Latest Transfer News

[wased]

Rodgers sees Carroll as cover

Liverpool manager urges fringe men to decide if they want to play
Last Updated: August 30, 2012 8:30am

Andy Carroll: A £35million cover player, according to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers




Brendan Rodgers has described Andy Carroll as a 'cover player' but says Liverpool are in no position to have a £35million signing as their third-choice striker.
Carroll joined the Reds in a big-money deal from Newcastle

18 months ago but his future has been the subject of intense speculation since Rodgers took charge of the club over the summer after it became clear he did not fit into the manager's preferred playing style.
However, the situation has become complicated as Liverpool

want a good price for a player they spent so much on, while Carroll appears keen to stay at Anfield and fight for a place in the team.


"You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see Andy's been a cover player... But, as a club, I'm not sure we are in a position to have £35million players as third-choice strikers. "
Brendan Rodgers Quotes of the week
Rodgers has nothing but praise for the 23-year-old's attitude but believes players who are not part of his plans should be looking to move on in search of more regular football.


"You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see Andy's been a cover player but he's been excellent in his attitude and acceptance of where he is at," Rodgers said.
"But, as a club, I'm not sure we are in a position to have £35million players as third-choice strikers, or a winger on £5-6m a year.
"There's still a wee bit of thinking time, and it's hard to walk away from here. The ones who want to play will probably look elsewhere, irrespective of finance, because that's their passion."
Financial repair

Liverpool have been connected with moves for a number of players but Rodgers admits he cannot bring in reinforcements while there are so many fringe men reluctant to leave.
He explained: "The club financially needs repair. So to sign the players linked, unfortunately I don't have the ability to do that - not in this window anyway.
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"This is an incredible club and some players, even if you want to move them on, won't walk out.
"I can only ever be straight with players.
"I've made it clear my group will be made up of starting players, cover players who can come in, and development players who can progress.
"If you feature outside of that I will tell you and then it is up to the player what they want - do they want to play football?"

 

[wased]

Tottenham target Remy

Levy travelling to try and finalise striker deal
Last Updated: August 30, 2012 7:18am

Loic Remy: A target for Tottenham and Daniel Levy has travelled to France




Sky Sports understands that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will travel to Marseille on Thursday to try and sign Loic Remy.
Spurs have money to spend in the final 48 hours of the transfer window after agreeing a deal earlier in the week to sell Luka Modric

to Real Madrid.

The signing of Moussa Dembele

from Fulham

has already been completed and it is understood attention has now turned to bringing in Remy.
The 25-year-old has emerged as a target despite Andre Villas-Boas declaring last week that he was happy with his striking options.
Emmanuel Adebayor

has signed a permanent contract at White Hart Lane this summer and Jermain Defoe remains a key part of Villas-Boas' plans, but it seems Remy could now be set to come in and provide further competition.


Remy has been linked with a move to the Premier League in the past after attracting interest with a series of impressive performances in Ligue 1.
He has been with Marseille

since August 2010, having previously had stints with Lyon,

Lens and Nice.

 

[wased]

Ireland eyes new Villa deal

Midfielder eager to impress under Lambert
Last Updated: August 30, 2012 9:09am

Stephen Ireland: Villa midfielder is hoping to earn a new contract with his displays this season




Stephen Ireland is hoping to secure a new contract at Aston Villa and believes he has been rejuvenated by the appointment of Paul Lambert as manager.
The midfielder still has two years remaining of the deal he signed when he moved from Manchester City

during the summer of 2010.
But Ireland

is keen to impress Lambert during the current campaign to secure his long-term future at Villa Park

and is relishing being part of a diamond formation.


Ireland, who set up Villa's opening two goals in their midweek 3-0 Capital One Cup triumph over Tranmere, said: "I am enjoying playing under Paul Lambert,

absolutely. He is a really good guy and fair and honest.
"He definitely knows what he is doing and talking about and he has been really impressive to me and I'm hoping I can play under him for as long as possible.
"At the end of this season I will have 12 months left on my contract so I'm hoping I can earn a new contract here and prove myself to him with a good consistent run of form."

Stephen Ireland Quotes of the week

"At the end of this season I will have 12 months left on my contract so I'm hoping I can earn a new contract here and prove myself to him with a good consistent run of form.
"That is one if my goals this season. I want to play as consistently as I can and I'm hoping with that we can have talks and I can extend my contract.
"But I've got to let my football do the talking and it's up to the chairman [Randy Lerner] and the manager."
Unbelievable

Ireland is hoping he can help solve Villa's shortage of goals - they have netted just one in the opening two Premier League games - by linking up effectively with striker Darren Bent.

