Porto striker Falcao has agreed a new two-year deal with the club -seemingly ending any prospect of a move to Chelsea.
Falcao, who scored 38 goals last season as Porto won an eye-catching treble, was reportedly a target for new Blues boss Andre-Villas Boas, who himself made the switch from the Estadio do Dragao this summer.
A release clause of 30million euros had been in place - a figure that has now been raised to 45million euros, or nearly £40million.
The Colombian striker, who had also been linked with Atletico Madrid, is now contracted to the club until the end of the 2015 season.
Liverpool plan to continue to add to their Anfield squad and are preparing a bid for Barcelona attacker Jeffren.
The Merseyside club are believed to be set to complete the signing of Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing and have already snapped up Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam and Kenny Dalglish is thought to be keen to beef up his attacking options whilst planning for the future and sees the young Nou Camp youngster as an ideal signing.
Venezuelan born Jeffren is set to leave Barcelona just under five years since his debut for the Catalan club. The adaptable youngster has failed to win a regular spot in the club’s first team both under Frank Rijkaard and then Pep Guardiola.
Dalglish is looking to bring in extra attacking options to give his squad more strength in depth and given the fact that Frenchman David N’Gog has failed to make an impact and Dirk Kuyt has been converted into a wide player, the addition of another attacker makes a great deal of sense.
Barcelona are after a quick sale and some sources believes that means Pep Guardiola could accept as little as €7m (£6.1m) for the youngster. Though far from being a first team regular at the Nou Camp, Jeffren has found himself becoming more of a regular presence in Guardiola’s plans of late, making 31 apperances over the past two seasons across all competitions. Damien Comolli has done business with Barcelona before, helping bring Giovani dos Santos to Tottenham and whilst that move has not worked out all that well it was deemed something of a shock when it took place. This has led some to believe that Liverpool are leading the chase for Jeffren.
The speedy attacker also fits the criteria of Liverpool’s new owners who are willing to invest in youthful additions hence their forking out of funds to sign Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson, all 23 years or age or under.
Jeffren has just returned from Spanish Under 21 duty where he helped his country to the European Championship title in Denmark.
Arsenal are lining up a bargain £5million move for FC Copenhagen defender Mathias Jorgensen.
The 21-year-old has only one-year left on his contract and the Gunners are hoping to take advantage of this and bring him to the Emirates.
The Denmark international has impressed many observers with his displays last year in the Champions League.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is on the hunt for a tall centre-back and has been left frustrated in his efforts to sign Gary Cahill from Bolton and Blackburn’s Christopher Samba.
The Frenchman will move for the player, nicknamed Zanka, to add more height to the Gunners backline which was left exposed last season.
Wenger ideally would like a defender with Premier League experience but will not pay over-the-odds for them.
Another possibility he is exploring is a swap deal involving Nicklas Bendtner for Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.
The offer is likely to include the striker plus around £10million to get the highly-rated centre-back but Wenger faces a battle to make the Bundesliga champions sell their prized asset.
The Premier League champions will step up negotiations with the Dutch international's representatives as they seek a compromise over a fee of 35.2 million pounds, Goal.com learned
By Sergio Chesi and Wayne Veysey Jul 14, 2011 8:44:00 AM
Manchester United has agreed a club-record fee of 35.2 million pounds with Inter for the transfer of Wesley Sneijder, Goal.com can exclusively reveal.
But Sneijder's wage demands are currently holding up the deal from being close to completion. Sources have told Goal.com that the player's camp has indicated it wants around 200,000 pounds per week but United is reluctant to pay more than 170,000 pounds.
Nevertheless, the Premier League champions are hoping to reach a compromise over the 30,000-pounds-a-week difference as the prospect of a switch that would smash United's transfer record grows increasingly likely.
Senior officials from the two clubs are understood to have shaken hands on the terms of the deal after United chief executive David Gill made it clear Manchester United is willing to meet Inter's asking price in a series of meetings in recent days.
United has confirmed that Gill was in Zurich on Wednesday, where an Inter delegation was also present, to attend a European Club Association meeting but an Inter source told Goal.com that he had been in Milan on Tuesday and early Wednesday to lead Sneijder negotiations with another Old Trafford director.
United's focus will now turn to agreeing personal terms with the Holland international, who is regarded by the club as a natural heir to the recently retired Paul Scholes. An official bid will follow if the 19-times English champions are confident they can meet the player's demands.
