Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has doubts about signing Arturo Vidal due to concerns over the midfielder’s knee, Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli has claimed.
United have been strongly linked this summer with Juventus’ Vidal, the 27-year-old who featured for Chile at the World Cup.
Quoted by El Mercurio, a newspaper in Vidal’s homeland, Sampaoli made reference to a potential 80 million US dollars (around £47million) deal between Juve and United being jeopardised by the knee issue.
Vidal underwent surgery on his right knee in May before returning to help his country reach the last 16 in Brazil.
Sampaoli was quoted as saying: “The problem in Vidal’s transfer from Juventus to Manchester United for 80 million dollars is the doubt that Van Gaal has with respect to the improvement of Arturo’s knee.”
Liverpool
Liverpool has completed the signing of Atletico Madrid defender Javier Manquillo on loan with a view to a permanent deal.
The Anfield club announced the deal on Wednesday and Manquillo becomes manager Brendan Rodgers’ seventh summer signing.
Manquillo says “I’m very happy to have signed for a club like Liverpool. I think it’s one of the biggest in Europe. Any footballer would want to come and play here,” speaking to the club’s official website.
“When they tell you Liverpool want to sign you, I think like any player, you are going to be absolutely amazed and you don’t think of anything else than going straight there,” added Manquillo.
The 20-year-old has started his career with Real Madrid before joining the city rivals Atletico in 2007. He has also represented the Spanish national side at various youth levels.
Liverpool has been busy in the transfer market, having completed deals for Southampton trio Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren, as well as Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and Divock Origi.
Bayern Munich
Spanish international goalkeeper Pepe Reina is set to sign for German champions Bayern Munich from English Premier League runners-up Liverpool, the buying club announced via Twitter on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old – who spent last season on loan with Serie A outfit Napoli – is ready to join Bayern according to the club’s president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who added he was just the type of goalkeeper they were looking for.
Reina, who would be second choice behind German World Cup winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, is due to travel to Munich in the next few days to undergo a medical and sign his contract, according to Rummenigge.
Hamburg
International striker Nicolai Mueller has left Mainz to join Hamburg on a four-year contract worth an estimated 4.5 million euros.
The 26-year-old, capped twice by Germany, had been with Mainz since 2011, scoring nine goals last season.
Mueller becomes Hamburg’s fourth close-season recruit after Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami (Napoli), Hungarian Zoltan Stieber (Greuther Fuerth), and German striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga, on loan last season from Hertha Berlin.
Queens Park Rangers
Juventus defender Mauricio Isla has completed terms on a season-long loan deal with QPR, with the London club awaiting work-permit confirmation.
The 26-year-old Chilean should see his QPR move confirmed once the club receive official endorsement on the transfer from the Football Association.
Manager Harry Redknapp has secured Isla’s services on a one-year loan with a view to a permanent transfer, Press Association Sport understands.
The 47-cap Chile defender has completed his medical at Loftus Road and tweeted news of his move on Tuesday morning, before later removing the post.
Redknapp’s fourth summer signing should be officially ratified just a day after QPR paid a fee believed to reach £6million to prise Jordon Mutch away from Cardiff City.
In another QPR signing, English attacking midfielder Jordon Mutch has joined the club on a four-year contract from Cardiff City, which was announced on Tuesday.
QPR paid an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of £6 million ($10.1 million, 7.6 million euros) to secure the 22-year-old’s services.
“Jordon’s a fine young player, with a big, big future,” said Redknapp.
“He’s already shown what he can do at this level with Cardiff last season with a decent goals return, and this move will provide him with a great platform to take his game on to the next level.”
Mutch scored seven goals and supplied five assists for Cardiff last season, but could not prevent the Welsh club from slipping into the Championship.
“I’m really delighted to be here, back in the Premier League,” Mutch said.
“I don’t see a better place for me than QPR at the moment. The club is heading in the right direction and I’m really excited about the season ahead.”
Saint-Etienne
Dutch striker Ricky Van Wolfswinkel has joined Saint-Etienne on loan from English Championship side Norwich City, the French club announced Tuesday.
Van Wolfswinkel, 25, endured a difficult first season at Carrow Road after becoming Norwich’s record signing following an £8.5 million ($13.3 million, 10 million euro) move from Sporting Lisbon a year ago.
He scored just once in 27 appearances as the Canaries were relegated to the second tier after a three-year stint in the Premier League.
However, Saint-Etienne boss Christophe Galtier hopes a change of scenery can help Van Wolfswinkel rediscover the form that saw him net 45 goals in two seasons with Sporting.
“Ricky was someone we had followed and identified but we didn’t think we would have the chance to get him on loan. He’s a player Saint-Etienne cannot afford to buy,” said Galtier, although the agreement does include an option to make the switch permanent.
Nice
Senegal international Souleymane Diawara, out of contract after five years with Marseille, on Tuesday signed to play for Ligue 1 rivals Nice.
The 35-year-old defender has won two French titles, with Bordeaux in 2009 and Marseille the following year.
He is the south coast club’s third recruit of the close season, after Swedish midfielder Niklas Hult and Belgium’s Julien Vercauteren.
Diawara, who started out his career at Le Havre, had a spell in England with Charlton Athletic in 2006. He has turned out 48 times for his country.
Lens
Lens’ preparations for their return to Ligue 1 have been hit by a ban on signing new players.
The northern club finally had their promotion to the top-flight rubber-stamped on appeal after it was initially prevented - despite them finishing second in Ligue 2 last season - for failing to provide sufficient financial guarantees.
However, the decision has come with stringent financial sanctions from the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG).
Lens confirmed on their official website that they are prohibited from adding to their squad until owner Hafiz Mammadov fulfils his commitment to inject funds into the club.
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