RE: Antonio Valencia signs new three-year Manchester United contract
[align=center]Luke Shaw passes medical at Manchester United for £30m move hyahya
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Manchester United began their long-awaited overhaul on Thursday by signing the midfielder Ander Herrera for around £29m from Athletic Bilbao and resuming their pursuit of the Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, who is set to join for a £27m plus add-ons after passing a medical on Thursday night. Shaw will become Louis van Gaal’s second signing after Herrera bought himself out of his contract with Athletic Bilbao to break an impasse over his move.
United had hoped to tie up Shaw’s transfer before he left for the World Cup with England after lodging a £27m bid in May. Southampton had valued Shaw at £30m but it appears a compromise has been struck after the player flew back in with the England party this week.
The 18-year-old defender won his third cap while in Brazil, acquitting himself well in the dead rubber that was the goalless draw against Costa Rica and returning home before his new manager, who has taken Holland into the knockout stages.
Despite not turning 19 until 12 July, Shaw has already racked up 60 appearances in the Premier League. He will be competing with Patrice Evra for the left-back role at Old Trafford after the France international took up a one-year contract extension last month.
Last season’s back-up Alexander Büttner looks set to move to Dinamo Moscow, joining Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in leaving as United look to restructure their once formidable defence.
Bilbao had announced earlier in the day that they had rejected a €36m (£28.85m) bid for Herrera from United but the 24-year-old’s offer of compensation was enough to put the move back on. United said he was joining on a four-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.
“The Football League has certified Athletic Club that player Ander Herrera has fulfilled the requirements of the applicable regulations valid for unilateral termination of the employment contract that bound him to our club, by depositing today the amount of compensation established in the contract,” Athletic Bilbao said on their website.
David Moyes had attempted to sign Herrera last summer during his ill-fated spell as United manager but the negotiations collapsed after he was unwilling to meet Bilbao’s asking price.
Herrera told his new club’s website: “Signing for Manchester United is a dream come true. I have played at Old Trafford for Athletic in the Uefa Europa League and it was one of the highlights of my career so far. I have joined United to do all I can to help the team reach the club’s objectives.
“Having arrived on Tuesday, I’m excited to now be living in Manchester and I can’t wait for my first game in United’s famous red shirt. I will never forget my time with Athletic Club and I’d like to thank the fans and staff for all their support and, above all, wish all my fantastic former team-mates all the best for the future.”
Herrera should help fill the gap in central midfield that was left when first Roy Keane and then Paul Scholes gave in to the ravages of age. There will now be the question of who should play alongside him with Michael Carrick now 32, Tom Cleverly unable to hold down a place and Marouane Fellaini having flopped since his £27m move from Everton.
The United assistant manager, Ryan Giggs, said: “Ander is a fantastic young player, with great energy and creativity. We believe him to be one of the brightest young prospects in Spain and I am certain he will be a big hit with the United fans.”
RE: Luis Suarez is on his way to Barcelona this summer, according to Spanish newspapers
Manchester United closing on transfer of Athletic Bilbao star Ander Herrera
Manchester United are in advanced talks with Athletic Bilbao over the transfer of Ander Herrera.
Sky sources understand United are prepared to match the £28million buyout clause in the midfielder’s contract.
United are aiming to get the deal - which would see Herrera sign a four-year contract - done by the end of this month as the buyout clause raises to £32m after 1 July.
Herrera was the lynchpin of Bilbao's midfield last season as they finished in an impressive fourth place in La Liga.
He scored five goals in the campaign, but despite being one of the most impressive performers in domestic football, he is yet to break in to the Spain team.
David Moyes was reportedly targeting Herrera, 24, last summer, but failed to land the central midfielder. There were bizarre scenes in Spain when, on transfer deadline, three men claiming to be representing United tried to negotiate the deal at the Spanish Football Association headquarters. The negotiations broke down and it transpired that United knew nothing about the three men.
But Moyes' successor as Manchester United boss, Louis van Gaal, looks set to pull off the deal as he begins rebuilding the squad.
Herrera was born in Bilbao but came through the ranks at Real Zaragoza before joining his hometown club in 2011 on a five-year contract.
Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper said: "It is very, very close. It is a question of when, not if. It is more likely to be on Wednesday but Manchester United are very close to making their first signing of the summer and the first signing under Louis van Gaal.
