SEVILLA: NO MAN CITY OFFER FOR NEGREDO

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido insists they have still not received any offer from Manchester City for star striker Alvaro Negredo.

There hasn't been any change with respect to Negredo's situation.
There hasn't been any communication between the English club and Spanish club, and Negredo is training with his team-mates and has three more years on his contract.
There hasn't been any offer from Manchester City.

– Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido

MARSEILLE: BARTON FUTURE IS UNSURE

Marseille coach Elie Baup admits he is unsure if QPR midfielder Joey Barton will return to the club this summer.
Barton has expressed his desire to rejoin Marseille after a successful spell on loan at Stade Velodrome last season.

Marseille are thought to be keen on signing Barton on a permanent basis if he can free himself up from QPR by cancelling his contract at Loftus Road.
Baup admits Marseille and Barton have agreed a deal, but says everything depends on QPR with the 30-year-old still having two years to run on his contract in London.
"Joey Barton's comeback? I do not know how it will evolve," Baup told L'Equipe.
"The club and the player agreed about the challenge ahead, but he still belongs to QPR."

HOLLOWAY: ZAHA WILL REMAIN AT MANCHESTER UNITED

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has reiterated he will not attempt to re-sign Wilfried Zaha because he wants to give the young star a chance at Manchester United.
The 20-year-old England international was signed by United in January before being immediately loaned back to Palace, who went on to win the Championship play-off final.

It has been suggested Palace might ask United for another loan deal for winger Zaha as they bid to survive in the Premier League but Holloway has no such plans.
"I don't think for one minute I'd even consider asking David Moyes about signing him right now," Holloway told talkSPORT. "I don't think it's fair to the boy. He's got to have a go at United. I'm sure I know Moyes that well that if there was a club in the Premier League that Wilfried Zaha wanted to play for, if it wasn't Manchester United, I'm sure it would be us. So, I'm sure the phone would ring.
"Let's be perfectly honest, I think the boy is so exciting he's going to have a chance at United and I can see him getting in their first team. I genuinely mean that. I wish him all the best in his Manchester United career and well done to them for buying him. Sir Alex Ferguson very rarely gets them wrong and David Moyes will be delighted he's found that talent in his midst, because he can win games at the very, very top level."

BAYERN: GOMEZ WILL JOIN FIORENTINA

Bayern Munich forward Mario Gomez has agreed in principle a move to Fiorentina, according to the club's official website.

The Germany international struggled for regular first-team football at the Allianz Arena last season after losing his place to team-mate Mario Mandzukic.

The move will be officially completed within the next couple of days following talks on Monday between Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the Viola president Andrea Della Valle.

 "It was the desire of Mario Gomez to leave Bayern Munich to Florence. We have now complied with his wish," Rummenigge told the club's official website.

"He has thus made a major contribution to two German championships and two DFB Pokal victories. The highlight was of course the Champions League victory and winning the treble last season.

"I would like to thank him for his performances for Bayern. On behalf of Bayern, I wish him luck and success in Florence!"

Gomez became the most expensive player in Bundesliga history when he signed for Bayern from Stuttgart in 2009 for €30 million. Since then Javi Martinez and Mario Gotze - both Bayern players - have surpassed that milestone.

Gomez played 174 games for Bayern, scoring 113 goals.

The striker becomes Fiorentina's eighth acquisition this summer having landed among others, goalkeeper Gustavo Munua; defender Marcos Alonso; and midfielders Massimo Ambrosini, Juan Cuadardo and Joaquin.

ASAMOAH: THIRD STRAIGHT TITLE IS OUR TARGET

Kwadwo Asamoah says Juventus are targeting a hat-trick of successive Serie A titles and are evolving as a team under Antonio Conte.
The Bianconeri celebrated back-to-back league crowns after finishing nine points clear of second-placed Napoli last season.

