Bologna have completed the signing of former Milan left-back Kevin Constant until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old has been a free agent since leaving Turkish outfit Trabzonspor at the end of 2015 and is Bologna’s third signing of the transfer window, following the arrivals of Sergio Floccari and Juan Camilo Zuniga.
Constant, a Guinea international, could make his debut as early as tomorrow, when Bologna take on Frosinone in Serie A.
Dutchman De Jong joins LA Galaxy
Dutch midfielder Nigel De Jong has joined US team Los Angeles Galaxy after mutually agreeing to end his contract with Milan.
The tough-tackling 31-year-old, who started his career with Ajax and played for Hamburg and Manchester City, has represented the Netherlands 80 times.
De Jong, who spent three seasons with City before joining Milan in 2012, was in the Dutch team who lost the 2010 World Cup final to Spain.
De Jong could become the latest leading European player to end his career in the US, following in the footsteps of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
Emenike bolsters West Ham attack
West Ham have confirmed the signing of Nigeria centre-forward Emmanuel Emenike on loan from Fenerbahce.
The 28-year-old hopes to have an instant impact for Slaven Bilic’s squad, having known the Irons manager from his spells coaching in Russia and Turkey.
“I have always known West Ham as a great club. I have been watching them. West Ham’s a great club and I am very, very happy and very, very excited that I am here,” Emenike said.
Emenike, capped 37 times by the Super Eagles, spent part of this season on a loan spell at Arabian Gulf League side Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates.
Premier League spending hits £1bn
Transfer spending by Premier League clubs this season has surpassed the £1 billion mark for the first time, according to Deloitte.
Without taking the last day of the transfer window into consideration, total spending in the whole of the 2015-16 campaign had already reached an eye-watering amount.
Deloitte estimates that £130 million were spent in the January transfer window until Sunday, which takes the total sum for the season beyond £1 billion for the first time in history.
Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: “We’ve seen Premier League clubs again use the January window to invest significantly in playing talent.
“With a day left, the total gross spending this season has already reached £1bn for the first time.”
Inter’s Mancini gets one-match ban
Inter coach Roberto Mancini has been banned for one game after he was sent off, argued with match officials and made an insulting gesture during Sunday’s 3-0 derby defeat by Milan.
Serie A’s disciplinary tribunal said the Italian “made a derogatory remark to the fourth official when he was removed and then addressed the spectators with an insulting gesture”.
Mancini was dismissed for dissent early in the second half as he protested against the referee’s decision not to award a penalty to his side.
The Inter coach also used offensive language towards a television presenter during an interview after the match but that issue was not mentioned in the tribunal’s report.
Zidane hopeful
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane claims the race for the Primera Division title is not over after his side beat Espanyol 6-0 to close the gap on leaders Barcelona to four points.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick took his total this season to 30 goals as Real also closed to within a point of city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Karim Benzema, James Rodri-guez and Ruben Duarte’s own goal sealed Real Madrid’s demolition job.
“The aim is to try and perform at the maximum level in every game and reach the end of the season with the chance to win La Liga,” said Zidane.
“It is difficult but we are doing our work... it is not over yet.”
Hamren to quit after Euro 2016
Sweden coach Erik Hamren is to step down after the June-July Euro 2016 finals in France.
Despite beating neighbours Denmark in a play-off to reach the finals, Hamren had been expected to quit after the tournament, with Sweden failing to make the 2014 World Cup and finishing third in their Euro qualifying group behind Austria and Russia.
“He has given us a decision that he is going to step down,” FA vice-chairman Lars-Christer Olsson said.
Hamren took over from Lars Lagerback in 2009.