Sunderland yesterday signed defender Wayne Bridge on loan for the rest of the season from Manchester City.
The 31-year-old former England international has played just once this season, in a League Cup match in September.
Bridge joined City from Chelsea in a £12 million move in January 2009, but has managed only 58 appearances in his three years with the club.
The left-back, who has 30 senior England caps, would fill a position which has been vacant for some time at the Stadium of Light.
Iaquinta moves to Cesena
Veteran striker Vincenzo Iaquinta is determined to re-establish himself in the Serie A after leaving leaders Juventus for lowly Cesena.
The 32-year-old yesterday completed a loan switch to the relegation-threatened side and is keen to leave his mark.
“It’s an ideal place for me to re-launch my career,” Iaquinta said.
“I’m happy and I want to demonstrate something important. I can’t wait to start.”
The former Udinese player hasn’t appeared at all for Juve this term and will now partner Adrian Mutu in attack at the Stadio Manuzzi.
Tevez takes appeal to PL
Carlos Tevez has appealed to the Premier League against the six-week fine imposed by Manchester City for his ongoing absence.
City imposed the fine after finding Tevez guilty of gross misconduct on December 22.
Tevez subsequently appealed against the punishment but that was thrown on January 7 after a hearing involving two Manchester City directors, Marty Edelman and Mohamed al-Mazrouei.
However, as with the disciplinary action brought against him after his non-appearance in Munich last September, Tevez took the option of taking the matter to the Premier League.
Teenager Prosenik joins Rossoneri
Serie A champions Milan have signed teenage Austrian striker Philipp Prosenik from Chelsea, the Italian club confirmed yesterday.
The 18-year-old has joined the Rossoneri on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.
A statement from Milan read: “Philipp Prosenik’s contract has been deposited with the Lega Serie A.”
Prosenik joined Chelsea in the summer of 2009 from Rapid Vienna.
The Austria Under-19 international is the son of former Austria international Christian Prosenik.
Chelsea complete De Bruyne deal
Chelsea have completed the signing of highly-rated midfielder Kevin de Bruyne from Genk. The 20-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal and will remain at the Belgian champions until the end of the season.
De Bruyne, who is pre-dominantly a left-sided player, has been on Chelsea’s radar for some time and has played twice against the London club in this year’s Champions League group stages.
Genk said: “The transfer of Kevin De Bruyne to Chelsea has been completed. He has signed for five-and-a-half seasons and will continue (playing) with Genk until June.”
Schuster queries Mourinho tactics
Former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has criticised the tactics of current boss Jose Mourinho during the recent Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg against Barcelona.
Real lost 2-1 in the first leg at the Bernabeu and were beaten 4-3 on aggregate.
Schuster, who coached Real during the 2007-08 season, felt some of Mourinho’s selection decisions were inexplicable, in particular the inclusion of newly-fit Ricardo Carvalho in central defence and playing Pepe as a midfielder.
He said: “I think we can all agree that day was horrible. I would like to know what the coach was thinking when he selected this team; a player who had not played for so long and Pepe in the midfield.
“It was weird.”
Padoin makes deal permanent
Juventus yesterday completed the signing of Simone Padoin from Atalanta on a permanent basis.
The midfielder has put pen to paper on a five-year contract after a €5 million fee was agreed between the two clubs.
Padoin, 27, is a midfielder who has actually played for the Bianconeri in the past after he was allowed to briefly join them on a tour in America.
The former Vicenza player, who grew up in the Atalanta youth system, was targeted after Juve failed to sign Radja Nainggolan from Cagliari and Fiorentina’s Valon Behrami.