Football news

Liverpool have signed 18-year-old French left-back Chris Mavinga from Paris St Germain, while Moroccan winger Nabil El Zhar has agreed a contract extension with the Premier League club.

Mavinga is a French Under-18 international and follows in the footsteps of striker David Ngog, who joined Liverpool from PSG last year.

Liverpool also said on their website yesterday that El Zhar, 22, had signed a new contract that would keep him at Anfield until 2012.

He made 19 appearances last season, mainly as a late substitute, and follows Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger in committing his long-term future to the club.

No United bid for Aguero

Atletico Madrid have not received any offers from Manchester United for Sergio Aguero.

Reports claim United made a bid in the region of £30 million plus Portuguese winger Nani to acquire the Argentina international who is under contract with the Primera Liga outfit until June 2012 and has a €55 million buy-out clause.

"Manchester United has not made any offers for 'Kun' (Aguero) - and we will not sell any player," Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo told Marca.

"We will not sell Aguero, Forlan, Simao - because we don't want to sell any of our players. We will keep all of our players because we are very good as we are and we have a great team."

Uruguayan Cabrera joins Atletico

Atletico Madrid have signed teenage Uruguayan defender Leandro Cabrera from Defensor Sporting, the Spanish Primera Liga club said on their website.

Atletico, who will play in the Champions League this season, did not specify the length of the 18-year-old's contract but said he had signed for "the coming seasons".

The 18-year-old was officially presented at the Vicente Calderon on Friday, with Atletico sporting director, Jesus García Pitarch, introducing him as one of the "future names of Uruguayan football".

Cabrera joins compatriot Diego Forlan at Atletico.

Barcelona close in on Keirrison

Barcelona are poised to complete the signing of Brazilian striker Keirrison from Palmeiras.

The Spanish champions are eager to secure the services of the 20-year-old, who finished as the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A 2008 top scorer, with 21 goals for former club Coritiba. Keirrison joined Palmeiras in January.

"We are close to formalising Keirrison's contract, there's already a pre-agreement in place," Barcelona president Joan Laporta said.

"Keirrison is a player we have been monitoring for some time and we expect to announce his signing soon."

Juve optimistic over Melo signing

Juventus are hopeful of completing Felipe Melo's £21 million transfer from Fiorentina this week.

"I hope he can come to Pinzolo (Juve's pre-season training camp)," Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli was quoted as saying.

"That would mean that the negotiations would be done fast. Our relations with Fiorentina are very good. I am optimistic.

"But Melo's transfer will only be completed once the player signs the contract and I hope that will happen as soon as possible."

The 25-year-old Melo, who is also a target for Arsenal, joined Fiorentina from Spanish side Almeria last summer for £7 million.

Nedved rejects Inter offer - reports

Pavel Nedved has reportedly turned down an offer from Inter and is considering joining Ciro Ferrara's Juventus backroom staff.

The midfielder's contract with Juve expired and he had been due to retire, but was tempted by a two-year offer from the Nerazzurri.

According to Tuttosport and Il Corriere dello Sport, Nedved talked Inter's proposal over with his family and has decided to hang up his boots.

Nedved has now been offered a role on Juve's backroom staff.

"I know that Ciro (Ferrara) contacted Pavel to offer him a place in his staff," Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said.

"Nedved knows full well that the doors to Juve will always be open for him."

No Celtic return for Viduka

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has dismissed the possibility of signing former Bhoys star Mark Viduka.

Viduka is available on a free transfer after seeing out his contract at Newcastle, and there have been rumours that Celtic could make a surprise move to bring the 33-year-old back to Parkhead.

But Mowbray has no plans to move for Viduka.

"Mark has been involved in a difficult season in England with Newcastle, but I would suggest that at this moment I think that's pretty unlikely to happen," Mowbray said.

"I am looking forward to working with the strikers we have got."