Atletico Madrid
Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic is on the verge of joining Atletico Madrid from Bayern Munich, the German club have announced.
Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer revealed during a news conference held Wednesday that a deal had been reached between the two clubs and the player, with an official announcement believed to be imminent.
“There is a verbal agreement between Bayern, Atletico Madrid and Mario Mandzukic,” said Sammer.
“We wish to thank Mario for his performances at Bayern and wish him all the best in the future.”
Reports emerged in the German press yesterday that the Bundesliga and La Liga champions had reached a deal for the 28-year-old, which is believed to be worth €22 million (Dh110m).
Mandzukic scored 33 league goals for Bayern in the two seasons that followed his transfer to the Bavarian giants from Wolfsburg in 2012.
Although his goals helped the club win an unprecedented European and domestic treble in 2013 and a double last season, the Croatian has been deemed surplus to requirements at Bayern.
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, the Bundesliga’s top scorer last term, is set to lead the attack next season after joining from Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Mandzukic would be Atletico’s most expensive signing since Radamel Falcao moved to the club from Porto in 2011 and his task will be filling the void left by Diego Costa – Atletico’s top scorer last season – who is joining English Premier League side Chelsea.
Atletico are expected to make another move for a striker in the summer to replace New York City FC-bound David Villa, and are believed to be interested in taking Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku on loan.
Manchester City
Manchester City’s new signing Willy Caballero has revealed how word of the club’s interest motivated him last season.
The Argentinian goalkeeper this week joined the English Premier League champions in a £4.4m (Dh27.7m) move from Spanish outfit Malaga.
The 32-year-old will provide competition for first-choice Joe Hart, the England No 1, at the Etihad Stadium.
Caballero, who will replace released Romanian Costel Pantilimon in the squad, said: “I knew that Manchester City were interested in me so I tried to do my best for my previous club to make the move to a very big club possible and finally it’s a reality and I will try to prove myself.”
Even though he has principally been signed as backup to Hart, Caballero hopes he can push on at City and earn full international recognition.
Caballero won the Under-20 World Cup with Argentina in 2001 and was also a member of the 2004 Olympic gold medal-winning squad.
He said: “The first goal is to do things well and show why City were interested in me.
“Obviously it would be good to get back with the national team and hopefully I can achieve that.”
Olympiakos
Swiss international midfielder Pajtim Kasami on Wednesday signed for Greek champions Olympiakos from relegated English Premier League side Fulham.
Kasami, 22, made 56 appearances for Fulham over the last three seasons, scoring three goals, having previously played at Lucerne and Palermo.
He also has two caps for the Swiss national team.
Leicester
Leicester striker David Nugent signed a two-year contract extension with the newly-promoted Premier League club on Wednesday.
Former England international Nugent has been rewarded with the new deal after scoring 20 goals to help Leicester win promotion as Championship winners last season.
The 29-year-old becomes the latest key player from that promotion campaign to put pen to paper on a new Leicester contract, following the likes of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, defender and captain Wes Morgan and midfielder Danny Drinkwater.
“I’m delighted to have signed for two years and I’m really looking forward to testing myself with the rest of the squad in the best league in the world,” Nugent told Leicester’s website.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa striker Nicklas Helenius returned to Aalborg on a season-long loan on Monday after a disappointing spell with the Premier League club.
Helenius struggled to make an impact at Villa following his £1.2m transfer from the Danish outfit last year, making just six substitute appearances in all competitions.
The 23-year-old Danish international scored once during those games, netting in the 2-1 home FA Cup loss to Sheffield United in January.
“The club can confirm Nicklas Helenius is to return to Aalborg on a season-long loan,” a statement on Villa’s website confirmed.
Bosnia
Bosnia-Herzegovina coach Safet Susic on Wednesday extended his contract for two years, taking him into the campaign to reach Euro 2016 after guiding the first Bosnian team to reach the World Cup finals.
“I said that to leave the team would be painful for me. And that moment has not yet come,” Susic told reporters after a meeting with the Bosnian federation that extended his deal.
“I am really happy to be continuing,” added Susic, 59, a 1980s star with Paris Saint-Germain and the former Yugoslavia who has been in charge of Bosnia since 2009.
“Safet Susic will manage our team in the qualifying for Euro 2016 in France, which will start for Bosnia with a match against Cyprus on September 9,” the federation said in a statement.
Bastia
Belgian international right back Guillaume Gillet has been loaned for a season with an option to buy to French Ligue 1 side Bastia, the Corsican outfit confirmed on Wednesday.
Anderlecht captain Gillet, who has 20 caps for the national side, has spent the past seven seasons with the Belgian club, winning four Belgian Pro League titles and one Belgian Cup title.
The 30-year-old joins compatriot Logan Bailly, who arrives in the mediterranean island side on trial following two seasons in goal at Belgian top flight side Louvain.
Bastia finished tenth in Ligue 1 last season.
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