Southampton coach Ronald Koeman. AFP
Southampton coach Ronald Koeman. AFP
Southampton coach Ronald Koeman. AFP
Southampton coach Ronald Koeman. AFP

Transfer talk: Graziano Pelle join Koeman at Southampton from Feyenoord


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Southampton

Southampton have moved to further fill the void left by their summer departures by signing striker Graziano Pelle.

He has signed a three-year deal with the Saints, leaving Feyenoord and following former coach Ronald Koeman to England.

The 28-year-old Italian scored 27 goals for the Rotterdam club in the 2013/14 season and will be viewed as a replacement for Rickie Lambert, who moved to Liverpool earlier in the summer.

Koeman has been tasked with rebuilding key areas of the Southampton first team since taking over from Mauricio Pochettino last month, with Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw having also left.

He signed playmaker Dusan Tadic on Tuesday and the capture of Pelle will be seen as another important move.

“I’m really happy that it’s finally signed,” Pelle told his new club’s official website.

Porto

Spanish international striker Adrian Lopez left La Liga champions Atletico Madrid for Portuguese giants FC Porto in an €11 million (Dh40m) deal on Saturday.

The 26-year-old, who has been capped twice by Spain, signed a five-year deal after three seasons with Atletico where he scored 11 times in 90 outings.

Lopez’s departure comes just two days after Croatian international striker Mario Mandzukic completed his move to Atletico from German champions Bayern Munich in a deal worth €22 million.

AC Milan

AC Milan have completed the signing of defender Adil Rami from Valencia.

The Serie A club announced the defender had moved to the San Siro on a three-year contract.

The 28-year-old Frenchaman spent the second half of last season on loan with the Rossoneri after falling out of favour at Spanish side Valencia.

Milan had an option to make the deal permanent this summer, but were unwilling to pay the asking price set by Los Che.

But after weeks of negotiation, the clubs reached an agreement for Rami move to Milan for a reported fee of £3.375million (Dh21.2m).

PSV Eindhoven

Borussia Monchengladbach have announced the sale of former Newcastle United forward Luuk de Jong to PSV Eindhoven.

De Jong, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the Magpies, and has not scored a competitive goal in over a year, returns to the Netherlands, where he was the Eredivisie’s second-highest goalscorer in 2011/12 with 25 for FC Twente.

“Eindhoven desperately wanted to sign Luuk and we were able to reach an agreement on terms,” said Gladbach’s director of sport Max Eberl.

“We wish Luuk all the best for his future and we look forward to seeing him again in a friendly game that we’ve arranged.”

Palermo

Bulgarian midfielder Ivaylo Chochev has joined Serie A newcomers Palermo from CSKA Sofia on a three-year contract, the 31-times Bulgarian champions said on Friday.

Chochev, considered as one of the best young players in the Balkan country, scored seven goals in 45 matches since joining CSKA from Chavdar Etropole last year.

The 21-year-old has played 10 times for Bulgaria’s under-21 team.

Palermo were promoted back to Italy’s top flight after finishing top in Serie B.

West Bromwich Albion

Belgium international Sebastien Pocognoli has joined West Bromwich Albion on a three-year deal, the Premier League club said on Saturday.

The left back was part of Belgium’s preliminary World Cup squad but missed out on a place at the tournament finals after struggling with injury in the final weeks of last season.

“He’s joined us with a real hunger to prove himself at Albion and get back into the international set-up,” West Brom’s head coach Alan Irvine said on the club website (www.wba.co.uk).

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Key developments in maritime dispute

2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier. 

2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus

2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.

2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.

2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888