SOCCER SHORTS:ARSENAL have agreed terms for Emmanuel Eboue's transfer to Turkish side Galatasaray.
Ivory Coast international Eboue had been expected to leave the Gunners this summer after he struggled for first team action last season while he was not handed a squad number ahead of the new campaign.
"Arsenal have agreed terms with Turkish side Galatasaray for the transfer of Emmanuel Eboue," a statement on the Premier League club's website read.
"Everyone at Arsenal thanks Manu for his contribution towards the club and wishes him the best of luck for the future."
Eboue has signed a four-year contract with Gala on a deal the Turkish club has claimed is initially worth €3.5 million.
The 28-year-old's departure ends a six-year stay in north London after he joined from Belgian side Beveren in 2005. Eboue managed just 13 league games last season and made 216 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal, scoring 13 goals.
Uefa examine City sponsorship deal
UEFA has confirmed it is scrutinising Manchester City’s sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways to see whether the club have taken advantage of their Abu Dhabi links to help circumvent the incoming financial fair-play regulations.
The 10-year agreement will be worth close to €457m for City but has led to complaints that the money involved is out of proportion with the scale of the deal.
City have been looking at ways to increase their revenue to help meet fair-play regulations and avoid any risk of being denied a place in the Champions League in future, but Uefa wants to clarify that Etihad, run by the Abu Dhabi government, has paid a market price.
“I have some questions, yes,” Jean-Luc Dehaene, the chairman of Uefa’s Club Financial Control Panel, said. “If we see clubs that are looking for loopholes we will act. It is not enough to say: ‘We’ve got a sponsorship contract and that’s okay’ if the contract is out of line.”
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Swansea hand Butler new deal
SWANSEA have handed midfielder Thomas Butler a new one-year deal at the Liberty Stadium. The 30-year-old has been sidelined by a thigh injury since April of last year, and has yet to play under manager Brendan Rodgers as a result. But Rodgers has extended the Republic of Ireland international’s stay, with Butler set to continue his comeback by featuring in tomorrow night’s reserve-team fixture against Bolton.
PREMIER Leaguenewcomers Norwich City have completed the signing of Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old spent four years at Anfield but made only five first-team appearances.
He spent time on loan in the Championship with both Hull City and Derby County last season. The Spaniard becomes manager’s Paul Lambert’s eighth summer signing.
Peamount United make history
PEAMOUNT United became the first ever Irish side to emerge from the Uefa Women’s Champions League qualifying phase following an emphatic 5-1 victory over Pärnu of Estonia, last night.
The Dublin outfit advance to the round of 32 knock-out phase courtesy of a best runner-up spot across the eight qualifying groups
Despite losing 1-0 to Rayo Vallecano in their opening game, Peamount bounced back in emphatic style with a 7-0 victory over Slovenian opposition, Krka who hosted the four team tournament.
Rachel Jenkins put Peamount ahead in the 5th minute while Sara Lawlor stunned the Estonian opposition with two quick-fire goals in the 30th and 33rd minute.
Ivanova pulled a goal back for Pärnu in the 56th minute but IStephanie Roche killed off any hopes of a late comeback with two goals in the 80th and 92nd minute which also ensured the runner-up spot on superior goal difference.
Raul turns down Blackburn move
FORMER Spain striker Raul has rejected a move to Blackburn, according to Schalke general manager Horst Heldt.
The Bundesliga side received an official inquiry from Blackburn about the 34-year-old, according to a statement on the Gelsenkirchen club’s website.
But Heldt told www.schalke04.de: “Raul told us that he wants to stay with Schalke 04 and asked us to reject Blackburn Rovers. We have already done so.
GENK midfielderKevin de Bruyne hopes he can secure a move to Chelsea by the end of the month after claiming negotiations have begun over a possible transfer to Stamford Bridge.
De Bruyne caught the eye of a number of Europe’s top clubs last year by putting in a series of impressive performances to help Genk lift the Belgian title.
The 20-year-old is seeking a move from his homeland and would be happy to move to Chelsea.
