A round-up,of today's other stories in brief
Berbatov finalising Fiorentina move
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov flew to Italy yesterday to complete a move to Serie A club Fiorentina, a source close to the Bulgarian said.
“Fiorentina have agreed personal terms with Dimitar and they’ll announce the deal very soon,” the source, who asked not to be identified, said, adding the transfer was subject to Berbatov passing a medical.
Berbatov, who became United’s most expensive player when he joined from Tottenham in 2008 for €39 million, had reached an agreement with the Serie A club on a two-year contract with an option for a further year.
The 31-year-old was the Premier League joint-top scorer in the 2010-11 season with 20 goals but has struggled to hold down a place in Alex Ferguson’s starting line-up since and was keen to revive his career.
Ferguson made it clear it was probably time for Berbatov, who is Bulgarias all-time leading scorer with 48 goals, to look for a move when he signed Dutch striker Robin Van Persie from Arsenal prior to the start of the Premier League season.
Barton completes first part of his Marseille medical
Queen’s Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has completed the first part of his medical at Ligue 1 club Olympique Marseille, he said on his Twitter account yesterday.
Barton flew by private jet with his management to the southern port city to discuss terms with Marseille officials including sporting director Jose Anigo.
Barton is expected to agree a loan deal with Marseille after he signed a lucrative four-year contract following QPR’s promotion to the Premier League last year.
“Just finished the 1st part of my medical at Marseille. It’s great to finally be here. Back tomo to finish it off,” the 29-year-old tweeted.
Barton had Tweeted on Tuesday the deal with Marseille had fallen through.
Manchester City will step up their interest in Inter's Maicon
Manchester City will step up their interest in Maicon, the Internazionale defender, before the transfer window closes, with Roberto Mancini keen to recruit the Brazilian to strengthen his defensive options. The player has a year left on his contract and Inter would consider an offer in the region of €6m.
Mancini is an admirer of the 31-year-old having worked with him at Inter for two seasons before the Italian left the club in 2008. Maicon, who can play right back or further forward and has won 66 caps for Brazil, would provide competition for Pablo Zabaleta, the current first-choice right back. He would also be at ease with Mancini’s move to play 3-5-2 in some matches, with many Serie A sides now lining up in that formation.
Mancini’s other option at right back, Micah Richards, is unavailable until after the international break because of an ankle injury.
City are also in talks with Fiorentina for their 19-year-old Serbian central defender, Matija Nastasic. The proposed deal is thought to be costing City €15m plus Stefan Savic
Fulham on talent trail after Dembele joins Tottenham
Fulham still hope to add significantly to their numbers before the closure of the transfer window tomorrow as Martin Jol seeks to counteract the disruption caused by Moussa Dembele’s departure for Tottenham Hotspur.
The Belgian joined Spurs yesterday for €19m and has signed a five-year deal.
Fulham are expected to react to the departure of Dembele by signing Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson for €2.5m – the 27-year-old should make his debut in Saturday’s derby against West Ham United – and Lyon have been informed of a firm interest in their France striker Bafetimbi Gomis.
Jol, who had previously considered a move for Genk’s Christian Benteke, has also enquired with West Ham over the potential availability of their midfielder Mark Noble, who has entered the final year of his contract at Upton Park and has yet to agree terms on an extension. There is interest, too, in the Blackpool winger Matt Phillips, while Wolfsburg’s Ashkan Dejagah has also been heavily scouted.
DOMINIC FIFIELD
Rooney dismisses talk of him leaving
Wayne Rooney has this evening dismissed speculation he is leaving Manchester United.
With the transfer window due to close on Friday, reports have suggested Rooney’s future lies away from Old Trafford.
United manager Alex Ferguson has already insisted the England striker, currently out of action with a leg injury sustained in Saturday’s defeat of Fulham, remains in his plans.
And Rooney himself said via his Twitter account tonight: “Read the nonsense in the papers and heard what people have to say. absolute rubbish #heretostay.” However, the striker’s chances of figuring in Sunday’s Barclays Premier League encounter with Southampton appear non-existent because of the injury — and it seems inevitable he will also miss England’s opening World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine next month.
