Round up of all the latest transfer speculation.
By Gareth Iacobucci
The Wayne Rooney transfer saga is finally reaching a conclusion, with Manchester United set to land the 18-year-old, having reached an ‘outline agreement’ with Everton.
Having arrived at the club’s Carrington training complex, Rooney looks set to sign before today’s transfer deadline, with United edging out rivals Newcastle for his signature.
Whilst previous press reports indicated that Rooney favoured the North East Club, it now appears that he has made his decision, with only a medical standing in the way of a move to Old Trafford.
Although he is currently out with a foot injury sustained from Euro 2004, his electrifying 4-goal performance in Portugal has made Rooney one of the hottest prospects in World Football.
Everton still insist that the deal is not yet done, with Manchester United increasing their bid to £25 Million over the weekend.
Ian Ross, a spokesman for the Merseysiders said, “I must stress that no deal has yet been done. We have always said we are looking for the best available deal for the club and supporters – and that is what we intend to do.”
Contrary to reports, Spanish midfield star Miguel Angulo will not be joining Arsenal, having pledged his future to La Liga holders Valencia.
The Gunners looked to have secured a £3.5m deal for the Spanish International, but the 27-year-old appears to have had a change of heart, despite undertaking the first part of his Highbury medical.
Valencia boss Claudio Ranieri hailed the decision, saying, “It’s like the return of the prodigal son”.
“I’m very happy because he’s a very professional player and is very important to Valencia. He was unsure about the move and I said that he should go with his heart and it appears as though his heart has told him to stay”
Tottenham’s busy summer dealings reached a close with the £3 Million capture of Coventry’s England U21 International Calum Davenport.
Spurs will pay an initial £1.1m for the 21-year-old, with the remainder of the fee dependant on appearances.
Coventry Boss Peter Reid is sad to lose Davenport, who has made 84 appearances for the Sky Blues, but was full of praise for the youngster.
“Calum is an immensely talented defender who has all the attributes to go as far as he wants in the game”
Premiership new boys West Brom have moved to sign Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto for £200,000 from Gamba Osaka, in a two-and-a-half year deal.
Despite spending the last two years on loan at Fulham, Inamoto was unable to reach a deal with the Cottagers, and now joins fellow new signing Robert Earnshaw at the Midlands Club, who has signed for £3 Million from Cardiff City.
Elsewhere, Southampton have signed Swedish international defender Andreas Jakobsson from Danish side Brondby for a fee or around £1 Million.
The 31-year-old, who turned in a series of impressive performances at Euro 2004, becomes new boss Steve Wigley’s second signing, following the arrival of Tunisian Alleddine Yahia.
Staying on the South Coast, Portsmouth have bolstered their attacking options with the signing of 23-year-old Senegalese Striker Diomansy Kamara from Italian side Modena, in a three year deal.
Pompey Boss Harry Redknapp is also hoping to secure the services of 21-year-old Cameroon midfielder Valery Mezague before the transfer deadline.
European Champions Porto have completed the signing of up and coming Brazilian star Luis Fabiano in a 5 year deal for 13.5 Million Euros.
Fabiano becomes Porto’s 6th Brazilian star, joining Diego, Derlei, Pepe, Maciel and Carlos Alberto at the Portuguese club.
Barcelona’s unsettled star Javier Saviola is officially a Monaco player, after agreeing a one-year loan deal with the French club.
The Argentine was quick to praise his former club as news of the deal was announced.
“I want to thank everyone at Barcelona for everything I have experienced here. I don’t want to cause controversy because it’s not good for or for Barcelona. I want to leave on the best terms possible,” he said.
Massimo Maccarone’s proposed loan move to Parma looks to have stalled, with the advent of the English transfer deadline meaning that he is likely to remain at Middlesborough for the foreseeable future
With the Italian keen to secure a move back to his homeland, it would appear that the Serie A club have had a change of heart regarding the player.
Maccarone’s agent Paolo Fabbri said “Parma yesterday evening asked for some time to reflect. I think it’s very difficult that with a few hours to go before the transfer market ends, the deal will be done”
Reports suggest that Ajax’s Swedish International striker Zlatan ibrahimovic is on the verge of an £11.5 Million move from the Dutch champions to Serie A Giants Juventus.
Although Roma had previously expressed a strong interest in the 22-year-old, Dutch media agency ANP reports that the Turin side have secured his services in a 4-year deal.
Roma do however look set to snap up Marseilles’s Egyptian striker Ahmed Hossam Mido for an undisclosed fee, according to a source close the French Club.
Ajax meanwhile, are looking to sign Argentina’s Olympic Gold medallist Mauro Rosales of Newell’s Old Boys.
Although the deal could yet fall through due to the stumbling block of registering him in time for the Champions League, Ajax boss Ronald Koeman is keen to finalise the deal.
“We are happy to have found the right-winger we were looking for” Said Koeman.
Rangers’ bid to lure Swiss midfield star Hakan Yakin to Ibrox has failed, with the VfB Stuttgart player failing to agree personal terms with the club.
Elsewhere, RKC Waalwijk’s Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz is set to join Bundesliga side Hamburg SV.
The 22-year-old has recently earned a call up to the Dutch national squad under new coach Marco Van Basten.
“He is an enormously talented player and I am very pleased that we were able to sign him” said Hamburg Coach Klaus Topmoller
In Italy, Udinese have signed Empoli trio Antonio Di Natale, Manuel Belleri and Sanchez Emilson Cribari, in an exchange deal that sees both Syabonga Nomvethe and Sergio Almiron moving to the Serie B outfit.
