Crystal Palace beat Leicester to Campbell capture

Crystal Palace have announced the signing of Cardiff striker Fraizer Campbell.

Cardiff accepted two bids from the Premier League for the 26-year-old, with Palace and newly promoted side Leicester City both triggering his release clause - thought to be around £900,000.

And the frontman decided to pen a three-year deal with the London-based Eagles, bringing his 18-month stay in Wales to a close.

Campbell came through the youth ranks at Manchester United at the start of his career, but made his professional debut with Belgian side Royal Antwerp while on loan from Old Trafford during the 2006/07 season.

That stint was a success, as was a spell with Hull the following term, and he subsequently spent time on loan with Tottenham before departing United - for whom he had made a total of just four appearances - to join Sunderland in 2009.

In January 2013 he switched to Cardiff and helped them win the Championship title that season - one in which Palace were also promoted, via the play-offs.

But he could not prevent the Welsh outfit from making a swift return to the second tier, with them finishing bottom of the Barclays Premier League in 2013/14.

He arrives at Palace, who came 11th last term, having netted 16 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Bluebirds.

Man United transfer blow! Roma boss rules out Strootman exit

Manchester have received a blow in their pursuit of Holland international Kevin Strootman, with Roma manager Rudi Garcia ruling out an exit for the Dutchman this summer.

The Red Devils are understood to retain an interest in Strootman and reports in Italy claim the 20-time English champions have bid at least £30million for the highly-rated Netherlands international

New United manager Louis van Gaal knows Strootman well from his time as Holland coach.

However, Van Gaal had to do without the midfielder at the World Cup as he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in March.

United would need to see the player, who moved to Roma from PSV Eindhoven last summer, had made a full recovery before launching any bid.

But Garcia insists the 24-year-old is going nowhere during the transfer window.

"Strootman is a Roma player. He will be a Roma player this year. There is no doubt about that," Garcia said on the eve of Roma's friendly against United in Denver, USA.

"Only he can say whether he wants to stay but it was never an issue for him to go to another club. There is no question of it.

Strootman is currently training in Boston, where Roma played Liverpool earlier this week, and will therefore not turn out against United on Saturday in Colorado.

"Strootman is following a normal recovery programme, he has stayed in Boston to work with our physios," Garcia added. "He will start running any time soon."

Drogba will have bit-part role for Chelsea this season, claims Walker

Former Chelsea winger Clive Walker believes returning Blues legend Didier Drogba will have to settle for the role of ‘super-sub’ at Stamford Bridge this season.

Drogba sealed a dramatic south west London homecoming on Friday, signing a one-year deal for the side he fired to Champions League glory in 2012.

The 36-year-old netted 157 goals in 341 appearances during his eight-year initial stay at Stamford Bridge, and the frontman was named Chelsea’s greatest ever player in a poll of fans following his exit.

And while Walker admits Drogba may find his playing time reduced, with £32million summer signing Diego Costa likely to be Jose Mourinho’s favoured sole striker, the ex-Blues man believes he could still have a big impact at the club this term.

“Drogba was a fantastic scorer and a great talisman for the club for eight years, but I don’t think you can look back on that now, it’s a new period in his career,” he told Kick Off.

“It will remain to be seen if he starts many games next season, it will all depend on the fitness of Diego Costa, Fernando Torres and possibly Romelu Lukaku as well.

“But his own fitness will be a big factor. At 36, can he still produce at that level for 90 minutes?

"I think we can all agree that Drogba won’t be a starting player for Chelsea this season, but my initial feeling is, what a man to bring on with 20 minutes to go!

“He will give a huge boost to the team and the fans, he’ll lift the whole of Stamford Bridge when he enters the field.

“He’ll certainly still be a danger, there’s no doubt about that. If he’s in the penalty area and you put the balls in the box he will score goals. He’s still a gamechanger.

“He’s got that love for the football club, which will give him a huge lift and I’m sure he can raise his game to the necessary level to play for a club like Chelsea again.”

Liverpool injury blow! Lallana to miss start of season with knee problem

Liverpool have confirmed summer signing Adam Lallana is set to miss the start of the new Premier League season after limping out of training on Friday.

The 26-year-old, who secured a £26million to Anfield earlier this month, suffered knee ligament damage during a session at the club’s training base in Boston, as the Reds continue their pre-season tour of the United States.

The Merseyside outfit have offered no timeframe on the midfielder’s likely return to fitness, though such injuries can result in a spell of anywhere up to six weeks on the sidelines.

Liverpool did at least confirm Lallana’s injury does not require surgery, following an assessment carried out by club medical staff.

However, the news is clearly a setback for the England international, who will undergo further assessment in America and on his return to Liverpool.

The injury means the former Southampton captain will almost certainly miss Liverpool’s opening game of the campaign against his old club at Anfield.