Gervinho signs for Hebei from Roma
SHIJIAZHUANG (China) • Ivory Coast international Gervinho has joined Hebei from AS Roma, the Chinese Super League club announced yesterday.
The newly-promoted club based in Qinhuangdao in northern Hebei Province did not disclose contract details.
Chelsea's Ramires could soon join the former Arsenal forward in China's top flight after Jiangsu Suning made a bid of around £25 million (S$50.93 million) for the Brazil midfielder. Ramires, 28, will become the most expensive player in Chinese football history if he completes the move.
XINHUA
Gunners' Oezil deal
is exposed online LONDON • Arsenal became the latest victims of Football Leaks yesterday when the crusading website published details of the club's €50 million (S$77 million) agreement with Real Madrid to sign Mesut Oezil.
The most eye-catching element of the deal is a clause giving Real the first option to sign Oezil should Arsenal choose to sell him to another Spanish club, while they also secured a potentially lucrative sell-on clause giving them 33 per cent of any future transfer fee above €50 million.
THE TIMES, LONDON
Atletico Madrid appeal against ban
MADRID • Atletico Madrid lodged an appeal on Monday against a one-year transfer ban imposed by Fifa over their dealing in under-age players.
The ban starts from the July transfer window this year and finishes with the January transfer market in 2017.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Newcastle settle on fee for Townsend
LONDON • Newcastle United have agreed to sign out-of-favour Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend for £12 million (S$24.45 million), British media reported yesterday.
Townsend, 24, a regular in the England squad last season, has made just seven appearances for Spurs in all competitions this campaign and has not started a Premier League game so far.
Meanwhile, Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen faces weeks on the sidelines with damaged knee ligaments after falling awkwardly following an elbow to the face by Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham in the Premier League on Saturday.
REUTERS
Bouncers legitimate, insists NZ's Boult
WELLINGTON • New Zealand paceman Trent Boult yesterday described seeing team-mate Mitchell McClenaghan felled by a bouncer as "stomach churning" and "scary", but insisted such deliveries are a part of the game.
McClenaghan was felled during the Black Caps' win over Pakistan in Wellington on Monday when an Anwar Ali delivery smashed through his helmet grille, fracturing his left eye socket. The injury revived painful memories of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes' death after a ball struck his head in 2014, with Boult saying he did not want to dwell on McClenaghan's injury.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