It is believed that the 2011 Champions League finalists could attempt to meet the shortfall in the two parties' positions with bonus-related payments or an enhanced image rights deal
Sneijder is currently at Inter's preseason training camp at Pinzolo in Italy. The deal will now depend on his desire to force through a move to Old Trafford, which offers him an excellent chance to add to an already impressive medal haul which includes domestic titles in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, in addition to the 2010 Champions League.
He has a contract at San Siro that expires in 2015 and would be content to see it out if a transfer fails to materialise this summer, hence his reluctance to agitate in public for a move.
New Inter manager Gian Piero Gasperini has told the Inter hierarchy that he does not see the Holland star as indispensable as he prepares to field a new 3-4-3 formation next season.
Defender Jerome Boateng is to join Bayern Munich from Manchester City, the German club have confirmed.
Bayern have been pursuing the Germany international for some time and today announced they had agreed an undisclosed fee with City with the player having successfully negotiated a four-year deal at the Allianz Arena.
The 22-year-old joined City last summer from Hamburg but struggled to make an impact due to a succession of injuries.
The deal will be completed once Boateng has passed a medical in Bavaria.
A statement on the Bayern website read: "The board of Bayern Munich and the board of Manchester City have reached an agreement for the transfer of Jerome Boateng.
"Boateng, who is currently with City in Los Angeles, is expected in Munich in the next few days for a medical.
"Then he will sign a contract up to June 2015.
"The clubs have agreed not to disclose the transfer fee."
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was delighted to have finally landed Boateng.
"There have been some intense negotiations and we have come a long way to reach a satisfactory conclusion," he said on the club's official website, www.fcb.de.
"With Jerome Boateng we have got our preferred candidate to play in central defence for Bayern Munich."
Bayern sporting director Christian Nerlinger added: "Jerome Boateng is a young Germany international who fits perfectly into the philosophy of Bayern. He was also wanted by our coach Jupp Heynckes."
Berlin-born Boateng has made no secret of his desire to return to his homeland.
Just last month, speaking at a promotional event in Hamburg, he said: "I would like to go to Munich. On my side everything is clear.
"It is all about whether I am released (by City).
"Bayern are bigger than Manchester City, they are one of the top six teams in Europe. To play for them would be an honour for me."
Boateng believes he can further his international career at Bayern after expressing his displeasure at being played at right-back at Eastlands.
He added: "I told (City boss) Roberto Mancini that I want to play in central defence and not at full-back.
"Bayern have indicated I will play in the centre. To play there regularly is important for me because I will have a better chance of playing in the national team."
Manchester United hope to complete the £35million transfer of Wesley Sneijder after agreeing terms of around £190,000 a week with the Inter Milan midfielder.
Sneijder was forced to compromise on his initial wage demands of £250,000-a-week, but an agreement has been struck and a deal is close to completion.
The Glazer family, who own United, have sanctioned the fee for the 27-year-old Holland star as a replacement for Paul Scholes, who retired at the end of last season.
Chief executive David Gill met his Inter counterparts in Zurich yesterday at a meeting of the European Club Association.
It is understood Gill made clear United's willingness to pay £35m, with an official bid expected to be lodged before the weekend. Although Inter are reluctant to sell, they accept they cannot turn down such a lucrative bid.
Gill hopes to have the deal wrapped up before he flies to the US tomorrow.
Liverpool have agreed a fee for Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing, the Anfield club revealed on Wednesday.
Downing, 26, has reportedly been a target of two previous bids from Liverpool during the English Premier League off-season, and it now appears that the Reds are close to landing the England midfielder.
A statement on Liverpool’s website announced a bid had been accepted for Downing, with Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner telling The Guardian that Downing had handed in a transfer request to help push through the move.
“I can confirm that we have reached an agreement with Liverpool following an improved offer received earlier today and the submission of a formal transfer request by Stewart Downing, and have subsequently given them permission to speak with the player,” he said.
“We believe there are replacements available in the market who can strengthen our squad ahead of the coming season, and we are in discussions as such. We are also working hard to conclude a deal for a goalkeeper, who we believe can also strengthen the side.”
Downing joined Villa in 2009 in a package worth 12 million pounds from boyhood club Middlesbrough.
His arrival at Liverpool would be the latest big-money buy for manager Kenny Dalglish.
