MOYES: WE ARE CLOSING IN ON OUR TRANSFER TARGETS

New Manchester United manager David Moyes insists the club are closing in on their transfer targets.

The English champions were linked with a move for Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara, but the player looks likely to join his old boss Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.

Moyes was guarded over that development, when asked if the Spain U-21 international remained on United's radar.
"I never said at any time he was," said Moyes.
"There are people we are actively chasing and we are happy with the way things are going."
Speculation mounts on Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay moving to Old Trafford, although there has been no official word from either club.
Meanwhile, Moyes is preparing for his first match in charge of United when his team play Singha All Stars later today.

MOYES FALLS TO SHOCK DEBUT DEFEAT

David Moyes' tenure as Manchester United manager started on a sour note as the Premier League champions fell to a shock friendly defeat to Thailand All-Stars.
In a game lacking real flow and multiple missed chances, it was the Thai outfit who looked the more dangerous throughout and a sole 49th-minute strike from the impressive Teeratep Winothai secured the victory.

Moyes opted for a mix of youth and experience in his first selection, teaming the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs with young Belgian Adnan Januzaj.
Perhaps understandably, United started rustily and after four minutes were in debt to a wonderful recovery challenge from Jonny Evans to deny the hosts the lead after United’s offside trap was broken by Winothai.

Indeed, it took 22 minutes for United to carve out their first real opportunity; Fabio’s cross from the right-hand side was inch-perfect for the onrushing Januzaj to prod home but somehow, the youngster tapped it over the bar.

Slowly, the visitors began to take control and on the half-hour mark, Danny Welbeck finally escaped the attentions of his marker to race clear onto a Tom Cleverley through-ball, only for poor ball control to let him down when attempting to round the keeper.

Januzaj was proving to be a prominent player of the first half and, after the Belgian negotiated his way past a defender with a fine piece of skill, his cross-cum-shot flashed wide of the post.

However, United continued to be troubled by the ball over the top and another one on 35 minutes set Winothai clear but his fierce half-volley was tipped round the post by Amos.

The Thai outfit seemed to be relishing the occasion and after going close on two previous occasions, Winothai finally found the net just four minutes after half-time.

Some shoddy defending from United suddenly saw the hosts gifted a three-on-two attack and, after a quick exchange of passes, Winothai beat Ben Amos at his near post with a close-range strike.

United tried to hit back quickly but Welbeck, who looked lively but clumsy throughout, could only find the keeper’s midriff from a tight angle.

The goal certainly did seem to spark Moyes’ men into life and on the hour mark it was Fabio who was next to threaten with a curling effort that was comfortably beaten away by the goalkeeper.

The visitors handed a United debut to Wilfried Zaha as a raft of substitutions began to affect the pattern of the second 45 minutes.

With 10 minutes to play, the former Crystal Palace starlet almost stole the show when, moments after Welbeck had scuffed wide when clean through, the winger unleashed a rasping left-footed effort that curled against the post.

But an equaliser failed to materalise and Moyes was left with an unwelcome start as he begins life at United. 

WENGER: ARSENAL HAVE ADAVANTAGE OVER TITLE RIVALS

Arsene Wenger hopes Arsenal's stability can help them break an eight-year trophy drought this season.

With Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all entering the 2013-14 season under new management, the Frenchman is the only boss from last term's top-four clubs to retain his position for the coming campaign.


And Wenger, speaking from Indonesia where Arsenal are about to begin a pre-season tour of Asia, believes that could give his team a head start on their rivals this season.

"Nobody knows what effect the changes will have but we hope to take advantage of our greater stability," Wenger told reporters.

"What has been frustrating for me is that in recent years we couldn't give our fans what they expected of us.

"But now we are in a position where we want to compete for the title again. Our challenge is to close the gap on Manchester United, City and Chelsea."

