Barcelona: Spanish champions Barcelona overpowered Urawa Reds 3-0 yesterday in the second of two close-season games in Japan. Swedish striker Henrik Larsson scored twice and midfielder Xavi was also on target in rain-soaked Saitama for a depleted Barcelona side missing several key players.
Saviola: Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard says it is unlikely Argentine striker Javier Saviola, on loan at Monaco, will return to the Primera Liga side next season. When asked if Saviola was going to feature in his plans for next season Rijkaard said: "Unfortunately we have to work a with a small squad and not with 40 players."
Parker: England midfielder Scott Parker joined Newcastle from champions Chelsea for a transfer fee of £6.5 million yesterday. The 24-year-old, who had also been linked with Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, signed a five-year contract after passing a medical at St James' Park. Parker joined Chelsea for $10 million from Charlton in 2004.
Kapo: Juventus midfielder Olivier Kapo has joined Monaco on a one-year loan, the Ligue 1 club announced yesterday. Kapo, who has scored three times in nine international appearances for France, has played only 14 games for the Italian champions this season, 12 of them as substitute.
Westerveld: Dutch goalkeeper Sander Westerveld says he may have to leave Real Mallorca to keep alive his hopes of playing in the 2006 World Cup. The 30-year-old, who moved to Mallorca on loan last August from Real Sociedad, only played six times during the season as Miguel Moya was preferred. Westerveld, who joined Real Sociedad from Liverpool during the 2001-02 season, will become a free agent at the end of June.
Carroll: West Ham have signed former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll, the promoted Premier League club said yesterday. The 27-year-old Northern Ireland international was released by Alex Ferguson after four years at Old Trafford, his last match for the club being last month's FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal in Cardiff. West Ham's regular first-choice goalkeeper Jimmy Walker picked up a serious knee injury in the playoff final victory over Preston.
Sunderland: Second division champions Sunderland signed Ipswich Town goalkeeper Kelvin Davis for a fee of £1.25 million. "This represents a tremendous signing for Sunderland," manager Mick McCarthy said. Davis, who was voted by his fellow professionals as the best keeper in the second division last season, signed a four-year contract with Sunderland.