Football transfer news

Italy international Andrea Dossena has joined Palermo on an initial six-month loan deal from current club Napoli.

The midfielder will make the switch to the Rosanero until the end of the season with the club having the option to sign him permanently after the loan ends.

“The transfer is that of a six-month loan with the right to sign the player at the end of the season,” said an official statement from Palermo.

The Sicily club made the announcement on Thursday that the former Liverpool player will be making the move to the Stadio Renza Barbera after speculation had linked him with several Italian clubs.

Having only made seven league appearances so far this season for his current club Napoli, the 31-year-old will be hoping the move will bring regular football.

The club have announced that: “Dossena is currently training with coach [Gian Piero] Gasperini and his team-mates and will be presented tomorrow at 14.00 [CET].”

Paris Saint-Germain forward Nene is resigned to leaving the French capital and is weighing up offers from clubs around the world, including Italian giants AC Milan.

The 31-year-old, who scored 21 goals last season, has admitted that he is not happy with his situation at the big-spending Ligue 1 side after seeing his playing time reduced this term.

Nene has expressed his desire to return to his native homeland, Brazil, but, he is also assessing other options as he ponders his future.

“I want to return to Brazil as my children want me to come back home so that I can see them more often. I will be more noticed by the national team coach if I return home, but, the problem is that I also have to consider the future of my family,” Nene was quoted by le 10 Sport.

“I still hesitate between the financial and competitive choice. AC Milan? I’m interested and Santos also. There are also several teams in Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, China. I think it will be settled in the next few days.

“My situation really hurts because of all the messages of support the PSG fans have given me. It’s been a difficult situation. I’m not happy if I’m not playing.”

A regular last season, Nene has made just a handful of appearances for the Parisians this campaign and expressed his disappointed at the lack of appreciation shown by the club, though, he refused to criticise his current boss, Carlo Ancelotti.

“It’s true that I’ve been hurt, but I don’t hold a grudge against anyone,” he continued.

“It’s a shame to have helped this club get to where it is and then not having many chances to show that I still have the same level as before. But that’s the way things are, that’s football, but it’s true that I’m disgusted at not being able to do my job properly like before.

“We [Ancelotti and I] have a normal relationship, I respect him and we get on well,” he added.

“Leo [Leonardo] had different opinions to me, I don’t know if it’s him or the club. I think I helped the club a lot to be where it is now … I think I could have been shown more consideration.”

Botafogo director Sidnei Loureiro has revealed that his club were interested in Nene’s signature, however, admitted the cost involved was too much.

“Nene is a great player who is good enough to play for the Brazilian team,” Loureiro said. 

“He should already been playing for the Selecao. It stirs the interest of many clubs here in Brazil today that he is available. We got in touch with his agent, but negotiations did not succeed because of financial values.”

Loureiro’s view was one shared by Internacional president Giovanni Luigi.

He said: “We have indeed considered the possibility of recruiting Nene this winter, but the cost was too high.”

Aston Villa are interested in signing Inter midfielder Philippe Coutinho, according to the player’s agent.

The Brazilian was loaned out to Espanyol last season and has made just five Serie A appearances for the San Siro club this term.

The 20-year-old’s representative, Cacau Barbosa, has now revealed that his client is on the radar of Villans boss Paul Lambert.

“I can confirm Aston Villa made an enquiry,” he told FC Inter News.

“They want him, but with all due respect for the proposal made to Philippe, at this moment there is still nothing concrete to suggest an exit from Inter.”

Coutinho scored on five occasions during his 16-game spell in La Liga last season.

Germany International Aaron Hunt says he is happy at Werder Bremen and does not intend on playing anywhere else.

The 26-year-old still has 18 months remaining on his contract but Hunt insists financial incentives will not entice him away from the club.

“I have been here since I was young; I have been living in Bremen, Germany for 13 years. I have my family and my friends here,” he told reporters.

“It is very important to me to feel comfortable in my environment – which is the case here. Only then I can regain my performance. That’s more important than the financial side.”

Hunt says the issue of extending his stay at Bremen has not arisen yet but says the club and him are both fine with the current arrangement.

He added: “So far, we have not talked about it – and that’s just not even planned. We still have one and a half years left. I’m in no rush and there is no pressure – and probably not for the club. The issue does not concern me yet.”

When asked if he would be tempted by a move away from the club he replied: “It may be that something is coming, but that is far away.”

The midfielder has made a strong start to the season so far, scoring six goals and four assists in 15 appearances for 12th-placed Werder Bremen.

Fiorentina have made two new signings by investing in Torino’s Marko Bakic and Siena’s Marcelo Larrondo.

The 24-year-old, Larrondo, will be making his move after much speculation, while Under-21 Montenegrin starlet Bakic, who is currently on loan at Torino, will join the Viola in the summer.

The Italian club believe the players will be ones for the future after a deal was struck to gain the services of the two midfielders this week.

“Larrondo will join Fiorentina in a co-ownership deal,” Siena director Stefano Antonelli told Fiorentinanews.com.

Meanwhile, Siena are also hoping to boost their chances of avoiding relegation and are interested in acquiring the services of two players from Vincenzo Montella’s squad.

Antonelli added: “We really like Ruben Olivera and Francesco Della Rocca in Fiorentina’s squad, but I think these will be two different and distinct negotiations.”