Category: Transfer news

Stoke City defensive midfielder Maurice Edu has joined Turkish side Bursaspor on loan until the end of the season.

The American has found himself out of favour at the Britannia Stadium, making just one appearance for the Potters since joining from Rangers in August, and seals the switch after completing a medical on Thursday. It is not yet known if there is an option to buy at the end of the loan.

The USA international, who has 42 caps for the national team, is desperate for first-team football and is optimistic about rediscovering his form after such limited match action.

He told reporters: “I’m really glad to be here. I wasn’t at my best form at Stoke City. I have friends who played here before and they all told me good things about Bursaspor. I’ve also spoken with Jozy Altidore before i came here.

“I know how Bursaspor fans are. I was very surprised with the presence of Bursaspor fans in Scotland back when we’d played against them in the Champions League. Bursaspor and their fans are exciting.”

Empoli striker Riccardo Saponara looks set to join AC Milan next season after Parma, who co-own the player, gave the the green light for the move to go ahead.

Massimilano Allegri’s side have bought Empoli’s 50 per cent stake in the attacker for around €4 million and needed the Gialloblu’s clearance for the transfer to be confirmed.

And Parma revealed on Thursday that the highly rated 21-year-old will be joining the San Siro outfit.

“There was no need for a face-to-face meeting with Milan,” director general Pietro Leonardi told Sport Italia.

“A telephone conversation was all it took to define the situation regarding the future of Saponara.

“Saponara will join Milan in pre-season, but he will remain a co-owned player between our clubs.”

The Italy Under-21 international has featured 18 times for Empoli this season scoring eight goals.

New QPR striker Loic Remy has revealed what it took to seal the deal between him and the Premier League club – a game of Fifa 13 with owner Tony Fernandes.

With the former Marseille man said to have his pick between the Rs and Newcastle prior to his switch to west London, a four-hour talk with Fernandes – culminating in a head-to-head video-gaming session – was “a special moment” for both of them.

“It was a special moment that followed our chat about QPR,” Remy told the club’s official website.

“We just played a game of Fifa – it was good and showed to me what a good person Tony is. He showed his human side to me as an owner of the club I wanted to join. It was a special moment for us both.”

The 26-year-old signed for a club record fee on a four-and-a-half year deal and chief executive Philip Beard insisted that “this move isn’t motivated by money.

“Loic has a passion and desire to achieve in his career and similar to [Julio] Cesar, he wanted to be part of our project,” he declared.

“We know we haven’t achieved our goals so far this season but he wanted to come in and help us build for the future.

“Tony is remarkable, he never gives up – that is his style – and he is as delighted as anyone that we’ve got this deal done.”

However, Beard also stated that, despite the club being delighted to add the striker to their squad, owner Fernandes did hold back a little in their sparring session, adding: “They had great fun but Tony told me he let him win!”

“But in all seriousness, it was a great way for them to get to know each other better.

“Loic was Harry’s No.1 target and we’re delighted we’ve been able to pull this deal off.

“There was a lot of interest in him from other clubs, because he is one of the hottest properties in Europe, so the fact we’ve managed to sign him is incredible.”

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has played down suggestions that Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could return to Old Trafford.

The Portuguese has outlined his intention to see out his current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu but refused to rule out moving on afterwards, with rumours abound that he could make a sensational comeback to his previous team, whom he will face in the Champions League knockout stages.

Gill is realistic, however, telling Sky Sports News: “He is a brilliant player but he is contracted for the next two-and-a-half years at Madrid.

“We are looking forward to welcoming him back, he will get a great reception at Old Trafford in early March and that is all we have got to say.”

Ronaldo scored 117 goals for United over six years at the club, having joined from boyhood side Sporting Lisbon in 2003.

Galatasaray are prepared to wait until February 5 to secure the transfer of Wesley Sneijder, according to club consultant Bulent Tulun.

The Turkish side had agreed a €10 million fee with Inter for the Netherlands international, but the player himself has delayed making a decision on his future.

Goal.com exclusively revealed on Wednesday that Liverpool had stepped up their interest in the player following the impasse with the Istanbul club, but Fatih Terim’s outfit have now clarified they are prepared to bide their time over the deal, as Sneijder and his current employers attempt to resolve a financial dispute.

Tulun, a consultant of club president Unal Aysal, told Hurriyet: “I did not come to Italy for the Sneijder transfer now. I’m here to watch our club’s volleyball match. We gave our offer to Sneijder and agreed with Inter as you know. Now we will await his decision.

“We don’t have any problems with Sneijder or Inter. They had a disagreement over Sneijder’s financial demands. There’s approximately a €2 million disagreement, which makes things harder. We will wait until Feburary 5.”