He said: "Last season I was in many different positions and I wasn't able to get into the final third as much as I would have liked.
"It was completely understandable with the way the squad was and injuries and Darren also got injured which didn't help.


"But I feel my job in in the team now is to create as many chances as I can for him because nine out of 10 he is going to finish.
"He is a world-class striker and his finishing is unbelievable. If I can create chances for him, I know he is going to score.
"Every time I got the ball against Tranmere, I was looking for him because his movement is brilliant and it was the same with Andreas [Weimann]."


Lambert is understood to be keen to bring in two new strikers before the transfer window shuts, with Genk forward Christian Benteke one confirmed target.
Villa are also looking long term and are believed to be keen on Chesterfield's

21-year-old striker Jordan Bowery, while Charlton midfielder Dale Stephens is also on Lambert's radar.

 

[wased]

Stoke get Edu green light

Rangers midfielder poised to complete move to Potters
Last Updated: August 30, 2012 9:31am

Maurice Edu: Set to finalise his move to Stoke after securing work permit




Stoke are poised to sign Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu after being given permission to finalise his work permit application.
The United States international has been a long-standing target of Potters boss Tony Pulis and last weekend agreed terms on a three-year deal and passed a medical.


The only hold-up was his work permit and, with the club confirming on their official website on Thursday morning that the Football Association

have given approval for them to proceed with that, the move looks set to go through.


However, Edu

is unlikely to be available for the weekend clash with Wigan owing to the timescales involved.
Edu, who joined Rangers

from Toronto FC four seasons ago, has been looking to leave Ibrox following their demotion to the Third Division.
The American will become Stoke's fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Geoff Cameron, Jamie Ness

and Michael Kightly.

 

[wased]

Dembele raring to go at Spurs
Last Updated: August 30 2012, 7:58 BST

Mousa Dembele cannot wait to get started at Tottenham after joining the north London club from Fulham in a move which cast further doubt on the future of Rafael van der Vaart.

Mousa Dembele: Joins Spurs on five-year deal


Spurs and Fulham confirmed the transfer of Dembele for a fee understood to be in the region of £15million on Thursday after the player passed a medical and agreed a five-year contract.
"I'm happy to join Spurs. It's a fantastic club," the 25-year-old Belgium midfielder said on his new club's official website.
"You can see over the last few years that Spurs have played well. Everybody knows it's a good team and a good club and that's why I wanted to come here.


"The club have plans to do lots of good things and that's why I want to be a part of it."
Dembele is particularly looking forward to linking up with compatriot and fellow new boy Jan Vertonghen, who moved to White Hart Lane from Ajax last month.
"I know Jan from when I was 10 years old. We played together then," Dembele added. "I know him well. He's a great guy and he's said a lot of good things about this club.


"He says there are friendly people here and, for me, that's very important - to feel great somewhere. I'm sure I will here."
The news of Dembele's arrival followed a declaration by Hamburg that they would do everything possible to re-sign Van der Vaart before the transfer window closed.
The Holland forward has been strongly linked with a return to his former club but the Bundesliga side's chairman, Carl-Edgar Jarchow, has admitted time was running out to convince Spurs to sell.


"There is not a lot of time - it is really up to Tottenham Hotspur," he told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
"If we have a chance to sign him, we will do everything we can to make that happen."

 

[wased]

Berbatov heading for Fulham?
Last Updated: August 30 2012, 0:30 BST

Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta has revealed Dimitar Berbatov will not be joining the Italian champions, claiming the Manchester United striker is on the verge of signing for Fulham.

Berbatov: Seemingly won't be heading to Italy


The 31-year-old Bulgarian looked set for a switch to Fiorentina earlier on Wednesday, having agreed terms with the Viola and been asked to head to Florence for a medical.
However, Berbatov never arrived in Italy, prompting Fiorentina to accuse Serie A rivals Juve of hijacking the deal, only for the player to reportedly decide he wants to remain in England.
Marotta insisted Juve had "acted with the maximum fairness and transparency" towards Fiorentina, who earlier accused the Turin club of scuppering their deal for Berbatov with "reckless and arrogant actions".


"We have much to discuss with Fiorentina," Marotta said to Sky Sport Italia.
"We have acted with the maximum fairness and transparency with regard to the market dynamics.
"I reject the allegations from Fiorentina. We entered into the business over Berbatov when we heard that he had refused Fiorentina, and in the meantime there was a proposal by Fulham.


