Liverpool fan favourite completes Bayern Munich switch

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has completed his move to Bayern Munich.

The 31-year-old arrived in Germany on Thursday to finalise a reported £2.5million switch and has signed a three-year contract with the Bundesliga champions after passing a medical.

Reina moves to Bayern in search of more regular playing time, having fallen out of favour at Anfield under Reds boss Brendan Rodgers.

However, he will almost certainly play understudy to current number one, and World Cup winner, Manuel Neuer.

The Spain international enjoyed a successful eight years as the Reds’ first choice man between the sticks, having joined from Villarreal in 2005, though the favourite’s role was marginalised upon the arrival of Simon Mignolet last summer.

Reina then spent an impressive season on loan at Napoli – reunited with former Reds manager Rafa Benitez – who were thought to be keen to bring the Spaniard back to Italy this summer.

But reports suggest a move broke down due to wage demands, and the German giants moved quickly to snap up the unsettled stopper.

Reina won the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his 394 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, and was awarded the Premier League Golden Glove award for the third consecutive season on 2008.

Commenting on his move, he told Bayern’s official website: "I came here as I want to win as many trophies as possible."

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "It reflects what we were looking for. We wanted a goalkeeper who is experienced and established and also has certain footballing qualities."

Arsenal signing, Liverpool-Bayern deal, Di Maria to Man United – test your transfer knowledge!

The Premier League is just over a week away from kick off, which means transfer talk is rife and we're here to test your summer window knowledge with our weekly quiz.

The 2014/15 season promises to be an exciting campaign, with teams throught the top flight strengthening ahead of the first games on Saturday 16 August.

Premier League sides on alert as Atletico Madrid consider loaning out Spain Under-21 star

Atletico Madrid are considering loaning out Spain Under-21 midfielder Saul Niguez, who has been tracked by a quartet of Premier League clubs.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton have all been linked with the 19-year-old, who starred while on loan at Rayo Vallecano last season.

His form at Rayo, where he made 34 league appearances, prompted Atletico officials to earmark him as a first-team player for the 2014/15 campaign.

However, Tiago’s collapsed move to Chelsea means the youngster, who is known as Saul, is likely to be fourth in the central-midfield pecking order behind the Portuguese, Gabi and Mario Suarez.

As such, Spanish newspaper Marca claim Atletico are now willing to farm him out again, and Portuguese champions Benfica are leading the chase to sign him on a short-term basis.

Saul, who still has four more years left on his contract at Atleti, is valued at around £6.5m.

Chelsea Youngster Joins Walsall

Chelsea have offloaded midfielder Billy Clifford to League One side Walsall.

Clifford, who came through the ranks at Stamford Bridge, has signed a short-term deal at Walsall until January.

The 21-year-old failed to make a single senior appearance for the Blues and has spent time on loan at Colchester United, Yeovil Town and Belgian club Royal Antwerp.

Ex-Sunderland midfielder rejoins Hartlepool

Miller, who started out at Hartlepool, returns to the League Two club 13 years after the end of his first spell.

The experienced 35-year-old, who has also appeared for Ipswich Town, Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town, Swindon Town and Bury, is eligible for Hartlepool’s opening game of the season against Stevenage.

Reina Signing Completes Bayern Business

Bayern Munich consider their summer transfer business over and done with after wrapping up a move for Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who has signed a contract until 2017.

Pep Guardiola isn't planning to dip into the market again and is content with his lot, having recruited four players in total, the highest-profile of which is Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.

"We were willing to bring in some more players, but the coach said no and that he's very happy with the squad as it currently stands", Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated from the club's pre-season camp in the USA.

According to Rummenigge, Guardiola feels it wouldn't make sense to make any further signings, as he would then have to cope with "seeing disgruntled players sitting in the stands" owing to the competition for places.

Frank Lampard joins Manchester City on loan for remainder of 2014

 

Frank Lampard is back in England, having officially joined English Premier League champions Manchester City on loan for the remainder of 2014 before he debuts in MLS with expansion side New York City FC in the 2015 season.

The move was first discussed soon after Lampard was revealed as NYCFC's second Designated Player on July 24.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed the move on Saturday, and it was officially announced Wednesday.

“Joining up with Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity for me to continue to train and play at the top level and make sure I am in top condition for New York City,” Lampard said in a statement.

“It's been an amazing few days for me since the unveiling last week, and everyone connected with both clubs has been fantastic to me.

"This is a new chapter of my career and I’m really excited about the experience.”

NYCFC have loaned a number of their already-signed players out to foreign clubs as they prepare for their inaugural MLS season.

Designated Player forward David Villa will play the last half of 2014 with Australia's Melbourne City FC, while defender Jeb Brovsky and midfielder Andrew Jacobson are playing for teams in Norway.

Goalkeeper Josh Saunders is on loan at the NASL's San Antonio Scorpions.

DONE DEAL: Chelsea confirm Middlesbrough move for Kenneth Omeruo

Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo has left Stamford Bridge to extend his loan spell at Middlesbrough for another season.