"But Manchester United are proving they can go and get a player. It's a question of 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again. Last summer there were some farcical scenes. Manchester United didn't match the buy-out clause. We saw the three stooges arrive at the Spanish FA headquarters - and the whole thing tumbled from there.
"United have their own lawyers on the case this time and they have met the buy-out clause. Now it's a medical and personal terms with the player, and the beginning of a new era at Manchester United.
"A £30m fee is a big fee perhaps for a player who is 24 years old but who has not played for the Spanish national team. He did play for the Olympic team in London in 2012. But Manchester United have started their transfer business - and there will be plenty more, I promise you that."
Southampton and England left-back Luke Shaw could be the next target - United have reportedly upped their offer for him to around £34m.
RE: Luis Suarez is on his way to Barcelona this summer, according to Spanish newspapers
Luis Suarez is on his way to Barcelona this summer, according to Spanish newspapers
Luis Suarez is on his way to Barcelona this summer, according to reports from Spanish newspapers.
'Mundo Deportivo' and 'Sport' have both lead with the headlines that the Liverpool star, fresh from breaking England hearts with Uruguay, is set to ditch his current club and head to the Catalan giants after the World Cup.
Sportsmail reported last week that Suarez is set to spark a £100million tussle between Barcelona and Real Madrid, but it now appears that the former are leading the battle for the superstar's signature
'Mundo' led with a front page of Suarez with the caption 'Sí al Barça', meaning 'Yes to Barca', whilst 'Sport' went with 'Me quiero ir del Liverpool', translating as 'I want to leave Liverpool'.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers spent the whole of last summer trying to keep his star striker away from the clutches of Premier League rivals Arsenal, and appears set for an even bigger battle on his hands this time out.
Suarez is currently more busy preparing himself for Uruguay's vital winner takes all game with Italy on Tuesday, with only the winner progressing from Group D to the last-16.
Ander Herrera leaves Athletic Bilbao for Manchester United
Louis van Gaal has made his first signing as Manchester United manager with the acquisition of Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera on a four-year contract from Athletic Bilbao.
United had a bid of £28.85million for the 24-year-old rejected earlier on Thursday but an improved, though undisclosed, offer was enough to secure his signature. The Spaniard also activated his £28m buy-out clause which would have risen to £32m after July 1 to facilitate the move.
Bilbao-born Herrera moved to his hometown club from Real Zaragoza in 2011 and made 128 appearances, scoring 11 goals.
The Red Devils attempted to sign the talented playmaker last summer but failed to complete the deal on deadline day, with reports suggesting the transfer had been interfered with by pranksters pretending to act on the club's behalf.
Then-manager David Moyes instead bought Marouane Fellaini, who endured a disappointing debut campaign and failed to solve the team's long-term problems in central midfield.
Herrera will be charged with bringing added control to United's midfield, where he will compete for a place with the likes of Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Fellaini.
He has been capped by Spain at U20, U21 and U23 level and, while his move is still dependent on the receipt of the International Transfer Certificate, van Gaal's assistant Ryan Giggs was delighted the club had managed to get their man.
Giggs said: "Ander is a fantastic young player, with great energy and creativity. We believe him to be one of the brightest young prospects in Spain and I am certain he will be a big hit with the United fans.
"I'm delighted he has made the decision to come to Manchester and play his part in the club's future. I'm looking forward to seeing him in action on our summer tour to America."
Herrera said: "Signing for Manchester United is a dream come true. I have played at Old Trafford for Athletic Club in the UEFA Europa League and it was one of the highlights of my career so far.
"I have joined United to do all I can to help the team reach the club's objectives. Having arrived on Tuesday I'm excited to now be living in Manchester and I can't wait for my first game in United's famous red shirt.
"I will never forget my time with Athletic club and I'd like to thank the fans and staff for all their support and above all wish all my fantastic former team-mates all the best for the future."
Southampton left-back Luke Shaw will complete a £31.5million transfer to Manchester United in the next 24 hours after being told he will be first-choice left-back at Manchester United after sealing £31.5m deal that will make him the most expensive teenager in historyhyahyahya
Luke Shaw completes £31.5m move to Manchester United as starlet pens four-year deal at Old Trafford
Shaw became the most expensive teenager in football history when he signed for United.
Luke Shaw has completed a £31.5million switch to Manchester United and has signed a four-year deal at Old Trafford.
The England defender successfully completed a routine medical at United's Carrington training complex and has been informed he will be manager Louis van Gaal's first-choice left-back.