"We made our own, then the player said he preferred to stay in England for family reasons. It was not a rejection.
"We wanted to take advantage of an opportunity that had appeared to us in the market. Many teams were following the player."
A statement from Fiorentina earlier read: "ACF Fiorentina announces that the acquisition of Dimitar Berbatov finally fell through after an agreement had been reached with Manchester United [exchange of contract, the first instalment of the consideration paid and surety for the second instalment already signed] and after it had reached a verbal understanding with the player on his contract.


"During today, the English club granted its affiliated written permission for the player to travel to Florence for a medical and to sign the contract.
"[We thought] the player had embarked, accompanied by his attorney, on a flight - tickets paid for by Fiorentina - to Florence.
"But the player never arrived in Florence....because of reckless and arrogant actions of other companies, which have nothing to do with the values of honesty, fair play and ethics of sport and that lie beyond the boundaries of loyalty.
"As for the player, despite his characteristics and his technical merit, at this point we are happy that he did not come to Fiorentina. He did not deserve our city and our shirt and the values it represents."


Berbatov has scored 48 league goals at United, helping them to two Premier League titles, but his Old Trafford future has been in doubt since he was left out of the squad for the 2010-11 Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley.
Despite slipping down the pecking order last year he reminded any potential suitors of his goalscoring class with a hat-trick against Wigan on Boxing Day, before adding two more in the unexpected home defeat to Blackburn five days later.
Last month he admitted he was resigned to leaving the club this summer, saying it would be "better for everyone" if he exited Old Trafford.

 

[wased]

Fulham target happy to stay put

Anderlecht striker does not want to rush into move
Last Updated: August 30, 2012 1:02pm

Dieumerci Mbokani: Happy to stay at Anderlecht




Anderlecht man Dieumerci Mbokani insists he is happy at the Belgian club amid speculation Fulham boss Martin Jol has cooled his interest in the striker.
Reports suggest Jol was put off the 26-year-old by the €20million Anderlecht reportedly want in exchange for his signature.
The Cottagers are instead thought to be closing on out-of-favour Manchester United

frontman Dimitar Berbatov.


DR Congo international Mbokani, who has also been linked with Juventus,

says he is content to stay at Anderlecht and is wary of joining the wrong club after an unsuccessful spell at Monaco.

He said: "I am very happy with Anderlecht. I am happy to be in the Champions League and test myself on the biggest stage.
"I do not want to make the mistake I made by going to Monaco, unless there is a club that I can't refuse."

 

[wased]

Walcott 'not obsessed by money'

Wenger confident forward 'loves' Arsenal as talks continue
Last Updated: August 30, 2012 1:45pm

Theo Walcott: It is understood a short-term agreement is in place which will mean he will not be sold




Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident Theo Walcott 'loves the club' and is 'not obsessed by money' as negotiations continue over the England international's future.
Earlier this week, it was reported the forward had rejected a contract extension at Emirates Stadium after entering the final year of his existing deal.


The development sparked speculation Walcott, who is rumoured to want £75,000-a-week in wages, could be sold to Liverpool

or Manchester City

before Friday's transfer deadline.
But a short-term agreement is understood to be in place which will ensure the former Southampton

player will not leave in the current window and Wenger remains relaxed.
The Gunners boss said at a press conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Liverpool: "Theo has one year to go. We want to extend his contract. I think Theo loves the club.


"He is not obsessed by money, there is just a little difference [in the negotiations]."
Arsenal

have already sold Robin van Persie

and Alex Song to Manchester United

and Barcelona,

respectively, and the possible departure of Walcott would again raise questions.
Wenger, though, has brought in Lukas Podolski,

Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla and he has always maintained his faith in his new-look squad.

 

[wased]

Sunderland in Johnson talks

O'Neill closes in on City winger

Adam Johnson: In talks with Sunderland over a move to Stadium of Light


Sky Sports understands Sunderland are in talks with Manchester City winger Adam Johnson.
Manchester City

boss Roberto Mancini revealed last week he was willing to let Johnson

move on in search of regular first-team football.


