Football news

Franck Ribery wants to leave Bayern Munich and join Real Madrid, sports daily L'Equipe quoted the France midfielder as saying yesterday.

Ribery's compatriot Karim Benzema has already agreed to join the Spanish side from Olympique Lyon and become Real's third major signing after Brazil's Kaka and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I have made up my mind, I want to leave," Ribery told yesterday's issue of L'Equipe. "It will be Real (Madrid) or nothing."

Bayern officials have repeatedly said the 26-year-old Ribery, who joined them in 2007 from Marseille, was not for sale.

Wolves sign 'Saint' Surman

Cash-strapped League One side Southampton were forced to sell one of their brightest talents on Wednesday as newly-promoted Premier League club Wolves bought England Under-21 international Andrew Surman for a reported £1.2 million.

The 22-year-old midfielder signed a three-year contract with the option of an extra year as he became Wolves manager Mick McCarthy's fourth signing of the close season.

"To come to the Premier League and with a club as big as Wolves is fantastic," Surman said.

Surman, who scored 18 goals in 142 appearances for the Saints, joins record signing Kevin Doyle, free transfer signing American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and Serbian midfielder Nenad Milijas.

Bolton get Davis for free

Portsmouth have missed out on millions of pounds after their former England Under-21 international Sean Davis moved to Premier League rivals Bolton Wanderers for free.

Just six months ago Portsmouth had been offered £3.5 million by Bolton for the midfielder but had turned it down.

Davis, who has also played top flight football for Fulham and Spurs, signed a three-year contract with his new club.

"I am happy my future has been sorted out," Davis told Bolton's website.

"I wanted to move to a club where I can play my football and be appreciated."

Newcastle defender Edgar joins Burnley

Canadian defender David Edgar ensured he would stay in the Premier League next season when he signed for newly-promoted Burnley from relegated giants Newcastle.

The 22-year-old, who was mainly notable for being sent off in the Magpies tame last-day defeat to Aston Villa which consigned them to the Championship, will cost Burnley a nominal fee.

Edgar signed a four-year contract with Burnley, who reached the Premier League via the play-offs. He becomes Burnley manager Owen Coyle's third acquisition of the close season. Burnley made a double swoop on Tuesday, outlaying a club record £3 million for Scotland international Steven Fletcher and £500,000 for Tyrone Mears.

Materazzi extends Inter contract

Marco Materazzi has signed a new deal with Inter that will keep him at the Italian champions for another three years, the club announced on their website.

Materazzi, who was a bit-part player for Jose Mourinho last season, will be almost 39 by the time his deal runs out.

"Now I can write it because it's written on a contract, I'll be nerazzurro for life," Materazzi said on his blog. "And that's not just a figure of speech. I couldn't be going away on holiday more satisfied."

The 35-year-old has already been at the club for eight years, playing 245 matches and scoring 20 goals. He has won four scudetto crowns and two Italian Cups since joining from Perugia in 2001.

Alonso not on Juve's target list

Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has dismissed reports linking his club with a fresh bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Speculation is rife that Juve are keen to sign the Spain international who is also being courted by Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"There are a lot of names for midfield but not that of Xabi Alonso," Cobolli Gigli said. "He's a great player but I think that to say that I have read his name in the papers says it all."

Cobolli Gigli also revealed that Juve are still interested in Udinese playmaker Gaetano D'Agostino despite their bid hitting several stumbling blocks.

"It's about finding a solution between what our valuation is and the Friuli club's valuation of the player," he said.

Wigan land Honduran playmaker Thomas

Wigan have signed Honduran international midfielder Hendry Thomas on a three-year contract, subject to international clearance.

The 24-year-old was due to join the Latics last summer but his transfer fell through as he did not meet the work permit criteria in terms of the number of times he had played for his country.

That situation has now improved and a deal was agreed a couple of months ago between the clubs, with the player now passing a medical and agreeing terms.

Thomas was originally spotted by former manager Steve Bruce, who has now left the club to take over at Premier League rivals Sunderland.