It is understood that he has been assured that he will start and 33-year-old Patrice Evra, who will remain with United, is expected to have a reduced role at the club. Luke Shaw says he is "thrilled and excited" to be joining United
Spanish giants Real Madrid have reportedly told several Premier League sides that they will have to stump up £40m if they want to sign winger Angel di Maria this summer.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are reportedly interested in bringing the Argentina international to England in the coming months with the 26-year-old recently admitting that he is unsure where he will be playing next season.
Los Blancos previously insisted that they would not sell Di Maria – who helped the club win their historic 10th European title last term – but Real may be willing to listen to a big-money offer, according to The Daily Star.
Should Madrid receive the fee they are looking for, Di Maria would have to choose which club he would want to start his Premier League career with.
The winger would provide competition for Lukas Podolski at Arsenal while Di Maria could prove to be a long-term replacement for Ryan Giggs at United ahead of Ashley Young.
City already have three Argentinian players in their squad in Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis, which could tempt Di Maria to decide to switch to the Premier League champions while Liverpool could offer the player the chance to help the team win their first English top-flight title in 25 years.
Manchester United fans have been left cursing what might have been after reports surfaced that the club turned down the chance to sign Colombian sensation James Rodriguez for just £5 million in order to bring in super-flop Bebe.
The Red Devils were offered the playmaker through South American intermediaries when Rodriguez was just a promising teenager, but, according to the Guardian, Sir Alex Ferguson ignored their advances.
Instead, United scouts identified unknown Vitoria Guimaraes striker Bebe, and Ferguson signed the Portuguese forward for £7.8m less than five weeks after the Rodriguez deal was proposed to Old Trafford.
United offered Rodriguez for £5m - but Fergie signed Bebe
Bebe has made just two league appearances to date for United, and has spent the last three seasons farmed out on loan.
Rodriguez, who was establishing himself with Banfield in Argentina at the time he was offered to United, was eventually snapped up by Andre Villas-Boas in 2010 for just £4m, and signed for Monaco last season in a whopping £38.5m deal before going on to star in this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Manchester United will offer Arturo Vidal a whopping £230,000-a-week to move to Old Trafford this summer.
The Chilean midfielder is now Louis van Gaal’s number one transfer target after he secured the signings of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw in the last few days.
Vidal, who only recently extended his contract at Juventus, has said he would never move to a club that is not in the Champions League.
But reports in South America say United believe they can tempt him this summer with a giant five-year contract worth £250,000-a-week.
United 'will offer Vidal £230k-a-week to quit Juventus'Vidal had said he wouldn’t move to a team not in Europe (Picture: Getty)
United are yet to agree a fee Vidal but MEN says a £30million offer is expected to go in next week, as Van Gaal looks to push ahead with the transfer.
Arsenal are also interested in Vidal, with Arsene Wenger previously confirming his admiration for the midfielder, but are working on other targets first.
Manchester United have reportedly agreed a £8million deal to sign Feyenoord defender Stefan de Vrij.
The highly rated 22-year-old is currently with the Holland team at the World Cup, where he is being managed by new United boss Louis van Gaal.
And according to Gazzetta Dello Sport, the two will be working together at club level after the tournament with a £8million transfer to Old Trafford on the cards.
The newspaper says United hijacked Lazio’s deal for De Vrij, with the Serie A side expecting he would be joining them after the World Cup in Brazil.
However, Van Gaal has used his influence to tempt De Vrij, and a transfer is now firmly on the cards.
United need new centre backs with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand both departing, and De Vrij could be partnering Thomas Vermaelen next season, with the Arsenal defender also likely to join the Red Devils.
Liverpool FC confirmed the signing of Adam Lallana from Southampton.
A fee of around £25million was agreed between the Reds and Southampton over the weekend, with the England man passing a medical.
It has been a pretty meteoric rise for Lallana, who just four seasons ago was plying his trade in League One.
Since then he has played a pivotal role in Southampton's return to the Premier League and captained the side that won promotion back in 2012.
After impressing under Mauricio Pochettino, the 26-year-old was rewarded with a call-up to the England squad for the friendly with Chile last November.
His season was crowned with a spot in the PFA Team of the Year, before being named in the Three Lions World Cup squad.
The Liverpool boss is understandably delighted with his acquisition and is confident Lallana will feel right at home on Merseyside.
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