Strike duo Andy Carroll (35 million pounds) and Luis Suarez (22.8 million) joined in January, while midfielders Jordan Henderson (16 million) and Charlie Adam (seven million) have been off-season arrivals.
Sergio Aguero has reaffirmed his desire to quit Atletico Madrid.
The Argentine starlet revealed earlier this summer that he wanted to leave Vicente Calderon, and he has been strongly linked with Real Madrid, as well as Chelsea and Manchester City. However, his father was quoted earlier this week suggesting that his son could yet remain.
But speaking from his homeland, where he is taking part in the Copa America, Aguero underlined his desire to find a new club.
"I will not return to Atletico, it is clear," he told ESPN.
"I talked to the club, gave a statement, now my representatives are negotiating my departure from the club.
"I don't know when the agreement will be, but I will know when the Copa America is finished."
Man United are ready to make a swift bid for Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik if they fail to complete moves to sign either Wesley Sneijder or Samir Nasri from Inter Milan or Arsenal respectively.
Hamsik has long been a target for Sir Alex Ferguson and the Slovakian international has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Napoli this summer and AC Milan have shown a great deal of interest in the 23 year old who has been a huge success in Serie A.
The former Brescia man has progressed year on year during his seven seasons in Italy and is now considered one of the best foreign players on show in the Italian top tier but the talented goal scoring attacking midfielder has stated that if an offer from a ‘big club’ was forthcoming then he, and Napoli, would consider it.
Indeed the Naples side have placed a €40m (£35.1m) valuation on Hamsik and reportedly that is a fee that AC Milan are reticent to fork out but Ferguson may well be ready to pay the price if they fail in their pursuit of the aforementioned targets.
The Old Trafford boss sees the capture of a goal scoring midfield threat as the final piece of his summer signing puzzle and is ideally looking for a player that fulfill the kind of role Paul Scholes filled during his Man United pomp. Ferguson’s current central midfield options offer different attributes but the likes of Michael Carrick, Anderson, and Darren Fletcher are not hugely creative hence the Man United manager’s very public interest in Sneijder and Nasri.
Hamsik has scored 47 goals in four seasons at the Stadio San Paolo and has been an invaluable link between midfield and attack, helping Walter Mazzarri’s side clinch a Champions League spot for the coming season.
Man United have already spent over £50m to bring Phil Jones, David de Gea and Ashley Young from Blackburn Rovers, Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa respectively and Ferguson wishes to make one more ‘marquee’ signing as a further statement of intent to their Premier and Champions League rivals.
Having already sold Wes Brown and John O’Shea to Sunderland there is every chance that further Man United players on the periphery of the first team squad will be sacrificed to make room for additions and to help balance the books.
Everton and QPR target Sergio Canales is edging towards a move to Roma, according to reports in Italy.
David Moyes has been linked with a loan move for the young midfielder, who was once hailed as the next big thing in Spanish football, while QPR were keen on a similar deal for Canales as they prepare for their return to the Premier League.
The 20-year-old looks set to leave Real Madrid this summer after being left out of the side's pre-season trip to America.
But it is understood that the club are reluctant to lose him permanently because he is still rated as a star of the future.
Now reports in Italy have claimed that Roma are in the driving seat to sign him on loan this season. New manager Luis Enrique knows all about Canales following his time in Spain and thinks the playmaker would be a useful addition to his new-look squad.
And the speculation linking him with a move to the Italian capital intensified when Canales took a holiday to Rome, where he tweeted a picture of himself in front of the city's historic Trevi Fountain.
• The Dutch midfielder had been a target for Sir Alex Ferguson • 'I love Inter, the Italian fans and Italy,' Sneijder says
Wesley Sneijder joined Internazionale from Real Madrid in 2009. Photograph: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images
Press Association guardian.co.uk, Mon 11 Jul 2011 21.12 BST
Wesley Sneijder has warned his potential suitors that he will only leave Internazionale this summer if the club decide to sell him.
The Holland international is valued at £35m and has been strongly linked with a move away from San Siro, with Manchester United and the La Liga side Malaga leading the chase to acquire his services.
"I would like to remain," Sneijder said in an interview in July's Italian issue of Vanity Fair magazine. "I have marvellous team-mates. My wife Yolanthe and I love Inter, the Italian fans and Italy.