Johnson only signed a new five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium in January but has grown frustrated after failing to hold down a regular place in City's star-studded side.
A number of clubs have been linked with a move for Johnson following Mancini's confirmation that he would allow the player to move on.
Sunderland

have held a long-term interest in the former Middlesbrough

with Martin O'Neill

keen to add to his squad before the close of the transfer window.
Right number

The Black Cats have now been given the green light to hold talks with the England international as they look to lure Johnson to the Stadium of Light.
Manchester City have been strongly linked with a move for Swansea's Scott Sinclair as a replacement for Johnson.
Mancini told a press conference on Friday morning: "Adam Johnson is a City player at the moment.
"We can't sell a player if we don't buy other players. If so we don't have the right number for this year."

 

[wased]

De Jong heading for City exit
Last Updated: August 31 2012, 6:34 BST

Nigel de Jong looks set to be the biggest name using the revolving door at Manchester City today.

Nigel de Jong: Expected to leave Man City


It seems bizarre that the richest club in the world should be among those doing the most business amid the mad scramble of transfer deadline day.
City manager Roberto Mancini certainly did not want it this way, however, that is how it has transpired.
And as Great Britain Olympic star Scott Sinclair and Serbia defender Matija Nastasic are set to join from Swansea and Fiorentina respectively, others are on their way out.


Stefan Savic will not be missed too much as he heads to Fiorentina as part of the Nastasic deal.
De Jong has been a bigger presence, even if he has struggled to find top form over the past couple of seasons, which have been blighted by problems sorting out a new contract.
Now the combative midfielder is on the brink of joining AC Milan.
"De Jong is on his way to Milan," said the official Milan TV channel last night.
"The medical will be performed tomorrow."


It will end the Dutchman's three-year stint at the club and comes at a time when they are gearing up for a mouth-watering Champions League encounter with Real Madrid following yesterday's group stage draw.
Their meeting with the Spanish giants in the Bernabeu on September 18 will represent one of the biggest European nights in their entire history, while the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and company at the Etihad Stadium on November 21 is a guaranteed sell-out.


More pertinently, City, who entertain Swansea tomorrow evening, have also been linked with big-money deals for Theo Walcott and Maicon.
However, it seems unlikely either man will have joined the Blues prior to tomorrow night's deadline as City remain determined to get somewhere close to meeting UEFA's strict Financial Fair Play rules.

 

[wased]

Juventus close on Bendtner
Last Updated: August 31 2012, 7:58 BST

Juventus have confirmed they expect to sign Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner before the close of the transfer window.

Nicklas Bendtner: Poised to join Juventus from Arsenal


Juventus made a move for Bendtner on Thursday after seeing a potential deal for Fulham target Dimitar Berbatov fall through.
Arsenal are willing to let Bendtner move on as the Danish international is well down the pecking order at the Emirates.
A number of clubs have been linked with the striker, but Juventus are now ready to take him from Arsenal.


Juventus sporting director, Beppe Marotta, has confirmed Bendtner is undergoing a medical at the club ahead of his switch to Turin and he believes the 24-year-old will fulfil his potential with the Italian champions.
"Bendtner is already in Italy and will undergo a medical ," Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.
"Until the final paperwork is concluded, I will not say that the player is ours.


"He has talent and ability. Potentially a great player, one that has almost never been able to prove it."
Marotta also hit out Berbatov for pulling out of a move to Juventus labelling the player as 'unprofessional.'
"We reiterate that we only approached Manchester United and the player after we were informed he had already turned down Fiorentina. Perhaps he forgot to tell Fiorentina that.
"Berbatov certainly did not make a good impression on anyone and it was an unprofessional way to behave, so we agree with Fiorentina that it's best he didn't come here."

 

[wased]

Jol set to welcome Berbatov
Last Updated: August 31 2012, 6:31 BST

Dimitar Berbatov was poised to finalise a move to Fulham while Martin Jol still expects Clint Dempsey to leave on what promises to be a frantic transfer deadline day..

Dimitar Berbatov: Poised to join Fulham


The Manchester United striker performed a dramatic U-turn on Wednesday, rejecting the advances of Serie A clubs Fiorentina and Juventus to undergo a medical with the Cottagers.
And if all goes to plan this morning, the 31-year-old Bulgarian will call time on his four-year spell at Old Trafford to be reunited with Martin Jol, whom he worked under at Tottenham.


Jol has money to spend after selling Mousa Dembele to Spurs and believes securing Berbatov's services would represent a massive coup for Fulham.
He said: "I'm a very happy man and I think our fans will be very happy and proud because it is probably the biggest (signing) in the history of the club, that is how I feel."
The two worked together at Tottenham before Berbatov moved to Manchester United and Jol said: "I said in my last period at Spurs he would go over my dead body but I'm still here and so is he.


