[ Stoke City ]
Stoke completed the free transfer signing of Jonathan Woodgate yesterday. The central defender joins the Potters after his contract at Tottenham Hotspur expired and he has signed a one-year deal. The 31-year-old former England international started out at Leeds United before having spells with Newcastle United, Real Madrid and Middlesbrough in a career blighted by injury.
Speaking from the club's pre-season training camp in Austria, Tony Pulis, the manager, said: "The lad is a top-class player and it's been well documented that he has had his injury troubles, but we believe that if his fitness is managed properly, he will play games for us." He added: "We've effectively taken him on a pay-as-you-play deal which just shows how desperate the lad is to get his career back on the right track."
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly agreed a £7 million (Dh41m) fee with Birmingham City for Roger Johnson. The central defender was believed to be holding talks with Wolves officials over a move to Molineux yesterday. If the deal goes through, it would equal the club record fee Wolves paid Burnley for the striker Steven Fletcher.
[ Liverpool ]
Charlie Adam has thanked Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, for showing faith in him after Blackpool rejected the Reds' initial advances for the player in January. Blackpool were ultimately relegated on the final day of last season, and after Liverpool renewed their interest, a deal was finally completed last week.
Adam is now looking forward to his opportunity at Anfield. The 25 year old, who is part of Liverpool's squad for the two-match tour of the Far East, said: "I'm delighted to eventually be here … Obviously I'd like to thank the manager for bringing me here and it is a step in my career I'm looking forward to. I want to learn and there are some of the best players in the world at this club so if I can learn from them I am going to improve as a player. That is my aim."
[ Fulham ]
Fulham have confirmed Csaba Somogyi, the Hungarian goalkeeper, has signed a one-year deal with the club following a successful trial. Somogyi, 26, has become Martin Jol's first signing since he took over at Craven Cottage this summer. The former Rakospalotai EAC man signed as a free agent and the club have an option to extend the deal by a further year until 2013.
Queens Park Rangers
Neil Warnock admits Jimmy Bullard is one of several players he is hoping to sign. The west Londoners have been frustrated so far as they look to build for their return to the Premier League. Warnock, the QPR manager, told Sky Sports News yesterday: "We have got a number of targets and I'm still optimistic that I can bring enough good players in to help us in the coming season ... We are down the line with a couple. Jimmy Bullard is one of a number we are talking about."
[ Swansea City ]
The Premier League's new boys are understood to have tabled a £1.5m bid for Newcastle United's Wayne Routledge. The 26-year-old winger has struggled to force his way into Alan Pardew's plans and spent the second half of last season on loan at QPR. Swansea's interest could give the Magpies leverage in their attempts to secure a deal for Neil Taylor after they had a £1m offer for the Welsh club's full-back rejected last month.