"Of course, if the club decided to sell me, I will go wherever they tell me to go. But I would be disappointed. We have felt so good here that I would miss the city of Milan and Inter. But football is like that. When I was sold from Real Madrid to Inter, I would have preferred to have remained in Spain. Whatever will be, will be."
Sneijder joined Inter from Real Madrid in 2009 and helped the club win the Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia in his first season in Milan. His second season was more difficult and the former Ajax midfielder was limited by injuries and scored just four goals in 25 league appearances for Inter last season as they finished runners-up in Serie A but won the Coppa Italia.
The new Inter coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, who replaced Leonardo earlier this month, revealed that he is keen to hold on to the 27-year-old.
"Sneijder is a great player, a top player," Gasperini said. "His approach has been more than positive. He is here and he wants to remain with us."
Meanwhile, Inter are on the verge of signing the Brazilian full-back Jonathan from Santos. The 25-year-old is under contract with the South American side for a further three seasons but has a release clause set at €15m (£13.2m).He is considered a potential successor for the Inter defender Maicon, who has been linked in recent months with a move to Real Madrid.
Sky Sports sources understand Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni will undergo a medical at Liverpool on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old's agent said last week that a deal was imminent following several weeks of negotiations.
An initial move broke down earlier in the summer after Doni failed to agree personal terms with Liverpool.
But the Brazilian could complete his move to Anfield this week after an agreement was reached with Roma.
Doni would only provide back-up to Kenny Dalglish's first choice, Jose Reina, but would offer an experienced deputy.
Liverpool on Sunday departed for a pre-season tour of the Far East, but members of the medical staff will still be available to oversee Doni's medical.
Fulham have confirmed that Hungarian keeper Csaba Somogyi has joined the club on a one-year deal.
The 26-year-old revealed last week that he had spent time on trial with the Cottagers and had been offered a permanent deal.
Fulham boss Martin Jol opted to bring Somogyi over to England after being impressed with him during his time in charge at Ajax.
He becomes the Dutchman's first signing of the summer and will add to the impressive keeping ranks at Craven Cottage.
Somogyi previously turned out for Hungarian side Rakospalotai EAC and arrives in the Premier League eager to make his mark in a major European league. Confirming the signing on the club's official website, a statement from Fulham read: "Following a successful trial period at Fulham last week, the six-foot-three inch keeper put pen-to-paper on a deal as a free agent with Fulham on Monday morning.
"The club has the option to extend Somogyi's deal at the Cottage by a further year until 2013."
Chelsea are close to finalising a deal for Genk's teenage goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The 19-year-old is very highly rated and helped Genk to win the Belgian championship last season.
The Premier League giants have been tracking him for a number of months, and despite reported interest from Atletico Madrid, a deal looks set to be concluded.
Courtois' father and agent Thierry confirmed a deal was close and he expected it to go through on Tuesday.
"He [Thibault] was in in Chelsea last week," he revealed to Het Belang Van Limberg.
"I think Chelsea and Genk have reached an agreement. Tuesday we will come and talk about the transfer."
Chelsea are reportedly happy to let Courtois return to Genk on loan, and his father admitted this was an option but he rubbished any claims he could sign a new deal with the Belgian club.
"Maybe Chelsea will lend Thibaut to Genk, but a contract extension does not interest us anymore," he added.
Talks
Chelsea are still understood to be keen on making a double swoop on Genk, as talks over midfielder Kevin de Bruyne also continue.
The Blues had hoped to send De Bruyne back on loan to Belgium, but to Genk's rivals Anderlecht, which would also have helped their continued pursuit of Romelu Lukaku.
However, Genk have insisted they will not allow De Bruyne to be loaned to any other Belgian club should he be sold.
Regarding Lukaku, he admits he is more than happy to stay at Anderlecht, should his move to Chelsea fail to materialise.
"Occasionally you might yearn for something new, but for now I sit here very well. We'll see where it goes," he said after returning for pre-season training, where he was joined in the first team by his young brother Jordan.
But he still admits a move to England is his dream, adding: "I would really like a top transfer and I have always wanted to go to England."
Bolton Wanderers are reported to be considering a move for German defender Tobias Levels.
Levels started 23 league games for Borussia Monchengladbach last term, but is believed to have been told by boss Lucien Favre that he can look for a new club.
The 24-year-old, who has two years left on his current deal, is now reportedly attracting attention from England.
Levels, who can play full-back or in central defence, revealed that Bolton have been tracking him for some time.