"We have a good relationship. He knows he will enjoy his football with me that is for sure, hopefully he will score goals with other good players around him.
"He has got a very good record, if you look at his record internationally, and if you look at his record at Manchester United I don't think there are a lot of strikers, maybe (Robin) van Persie in five years' time, who cou

 

[wased]

Charlie Adam in Stoke medical
Last Updated: August 31 2012, 8:41 BST

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has arrived at Stoke City for a medical as they look to tie up a deal before the close of the transfer window.

Charlie Adam: Close to sealing a move to Stoke City


Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is willing to let Adam move on having brought in Joe Allen and Nuri Sahin this summer to bolster his midfield options.
The 26-year-old only joined Liverpool last summer from Blackpool, but it is clear he does not figure in Rodgers' long-term plans at Anfield.
The likes of Everton and Fulham have been linked with Adam, but it appears Stoke are in pole position to land the former Rangers man.


Stoke are keen to add to their squad before Friday's deadline and they made a £4million bid for the Scotland international earlier this week.
Adam has now arrived at Stoke's training ground to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms ahead of his switch to the Britannia Stadium.

 

[wased]

Pardew eyes defender deal

Taylor facing long lay-off with knee injury
Last Updated: August 31, 2012 7:15am

Alan Pardew: Lining up a move for a new defender after Ryan Taylor's injury




Newcastle boss Alan Pardew says he may enter the transfer market and try to land a defender after Ryan Taylor was injured in the win over Atromitos.
The victory was marred by Taylor's

serious looking knee injury early in the game.
Pardew admits if Taylor faces a lengthy lay-off he may be forced into a late move to bring in some defensive cover.


"I fear that the news isn't going to be good on that injury, if I am honest, which is a shame because he is an important player for us. We will have to wait and see," said Pardew.
"The Ryan Taylor injury will make me think about whether we perhaps need another defender. I shall go to see the chairman and have a discussion with him."

 

[wased]

Del Piero set for Sydney switch

Former Italy star set to become A-League's most lucrative ever signing
Last Updated: August 31, 2012 11:33am

Alessandro Del Piero: Set to move Down Under and play for Sydney FC


Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero is set to seal a move to A-League side Sydney FC, the Australian club have confirmed.
The 37-year-old is a free agent after bringing the curtain down on a glittering career at Juventus at the end of last season.
A number of clubs were linked with a move for the forward, including SPL champions Celtic and Swiss side FC Sion.


However, it is the Australian outfit who have moved into pole position, with Sydney officials flying to Europe in order to conclude a deal.
Should the move be finalised, it would reportedly become the most lucrative in A-league history.
Sydney chairman Scott Barlow said: "This is huge for Sydney FC, huge for the A-League and huge for Australian football.


"We feel honoured that Alessandro has decided to play for Sydney FC and we share his excitement that a move to Sydney FC will create a lasting legacy for football in this country.
"I want to thank [chief executive] Tony Pignata and [agent] Lou Sticca for the outstanding work over the last few days in progressing discussions with Alessandro and look forward to Tony finalising the contract in Italy over the coming days."

 

[wased]

Bojan Krkic wants permanent AC Milan stay after agreeing transfer deadline day loan
Last Updated: August 31, 2012 12:06pm

Bojan Krkic: Admits he would like to sign a permanent deal at AC Milan




Bojan Krkic has revealed he wants to join AC Milan permanently next summer after agreeing a transfer deadline day season-long loan deal from Roma.
The 22-year-old only moved to the Italian capital from Barcelona

last summer but the club have decided to loan him out to their Serie A rivals for the upcoming campaign.
Barca still have the option to bring the forward back to the Camp Nou, though it is believed Krkic

is reluctant to return to Spain without assurances of first-team football.


The 22-year-old has been brought to the San Siro to help fill the gap caused by Zlatan Ibrahimovic's move to Paris St-Germain.
Krkic believes he has made a step forward in his career by signing for Milan and is already keen to make the move permanent.
"Coming to Milan is the best birthday present I could have asked for"
Bojan Krkic Quotes of the week



"Coming to Milan is the best birthday present I could have asked for," he told the Italian media.
"I did not play much for Roma

and to move to Milan is a step up for me.
"It was not an easy year at Roma, although I learned a lot. Now I want to do well, to help the team and to stay here when the loan ends."

