Chelsea Sign Manea, Hagi Joins Fio

Romania's young defender Cristian Manea has signed for Premier League champions Chelsea from FC Viitorul Constanta while his teammate Ianis Hagi is joining Serie A side Fiorentina, the club said on Thursday.

"Manea and Hagi deals were completed," Viitorul general director Cristian Bivolaru told local media without giving details of the transfer fees or length of contracts.

Manea, who turns 18 in August, made his Romania debut aged just 16 against Albania in a friendly in May 2014.

The teenager, considered one of the best young players in Romania, also attracted interest from Arsenal, Ajax Amsterdam and Udinese before signing for Chelsea, local media reported.

Botosaru said the versatile Manea, who can play at right back, centre back and as a holding midfielder, will probably be loaned out in the Netherlands for the 2015-2016 season.

Ianis Hagi, 16, is the son of former Romania captain Gheorghe Hagi, who founded and owns the club which is known for nurturing young talent in the Black Sea state.

He is an under-17 international and scored once in seven league appearances for Viitorul last season when they finished 11th in the 18-team Romanian league.

Botosaru said there is a possibility Hagi could be loaned back to Viitorul for a season.

Akpan, Thank God Close To Warriors Debut

There are strong indications that Abia Warriors’ newly signed duo of Ike ThankGod and Bassey Akpan will make their debut against Glo Premier League leaders Sunshine Stars, on Sunday.

The duo joined the Umuahia side as free agents ahead of the resumption of the league, on Sunday.

“Everything depends on what they put up during training on Wednesday and Thursday. Both players are great additions to the team,” Bosso said to supersport.com.

ThankGod joins the club after a stint in Oman, while Akpan is set to play for his second club this term after brief romance with Bayelsa United.

Interestingly, the former youth international played in Vietnam before returning to the country.

Akpan has already been assigned the number 18 shirt.

Germany, Canada Held; Ivorians Lose

Wang Lisi's late winner got China's Women's World Cup campaign back on track as Germany were held 1-1 by Norway and Canada played a goalless draw against New Zealand on Thursday.

China's Group A tie in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium looked to be heading for frustration before Wang broke through to roll the ball past Sari Van Veenendaal in the Dutch goal one minute into extra time.

It gave the 'Steel Roses' a vital three points after losing their opening match to Canada, who had to settle for a goalless draw against New Zealand.

Canada remain top of Group A with four points from two games, ahead of China and the Netherlands, who have three. New Zealand are bottom of the group with one point.

"I think they did an excellent job today. We could have scored more and been more efficient," said China coach Hao Wei.

"In the beginning I said Group A was very even, all teams are similar in their strengths so I wish we could have scored more," added the Chinese coach.

In Group B ties over in Ottawa, a second half Maren Mjelde equaliser grabbed a 1-1 draw for Norway against top ranked Germany in a clash of former champions.

Anja Mittag had put 2003 and 2007 champions Germany ahead after just six minutes with her fourth goal following her hat-trick in their opening 10-0 whipping of Ivory Coast.

But midfielder Mjelde equalised for 1995 winners Norway with a stunning free kick past former world player of the year Nadine Angerer in the Germany goal after 61 minutes.

THAILAND MAKE HISTORY

The Germans next play Thailand who came from a goal down to keep their hopes of advancing alive with a 3-2 win over fellow newcomers Ivory Coast.

"We are very lucky, because even though we had less attacking chances, we got our first victory in our country's history," said Thailand coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian.

"We are honoured to be playing the best team in the world Germany in our next match and will do our absolute best to win."

Ivorian striker Ange Nguessan had given the African side the lead after four minutes but Thailand hit back with three unanswered goals.

A double from Orathai Srimanee after 26 and 45+3 minutes, and a Thanatta Chawong effort on 75 saw the Asian side bounce back from a 4-0 loss to Norway in their opener.

Josee Nahi got one back for the Ivory Coast two minutes from time, but it was too little for the African side with just one game remaining.

"It's a sad night for us and for the people of Ivory Coast," said Clementine Toure of the the lowest ranked side in the tournament at 67.

Germany coach Silvia Neid admitted her side had nearly paid heavily for letting their guard down after dominating early against the 11th-ranked Scandinavians.

"We just didn't play as well in the second half - and then Norway gained hope," said Neid.

The result leaves Germany and Norway topping Group B with four points. Thailand are third with three points with Ivory Coast bottom with none.

"The end result was fair, but we were lucky - (Germany) could have killed this game in the first half," said Norway coach Even Pellerud.

In the final round of group games on Monday, Germany play Thailand in Winnipeg and Norway take on the Ivory Coast in Moncton.

Champions Japan and the United States will play their second round matches on Friday.

Japan come up against Cameroon in Group C in Vancouver, with group rivals Switzerland up against Ecuador.

The United States play Sweden in Group D in Winnipeg, with Australia up against African champions Nigeria.