A statement on Boro’s official website read, “Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo has finalised his return to Middlesbrough on a season long loan…”

“The Nigerian international arrives on the back of a summer that saw him feature in all four of his country’s World Cup matches in Brazil.”

The 20-year-old spent the second half of the last season at Riverside Stadium and will now continue his loan spell for another season with the Championship side. Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has expressed his delight after completing a loan move for Omeruo.

“He is a very important player to us. He’s someone I love to have with us because he’s a player who came here from Chelsea and his mood was always perfect,” Karanka said.

“He was always happy and fighting for his position. He was handed the opportunity to play in the World Cup and he is now coming back to us a better player.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea have released a statement on their official website, wishing the centre-back and also confirming his loan move to Middlesbrough.

“Kenneth Omeruo has returned to Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the season. We wish Kenneth well at Middlesbrough and you can keep updated with his progress here on the official Chelsea website,” the statement read of Chelsea’s official website.

Celtic 0-2 Legia Warsaw (1-6 agg): Hoops' Champions League hopes go up in smoke

Celtic's Champions Leagues hopes went up in smoke as Legia Warsaw comfortably beat the Scottish champions 2-0 in the second leg of their third qualifier at the Murrayfield stadium.

Trailing 4-1 from the first game in Poland, the Hoops' task became virtually impossible when Michal Zyro notched in the 36th minute to quell any notions of a famous fightback.

The Scottish champions were booed off at the interval and when Michal Kucharczyk added a second on the hour mark the atmosphere threatened to turn ugly for a while with the home side and fans ultimately happy to escape without further punishment.

This crucial tie was Ronny Deila's first big test as Parkhead boss since taking over from Neil Lennon and he came up well short.

Celtic drop into the Europa League play-off which is unlikely to stimulate their fans and while the loss of Champions League money - £20million is a familiar figure - will not debilitate the Parkhead club, there may be ramifications.

Few will be surprised if keeper Fraser Forster leaves for pastures new but others such as defenders Virgil van Dijk and Adam Matthews may feel the time is now right to move on.

Moreover, without the lure of European football's elite club competition, Deila may find it difficult to attract the quality of player supporters want to see.

It was crystal clear, over the two legs against Legia, that the former Stromsgodset manager's squad needs bolstering.

Without defender Efe Ambrose - who was sent off in Poland last week - Deila brought in left-back Emilio Izaguirre, midfielder Nir Biton and striker Anthony Stokes with Teemu Pukki and Jo Inge Berget dropping to the bench.

Winger James Forrest started among the substitutes after recovering from a groin injury and he watched his team mates, almost inevitably, push forward from the start looking to get a foothold in the tie.

The home of Scottish rugby - being used again as Celtic Park remains out of commission after being used in the 2014 Commonwealth Games - was far from full and understandably could not replicate the atmosphere of a European night in the east end of Glasgow.

Nevertheless, there was an optimism emanating from the Hoops support as they urged their team forward.

But Legia looked potent going forward and in the 10th minute skipper Ivica Vrdoljak, who missed two penalties in the first game, had a speculative effort from 20 yards which required attention from Forster, seconds before his counterpart at the other end, Dusan Kuciak, did well to smother a Matthews cut-back.

The visitors had certainly not travelled to Edinburgh just to defend which led to an open encounter with both teams swapping shots on goal while neither were particularly diligent in possession.

In the 33rd minute Matthews drove down the right and into the Legia penalty area again but failed to find a team mate with this pass, to the frustration of the home supporters and Stokes in particular.

Three minutes later, it was all over for Celtic.

There seemed no immediate danger when Kucharczyk sent Zyro through against just Izaguirre but he left the Honduran in his wake, drawing Forster and slipping the ball into the corner of the net.

The Glasgow side tried to rally after the break but to no avail.

Stokes forced a good save from Kuciak with a curling shot from 20 yards in the 56th minute before Kris Commons went close with an effort which just escaped the far post.

Striker Leigh Griffiths replaced defender Mikael Lustig which required a reshuffle, captain Charlie Mulgrew dropping back to defence but the Hoops were disjointed and dispirited, all too easily allowing Kucharczyk to sneak into the box, take possession of a Zyro flick and round Forster before knocking in from an angle.

The fans began to turn their ire on chief executive Peter Lawwell as they contemplated the loss of more goals.

Pukki replaced Commons and Forrest came on for Stokes but there was still no way through for Celtic, the noise of the final whistle immediately drowned out by more frustrated boos from those home fans who had stayed to the end, while a healthy travelling support celebrated.

Blow for Arsenal and Liverpool! Real Madrid star signs new deal

Arsenal and Liverpool's hopes of landing Real Madrid star Karim Benzema appear to be over after the forward signed a new five-year contract with the European champions.

The France international had been tipped for a move away due to Los Blancos signing Colombia star James Rodriguez and their reported interest in Monaco striker Radamel Falcao.

But the 26-year-old has agreed fresh terms at Santiago Bernabeu, putting an end to rumours linking him with a £30million move to either the Gunners or the Reds.

Benzema enjoyed a great season last time out, scoring 17 goals in La Liga as he formed one third of Real's potent attack, which included superstars Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.