Former Liverpool boss targeting swoop for Anfield star?

Napoli boss Rafa Benitez is still hopeful of raiding a Premier League side for a defensive midfielder.

The former Liverpool boss has been linked with a move for Anfield star Lucas Leiva – having purchased the Brazilian during his time on Merseyside – with Tottenham man Sandro and Manchester United misfit Marouane Fellaini also reported targets.

So far Benitez has been constantly rebuffed but, after failing to complete a permanent move for Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who joined Bayern Munich, he is now fully focussed on capturing an anchor man and defensive shield.

“There are a lot of names on the list, but we are where we are and I, as the coach, have to think about preparing his team,” he said.

“We have tried to do something until the end but we haven’t had time. We will continue to work in the next days.”

Reports - Man United make £16m bid for Argentina star

Manchester United have bid £16m for Sporting Lisbon left-back Marcos Rojo, according to reports in Portugal.

Sport paper O'Jogo claims Louis van Gaal has tabled an offer to take the Argentina international to Old Trafford.

United splashed out £31m on Luke Shaw earlier this summer, but the Reds parted company with Alex Buttner and Patrice Evra and are without cover for the former Southampton man.

Rojo, at 6ft tall, can also play at centre-back and that may appeal to Van Gaal as he plans to adopt a new 3-5-2 formation.

United have reportedly offered around £9.5m up front, with £6.5m to be paid off in future instalments.

But Rojo is only part-owned by Sporting, with sports investment group Doyen owning 75 per cent of the player's economic rights, which could make the deal more difficult.

Blow for Arsenal? Casillas ready for right for Real Madrid place

Arsenal target Iker Casillas looks set to continue his career at Real Madrid after coming through a dip in form.

The Spain keeper lost starting spot at the Bernabeu last season, but was still named number one in the national side that was embarrassed at the World Cup.

Madrid have signed Keylor Navas this summer to offer even more competition to Casillas, the club captain, but he is not jumping ship even though a number of Premier League sides would love to sign him.

“I understand that when you play so long at Madrid constantly your name sounds good and bad, luckily in my case it has usually been good," he said.

“You have to face up and cope with the situation. I've always faced up and I will not hide.

“I understand that when you are at Madrid you are always being watched. But I have been treated great, I have no complaints. I want to push myself even more than the previous year.

“There is no getting around it. I have not been at my best in recent games, with Real Madrid and the national team, but I've had worse moments in my sporting life. And I have analysed and learned from them.”

Blow for Arsenal? Casillas ready for right for Real Madrid place

Arsenal target Iker Casillas looks set to continue his career at Real Madrid after coming through a dip in form.

The Spain keeper lost starting spot at the Bernabeu last season, but was still named number one in the national side that was embarrassed at the World Cup.

Madrid have signed Keylor Navas this summer to offer even more competition to Casillas, the club captain, but he is not jumping ship even though a number of Premier League sides would love to sign him.

“I understand that when you play so long at Madrid constantly your name sounds good and bad, luckily in my case it has usually been good," he said.

“You have to face up and cope with the situation. I've always faced up and I will not hide.

“I understand that when you are at Madrid you are always being watched. But I have been treated great, I have no complaints. I want to push myself even more than the previous year.

“There is no getting around it. I have not been at my best in recent games, with Real Madrid and the national team, but I've had worse moments in my sporting life. And I have analysed and learned from them.”

Portsmouth manager thanks supporters after 'smashing' fundraising goal

Portsmouth manager Andy Awford joined talkSPORT to thank fans for their part in a fundraising scheme that raised over a quarter of a million pounds for the club’s new city-based training ground.

Pompey underlined a target of £250,000 to raise before the start of the new season, with quirky incentives such as a meal with club captain Johnny Ertl on offer for supporters, and the club’s loyal fan base certainly delivered.

“The supporters have astounded us all,” Awford told the Transfer Tavern.

“The generosity they’ve shown, they’ve got behind the club again for such a vital cause, we’ve not had our own training ground for years.

“They’ve raised enough money for a load of new pitches that are vital for us at the training ground, to allow the academy to train and to play matches at the weekend, so that’s really important for the club.

“We set a target of £250,000 and they smashed it, raising a total of £260,755 - it’s amazing what they’ve managed to do.”

Arsenal new boy Chambers: ‘I don’t know my best position’

Arsenal summer signing Calum Chambers has admitted to talkSPORT he is still unsure about his preferred position on the pitch.

The former Southampton star, 19, came through the ranks at St Mary’s and spent most of the last campaign at right-back, but since his £16million arrival at the Emirates he has now twice played at centre-half.

