Agencies
* Alex Sanchez cannot wait to team up with Mesut Ozil and help fire Arsenal towards Premier League glory.
The Chile international on Thursday agreed to sign for the London side from Barcelona, in a deal reported to be worth in the region of £30million (Dh188.7m).
Sanchez believes Arsenal now have the needed quality to last the distance in the title race, having fallen away after being top at the turn of the year.
“With Ozil in the squad Arsenal was [close] to winning the league title [last season]. I hope I can make a contribution so we can win as many titles as possible,” Sanchez said on the club’s official website.
Click here for Wenger reaction to signing
* Liverpool have finalised the terms of a club-record fee with Barcelona for the sale of striker Luis Suarez.
Official talks began over a week ago and were productive from the start with the Catalan side agreeing to meet the Uruguay international’s buy-out clause, believed to be £75million (Dh472m).
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* Aston Villa have announced the signing of former Fulham wide man Kieran Richardson.
The 29-year-old, who can play on the left side of defence or midfield, has put pen to paper on a two-year contract at Villa Park with a further year’s option.
Richardson has won eight senior England caps, scoring two goals, with his last appearance for his country coming in 2006.
* French defensive midfielder Yann M’Vila has joined Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan from Rubin Kazan, Russian press reported on Friday.
M’Vila, 24, passed a medical in Milan earlier in the week and the Russian Premier League club finally agreed terms of the move on Friday, Sport-Express newspaper reported.
“M’Vila is happy to sign the contract with us,” ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio as saying.
The player joined Rubin in January 2013 from French side Rennes on a four-year deal. He played 20 matches for the Russian side but failed to score.
* Everton manager Roberto Martinez is keen to bring Monaco forward Lacina Traore back on loan after a fruitless initial spell.
The Ivory Coast striker arrived in January carrying an injury and managed just one hour-long goalscoring appearance in the FA Cup against Swansea before a hamstring problem ruled him out until the final game of the season where he came on for the last minute against Hull.
But with Martinez’s striking options for the new season not yet finalised as he awaits an update on the availability of Romelu Lukaku, who scored 16 times on loan from Chelsea, he is exploring the possibility of a return for Traore.
“At the moment we are still talking with Monaco,” he told evertonfc.com.
“With Lacina, it is a three-way conversation and it will go a bit further down the line before we take a final decision.
“But we always wanted Lacina to be with us and to play his football with us, and that hasn’t changed at all.”
* AC Milan have announced they are negotiating the sale of Brazilian forward Robinho to new Major League Soccer franchise Orlando City.
The 30-year-old is under contract with the Italian giants until June 2016 but has expressed his wish to leave the San Siro outfit this summer after four years at the club.
“Robinho wants to go to the Major League Soccer,” AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said to www.acmilan.com.
“There is a negotiation in place with Orlando, the same club that Kaka joined.
“They are keen to take Robinho and the player is willing to leave.
“We are not close to completing the deal so we shall see.
“In any case we have an excellent rapport with Robinho.”
* Genoa have announced that Alessandro Matri has joined them on loan from Serie A rivals AC Milan for the 2014/15 season.
The Italy forward underwent a medical with the Grifoni on Thursday before completing his move to the Luigi Ferraris stadium.
A statement from Genoa read: “Genoa announces it has temporarily acquired the sporting rights of AC Milan striker Alessandro Matri.”
* Marouane Chamakh has signed a new two-year contract at Crystal Palace, the Barclays Premier League side have announced.
The 30-year-old Morocco international originally moved to Selhurst Park on a one-year deal last summer after leaving former club Arsenal and went on to become a regular fixture in the Eagles’ side as Tony Pulis guided them to Premier League safety.
Chamakh scored six goals for Palace last season, including a run of three successive league games in December, and was transformed into playing in a position behind the main striker by Pulis.
* Newcastle are stepping up their efforts to find a replacement for Mathieu Debuchy after opening negotiations for the Netherlands international Daryl Janmaat.
Reports from the Netherlands have suggested the Magpies have seen an initial bid for the Feyenoord full-back rejected, although it is understood talks are at an early stage.
But having allowed midfielder Yohan Cabaye to join Paris St-Germain in January without signing a man to fill his boots, the Tyneside club are refusing to be caught out for a second time.
It has been reported that the France international Debuchy has agreed personal terms with Arsenal and undergone a medical, but that the Gunners are yet to reach agreement with Newcastle.
