Soccer briefs...

Blasi: Fiorentina have acquired midfielder Manuele Blasi on a one-year loan deal from Juventus. The 26-year-old midfielder, a hard-running, combative player who has made eight appearances for Italy but was not selected for the World Cup squad, will bolster a midfield that already includes Stefano Fiore and Danish international Martin Jorgensen. Blasi has also played in Italy's top-flight for Roma, Perugia and Parma but has never scored a Serie A goal.

Dabo: French midfielder Ousmane Dabo has joined Manchester City from Italy's Lazio. The 29-year-old, who agreed terms and passed a medical at the club's training ground yesterday, said: "I'm very happy because I had many offers from other clubs, but I chose Manchester City because it's a very big club with a big history." Dabo, whose contract at Lazio expired this month, made 28 starts for the Rome side last season.

Le Guen: New Rangers manager Paul Le Guen plans to win the Scottish title in his first year in charge. The Frenchman, presented at a news conference yesterday said: "I hope I am here for three years at least, perhaps more. First of all, I want to win the title in the first year." Le Guen, 42, is the club's 12th manager in their 133-year history.

Milan: French teenage midfielder Yohann Gourcuff will join Milan from Stade Rennes, the Ligue 1 club said yesterday. Rennes said in a statement they had reached an agreement with the Italian club over the 19-year-old and it would be a proper transfer, not a loan. They did not give any details about the length of the contract or the transfer fee.

United Coach: Brondby have signed Manchester United's reserves coach Rene Meulensteen as their head coach. The 40-year-old Dutchman has signed a three-year contract. Last month Michael Laudrup resigned as coach of Brondby after four years in charge.