MIGNOLET: I'M READY FOR THE BIG STEP WITH LIVERPOOL

Simon Mignolet says he is relishing the challenge of taking a "big step forward" in his career with Liverpool.

The Belgian, who was the subject of a €11.5 million switch from Sunderland in June, is expected to compete with Pepe Reina for the number one spot at Anfield next season.

The 24-year-old shot-stopper is confident he will improve at the Merseyside club, and hopes to help Brendan Rodgers' side push on next season and challenge for a top-four finish.

"For me it's a big step forward and I'm very pleased to be training with the team for two weeks now. I spoke to the manager and he told me that it's going to be a big step forward," Mignolet told the club's official website.

"We play the first game on Saturday and after that, with the more we do on tour, I'll see how big a step forward it is for me. At the moment, it's only training and I have to get used to the players and the way of playing. Once we get going I'll know what it's going to be like.

"When I came in for the first couple of training sessions, I saw that everybody is very hungry and ambitious to get going, everybody wants to take a step forward and push on into the top four.

"There's big ambition around the club. I also noticed that from the conversations I had with the goalkeeping coach and the gaffer. I saw that they are very ambitious, want to get forward, winning trophies and getting into the top four."

Like Mignolet, Kolo Toure is among the four signings made by Rodgers since the opening of the transfer window, having arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City on July 1.

And, speaking at the pair's official unveiling at the club's Melwood training ground, the Ivorian expressed his delight over sealing a move to Anfield.

"For me, it's an honour to play for Liverpool - this club are unbelievable," said Toure.

"I've just been here for two weeks and I've seen a lot of fantastic things. I'm proud and I will give my best to this football club.

"When I had to decide, when I had the phone call from Liverpool, you can't joke with that. It's one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League. I was like, 'wow'."

LIVERPOOL YOUNGSTER SET TO JOIN ALMERIA

Liverpool youngster Suso is poised to join Almeria on a season-long loan deal.

The teenage Spaniard is still to make his mark at Anfield after arriving from Cadiz in July 2010, making just 20 appearances, although he signed a new long-term deal in October last year.

Now Brendan Rodgers has decided that the midfielder's future would be better served by spending the coming campaign with the newly-promoted La Liga outfit.
With Suso yet to make an impact on the Liverpool first-team, Rodgers will hope his stint back in his homeland will see him feature on a more regular basis.
New Almeria boss Francisco Rodriguez, who was recently named as Javi Gracia's replacement, will be keen for the 19-year-old to help his side remain in the Primera Division following their promotion via the play-offs.

TEVEZ'S COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER RESCINDED

Carlos Tevez has been cleared to start the season with Juventus as planned after having his Community Service Order rescinded at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court.
The striker still had to complete the majority of his 250 hours' of unpaid work, imposed as punishment for a string of driving offences earlier this year.

However, the terms have now changed, meaning Tevez will pay a fine instead of fulfilling the order, allowing him to continue his career with Juve.
District Judge Bridget Knight accepted there were circumstances beyond Tevez's control in his inability to fulfil the terms of his order, saying: "This is only a technical breach. It is not, I repeat not, a case of a footballer thumbing his nose at a court order."
It is thought Tevez's legal team argued that as the South American was sold by Manchester City, he was not responsible in law for his inability to comply with the order.
Tevez said: "I would like to thank the court for its understanding. I appreciate their help and assistance in this case.
"I would also like to thank my legal team, especially Gwyn Lewis at Burton Copeland and all my advisors who have helped me throughout this case.
"All I want to do is continue my career in Italy with Juventus and I am looking forward to a new chapter."

EVERTON SIGN BARCELONA WONDERKID

Everton have signed Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old - regarded as one of the brightest stars in the four-time European champions' academy - scored 18 times in 32 appearances for Bareclona's B side last season and recently signed a long-term contract.
Manager Roberto Martínez told the club's official website: "Gerard is a real diamond of Spanish football and a boy with incredible footballing talent and I am delighted that he has chosen to take the next step of his career with Everton."

His arrival marks Martinez' fourth signing in three days after he brought in former Wigan players Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Joel Robles, who was also at the DW Stadium last season.

