Jan Vertonghen trains with Ajax ahead of his move to Tottenham Hotspur
Jan Vertonghen trains with Ajax ahead of his move to Tottenham Hotspur
Jan Vertonghen trains with Ajax ahead of his move to Tottenham Hotspur
Jan Vertonghen trains with Ajax ahead of his move to Tottenham Hotspur

Transfer talk: July 9 - Blues get Lovenkrands, Bayern deny Pirlo link


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Bayern Munich have dismissed claims they are to sign Italy's Euro 2012 star Andrea Pirlo from Juventus.

According to reports from Italy, the Bundesliga club have made a EU10m (Dh45m) offer for the 33-year-old, who is under contract with Juve until 2014.

"Bayern have neither made an offer to Juventus nor had contact with the player and his advisors," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insisted in a statement.

Pirlo was one of Italy's key performers in his country's run to the Euro 2012 final.

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Peter Lovenkrands has become Lee Clark's first signing as Birmingham boss, subject to a medical.

The 32-year-old Danish forward has agreed personal terms on his Bosman free transfer to St Andrew's and is due to report for training today.

The former Newcastle winger's arrival has been made possible after City's transfer embargo was finally lifted by the Football League last Wednesday, having been placed on the club in March for not filing their 2010/11 accounts on time.

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Chelsea have had a bid worth more than £16million (Dh91m) for forward Andre Schurrle turned down Bayer Leverkusen, according to reports from Germany.

The 21-year-old has established himself as one of Germany's most exciting young talents since joining Leverkusen from Mainz last year.

He has already won 16 caps for Germany and was a member of their Euro 2012 squad.

Leverkusen chief executive Wolfgang Holzhauser told German news agency SID: "We were presented with a very concrete offer from Chelsea for Andre of beyond the 20 million euro mark. The sum was pushed back and forth between the two clubs. We ultimately chose Andre.

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Werder Bremen are set to sign former Hamburg forward Eljero Elia after a failed spell in Serie A with Juventus.

Elia will link up with his new teammates tomorrow night having already passed a medical in the northern Germany city today.

The 25-year-old, who has won 26 caps for Holland, will put pen to paper on a four-year contract with Bremen and he will be presented at the club's training camp in Norderney tomorrow, according to a press release from the northern Germany club.

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New Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen insists he's ready to make an immediate impact in the English Premier League after finally agreeing terms on his move to White Hart Lane.

The Ajax skipper will undergo a medical this week before completing his protracted move from the Dutch champions.

And he insists Spurs' off-field issues and managerial changes have not tempered his enthusiasm for the move.

"I am 25 years old now and I feel ready to play in the Premier League. I have heard a lot of good stories from my Belgium teammates. I think I'm ready.

"I heard that Harry Redknapp really wanted me to play for Tottenham, but now it's Andre Villas-Boas. To me, that doesn't matter.

"I just want to play for the club and I hope I can please the fans at the club."

Vertonghen becomes Spurs' second signing of the summer, following Gylfi Sigurdsson's move last week.

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Bahraini defender Mohamed Adnan has been released by A-League champions Brisbane Roar.

The 29-year-old stopper decided against a return to Australia after the off-season break, opting to stay in the Middle East for family reasons.

"I am not sure where he'll be playing yet but we wish him all the best," Roar coach Rado Vidosic said.

"He was a very important part of our team last season and we will try to replace him -- we've still got a couple of overseas spots left to fill."

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BRAZIL SQUAD

Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

Bio:

Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour

Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people 

Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite food: Fish and vegetables

Favourite place to visit: London

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now