Liverpool
Croatian international defender Dejan Lovren has signed a long-term deal with Premier League side Liverpool from Southampton, his new club confirmed on Sunday.
The 25-year-old becomes Brendan Rodgers’ fifth signing of the summer and the third from Southampton, following striker Rickie Lambert and midfielder Adam Lallana.
The deal is reported to be worth an estimated £20 million (Dh124.5m).
A Liverpool statement read: “Liverpool Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of defender Dejan Lovren from Southampton.
“The 25-year-old Croatian international today put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Reds after completing his medical.”
Lovren told the club’s website: “It’s a dream come true.
“I’m happy and glad to be here. I’m proud and can’t wait to start. I know we have millions and millions of supporters - Liverpool is more than a club.
“After I played at Anfield last season, I said to myself: ‘One day I hope I’ll be able to play here for Liverpool’. The fans will know from the first minute that I’m a player that will give 100 per cent on the pitch.”
Lovren, who joined Southampton from Lyon for £8.5m last summer, leaves St Mary’s 12 months into a four-year contract.
Fiorentina
Fiorentina have agreed to sign defender Jose Basanta, who was part of the Argentina squad that reached the World Cup final, from Mexican club Monterrey, the Italian club said on Sunday.
The deal is subject to a medical and contract terms for the 30-year-old Basanta, the Serie A side said on their website.
Basanta, who spent six years at Monterrey, began his career at Estudiantes in Argentina. He is a central defender who filled in at left back for the suspended Marcos Rojo in Argentina’s quarter-final win over Belgium.
He helped Monterrey to win league titles in 2009 and 2010 and a hat-trick of Concacaf Champions League crowns between 2011 and 2013.
Meanwhile, Honduras World Cup striker Jerry Bengtson has joined Argentine first division side Belgrano on loan from MLS side New England Revolution, the club from the city of Cordoba said.
“New England have agreed on the loan of player Jerry Bengtson to Belgrano until June 30, 2015,” the Argentine club said on their Twitter account.
The 27-year-old, who scored nine goals in the World Cup qualifiers though none at the finals, scored four goals in 36 matches for New England since he joined them in 2012.
Mexico
Former Mexico striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco has returned to the top flight at the age of 41, as champions Leon crashed to their second defeat of the new season and Guadalajara have begun another bid to rise back to the top of Mexican soccer.
Blanco, capped 120 times, came on as a substitute for Puebla after an hour of their 0-0 draw at home to Veracruz on Saturday having last appeared in the Mexican first division for Santos Laguna in 2008 and spending recent seasons in the second tier.
“I’m happy and grateful to the Puebla fans and team owners who gave me this chance to come here ... I lacked a goal to take the three points,” Blanco told reporters.
Puebla next face America, the club where Blanco is an idol after playing there for 15 years and helping them win the league title in 2005 and the Concacaf Champions League in 2006.
Former Barcelona youth coach Albert Benaiges was named on Saturday as head of youth development at Chivas Guadalajara, Mexico’s most popular and decorated team.
The Mexican-born Benaiges spent 20 years at Barca and worked with the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta before leaving in 2011.
“Albert Benaiges comes to Chivas with the background and prestige of more than 25 years as a youth development coach and (after playing a) fundamental part in preparing international figures like Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi, among others,” the club said in a statement according to El Universal’s sports website.
Guadalajara, whose efforts to rebuild with the help of Dutch great Johan Cryuff’s consultancy in 2012 failed, last won the league title in 2006 and saw arch rivals America catch up with them with a record-equalling 11th crown in the 2012/13 season.
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