Deulofeu is a graduate of Barcelona's famed La Masia and has played for Spain's Under-17s, Under-19s, Under-20s and Under-21s.
He will join up with the Blues squad later this summer as he is currently on a break after involvement in the recent Under-20s World Cup in Turkey.
Most of the squad are now in Austria preparing for a friendly against Austria Vienna on Saturday.
Captain Phil Jagielka has welcomed the new arrivals, particularly the experience of Kone and Alcaraz.
"It is nice to have those type of players on our team this time," said the England centre-back.
"Obviously they are two players that the manager knows very well, two players who were big stars at Wigan.
"I know Kone played most of their games and scored most of their goals and was a really big handful.
"Alcaraz unfortunately had a few injuries last season and didn't play as much football as he would have liked but, the same again, he was a very important player for Wigan.
"They are two fantastic signatures to get and hopefully they can come into what is now a good squad and make it a little bit stronger."
Jagielka added on evertontv: "We've only got four centre halves including Shane (Duffy) so we haven't got that many.
"The manager played different formations at Wigan, if he's going to play three at the back here, four isn't a lot of centre-halves to choose from - especially if a couple get injured.
"It's definitely important that we've got strength in numbers and he's a fantastic player and I'm sure he'll be competing for a starting role."
In his first season as Everton captain, Jagielka is keen to ensure the new arrivals feel welcome and settle in quickly.
"I think on the whole in the changing room it is easy to come in and within a week you feel like you've been here a season," he added.
"I'll do the usual things, introducing, and if they need anything, obviously, they can come and see me.
"But I think the lads themselves will welcome the new signings into the club with open arms and I'm pretty sure they'll find it easy to adjust."

SWANSEA IN TALKS WITH EX MADRID PALYER

Esteban Granero's agent has claimed Swansea City are in talks with QPR over a move for the midfielder.

The 26-year-old arrived at Loftus Road from Real Madrid last August and made 27 appearances in all competitions for the club last season.

Following QPR's relegation from the Premier League, Granero has insisted he has no intention of playing in the Championship, and the player's representative has revealed the Spaniard would welcome a move to the Liberty Stadium.

"The two clubs are talking about, it's true," Carlo Cutropia told Tuttomercatoweb.

"[Michael] Laudrup knows him very well from Getafe, where together they had a great Uefa Cup campaign.

"Swansea are also looking at many Spanish players and play in Europe next year, the destination would be absolutely acceptable to Esteban."

Granero is a product of Madrid's youth academy but spent two seasons at Getafe - the first on loan - before returning to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009.

VAN DER VAART TARGETS EUROPE

Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is targeting qualification for the Europa League in his second season with the club.
The Dutchman joined Hamburg from Tottenham in August 2012, but despite a strong campaign, could not lead Thorsten Fink's side to a European spot.

The Imetch Arena outfit finished seventh in the Bundesliga last term, and Van der Vaart is hoping to move further up the table in 2013-14.
"The goal is the Europa League," he told Bild.
"Personally, I want to be important to the team. Looking back on last season, I believe I had a good year. I was satisfied, but I scored too few goals."
The 30-year-old is aiming to force his way into Netherlands' boss Louis van Gaal's plans for the World Cup in Brazil, and thinks an impressive second season with Hamburg could allow him to do so.
"Van Gaal is an honest coach. Everybody has the same chance under him," he added.
"If I play a good year, I have a good chance of being part of the World Cup squad. It would be a dream to take part in it once more."

MADRID PRESIDENT: WE ONLY NEED PLAYERS WITH HUNGER

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has warned that only players with "insatiable hunger" will be brought to the club this summer.

Los Blancos have thus far completed the signings of Isco, Dani Carvajal and Casemiro, and have been continually linked with the likes of Luis Suarez and Asier Illarramendi.

Perez, speaking at the official presentation of €30 million-man Isco, insists the club will only pursue further signings if they can contribute to new coach Carlo's Ancelotti's vision of "spectacular" football.

"As our coach says, Real Madrid has a duty to play spectacular football and we want new players who are up to the club's demands and have an insatiable hunger," he told reporters.

