Football transfer news

Mainz director of football Cristian Heidel has admitted that new signing Ivan Klasnic was only the club’s back up option, after they failed to land first choice target Adrian Ramos from Hertha Berlin.

The 32-year-old has signed a one-year-deal with Die Nullfunfer, despite interest from Gaziantepspor in Turkey, following a two year stay at Bolton Wanderers.

“Klasnic has always been our plan B and after the Ramos transfer fell through we called Ivan on Saturday morning,” he told reporters.

“We were looking for an experienced player who knows the Bundesliga to add to our young attacking department.

“We see that someone in Ivan Klasnic, who has shown his qualities, especially his goalscoring qualities, at every club he has been with so far.”

Mainz will be hoping the 32-year-old can find his shooting boots with immediate effect after scoring just a single goal in their first two Bundesliga outings.

Gianluca Zambrotta’s agent, Giuseppe Bonetto, has dismissed reports that his client is in negotiations with Roma, declaring that he does not fit in with their plans.

The Giallorossi are keen on adding cover to the left-back position following injuries to both Federico Balzaretti and Dodo, but the 35-year-old has been ruled out of contention by his representative.

“There is no evidence behind this story,” Bonetto said to vocegiallorossa.it.

“There is no point asking director Walter Sabatini or coach Zdenek Zeman for their opinions on Zambrotta, as it’s obvious they’ll say he’s a great professional, but for obvious reasons he is not in Roma’s plans.

“I speak to Walter every day and he confirmed to me this move is impossible. Zambrotta is not part of the Roma project because of his age among other reasons.”

Zambrotta is available as a free agent after his contract with AC Milan expired at the end of last season.

Fulham will continue to seek action against Premier League rivals Liverpool over their pursuit of Clint Dempsey.

The 29-year-old was the subject of intense interest from the Reds throughout the summer transfer window before eventually signing for Tottenham just hours before the window closed.

However, despite not joining the Anfield club, the Cottagers are determined to see the Merseysiders held to account for what they deemed an illegal chase of their player.

A Premier League statement confirmed: “We have received a complaint from Fulham regarding comments made by Liverpool FC officials and are looking into the matter.”

The case relates to comments made by Brendan Rodgers during the club’s pre-season tour of America on the same day that Fenway Sports Group’s official website erroneously claimed that Dempsey had joined the Reds.

Rodgers admitted Liverpool had made an approach for the USA international stating: “Clint is a player we’ve inquired about, it is as simple as that.

“Ian Ayre, our managing director, has spoken with the club to see what the position is. That is where we’re at.

“He’s a very talented player but we don’t like to talk about other clubs’ players.”

Arsenal have included Marouane Chamakh and Andrey Arshavin in their Champions League squad despite speculation regarding their futures.

The Morocco international joined the Gunners in the summer of 2010 scoring seven goals in his first season. However, the striker’s opportunities were limited last season and the 28 year-old is yet to play in the north London club’s first three games this season, amid interest from Besiktas.

Arshavin has also been sleceted despite not being included in the first-team plans for the Gunners’ last two Premier League games against Stoke and Liverpool.

Also included in the Gunners’ 25 man squad are new signings Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud as well as Theo Walcott who was subject to speculation regarding his future at the end of the summer transfer window. Jack Wilshere qualifies as an Under-21 player and therefore does not need to be registered in the squad.

Full squad:

Name

Goalkeepers:

Wojciech Szczezny

Lukasz Fabianski

Vito Mannone

Defenders:

Kieran Gibbs

Carl Jenkinson

Thomas Vermaelen

Laurent Koscielny

Andre Santos

Per Mertesacker

Sebastian Squillaci

Johan Djorou

Midfielders:

Aaron Ramsey

Abou Diaby

Mikel Arteta

Tomas Rosicky

Theo Walcott

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Santi Cazorla

Serge Gnabry

Forwards:

Lukas Podolski

Oliver Giroud

Gervinho

Andrey Arshavin

Marouane Chamakh

Olympique Lyonnais have confirmed the signing of French midfielder Arnold Mvuemba from FC Lorient, for a fee of €3 million.

The ex Rennes man featured in 109 league games for the club, with a goalscoring return of nine goals after joining Les Merlus following his release from Portsmouth.

The 27-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year-deal at the French giants, pledging his future to the club until June 2016, whilst Lyon midfielder Enzo Reale has joined Lorient in a €1m deal.

Mvuemba is hopeful of attracting the attention of the French national team with his performances at his new club, who he is yet to make his senior debut for.

The former France under-21 international will be unveiled to the media tomorrow at 4pm, following the closure of the French transfer window on Tuesday night.