Fiorentina signed Artur Boruc, Celtic's Polish international goalkeeper, yesterday, raising the possibility that the Italian club's first-choice No 1, Sebastien Frey, may move to Arsenal. Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said last week that he had doubts about the mental suitability of his current No 1, Manuel Almunia, for big games and that he would make an announcement about his goalkeeping situation after the World Cup.
Frey, 30, who has spent the past 12 seasons in Italy and has two France caps, has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League. The highly rated Boruc is unlikely to have moved to Italy to be a back-up, suggesting that Frey could be on his way out. Boruc, 30, signed for Celtic, the Scottish Premier League side, in 2005 from Legia Warsaw and made more than 150 appearances. He cost Fiorentina around ?3 million (Dh13.8m), Italian media reports said, on a two-year deal with an option for a third.
Liverpool believe that Fernando Torres's left groin injury is not as serious as first feared when the Spain striker was injured in the World Cup final. Torres pulled up with an injury shortly after coming off the bench during extra time during Sunday's 1-0 win over Holland. Liverpool's medical chief, Peter Brukner, has been in contact with Spain's team doctors, who planned to assess the injury yesterday.
Brukner said: "It's an adductor muscle injury ? at this stage we don't think it's too serious." Javier Mascherano's agent claims the Liverpool midfielder would jump at the chance of a reunion with Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan. The Argentina captain is reportedly one of the top transfer targets for Inter this summer. And Mascherano's agent, Walter Tamer, has done little to quell the speculation, telling the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport: "Mascherano has not spoken to [new Liverpool manager Roy] Hodgson nor with Liverpool.
"After the World Cup, he has switched off but it's clear that he is happy to be a target of top clubs in the transfer market. "For him to be linked to Inter has a magical taste ? it's a dream. "Think about it, the strongest team in the world wants him, a team where many of Mascherano's compatriots play and a side that is guided by a coach with whom Mascherano has a personal bond." Sir Alex Ferguson said the majority of Manchester United's World Cup players are unlikely to feature in the club's Premier League opener against Newcastle next month.
The England duo Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, the France and South Korea captains Patrice Evra and Ji-sung Park, the Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic and the Javier Hernandez of Mexico - a new signing - were United's six representatives in South Africa. Rio Ferdinand is hopeful of being fit for the start of the season after injury prevented him captaining England, while Nani was in the squad that flew out for a pre-season tour of the United States after being ruled out of Portugal's campaign.
* Agencies
