Real Madrid
James Rodriguez looks to have ended speculation about his future by insisting he is staying at Real Madrid.
Rodriguez struggled to tie down a starting berth at Madrid towards the end of last season and has been linked with a big-money move away from the Bernabeu, with Manchester United reportedly among his suitors.
The Colombia international claims Madrid have received a £71 million (Dh341m) offer for him, but is adamant his future is with the European champions.
He told Marca: "I'm going to fight to earn a place in Madrid. That's my dream.
“I’m going to stay with Real Madrid, I’m going to triumph here. I know the club have had an offer of €85 million for me, but I’m not leaving.”
The 25-year-old player joined Madrid for a reported £63m from Monaco on July 22, 2014, signing a six-year contract.
• Poll: Will James Rodriguez leave Real Madrid?
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have signed Wolfsburg forward Andre Schurrle on a five-year contract, last season's Bundesliga runners-up said in a statement on Friday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 25-year-old Germany international joined Wolfsburg from Chelsea in February 2015 and scored nine goals in the top flight last season as the club finished eighth in the standings.
Fellow Germany international Mario Gotze rejoined Dortmund on Wednesday, signing a four-year deal following a disappointing spell at champions Bayern Munich.
“Andre Schurrle is a German national player with outstanding offensive potential ... his quality will be very valuable for our team,” Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc told the club’s website.
Liverpool
Liverpool have signed veteran goalkeeper Alex Manninger on a short-term contract, the Premier League club said on Friday.
The 39-year-old Austrian, who spent five years with Arsenal from 1997-2002, signed on a free transfer after leaving German side Augsburg at the end of last season.
Manninger is likely to be Liverpool’s third-choice keeper behind Simon Mignolet and new arrival Loris Karius.
“When Liverpool was on the phone, it was a great pleasure for me to take it on because it gives me what I was looking for,” Manninger told the club’s website.
“This is the moment I was waiting for until the end.”
Manninger, a former Austrian international, is Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp's sixth signing of the summer, following the additions of Karius, central defenders Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan, forward Sadio Mane and midfielder Marko Grujic.
Middlesbrough
Alvaro Negredo can rediscover his mojo in the Premier League at newly promoted Middlesbrough after struggling to make an impact since his move to Valencia, manager Aitor Karanka has said.
Negredo, 30, joined Manchester City from Sevilla in 2013 and scored 23 goals and won the Premier League title for the club.
He moved to Valencia in 2014 and has since struggled to be as effective for the La Liga club who finished 12th in the league last year. Middlesbrough announced Negredo has joined them on a season-long loan deal.
“He is a really good player and if he recovers his best he will be a really important player for us,” Karanka told the club’s website.
“Another reason I wanted to sign him is because he has played in this country and he knows the league.
“I’m pleased and he’s pleased because he wants to play his best and he knows that England and this club is the best place to recover his self.”
Middlesbrough, who were runners-up in the second-tier Championship last season, will mark their return to England’s top flight when they host Stoke City at the Riverside Stadium on August 13.
Arsenal
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of England Under 21 defender Rob Holding from English third-tier League One side Bolton Wanderers.
Holding, 20, came through the ranks at Bolton before breaking into the first team 12 months ago and went on to immediately establish himself in the side.
Wanderers finished bottom of the Championship as they dropped down to the third tier but that did not stop Holding picking up the club’s player-of-the-season award.
Arsenal announced his signing on Friday, with both the fee and length of contract undisclosed, to make the versatile defender their third summer acquisition.
Harding follows Granit Xhaka and Takuma Asano in moving to the Emirates Stadium but it remains to be seen if he will be involved with the first team straight away.
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