Manchester City striker Wilfred Bony as joined Stoke on loan for the rest of the season, both clubs have announced. The 27-year-old has struggled to make an impact at the Etihad since his £27m move from Swansea in January 2015. He has scored just six goals in 36 appearances and has not featured under new boss Pep Guardiola this season. Bony, a prolific striker for Swansea prior to joining City, will now to look to kickstart his career under Mark Hughes at the Bet365 Stadium. Stoke City FC ✔ @stokecity BREAKING | #SCFC … [Read more...]
English Premier League breaks its own transfer record
Premier League clubs have now spent more than £1 billion on transfers in the summer window. The league had already broken its own transfer record last week, when Manchester City's signing of Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo pushed clubs' gross spending up to £880 million -- topping the £870m of last summer. Arsenal completed the signing of Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia for a reported fee of £35 million on Tuesday night, which smashed through the £1bn mark with another day of dealing to go. It is the fourth successive … [Read more...]
My time at Liverpool wasn’t a failure- Benteke
Christian Benteke concedes he could have done more with his opportunities at Liverpool but has "no regrets" from his time at Anfield. Crystal Palace recruit Christian Benteke insists his time at Liverpool was not a failure despite spending just one season at the club. Benteke was a £32.5million purchase from Aston Villa in July 2015 under former Liverpool boss Brendan 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 … [Read more...]
Kante is a rat says Chelsea team-mate Hazard
N'Golo Kante has impressed in the early stages of his Chelsea career, prompting an unusual comparison from team-mate Eden Hazard. Eden Hazard has compared Chelsea counterpart N'Golo Kante to a rat for his all-action midfield displays. Kante was an unfamiliar name when he arrived in the Premier League last season, signing for Leicester City from Caen. But the 25-year-old was soon impressing all onlookers with his performances as the Foxes stormed to the most unlikely of title triumphs. Those displays prompted Chelsea to prise him away … [Read more...]
Werder Bremen set to sign Arsenal foward Gnabry
Werder Bremen are on the verge of completing a permanent deal for Arsenal starlet Serge Gnabry, according to the Bundesliga club's director of sport Frank Baumann. The 21-year-old German forward, who scored six goals for his country as they clinched a silver medal at the Olympic Games, is out of contract next summer and set to return to Germany. Reports on Wednesday had claimed German champions Bayern Munich were set to land the Gunners youngster and immediately loan him to Bremen. But Baumann dismissed those rumours and said he expects … [Read more...]
I hoped for Atletico Madrid return- Costa
Diego Costa has admitted he wanted to leave Chelsea to return to Atletico Madrid this summer. The striker has been regularly linked with rejoining Diego Simeone at Atletico since moving to Stamford Bridge in a £32million deal two years ago. Chelsea have always insisted they would not entertain a bid and that Costa was happy - although he says he did wish to return to Madrid. "The truth is that I had hopes of returning (to Atletico), I won't lie," Costa told Spanish television station Movistar. "Everyone knew there was the … [Read more...]
Chelsea make move to bring back Paris Saint-Germain’s David Luiz
Paris Saint-Germain are considering the sale of David Luiz after former club Chelsea tabled a substantial offer to take the defender back to Stamford Bridge. Luiz moved to the Parc des Princes in the summer of 2014 in a £50 million deal from Chelsea, and won nine trophies as part of a team that completed two consecutive domestic clean sweeps under former boss Laurent Blanc's leadership. He has started all four of the French champions' competitive fixtures so far this season. But Le Parisien reported earlier this month that new coach Unai … [Read more...]
Loic Remy join Crystal Palace on loan from Chelsea
Crystal Palace have secured the services of Loic Remy on a season-long loan from Premier League rivals Chelsea. Loic Remy has joined Crystal Palace on a season-long loan from Chelsea, it was announced on Tuesday. Remy played under Palace boss Alan Pardew at Newcastle United during the 2013-14 season and his form at St James' Park earned him a move to Chelsea in September 2014. The 29-year-old has struggled for first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge, though, and he has made just 47 appearances, scoring 12 goals. Remy, who won a … [Read more...]
Arsenal sign Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia
Arsenal have completed the signing of Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia for a reported fee of £35 million. Mustafi, 24, is the third major signing for manager Arsene Wenger this summer after central midfielder Granit Xhaka joined in May from Gladbach and £17m striker Lucas Perez arrived from Deportivo La Coruna on Tuesday, taking the club's spending to over £90m in this transfer window. The German solves a defensive crisis for Wenger's men after Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista were injured in preseason. While 20-year-old … [Read more...]
Barcelona sign Valencia striker Alcacer
Barcelona have announced the signing of striker Paco Alcacer from Valencia on a five-year contract. Alcacer, 23, joins for an initial €30 million with a further €2m in potential bonuses, and his buyout clause has been set at €100m. Alcacer told Valencia's official website: "When I found out about the offer from FC Barcelona I asked the club to listen to it, as it was my decision to take a step forward in my career." He added: "I want to thank Valencia CF and the fans. Despite the fact that I am leaving Valencia CF, I will always be a … [Read more...]
Former Arsenal midfielder Rosicky rejoins Sparta Prague
Former Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky has returned to his home town to join Sparta Prague. The 35-year-old left the Gunners in July after a ten-year spell in the Premier League and, despite making only one appearance last season, was included in the Czech Republic squad at Euro 2016. He retired from international football following the tournament and has now agreed a two-year contract with Sparta, the club with whom he began his senior career in 1998. A statement published on the Czech side's website said Rosicky had trained with his … [Read more...]