Football news

Anthony Le Tallec has completed a permanent transfer to Le Mans from Liverpool.

The French forward spent last season on loan at Stade Leon-Bollee after failing to impress Rafael Benitez, the Anfield boss.

Le Tallec was a signing of former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier when moving from Le Havre in 2003.

The 23-year-old was offered opportunities to impress in Benitez's first season at Anfield in 2004/05, particularly in Liverpool's successful UEFA Champions League campaign.

Nayar move angers Boca

Recreativo Huelva have agreed to sign Boca Juniors's Argentine midfielder Sebastian Nayar on a four-year contract. The move has caused consternation at the Argentine club who have said Nayar is tied to them until 2012 in a contract registered with the Argentina Football Association (AFA).

Boca president Pedro Pompilio said the club would protest to soccer's governing body FIFA over the case.

Recreativo said: "Nayar's former club, where his contract ended on June 30, wanted to hang on to him through an extension which is to all intents and purposes invalid."

The 20-year-old has only made one professional appearance, for Boca against Racing club in May.

Magpies sign 'Spiderman'

Newcastle made their first major signing this summer following the move for Argentina winger Jonas Gutierrez. The midfielder, 24, has joined the Magpies from Real Mallorca for an undisclosed fee on a five-year contract.

Gutierrez, nicknamed Spiderman for the mask he puts on for goal celebrations, will join his new team-mates later this month after a break following his appearance in his country's 0-0 World Cup qualifier draw in Brazil on June 18.

Gutierrez said: "I cannot tell you how excited I am to be joining Newcastle United.

"The Premier League is a great place to play and I cannot wait to meet my new mates and prove myself to the Newcastle fans."

Juventus out of Veloso race

Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, the Juve supremo, said the Serie A club have pulled out of the race for Portugal's Miguel Veloso.

The Sporting Lisbon midfielder wants a move to a bigger club this summer and speculation was rife in the Portuguese media that Juve had taken the lead in the race for Veloso's signature with a part-exchange bid including Tiago Mendes.

However, Cobolli Gigli told reporters that he has no intention of tabling a bid for Veloso.

"We have looked at Miguel, but I can tell you that he doesn't interest us any longer," he said.

Juve are still waiting on Liverpool's Xabi Alonso, who has asked for more time to mull over a Turin transfer.

Calaio leaves Napoli for Siena

Napoli's Emanuele Calaio, who had a poor relationship with coach Edy Reja, has left to join Siena. The striker rarely had a chance to play in the top flight for the team he helped to promotion in 2007.

"I am going to Siena in a co-ownership agreement. It is not a goodbye to Napoli, but rather a see you soon," said the 26-year-old.

"I am disappointed to be leaving the fans, but I want to prove how much I am worth in Serie A. In football the fate of a player is tied in with the coach and there was never a great rapport with Reja."

Calaio made only seven starts in Serie A last season and has been at Napoli since January 2005, helping them to promotion from Serie C1 up to the top flight.

Nelsen cleared to play for N. Zealand

Paul Ince, the new manager at Blackburn, said captain Ryan Nelsen will play for New Zealand at the Olympic Games in August.

Nelsen, 30, will join his country's U-23 squad as one of three over-age players.

New Zealand will play China and Brazil before Nelsen returns in time for Blackburn's opening Premier League match against Everton on August 16.

"It's great news," New Zealand coach Stu Jacobs said.

"We've got one of the world's best defenders lining up for us in two crucial matches.

"Paul Ince hasn't even met his captain yet but he said he knew Ryan was desperate to play and given the magnitude of the Olympic Games he was more than happy to help out where he could."

Stuttgart show Boateng interest

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is likely to leave White Hart Lane on his way to Stuttgart on a loan deal.

Boateng moved to London from Hertha Berlin last year, but has been unable to establish himself as a first-team regular. He has made 21 appearances for the club, but is being offered a return to the Bundesliga for next season.

Reports claim Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart have shown an interest, with the 21-year-old's preference to join the latter.

Stuttgart's general manager Horst Heldt has confirmed the club are looking to settle on a deal for the former Young Player of the Year.

"Boateng is a very interesting player," he said. "We are in talks."