Agencies
Manchester City
Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko on Wednesday signed a new four-year contract which will keep him at the Premier League champions until at least 2018.
The Bosnian international’s current deal had only 10 months to run and manager Manuel Pellegrini’s determination to keep the striker was fully justified by his performance as City beat Newcastle 2-0 on Sunday.
“I’m really happy here at City – it’s a second home to me so it was an easy decision to stay for the long-term,” Dzeko told the City website.
“I knew from the beginning when I started here that I wanted to stay for a long time – I can’t see any place better than here.”
“I’m settled perfectly to life here, I know my teammates, the club, the team, very well and I feel like I can improve even more.
“Over the last three-and-a-half years we’ve made history together but I feel like we are only at the start of something really special.
“There are still so many objectives and goals that I want to reach from my career in the game and I believe I am in the perfect place to achieve them all.”
Dzeko has scored 66 goals for City including the equaliser against QPR on the last day of the 2011/12 season which paved the way for Sergio Aguero to hit the injury-time championship-winning goal.
Pellegrini had been full of praise for the 28-year-old – who joined City from Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg for £27 million (Dh164.3m) in 2011 – after his crucial role at St James’ Park at the weekend.
Dzeko created the opening goal for David Silva and the second came in stoppage time from one of his rivals for a place in the City forward line, substitute Aguero.
“It’s not strange for me to see him play like that because he finished last season playing very well. He has grown. He’s a team player,” said Pellegrini.
“I’m very happy for him. That’s why he is renewing his contract here – he has a very important duty in our team.”
Queens Park Rangers
Dutch international Leroy Fer became Premier League newboys Queens Park Rangers’ latest signing on Wednesday when he joined from Championship outfit Norwich City.
The 24-year-old midfielder – who was part of the Dutch squad that reached the World Cup semi-finals – signed a three-year contract with QPR.
Fer, who scored in the Netherlands’ 2-0 group stage win over Chile at the World Cup, spent just a season at Norwich, after moving from Dutch side Twente, scoring three goals in 29 appearances but was unable to stop them being relegated from the Premier League.
“Leroy’s arrival is a massive boost for us,” said QPR manager Harry Redknapp.
“He’s another excellent signing and I’m delighted we’ve been able to get him to QPR.”
Redknapp has already brought in veteran Rio Ferdinand, fellow central defender Steven Caulker and Jordon Mutch – the latter two from Cardiff who like Norwich were relegated last season – in the close season as well as Mauricio Isla on loan.
QPR, who were relegated from the Premier League two seasons ago, began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Hull last Saturday.
Crystal Palace
Preferred candidate Malky Mackay is out of the running to take charge of Crystal Palace after the English Football Association opened an investigation into the conduct of the Scot during his time at Cardiff City, British media reported.
The Daily Mirror and Daily Mail both reported that the FA were looking into a series of text messages sent between Mackay and Crystal Palace director of football Iain Moody when the pair worked together at Cardiff. The FA did not answer calls from Reuters about the matter.
Moody left his role as head of recruitment at the Welsh club at the end of last year after being suspended by Malaysian owner Vincent Tan with Mackay sacked in the final days of 2013 after a public disagreement over transfer spending.
Moody then joined Palace shortly after with Tony Pulis then taking over as manager of the South London club and leading them to an 11th place finish in the Premier League last term, while Cardiff were relegated.
But Pulis, who was named Premier League manager-of-the-season after his work steering Palace away from relegation, rocked the club by standing down as boss two days before last week’s opening fixture against Arsenal.
Former Scotland defender Mackay had been expected to sign a three-year contract to take charge of Palace and reunite with Moody this week ahead of Saturday’s London derby at home to West Ham United.
Both newspapers said that Moody was expected to resign from his post after the FA opened an investigation.
British media also reported that former England manager Glenn Hoddle, who had just taken an assistant coach role at London rivals Queens Park Rangers, had also turned down the job after an approach from Palace co-chairman Steve Parish on Wednesday.
British media speculated that Tim Sherwood, who took charge of Tottenham Hotspur for six months last season, had become favourite to replace Pulis but that the deal would not be concluded this week.
That would mean Keith Millen, who oversaw the opening 2-1 defeat by Arsenal, would continue in temporary charge of first team affairs.
Norwich City
Cameron Jerome has become the third striker to join Norwich this summer after moving from Stoke for an undisclosed fee.
After the acquisitions of Lewis Grabban and Kyle Lafferty, Jerome has further bolstered Neil Adams’ attacking options by signing a three-year deal.
It was a busy day for the Canaries in the transfer market with Leroy Fer moving to QPR for a club-record fee while free agent defender Carlos Cuellar was brought in and Michael Turner signed a new deal.
“It’s a massive club and from my point of view, where I am in my career, I just need to be playing regularly and Norwich have made me feel very welcome,” Jerome said in quotes published on the club’s official website.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Aston Villa full-back Joe Bennett has joined Championship club Brighton on a season-long loan.
The 24-year-old defender watched Albion’s 2-0 win at Leeds on Tuesday night before completing a medical and signing on Wednesday.
He had fallen out of favour at Villa Park and Brighton were in need of reinforcements after missing out on Stephen Ward last week.
Ward was poised to join Albion after they agreed a fee with Wolves, following his successful loan at The Amex last season, before Burnley hijacked the move.
“I’m delighted we have agreed with Joe and Aston Villa to bring him here on a season-long loan,” Brighton manager Sami Hyypia told the club’s official website.
Leeds United
Italian Mirco Antenucci has joined Leeds for an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old striker had been at Elland Road for talks on Wednesday and tweeted a photograph of himself in front of the pitch as well as one of him signing his papers with the club’s football consultant, Graham Bean.
“Proud to be a part of this club,” he wrote. “I hope to give you a lot of satisfaction.”
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