 

[wased]

Villa end interest in Dempsey

United States international wants to join Liverpool
Last Updated: August 31, 2012 12:34pm

Clint Dempsey: Fulham midfielder's future remains unclear on deadline day




Sky Sports sources understand Aston Villa have ended their interest in Clint Dempsey as the Fulham attacker wants to join Liverpool.
Villa had a £7million bid accepted by Fulham

earlier on Friday morning as they tried to plot a sensational deadline swoop for the attacker.
Liverpool

have been stalking the United States international for the majority of the close season and Anfield appears to be his likely destination.
It is understood that his preference for a move to Liverpool has prompted Villa to call off their pursuit of Dempsey.

Sunderland,

however, are still maintaining their interest in the attacker who has scored 50 goals for the Cottagers in 184 league games.
Dempsey signed for the West London side in 2007 for £1.5million from the New England Revolution and has gone on to become one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

 

[wased]

Sinclair seals City switch

Winger completes move from Swansea
Last Updated: August 31, 2012 12:34pm

Scott Sinclair: Looking forward to competing alongside 'some of the best players in the world'




Manchester City have confirmed that Scott Sinclair has completed a move to the reigning Premier League champions from Swansea.
The 23-year-old, who found himself heavily linked with a switch to the Blues for much of the summer transfer window, is expected to go straight into Roberto Mancini's squad for a home date with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.


No details as to the length of contract penned by Sinclair, or the fee involved in taking him to Manchester, have been released.
The highly-rated winger has, however, expressed his delight at securing a move to a club paired alongside European giants Real Madrid in Thursday's UEFA Champions League draw.
"I'm just glad everything is settled and that I'm now a City player," Sinclair told the club's official website.
Relieved

"There were times when I thought it might not happen so I'm relieved that I'm here and I can't wait to get started."
Scott Sinclair Quotes of the week
"There were times when I thought it might not happen so I'm relieved that I'm here and I can't wait to get started.
"Playing alongside some of the best players in the world is exciting for me and when you see two Champions League fixtures against Real Madrid on the horizon, it brings it all home."


A move to City sees Sinclair bring to an end a two-year stint with Swansea, during which time he helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League.
The former Chelsea trainee will be hoping that a switch to the Blues will allow him to push for senior international recognition with England, having represented Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.

 

[wased]

Cottagers agree Boateng deal

Ghana ace on his way to England
Last Updated: August 31, 2012 12:58pm

Derek Boateng: Fee agreed by Fulham




Sky Sports understands Fulham are hoping to push through a deal for Ghana international Derek Boateng on deadline day after agreeing terms with Dnipro.
The 29-year-old midfielder has long been linked with a move to England, and both Fulham

and West Brom have been looking to secure his signature.


Now Sky Sports understands Fulham have agreed terms with Dnipro over a permanent deal for Boateng.

The player is now set to undergo a medical ahead of completing his move, whilst Fulham are already believed to have filed a work-permit application.

 

[wased]

Van der Vaart set for Hamburg
Last Updated: August 31 2012, 10:23 BST

Tottenham forward Rafael van der Vaart is travelling to Hamburg to have a medical at the German club, the player's agent confirmed this morning.

Rafael van der Vaart: Set for Hamburg return


Van der Vaart has enjoyed two successful seasons at White Hart Lane, but he wants to return to the club where he spent three years prior to leaving for Real Madrid.
"I can confirm that Rafael is on his way to Hamburg now for a medical," the forward's agent Robert Geerlings told Press Association Sport.
Spurs were said to be holding out for £14million for the Dutchman after Hamburg initially bid £8million last week, but there now appears to be a willingness to compromise from both sides.


"No fee has been agreed, but when a player goes for a medical it is clear that the two parties intend to find a solution," Geerlings added.
Van der Vaart signed for Tottenham exactly two years ago to the day in a frenetic 11th-hour move from Real Madrid.
Mfl
Since moving to White Hart Lane, Van der Vaart has become a firm fans' favourites thanks to his exploits on the pitch.
Playing just behind a main striker, Van der Vaart scored 15 times in 36 appearances during his first season and then racked up 13 goals the following campaign.


But the Holland international's future was thrown in to doubt when new manager Andre Villas-Boas recruited Gylfi Sigurdsson this summer and the Portuguese has also been busy trying to sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Willian, who plays in a similar role to Van der Vaart.
Van der Vaart hinted that a return to Hamburg could be possible earlier this summer when he declared he still "loves" the German city where his wife Sylvie works as a TV presenter.