Nancy have confirmed they have agreed a deal with <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/organisations/sports-teams/english-premier-league-football-teams/newcastle-united">Newcastle</a> for defender <strong>Massadio Haidara</strong>. The 20-year-old full back, who has made 17 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, is to travel to England for a medical with the <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/subjects/english-premier-league-(epl)">English Premier League</a> side. "After 46 games and two-and-a-half years in the Nancy shirt, Massadio Haidara is leaving his former club for Newcastle United, currently sixteenth in the Premier League," a statement on the club's website read. "The two clubs have reached an agreement and will finalise the transfer on Tuesday." Meanwhile the St James Park side are also set to land <strong>Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa</strong> from Montpellier. The defender is set to undergo a medical ahead of a £7m (Dh41.1m) move to England. "This (England) is a country where everybody loves football and I really want to experience this culture," he told Montpellier's website. "It is one of the things you want to discover as a player. "I feel I have given everything to the maximum while at Montpellier. They have been like my second family and have given me everything. There were hard times and good times but there is a very strong bond that unites us." --- <strong>Ashley Cole</strong> has signed a one-year extension to his contract with <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/organisations/sports-teams/english-premier-league-football-teams/chelsea">Chelsea</a>. The England left-back's had been due to expire this summer, putting his future with the club in doubt with a number of top-flight sides linked with a move for the player. But the the 32-year-old has now extended his deal by another year. "I wanted to stay at Chelsea because we are always fighting and challenging for trophies," he said."That desire and the will to want to win things have not gone." --- <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/people/sport/football/arsene-wenger" style="text-align: left;">Arsene Wenger</a><span style="text-align: left;"> insists he was never interested in signing Crystal Palace forward </span><strong style="text-align: left;">Wilfried Zaha</strong><span style="text-align: left;">.</span> <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/organisations/sports-teams/english-premier-league-football-teams/manchester-united">Manchester United</a> admit they are pursuing the 20-year-old, with some reports suggesting that the Premier League leaders are close to agreeing a £15million deal for the England international. <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/organisations/sports-teams/english-premier-league-football-teams/arsenal">Arsenal</a> were also reported to be interested in Zaha, but the Gunners boss today insisted that was never the case. "We were never in for Zaha," Wenger told a press conference. "I don't know if he will go to Man United. If he goes to Man United, good luck to him." --- Relegation-threatened Hoffenheim have signed <strong>David Abraham</strong> from Getafe as they seek to reverse their worst ever first half to a Bundesliga season. The 26-year-old Argentine defender won three Swiss league titles and two Swiss Cups with FC Basel before joining the Spanish team last year. "David has a lot of experience at the top level for his age and that is very important for us at the moment," coach Marco Kurz said. "He is quick and good in one-on-one situations. I am happy that we could convince him to join us." --- <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL0VuZ2xpc2ggUHJlbWllciBMZWFndWUgZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvTGl2ZXJwb29s" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL0VuZ2xpc2ggUHJlbWllciBMZWFndWUgZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvTGl2ZXJwb29s">Liverpool</a> defender <strong>Jamie Carragher</strong> admits he is open-minded about his future at the club as the clock ticks down on his current contract. The veteran centre-back turns 35 next Monday and his existing deal only runs until June. He made only his second Premier League start of the season in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Norwich as manager Brendan Rodgers dropped Martin Skrtel, although he has played regularly in Europe. Asked whether he could play on beyond this season the former England international said: “That’s up to the manager and the club will make decisions like that. “I will just chat to the manager. I am open-minded and I am sure the club are as well. “The most important thing is about the club getting results, not what I am going to do. “That is something we can sort out one way or another.” --- The Seattle Sounders have completed an agreement to loan forward <strong>Fredy Montero</strong> to Colombia's Millonarios for the 2013 season, after the 25-year-old signed a contract extension with the MLS side. Montero has been with Seattle since it started play in 2009 and leads the Sounders with 60 goals and 43 assists in 160 games. "Fredy has been a fantastic player and pro," Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer said in a statement. "We hope this move helps Fredy's chances of being called up to the Colombian national team." --- <strong>Wesley Sneijder</strong> has completed his move to Galatasaray from Inter Milan. The Holland international completed his medical with the Turkish giants earlier today before signing his contract at a ceremony at the club's Turk Telekom Arena. The 28-year-old, whose transfer fee from Inter is believed to be in the region of 10 million euros (Dh48.8m), has penned a reported three-and-a-half-year deal with the Super Lig leaders. Follow us