Madrid also confirmed on Tuesday that defender Nacho has penned a new deal with the club.

The 23-year-old, who made four appearances for the senior side last season, has signed a four-year extension to his current contract.

SUNDERLAND CONFIRM BA SIGNING

Sunderland have confirmed the signing of midfielder El Hadji Ba from Le Havre.

The France Under-20 international has signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light and becomes the seventh man to join the club since the end of last season.
He has already joined up with his new team-mates and manager Paolo Di Canio at their training camp in Italy.

Ba, 20, broke into Le Havre's first-team set-up at the beginning of 2012 after coming through their academy ranks and went on to make 12 league appearances for the French outfit in Ligue 1.
He follows Valentin Roberge, Modibo Diakite, Cabral, Jozy Altidore, David Moberg Karlsson and Duncan Watmore into the Wearside club.
Argentine side Velez Sarsfield, meanwhile, have confirmed they have agreed a deal with the Black Cats for full-back Gino Peruzzi and expect the transfer to be completed before the weekend.
Sunderland missed out on highly-rated Le Havre teenager Benjamin Mendy, a former team-mate of Ba's, when he opted to join Marseille instead, but look to have landed Peruzzi after the deal stalled initially over personal terms.
Reports from Italy also claim Di Canio is close to striking a deal for Juventus midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, with around £8.6m required to release him from his contract in Turin.

MONTELLA DELIGHTED WITH GOMEZ SIGNING

Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Montella has lauded Mario Gomez as a "great player" ahead of his planned transfer from Bayern Munich.
La Viola agreed a deal to bring the prolific striker to Stadio Artemio Franchi on Monday, with the fee believed to be in the region of €16 million.
Gomez is expected to undergo a medical and agree personal terms before being unveiled as a Fiorentina player on Thursday, and Montella believes supporters can expect big things from the 28-year-old.

"It's only right that they dream," the ex-Italy international told reporters.
"We know that it's going to be hard, but it's right that the fans dream because if you can't dream, then there's not much left. Certainly only what happens on the field will show whether this side are capable of repeating what we achieved last season, and then we can look further.
"Everybody knows he's a great player and that we're delighted to get him. We hope to impress again, both in terms of results and the way we play. That is what I hope for."
It is anticipated that Gomez will link up with Giuseppe Rossi in attack, although there has been speculation that Fiorentina will sign another forward if Stevan Jovetic is sold.
Montella, though, is refusing to be drawn on the speculation linking the Viola with acquiring yet another attacker.
"We'll have to see," the former Roma ace added. "You can always improve your squad so I always expect the best and the most.

"But let's take things one step at a time for now. The first step should be the official announcement of Gomez."

The Germany international scored 75 goals in 115 Bundesliga appearances for die Roten.

PELLEGRINI: I'M EAGER TO TOPPLE MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is eager to topple local rivals Manchester United next season, but admits the Premier League runners-up must strengthen their squad to catch the Red Devils.

The former Malaga boss met the press for the first time since his appointment as Roberto Mancini's replacement and spoke of his desire to bring success back to the Etihad Stadium.

"We have very good players and we can reach important targets," said the Chilean.

"We will try to do the very best that we can and then we will see how many trophies we can win.

"We don't have a priority. We know we have to improve in the Champions League but the Premier League is just as important. We will try to do our best in all the competitions we enter.

"When Manchester City won the Premier League it was one of the most important moments in the club's history and well try to repeat it.

"One of the most important things for City fans is to beat Manchester United and we will try to do that. This year, the same as in other years, we will try to be on top of United."

Pellegrini has already acquired Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho and Sevilla's Jesus Navas, but admitted he was in the market for more players, particularly in the striking department following the departure of Carlos Tevez.

"We only have two strikers at the moment and we need another one but I am not going to talk about rumours. When players arrive then we will talk," Pellegrini continued.

"We need a very good squad, a strong squad with two players for every position."

Pelligrini was also non-committal on the futures of Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott, who both have been linked with moves away from the club this summer.

"In the next few weeks we will consider all the situations for different players," he added.

"We will sit down with Txiki Begiristain [the club's sporting director] and with the players and discuss the situation."