Asamoah has sent a word of warning to Juve's domestic rivals suggesting the summer signings of forwards Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente from Manchester City and Athletic Bilbao respectively, have further strengthened Conte's squad.
"I am convinced Juve are getting stronger," he told Tuttosport. 
"The third successive title is what we want.
"I am desperate to stay at Juve and play next season."
The 24-year-old featured on 27 occasions in Serie A last season, contributing two goals and eight assists.

EX NEWCASTLE STRIKER CHARGED WITH RAPE

Former Newcastle United footballer Nile Ranger has been charged with rape, police have said
The London-born 22-year-old will appear in court next month following an investigation by Northumbria Police.

In a statement the force said: "A rape was reported to police on Thursday January 24, 2013, and relates to an incident which happened in the early hours of Wednesday January 23 at a hotel in Jesmond.
"Nile Ranger, 22, of Bailey Close, Harringay, London, has been charged with rape. He is due to appear before Newcastle Magistrates' Court on August 21."

TAYE TAIWO: I REJECTED CARDIFF'S OFFER

Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo has declared that he also had interest from Cardiff City after finalising a move to Bursaspor from AC Milan.

The 28-year-old decided to move on this summer after struggling to establish himself in the Milan side following his switch from Marseille two years ago.

He spent time on loan with Queens Park Rangers in early 2012 and was at Dynamo Kiev last season, but he has now sealed a permanent transfer to Turkish club Bursaspor on a three-year deal.
Taiwo admits that he did have other options, including the chance to return to the Premier League with newly-promoted Cardiff, but he has no regrets about his decision.
He said: "I am delighted. I wanted to play in the Turkish league with a good team and I made a good choice.
"Cardiff contacted my agent but I decided to come here."

CHELSEA MAKE AN IMPROVED BID FOR NORWICH KEEPER

Norwich have rejected an improved offer from Chelsea for goalkeeper John Ruddy.

New Blues boss Jose Mourinho wants an experienced top-class keeper to battle it out with Petr Cech for the No.1 shirt this season.
The Stamford Bridge side had an initial bid turned down last week and an improved offer has now been similarly rejected by the Canaries.

Chelsea have released Hilario and Ross Turnbull, while the highly-rated Thibaut Courtois will spend a third season on loan at Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
That leaves youngster Sam Walker as the current back-up to Cech.
England international Ruddy started his career with Cambridge United before a high-profile move saw him sign for Everton in 2005.
However, he made just one appearance in five years for the Merseyside club and was loaned out to several teams including Stockport (twice), Crewe and Motherwell.
Having failed to make the breakthrough at Goodison Park, Ruddy opted for a move to Norwich in July 2010.
He has been one of the Premier League's most consistent keepers since, although he missed much of last season through injury.

EVERTON SIGN IVORY COAST STRIKER

Everton have completed the signing of striker Arouna Kone from Wigan on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The Ivory Coast forward had been heavily linked with a move to Merseyside and has now followed former Latics' boss Roberto Martinez to Goodison Park.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said last week that he expected the 29-year-old to leave after Everton met the £5m buy-out clause in Kone's contract.
And although there was also reported interest from Newcastle, Kone has opted to be re-united with his former boss who left Wigan for Everton following David Moyes' appointment as Manchester United manager.
Martinez originally signed Kone from Spanish side Levante in 2012 and the former PSV Eindhoven scored 11 goals last season - although he was unable to prevent Wigan being relegated from the Premier League.
Kone has been on international duty and is currently on holiday but he will join up with his new club later this month.

BLANC: I'LL LOVE TO HAVE CAVANI

Paris St Germain coach Laurent Blanc believes the potential capture of Napoli striker Edinson Cavani would send out a message to the Ligue 1 champions' domestic and European rivals.

If he was to join PSG, I would be happy.
It would be a big sporting shot and a signal to potential opponents of PSG in France and Europe.
I believe Cavani and Ibrahimovic are complementary.

– PSG manager Laurent Blanc speaking to L'Equipe
 
Neither is the former France coach concerned about a possible exit by defender Thiago Silva who has been linked with a move to Barcelona.

I think he will be in Paris next season and he has a great chance to be captain.

– PSG manager Laurent Blanc speaking to L'Equipe