Liverpool Reject City's Bid For Sterling

Liverpool have rejected Manchester City's £25 million offer for unsettled England forward Raheem Sterling, according to reports on Thursday.

Sterling has told Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers he wants to leave Anfield to join a club who can offer him Champions League action next season and City have made the first move in what could prove a lengthy saga to settle his future.

According to the Times, City's bid valued Sterling at £25 million, with an additional £5 million to be paid in potential add-ons.

But Liverpool are determined to keep hold of their most gifted youngster and have snubbed the approach for the 20-year-old, who has two years remaining on his current £35 000-a-week contract.

It is believed that only an astronomical offer of at least £50 million could persuade Liverpool to consider letting Sterling leave.

Liverpool remain keen to convince Sterling to sign a new contract, even though he rejected a deal that would have paid him around £100 000-a-week earlier this year.

Sterling's refusal to commit to Liverpool has angered the club's supporters, who jeered him at an end of season awards dinner.

The situation turned even uglier when his agent Aidy Ward last month said there was no chance Sterling would extend his contract no matter how much money Liverpool offered.

Liverpool responded by cancelling a scheduled meeting with Sterling and his representative, while Rodgers left the winger on the bench for the team's 6-1 thrashing at Stoke on the final day of the Premier League season.

City's approach for Sterling is unlikely to be their last since it came just hours after the club's chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak promised "high-quality" signings and admitted Manuel Pellegrini's team failed to meet expectations during their failed defence of the Premier League title.

Speaking in an interview with City TV, Khaldoon said: "We want a squad that is able and has the capability and quality to win the Premier League, compete and win the Champions League, compete and be able to go all the way in two cup competitions in England.

"I think you will see some changes. You will see some players who have served us well and maybe it is time for them to move to their next challenge, and you will see us in the market bringing high-quality individuals that fit within what we are aspiring to coming in this summer.

"I can assure you the squad will be stronger, the team will be more competitive. I am both confident and excited about what is coming next year."

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are also reported to be interested in Sterling, who is currently on international duty with England ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia on Sunday.

Diaby On Arsenal Release List

Abou Diaby's injury-scarred nine-year stint at Arsenal is due to finish after he was included on a list of players to be released by the club on Wednesday.

Diaby, 29 and capped 16 times by France, had his ankle broken by Sunderland's Dan Smith shortly after joining Arsenal from Auxerre in January 2006 and has been bedevilled by injury ever since.

The midfielder's Arsenal tenure has been a succession of lengthy absences followed by aborted comebacks, with a cruciate knee ligament injury restricting him to just two appearances over the past two seasons.

While Diaby's contract is due to expire on June 30, the Premier League stresses that its list of released players "should not be seen as definitive for players leaving their club".

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has repeatedly expressed his belief in Diaby, in whom he has shown great patience.

"Diaby is a player that I have an enormous amount of respect for," Wenger said last November.

"Every time he comes back he has to start from zero with another injury. He is not a fragile player. He was the victim of an assassin's tackle that went unpunished."

Japan midfielder Ryo Miyaichi, who has had several spells on loan at other clubs since arriving in January 2011, was also named on Arsenal's release list.

'Tevez Would Fit In Well At Atletico'

Juventus striker Carlos Tevez would be a perfect fit for Atletico Madrid and the La Liga club are in talks with the Argentine's agents, coach Diego Simeone said.

Tevez helped Juve to another Serie A title and the Champions League final this season and Atletico are on the alert with speculation in Italy and Spain that he is looking to leave.

"I know the club is speaking with his agent," Simeone told Spanish newspaper As on Wednesday.

"It is always good to have a player like Tevez. He is hot-blooded, which is a healthy part of this sport, and that is aside from how many goals he is able to score in a season.

"He would be a perfect signing considering the football that Atletico Madrid play."

Atletico are looking to boost their forward line and Tevez would fit into their determined style based on hard work.

They lost Diego Costa to Chelsea last year and while Antoine Griezmann has come in and done well, Atletico were hoping for more from Croatian Mario Mandzukic.

"He (Mandzukic) is a good player and a good guy," said Simeone.

"He himself was unhappy at the way he was unable to continue performing how he had done up to February. I said to him, 'we have to beat the record that you had at Bayern of 28 goals,' but he was unable unfortunately."

Villarreal starlet Luciano Vietto is another target for Simeone who gave him his debut at Argentine side Racing Club.

"We are close and I hope to have him for next season because for me he has extraordinary ability in combining going forward," said the Atletico coach.

"I think that he is very similar to (David) Villa when he started off, without being the goalscorer that was the Spanish forward, but with the movement in the build-up which is very difficult to see in football at the moment.

"He is very tactical and has done very well at Villarreal. As a kid I know him very well because he was with me at Racing and I put him in the first team.

"I hope he comes because he would be an important signing."

Atletico finished third in La Liga last season after winning the title in 2014.