Wenger recently revealed his desire to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium beyond the end of next season, with his contract set to expire in 12 months' time, and positive talks regarding an extension have taken place with Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

ASPAS SCORES ON DEBUT AS LIVERPOOL WIN EMPHATICALLY

Liverpool's new forward Iago Aspas marked his debut with a goal but he will have to score plenty more if Reds fans are to celebrate a new hero to replace wantaway striker Luis Suarez.
The Spaniard, signed from Celta Vigo for £7.7million, curled home his side's final effort as they eased their way back into action to comfortably win the specially-commissioned Shankly Shield, in honour of Reds' iconic manager and former Lilywhites player Bill Shankly at Deepdale.
In reality the game had already been settled with goals from Philippe Coutinho, Jordon Ibe and Raheem Sterling in little more than a gentle run-out, - even if temperatures on the pitch touched 30 degrees.

It provided no proper gauge for an assessment on the work manager Brendan Rodgers has done over the summer or his four new signings, who all featured.
Aside from one first-half save from Scott Laird's shot, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had nothing to do, while centre-back Kolo Toure may have had a more testing afternoon had new Preston signing Kevin Davies been ready to play.
Rodgers' two Spanish imports, Aspas and Luis Alberto, played the second half with Aspas' 20-yard left-foot curler for Liverpool's fourth in the 75th minute the highlight.
The elephant in the room - and not on the pitch - was Suarez, the Uruguay international currently on extended leave because of Confederations Cup duty who seemingly wants out of Anfield.
Rodgers did not speak to the media after the match, wanting to avoid an inquisition over the 26-year-old for whom the club have already turned down a £30million bid from Arsenal.
Fellow forward Daniel Sturridge was absent, still making his way back from an ankle injury, and while captain Steven Gerrard was fit after missing the last two matches of the season to have a shoulder operation, he watched from the sidelines.
Who will provide the goals without that trio remains to be seen, with Rodgers still looking to add attacking options after missing out on Shakhtar Donetsk's Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Aspas showed he has the potential to contribute but while forward Fabio Borini, who missed plenty of last season with injuries, was a willing runner he spurned his one chance with only goalkeeper Declan Rudd to beat.
Coutinho, inventive in the opening 45 minutes, won and converted a spot-kick after a 13th-minute foul by John Welsh.
Ibe, 17, cut in from the left to drill a low right-foot shot just inside the post, Sterling raced on to Aspas' pass to round replacement goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann before the new Spanish signing wrapped things up.

AJAX BOSS WARNS ERIKSEN AGAINST LIVERPOOL MOVE

Ajax coach Frank de Boer has warned Christian Eriksen against a move to Liverpool.
The Denmark international has been linked with a switch to Anfield, as well as other clubs such as Roma and Borussia Dortmund, in recent months.

However, since the Bundesliga side signed attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan last week, Eriksen's most likely destination looks set to be Liverpool - a move De Boer feels would be unwise.
"If they play as they do now, I would not go", the former Netherlands international told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.
"The playing style would not suit his own but, ultimately, it is for Chris himself to decide."
Eriksen, 21, has just one year remaining on his current contract at the Amsterdam ArenA and looks set to leave before the end of the transfer window.
Should he move to Anfield, he would join an impressive array of attacking talent, with Brendan Rodgers having added signings such as Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto to his squad in the close-season.
Rodgers also has the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez to call on as he attempts to improve his side's seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season.

NAPOLI SIGN SANTOS GOALKEEPER

Napoli have completed the signing of Santos goalkeeper Rafael Cabral for a reported €5 million.

The Partenopei had been heavily linked with a move for the 23-year-old in recent weeks, and the Brazilian giants confirmed a deal has been struck which will see the youngster join the Naples-based outfit on a five-year-deal.

Serie A rivals Roma had reportedly entered the race to sign the stopper but, speaking to Santos' official website, Rafael confirmed the promise of Champions League football available at Stadio San Paolo heavily influenced his decision.

He said: "I have the opportunity to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, with one of the five best coaches in the world who has won the Champions League [Rafael Benitez]. All of this weighed heavily in my decision."

Rafael, who initially joined the Peixe as a 13-year-old, had previously expressed a desire to retire at the Vila Belmiro - a promise he intends to keep despite opting for a move to Europe.

"I've always had a desire to end my career here," he added.