"It was not the first contact with the club [Bolton], they have known about me for some time," he told Kicker.
"The Premier League fascinates me and to play there would be a great challenge.
"I have always said that England interests me."
Levels is reported to have already shunned interest from Ukraine's Dnipro and Neuchatel Xamax of Switzerland.
Chelsea's hopes of signing Santos sensation Neymar are all but over with Spain's two super clubs set to battle it out for his signature.
The Brazilian teenager has been on the agenda of a number of Europe's top clubs this summer after Chelsea had a bid for the 19-year-old rejected last year.
But the west London club look to be out of the running now as race for the signature of one of the world's hottest properties is whittled down to two.
Wagner Ribeiro, Neymar's agent, said: "Real Madrid and Barcelona have no no problem in paying Santos.
"The two have made their proposals and the numbers are good, but the decision is not mine or Santos', the decision is Neymar's.
"But we will not review the proposals until the end of the Copa America Cup. It is not the time for the kid worry about this. He will analyse everything after the competition and tell us what he wants."
Manchester City's hopes of keeping Carlos Tevez at the club have been hit by the news that that Inter Milan's new boss is set to be a fellow Argentinean.
Marcelo Bielsa is in line to take over at the San Siro, replacing Brazilian Leonardo who is on the verge of joining PSG, and he has encouraged Inter president Massimo Moratti to sign the City captain.
The former Manchester United striker's desire to leave City is one of the worst kept secrets in football and the Argentina international could now have his dream realised with a move to Italy.
City are believed to be holding out for £40million for the forward and The Nerazzurri would have no problems in raising the funds, especially if they sell Samuel Eto'o who is wanted by a range of clubs across Europe and has expressed a desire to move.
Star striker not ruling out switch to English top-flight
Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o has revealed he could be open to a Premier League move this summer.
The Cameroon international has sent out mixed messages over whether he will stay with the Nerazzurri, claiming last month he would not leave the Giuseppe Meazza after lifting the Coppa Italia.
However, the 30-year-old now appears to be having second thoughts, with a switch to England possibly on the cards.
He told Il Corriere dello Sport: "I am currently considering my options. I have one month to decide as to whether I want to stay put or choose to move to the Premier League.
Proving myself
"I am now 30 years old and it is very important for me to think about my future before I sign what could be my last contract.
"I have already shown that I have what it takes to play in Italy and I now have the idea of proving myself in England."
Eto'o, who joined Inter from Barcelona two years ago, is under contract in Milan until the summer of 2014.
The striker's words could spark interest in the Premier League having been linked with a move to the English top-flight at various stages of his career.
Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez is the subject of an intense bidding war between Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.
The United chief executive, David Gill, flew to meet the Serie A club’s president, Giampolo Pozzo, to discuss a £30million bid for the 22-year-old.
Gill’s counter-part at City, Brian Marwood, was in talks last weekend but failed to reach an agreement on a £27million move. Chelsea have turned their attention to the Chile international as their long-standing attempt to sign Neymar from Santos appears to have stalled with owner Roman Abramovich unwilling to meet his £40 million buy-out clause.
The Blues bid £22million in January for Sanchez, which was rejected, but as yet have not tabled another offer, according to The Times.
Udinese are hoping the added interest from the Premier League will spark a bidding war for their star who has also attracted interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus. If United manage to steal the signing of Sanchez from under the noses of their neighbours would signify a major coup for the club.
The Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been very busy so far this summer, after signing Phil Jones from Blackburn and on the verge of completing deals for Ashley Young and David de Gea.
Real Madrid and Germany star Mesut Ozil has ruled out a summer move to Manchester United in the wake of Paul Scholes' retirement.
United were interested in Ozil before he left Werder Bremen for Real last August, but the player's agent, Reza Fazeli, says there's no sign of thm coming back in for him as they begin searching for Scholes' replacement in midfield.
"We thank Manchester United for their interest but Ozil is fine in Madrid and has no intention of leaving," said Fazeli.
However, one of Sir Alex Ferguson's more bizarre recent captures, Bebe, is in talks with Turkish club Besiktas about a loan move.
Ferguson broke the habit of a lifetime buy snapping up the striker, who'd been playing in the Portuguese second division, despite never actually seeing him play.
The transfer has not worked out, with the 20-year-old making only seven appearances and scoring just twice.
