Transfer talk: Spurs captain denies reports of rift over contract

Johnson was worth the wait for Wolves, while Barton's past catches up with him, and more.

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Michael Dawson, the Tottenham captain, has hit out at reports that he is in dispute with the London club over a new contract. A report in The Sun yesterday suggested the 27-year-old defender was furious with Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, for offering him a "derisory" pay rise.

However, in a statement issued by Tottenham, Dawson said: "I have no idea where this story has come from. There has been absolutely no fallout with anyone whatsoever."

Mick McCarthy, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, is delighted to have finally signed Roger Johnson, the Birmingham City central defender, at the second attempt. Johnson has put pen to paper on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £6m McCarthy tried to sign Johnson from Cardiff City during the summer of 2009, but he opted to switch to Birmingham. "He was my first choice," McCarthy said.

John Arne Riise could be playing with his brother Bjorn Helge next season after joining Fulham from Roma. The Norwegian defender has signed a three-year deal to return to the Premier League, three years after leaving Liverpool for Serie A.

Joey Barton, the Newcastle midfielder, will miss the club's pre-season trip to the United States, which starts on Sunday, after being denied a visa. Barton was given a six-month jail sentence after admitting assault and affray in 2008. Barton will instead link up with reserve side when they head for Holland, along with young striker Nile Ranger, who was also denied a visa. On his Twitter account Barton called the decision: "totally hypocrisy considering what they get up to".

The Merseysiders have agreed a deal to sell Paul Konchesky to Championship side Leicester City. The 30-year-old defender, signed for £4m last August by the then manager Roy Hodgson, played just 18 matches for Liverpool after struggling to settle after his move from Fulham.

The newcomers completed two signings yesterday with the arrivals of Kieron Dyer, a former England international, and former Cardiff City and Arsenal striker Jay Bothroyd, both on free transfers.

Blackburn Rovers

The Ewood Park club are set to become the first Premier League side to play in India. Steve Kean's side, bought by Indian poultry firm Venky's last November, will meet Pune Football Club on July 22 during a pre-season tour of Asia. Blackburn also recently announced they were planning to establish a youth academy near Pune, 100 kilometres from Mumbai.