"However, I have a dream of playing in the Champions League and becoming a champion of Europe, but I still wish to end my career at Santos."

The Brazil international conceded just 208 times in 194 games, at an average of just 1.07 per game, in his three years as first choice goalkeeper.

BASEL: INTER MILAN ARE DISRESPECTFUL TOWARDS DRAGOVIC

Basel sporting director Georg Heitz has accused Inter of disrespecting the club following prolonged negotiations for defender Aleksandar Dragovic.

Both parties are believed to have thrashed out an €8 million deal in principle for the 22-year-old, but the Nerazzurri are yet to finalise proceedings.

And, speaking to Basler Zeitung, Heitz believes the switch may have been completed by now if the Swiss club were of a larger stature within the game.

He said: "We have reached an agreement with Inter, now we just wait for them to finalise the deal.

"We have been waiting for days to complete the deal and we do not understand why they are behaving this way. Maybe because Basel is a small club?"

The Austria international, whose deal at St. Jakob Park runs until 2015, has made 66 appearances for the club throughout his three-year stay in Switzerland.

REAL MADRID COUGH OUT €32.19M FOR ILLARRAMENDI

Real Madrid have announced they have secured the services of Asier Illarramendi from Real Sociedad for a fee believed to be in the region of €32.19 million.
Both clubs had been in talks over a transfer for a number of weeks, with la Real's insistence that Madrid met the 23-year-old's buy-out clause initially holding up the deal.

However, los Blancos have confirmed on their official website that  the deal has been brokered and Illarramendi will sign a six-year deal with the Santiago Bernabeu side upon completion of his medical on Saturday.

"Real Madrid C. F. has hired Asier Illarramendi, who will now be with the club for the next six seasons. The player will be presented tomorrow - Saturday, July 13, at 13:00pm in the Royal Box at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, after undergoing the relevant medical examination.

"On this day, Real Madrid C. F. paid Real Sociedad an amount of €32.19 million for the acquisition of the federal rights of Asier Illarramendi. This operation, as in all transfers of players between Spanish clubs, is subject to current VAT of 21%, which means no cost to Real Madrid C. F, since this amount is deductible from the club's VAT settlements."

Illarramendi is a product of the Sociedad youth academy and had developed into a key player at the Basque side since making his official first-team debut in June 2010.

The midfielder was an integral part of the Spain Under-21 squad that were crowned European champions in Israel this summer.

Illarramendi becomes Real Madrid's fourth signing of the summer transfer window after the previous capture of Casemiro, Isco and Daniel Carvajal.

MATHIEU: I SNUBBED GUARDIOLA'S ADVANCES FOR ME

Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu has revealed he snubbed Pep Guardiola's advances to join him at Bayern Munich this summer in order to remain at the Mestalla.

The 29-year-old, who recently inked a contract extension until 2017 with los Che, had been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks following an impressive individual season last term.

And the France international claims to have caught the eye of the newly-appointed Bavarians boss, but believes a move to the Allianz Arena would have had a negative impact on his international career.

He told reporters: "Pep sent me a message but I told him I would rather stay with Valencia.

"Bayern are very good, but I am thinking about the World Cup and with Valencia I have more opportunities to play."

Mathieu, who has been previously linked with Liga champions Barcelona, has made 131 appearances for Valencia since joining on a bosman from Toulouse in 2009.

INCE REJECTS CARDIFF OFFER

Tom Ince has declined the chance to join Cardiff City from Blackpool
Ince had asked to have until Friday to consider Cardiff's offer after the two clubs agreed an £8m fee earlier in the week.

But the England U21 midfielder has opted to remain at Bloomfield Road - for the time being at least - where his father Paul is manager.
Speaking on Thursday, Cardiff manager Malky Mackay had remained hopeful of landing the 21-year-old.
"I can only say from the chat we had, we had a very amicable, friendly chat and they asked me a lot of questions about where his career could go forward, where I see him in terms of the type of player he is and what's going on here," he said.
"He was certainly very impressed by the stadium, training ground and the city in general during our conversation and the plans for Cardiff City going forward."