West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed the club are trying to sign striker Wilfried Bony from Premier League rivals Manchester City.
“We have a couple of players we are going to try and do a deal (for),” said Bilic, who has also been linked with a move for Juventus striker Simon Zaza by the British media.
“Bony is an option because he plays in the position we are looking for.
“We were linked with him (Zaza) last year and he is a top player. We were in contact with him last year and will see what happens.”
Watford snap up defender Janmaat
Watford have signed Netherlands defender Daryl Janmaat from Newcastle United on a four-year contract, the Premier League club announced yesterday.
Although no financial details were disclosed, British media reported that Watford paid a fee of around £7 million to acquire the right-back.
“Netherlands international Daryl Janmaat has joined the Hornets in a permanent transfer from Newcastle United, Watford FC is pleased to confirm,” Watford said in a statement on their website.
“The 27-year-old, who plays in the right wing-back position, has signed a four-year contract at Vicarage Road.”
‘Rooney would be great for MLS’
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney would be a “great signing” for Major League Soccer, Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has said, adding that the 30-year-old still has plenty to offer.
Former England midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Italy’s Andrea Pirlo, Spain striker David Villa and Brazilian Kaka are among the big-name players who have joined the MLS in recent years.
“I would argue he (Rooney) still has some good soccer ahead of him. I think he would be a great signing for MLS – 100 percent MLS would be attractive for him,” Paulson told the Mirror.
Dragovic completes Leverkusen transfer
Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of defender Aleksandar Dragovic from Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv on a five-year contract, both clubs announced.
Austrian Dragovic was also heavily linked with a potential move to English champions Leicester City by the British media.
“Kyiv was the right and important club for me but now I’m attracted to the Bundesliga as one of the best leagues in the world,” Dragovic told the German club’s website.
The 25-year-old centre-back was a two-time winner of the Ukrainian Premier League and the Ukrainian Cup since his arrival at Kyiv in 2013.
United my last club in Europe – Schweini
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has issued a statement to say Manchester United will be his “last club in Europe”.
The 32-year-old former Germany international has not featured this season under new United manager Jose Mourinho, with reports suggesting he has been made to train with the reserves.
But the World Cup winner took to Twitter yesterday to stress his commitment to the team.
“MUFC will be my last club in Europe,” he posted. “I respect other clubs, but Manchester United was the only one which could make me leave Bayern Munich.
“I will be ready, if the team needs me. That is all I can say about the current situation. I want to thank the fans for the amazing support over the recent weeks.”
Gudjohnsen joins Indian club Pune City
Former Chelsea and Barcelona forward Eidur Gudjohnsen has joined Indian Super League club FC Pune City.
The 37-year-old, who was part of the Iceland squad that reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, will link up with Pune ahead of the start of the ISL season in October.
“Let’s practise the ‘Volcano Clap’ guys as @Eidur22Official signs for @FCPuneCity. #GudjohnsenToFCPC,” the club posted on Twitter.
Gudjohnsen most recently played in China and Norway after a second spell at Bolton, where he made his name in English football.
He will join the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Nicolas Anelka in playing in India towards the end of his career.
Hetemaj not playing against native Kosovo
Kosovo-born midfielder Perparim Hetemaj will not play for the Finnish national team in its World Cup qualifier against Kosovo in September, Finland head coach Hans Backe said yesterday.
Kosovo, accepted as a member of football’s governing body FIFA in May, are due to make their international debut in the match.
Backe told reporters in Helsinki that Hetemaj would not play for personal reasons, and that the two will discuss Hetemaj’s future after the game.