Barcelona
Barcelona on Thursday agreed a deal to sign Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes from Valencia.
“The player will sign a contract and be presented as a new FC Barcelona player next week,” the Spanish club said in a statement.
The club gave no financial details but Spanish media reported that Gomes will cost it around €50 million (Dh202m).
The 23-year-old midfielder, part of Portugal’s 2016 European Championship-winning side, agreed a five-year deal with Barcelona, according to the reports.
Gomes made 77 appearances for Valencia in two seasons after joining from Portuguese side Benfica where he started his career.
He was also believed to be a target of Barcelona’s bitter rivals Real Madrid.
He is Barca’s fourth signing of the summer, following fellow midfielder Denis Suarez from Villarreal and France defenders Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne from Lyon and Paris St Germain respectively.
Southamtpon
Republic of Ireland international striker Shane Long became the latest player to pledge his future to English Premier League side Southampton on Thursday, signing a new four-year contract.
The 29-year-old frontman, part of the Ireland side that lost 2-1 to eventual finalists France in the last 16 at Euro 2016, said he was more than happy to be staying on at the club who finished a best ever sixth in the table last term.
“I’m delighted. I’m excited to be part of what could be a big future in the next four years for this club,” Long told the club’s website.
“It’s a real family feel, and I feel like I’m a big part of that and I feel like I’m playing my best football here as well,” added Long, who has scored 21 times in 73 appearances since joining from Hull City in 2014.
Long is the latest player to place his faith in the south-coast club.
This despite manager Ronald Koeman leaving for Everton and the departure of star names with the likes of Kenyan midfield enforcer Victor Wanyama, Italian striker Graziano Pelle and Senegalese forward Sadio Mane all moving away.
However, England defender Ryan Bertrand, England goalkeeper Fraser Forster, Dutch central defender Virgil van Dijk, England Under 21 captain James Ward-Prowse and Northern Irish veteran Steven Davis have all signed new contracts at St Mary’s.
Juventus
Paul Pogba's agent denied on Thursday a potential world record transfer sending the France star to Manchester United from Juventus had been finalised as Jose Mourinho looks to reinforce the Premier League giants.
United have reportedly had an initia; £86 million offer (Dh418m) turned down by the Italian champions as they try to lure France international Pogba back to Old Trafford four years after allowing him to leave on a free transfer.
But Mourinho’s side are expected to return with an improved bid that approaches Juventus’s £100 million asking price after United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward met Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola to thrash out personal terms this week.
However, Raiola took to Twitter to insist the deal, which would easily shatter the previous world record fee of £85 million paid by Real Madrid for Gareth Bale in 2013, was not concluded yet.
“There’s no deal done regarding Paul Pogba, lots of bla, bla, bla,” Raiola tweeted on his verified account.
Meanwhile Juventus have signed Croatia’s Marko Pjaca from Dinamo Zagreb, the Serie A champions have announced.
The 21-year-old winger, who made three appearances for his country at Euro 2016 and has 11 caps in all, has signed a five-year contract to complete a move worth €23m.
A statement on Juve’s website read: “Juventus and the player have signed a five-year contract of employment.”
Watford
Ivory Coast international Brice Dja Djedje has joined Premier League side Watford on a four-year deal from Marseille, the defender told French sports daily L'Equipe on Thursday.
Dja Djedje moved to Marseille from Evian in January 2014 and made 82 appearances for the French giants, who finished a lowly 13th last season, primarily at right-back.
The 25-year-old defender is the 15th player to leave the Stade Velodrome this summer, following the likes of Michy Batshuayi and long-serving goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to England.
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