Arsenal have confirmed German forward Lukas Podolski has completed a loan move to Inter for the remainder of the 2014/15 season.
The 29-year-old, who joined the Gunners from Cologne in the summer of 2012, had become frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities, often used as an impact player from the bench by manager Arsene Wenger.
He has scored three goals this season – including a dramatic last-gasp winner in the Champions League group game at Anderlecht.
“He is experienced and has a wonderful career behind him,” Mancini said. “He will help us and is not at the end of his career.”
Schwarzer joins strugglers Leicester
Former Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is leaving Chelsea to join lowly Leicester City.
Schwarzer, 42, played 12 times for Chelsea last season as back-up to Petr Cech, but has only been an unused substitute four times this season.
Schwarzer, who had a brief spell in Germany in the mid-1990s, has been in England since 1996 and played for Bradford, Middlesbrough and Fulham before moving to Chelsea in 2013.
Mourinho apology
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has sought to avoid renewed conflict with referees by making a public apology to Kevin Friend following his side’s 3-0 FA Cup victory over Watford.
Mourinho was contrite to criticise Friend’s failure to award a second-half penalty when defender Craig Cathcart handled the ball as he blocked a shot by Diego Costa.
However, following Cathcart’s intervention, the ball immediately fell to Loic Remy who scored and Friend later told Mourinho he would have awarded a penalty had Remy missed.
The explanation resulted in a personal apology from the Portuguese.
“I want to apologise for my earlier comments. What the referee did was great refereeing,” said Mourinho.
Suns owner makes Rangers approach
Robert Sarver, the majority owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA basketball team, has made an approach to Rangers which may lead to an offer being made for the company, the club has announced to the Stock Exchange.
Reports emerged on Sunday that an £18 million takeover bid from Sarver had either been lodged or was about to be and yesterday the club confirmed interest from the 53-year-old.
A statement said that Sarver must make an offer or withdraw his bid by 5pm on February 2.
It is another twist to a seemingly never-ending saga, but reports said the financier may now be prepared to back Dave King and the ‘Three Bears’ group’s attempts to seize control of the club.
Pellegrini hoping Milner signs on
Manuel Pellegrini spoke of his desire to keep James Milner at the Etihad Stadium after watching the midfielder save Manchester City’s blushes in a narrow 2-1 FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Milner scored the second goal of his brace in injury time to send City through.
City have yet to convince Milner to sign a new deal beyond the summer but Pellegrini remains hopeful the England international will stay at the club.
“(There is) no news. I hope we will find an arrangement,” said the City boss.
“But I think that I have said already what I think about James Milner. He is very useful.
“James always plays with 100 per cent commitment and intensity for the team.”
Gabbiadini, Strinic sign for Napoli
Napoli have announced the signings of Manolo Gabbiadini from Sampdoria and Ivan Strinic from Dnipro.
Gabbiadini has scored eight goals in all competitions for Samp and moves to Naples in a reported €13 million deal.
The 23-year-old, who has two caps for Italy, was part-owned by Sampdoria and Juventus, with the two clubs splitting the fee equally.
Strinic is an experienced Croatia international and has previously played for Hajduk Split.
Napoli said: “Napoli have signed Ivan Strinic on a permanent deal and secured the outright purchase of Manolo Gabbiadini. The Croatian defender will take the number three shirt and the new Azzurri striker will wear number 23.”
Stoke City close to Wollscheid deal
Stoke City boss Mark Hughes expects the club to soon wrap up the loan signing of defender Philipp Wollscheid from Bayer Leverkusen.
The Potters have shaken hands with their Bundesliga counterparts on an agreement that would see 25-year-old Germany international Wollscheid switch for the rest of the season.
“It is a deal that is likely to happen and we are likely to see him here this week I would suggest,” Hughes said.
“He has superb quality and in my opinion he is a very good footballer, so we are very pleased to have agreed the terms of the deal.”