Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp expressed the hope on Thursday that striker Loic Remy would not leave the club in the lurch by leaving hours before the transfer window closes.
Remy, who spent last season on loan at Newcastle United, saw a proposed move to Liverpool collapse last month after he failed a medical.
Click here to see a photo gallery of the top 10 transfers ahead of the English Premier League season
The Frenchman’s £8.5 million ($14.2 million, 10.6 million euros) buy-out clause means he could yet leave before the transfer window closes on September 1, but Redknapp believes that he would not want to depart on bad terms.
“I think he’s too decent a guy to do that,” Redknapp told a press conference on Thursday.
“You hope that doesn’t happen. But at the end of the day, if he’s got a buy-out clause, there’s very little you can do about it, I would imagine. That would be the worst scenario.
“With a week to go before the window closes, we all need to know where we’re going. I don’t think he would suddenly walk away the day before.”
Redknapp believes Remy is committed to QPR and would only be tempted to leave Loftus Road if he were approached by a club that could offer him Champions League football.
“I sat down with him when he came back (from Newcastle), but I didn’t have to persuade him. We sat down and he just said, ‘Look, I’m back, I want to play, I’m here,’” said Redknapp.
“So unless something comes up Champions League or something massive for him, he would like to stay here and play.”
Redknapp added: “For me really, he should be a £20 million striker, in comparison to others that are getting sold for £12 million. To have lost him for the amount that we were going to, he would have been too cheap.”
QPR open their Premier League campaign at home to Hull City on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid
Mexico international forward Raul Jimenez is set to sign for Spanish champions Atletico Madrid his Mexican club America revealed.
The 23-year-old -- a member of the Mexico squad that reached the last 16 at the World Cup -- will sign his contract once he has undergone the medical, Atletico said on their website.
“We are so proud, ‘the eagle’ Raul Jimenez is the new player of Atletico Madrid,” rejoiced America, who are known as the ‘Eagles’, on Twitter.
Jimenez, who has scored four times in 23 international appearances and found the net on 35 occasions in 98 matches for his club, will be Atletico’s third forward signing of the close season after they sold their leading scorer Diego Costas to English Premier League giants Chelsea.
French international Antoine Griezmann came from La Liga rivals Real Sociedad while Croatian star Mario Mandzukic joined from German champions Bayern Munich.
“He is an explosive player who will complete our attackinhg line-up for the season,” said Atletico’s sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero.
Atletico get their title defence underway with an away game against Rayo Vallecano on August 25.
Swansea City
Swansea has sold Spanish players Chico Flores and Pablo Hernandez to clubs in Qatar.
The Welsh club said Thursday that center back Flores is moving to Qatar champion Lekhwiya, where he will reunite with former Swansea manager Michael Laudrup.
Hernandez, the winger who was once Swansea’s club-record signing from Valencia, is joining Al Arabi.
Both transfers are subject to international clearance.
Flores and Hernandez spent two years with Swansea.
Hull City
Hull forward Dean Hadley has signed a new contract that will keep him at the KC Stadium until the end of 2016.
The 22-year-old Hull-born back rower, who made his debut against Catalan Dragons last season, has established himself in Lee Radford’s side this year, appearing in 13 of their last 19 matches.
“What Dean brings to training and what he has brought this year on the field has been immense,” Radford said.
“And he has taken huge strides in his development, which is why we were keen to offer him this extension.”
Anderlecht
Belgian international midfielder Steven Defour has moved back home to champions Anderlecht in a club record six million-euro (8.02 million US dollar) move from FC Porto.
The 26-year-old, sent off in his only appearance at the World Cup in Brazil in June, signed a five-year contract on Wednesday.
Defour, who was won 44 caps for Belgium, was previously the object of much scorn from Anderlecht fans for provocative performances during his time at rivals Standard Liege.
“I know that I did play on the edge in matches against Anderlecht and it was not an easy decision (to sign for them) but I always had respect for the club,” he told reporters.
Defour is likely to make his debut next Sunday when Anderlecht, who top the league after the first three matches of the season, visit Westerlo.
Mariners
Hungarian Richard Vernes has joined Central Coast Mariners on a two-year loan deal from Budapest Honved, the A-League club said Thursday.
The attacking midfielder, 22, represented Hungary at youth level and comes to Australia on the recommendation of Hungarian football great Lajos Detari, the Mariners said.
Vernes scored six goals for Budapest Honved last season, including one in the Europa League.
“We are delighted to have captured a player of Richard’s quality and bring him to Australia at this stage of his career, where he is extremely hungry to take his game to another level,” Mariners head coach Phil Moss said.
The new A-League season kicks off in October.
Follow our sports coverage on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE