguay beat Nigeria in the Confederations Cup.

The 34-year-old, who had not scored in his previous 12 internationals, lit up the Arena Fonte Nova with a thunderous strike to see off the Super Eagles.
Diego Lugano had given Uruguay a scrappy first-half lead from close range, only for Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi to bring Nigeria level with a brilliantly taken goal shortly before the interval before Forlan's winner.
As Nigeria pressed for a second, Uruguay raced away on the counter attack and the former Manchester United striker thumped home a thunderous left-foot winner from 16 yards after a fluid break that involved Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Forlan finds the target!

• Forlan's goal was his 34th for Uruguay in 100 appearances
• It was his first in 2013 and only his second since 2011
• He scored five goals in 19 appearances for Brazilian side Internacional last season

The result ends Nigeria's 18-match unbeaten run, stretching back to May 2012, and leaves the Africa Cup of Nations champions facing a tough task in their final Group B match with Spain. The world and European champions top the group with six points, while Nigeria and Uruguay are level on three points.

Throughout the match, the deep rumblings, loud bags and the crackle of police weapons could be heard in the streets nearby. And yet on the field the battle raged on with both teams knowing the importance of victory to their chances of progressing to the semi-finals.
With Spain clear favourites for Group B and Tahiti obvious minnows, this contest was always going to be the most fiercely contested of the group - and so it proved.

Transfer News

Van Dijk seals Celtic move.

Celtic have completed the transfer of centre-back Virgil van Dijk from Dutch club FC Groningen.

The Holland U21 international, who arrived in Glasgow on Thursday for a medical, has agreed a four-year contract with the Hoops.
Van Dijk is Celtic's second signing this month, with striker Amido Balde also arriving from Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes.
A statement from Celtic read: "Celtic are delighted to announce that defender Virgil van Dijk has joined the club from FC Groningen.
"The Dutch Under-21 international has signed a four-year deal with the Scottish Champions, and he becomes the latest player to join Neil Lennon's squad during the close season following the arrival of striker Amido Balde from Portuguese side, Vitoria Guimaraes.
"Virgil van Dijk will be officially unveiled at Celtic Park this afternoon at 2.45pm."

Interest in Wanyama mounts.

Southampton and Cardiff City are ready to compete for the signature of Celtic star Victor Wanyama.

Sources in Scotland claim Celtic are ready to do business on the Kenyan midfielder - but they want in excess of £10million for the 21-year-old.
Celtic signed Wanyama from Belgian signed Beerschot in 2011 for £900,000 - a story broken by Sky Sports.
But after two highly successful years at Celtic Park, interest is high in Wanyama.
Sources have now confirmed to Sky Sports that Southampton and Cardiff - both with substantial transfer budgets - are willing to test Celtic's resolve, whilst Turkish giants Galatasaray also have an active interest.
Stoke, Newcastle and Liverpool are also reported to be monitoring the situation.

Confederations Cup

Here are the results of the Confederations Cup games in Group A:

Italy 4-3 Japan.


Italy completed a superb fightback to knock Japan out of the Confederations Cup and book their place in the semi-finals in a hugely entertaining game.
Japan went 2-0 up via Keisuke's Honda's penalty and Shinji Kagawa's strike.
But Italy responded in some style when Daniele De Rossi headed in before Atsuto Uchida's own goal and Mario Balotelli's penalty made it 3-2.
Japan equalised through Shinji Okazaki and also hit the woodwork, before Sebastian Giovinco sealed it for Italy.
Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan side could be justified in feeling the result in Recife was harsh on them.
Having surrendered a two-goal lead, then recovered from going behind to bring the scores level again after 69 minutes, they saw Okazaki and Kagawa hit post and bar respectively with eight minutes left.

So when Giovinco - a first-half substitute for Alberto Aquilani in an opening period dominated by Asia's champions - popped up to tuck in Claudio Marchisio's cross four minutes from time it was a crushing blow for the team that had showed the greater enterprise over 90 minutes. 

Brazil 2-0 Mexico.

Neymar produced a commanding performance as Brazil secured their place in the Confederations Cup semi-finals with victory at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza.

This was not the dominant performance that some had expected but it was Brazil's first competitive victory over Mexico in nine years and a third successive win under head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Neymar once again stole the show, scoring his second of the tournament after nine minutes with a fizzing volley and laying on a second for Jo to tap home in injury time, to keep Brazil top of Group A with six points, level on points with Italy, who are also through after beating Japan 4-3. The two sides play each other in their final group game to determine who finishes top.

• Neymar's goal was his 22nd in 25 games for Brazil. His late assist for Jo was his 14th for his country
• The 21-year-old has equalled the amount of goals scored for Brazil by Jair (1940-1950) and Socrates (1979-1986)

Mexico, having been outplayed in the opening 15 minutes, fought hard and did create chances as the match wore on but never really tested Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

In this part of the world they talk of the jogo bonito - the beautiful game - and although there was evidence of it here, Brazil were far from convincing.
History had been against Mexico coming into the game, both in terms of their opponents and the venue. No team had beaten Brazil on more occasions than Mexico since the turn of the century, with El Tri coming out on top in six of the past seven competitive meetings between the sides.
Fortaleza too, held memories Brazil might rather forget. Their last home defeat had come here in 2002 against Paraguay. They did not want a repeat.