A round-up of other soccer news in brief
Vermaelen set for move to Arsenal
AJAX defender Thomas Vermaelen has claimed he will undergo a medical at Arsenal today ahead of his proposed move to the Premier League.
Reports have strongly linked Vermaelen with a switch to the Gunners in recent weeks, although manager Arsène Wenger has yet to comment on the speculation.
The Belgium international's agent recently suggested an agreement was close, with a four-year contract said to be on the table.
Vermaelen has explained how he plans to head to North London at the end of this week as he looks to tie up a reported €11.7million switch.
"The signature is not there yet, but everything is in order," said Vermaelen.
"On Friday I will fly to London to undergo a medical. Then I hope to sign. I feel so proud. Arsenal is a fantastic club, and as a child I watched them play. This will be a big change, next year I will be facing the best strikers in the world."
Italy crash to surprise defeat
IRELAND'S World Cup opponents Italy crashed to a surprise 1-0 defeat in the Confederations Cup yesterday as Egypt gave themselves a good chance of qualifying for the semi-finals with a fully merited win. Mohamed Homos scored the only goal, rising to meet a well-delivered corner to direct a header in off the far post.
Despite not creating many clear-cut chances Egypt matched the Italians for work-rate and application. Vincenzo Iaquinta struck the bar late on for Italy and Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadari made a string of good saves.
After the embarrassingly one-sided earlier Group B contest between Brazil and USA, with Brazil winning 3-0 with goals from Felipe Melo, Ramires and Maicon, this was a much more evenly contested affair between two sides who came into the match having both scored three in their opening games of the competition.
LIVERPOOL defender Alvaro Arbeloa has admitted he would consider a return to Spain as speculation mounts that Glen Johnson is on is way to Anfield.
The 26-year-old Spain international has been linked with a return to former club Real Madrid, with Portsmouth right-back Johnson tipped for a €20million switch to Merseyside.
Arbeloa, currently on international duty at the Confederations Cup, said: "I am happy at Liverpool, but I have something to prove in Spain as I did not show my best form in La Liga. One day, I'm sure I will return.
"It is always nice to be linked to big teams - even to this Madrid side in a time of transition. They are working hard to build a great team. I have one more year remaining on my Liverpool deal, but anything can happen.
"A contract renewal is in the air. I am contracted for one more year, but if Liverpool get an offer, they will consider it. It is all in the hands of my agent."
Ronaldo deal 'vulgar' says United legend Charlton
MANCHESTER United legend Bobby Charlton has spoken out against the "vulgar" deal which looks set to take Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid from Old Trafford.
The Portugal winger is poised to complete a move to the Bernabeu after United accepted a world-record offer of €94million from the Spanish outfit earlier this month.
The deal eclipses the €69million Madrid president Florentino Perez recently paid to land Brazil star Kaka from AC Milan, and Charlton concedes the distorted prices in the transfer market this summer are difficult to comprehend.
Speaking at a news conference in China where United signed a multi-million pound partnership deal with Chinese digital technology firm aigo, Charlton said: "It's a lot of money, it's crazy really. If you want to be in the race, you have to pay the price. It seems sometimes a little bit vulgar. We have responsibilities to our company and to all the fans that support Manchester United."
Pirlo plays down Chelsea link
ANDREA Pirlo has refuted reports quoting him as being open to a summer switch to Chelsea.
The AC Milan playmaker was believed to have admitted on Wednesday that he could be tempted to follow former coach Carlo Ancelotti to Stamford Bridge.
A number of Milan's top talents, including Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Alexandre Pato, have been linked with a move to West London.
The Rossoneri have been quick to announce that none of the players in question are for sale, while the stars themselves have also distanced themselves from the rumours.
Pirlo insists that remains his official stance and has denied offering any indication that he could be on his way out of Giuseppe Meazza during the transfer window.
"I have never told anyone anything like the quotes which have been attributed to me," Pirlo told Milan's official website.
Southampton's anxious wait
SOUTHAMPTON hope to find out today whether their former talisman Matt Le Tissier has saved the club yet again.
Le Tissier, the star of many a successful relegation scrap for Saints during the 1990s, is a backer of the Pinnacle group of investors. And optimism is growing after a picture of Le Tissier apparently meeting another ex-Saints player, former Newcastle and England manager Kevin Keegan, appeared in the local media on yesterday.