During the Gunners’ 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield he was barely troubled alongside Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal in the middle of the backline.

And after the match, when asked what his best position was, Chambers replied: “I don’t know.

“I’m really enjoying playing at centre-half and it could be my position this year, I don’t know, but I feel confident there and I’m just hoping to play as many games as possible.”

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Captain Brunt signs new three-year deal at West Brom

West Brom captain Chris Brunt has penned a new three-year contract with the Premier League side.

Earlier this summer, the Baggies had activated a 12-month option on the 29-year-old Northern Ireland international’s previous contract, but he has now agreed improved terms until 2017.

Albion head coach Alan Irvine said: "I'm delighted we have extended Chris' contract by a further two years.

He's our captain, has great quality and experience and is clearly a very, very important player for us.

"Chris is an influential figure both on and off the pitch. He has the respect of all the players and staff and is a top class professional."

Brunt, who moved to the Hawthorns in August 2007, is one match away from his 250th competitive appearance for the club.

He took over the captaincy during the 2010/11 season, and earlier this week Irvine had confirmed he would retain it for the coming season, meaning he had served as skipper for four different managers - Roy Hodgson, Steve Clarke, Pepe Mel and Irvine.

Brunt joins England goalkeeper Ben Foster in signing a new deal after a busy summer which has already seen Craig Gardner, Joleon Lescott, Chris Baird, Brown Ideye, Cristian Gamboa, Jason Davidson, Sebastien Pocognoli and Andre Wisdom join the Baggies.

Fulham goalkeeper joins Monaco on loan

Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has joined Monaco in a season-long loan deal.

The 31-year-old Dutch stopper had a disappointing season at Craven Cottage last term after arriving from Roma and was unable to prevent the London club's relegation from the Premier League.

He will compete with Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic for the number one spot at the Ligue 1 side.

Stekelenburg, who missed out on selection for the Netherlands’ 2014 World Cup squad, told the club’s official website: "I am happy to be a part of the project of the club.

"I am fully going to give myself for my new colours. I am a 'technical' goalkeeper. I like playing far from my goals and helping the team."

Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev was pleased to have bolstered his club's goalkeeping options, having been heavily linked with Victor Valdes earlier this summer only to withdraw their interest in the former Barcelona man over medical concerns.

He said: "We are happy to have another goalkeeper with such an international experience, having played in the final of the 2010 World Cup with the Netherlands."

Vermaelen completes £15m move from Arsenal to Barcelona

Thomas Vermaelen has finalised his switch from Arsenal to Spanish giants Barcelona.

The Belgian defender signed a five-year deal with the Catalan club on Sunday after the two clubs announced they had agreed a £15million deal.

Barcelona said in a statement on their website: "Thomas Vermaelen is now officially an FC Barcelona player.

"A few minutes past 11:15am, the player signed a contract with the Catalan club. It is an agreement that binds him with the club for the next five seasons, until 2018/19."

Vermaelen, 28, made a total of 150 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions after joining from Ajax in June 2009.

Despite being Arsenal's captain, he struggled for a regular starting spot in recent seasons, with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny ahead of him in the pecking order.

He is the second central defender to sign for Barcelona this summer, after Valencia's Jeremy Mathieu.

Vermaelen was also wanted by Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal, but it is understood that Arsenal proposed a swap deal which the Red Devils were not prepared to do.

Transfer rumours and paper review – Sunday, August 10

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Sunday's newspapers..

Manchester United are poised to make a £30m bid for Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels. Should they not land Hummels, then £17m Ajax utility man Daley Blind is their back-up option. (Star on Sunday)

United face a battle with Arsenal to land Hummels, however, with the Gunners keen to land a new centre-back after selling Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona. (Mail on Sunday)

Manchester United are increasingly confident that they will sign Juventus star Arturo Vidal with Javier Hernandez heading in the opposite direction. (Sunday Express)

Manchester United have been given until Friday to make a firm offer for Juan Cuadrado, the Fiorentina winger, after the Italian club’s president admitted that they would not be able to refuse an offer meeting the Colombian’s £25 million asking price. (Sunday Times)

Chelsea and Manchester United are set to battle it out for Roma defender Mehdi Benatia. (Sunday Express)

Brendan Rodgers wants his Liverpool bosses to push the boat out and land Wilfried Bony. Bony is keen on making a move to Merseyside but the major obstacle is that the Anfield giants' ‘transfer committee’ are worried the 25-year-old is not worth his £19million price-tag. (Sunday People)

Daniel Agger’s future is being monitored by THREE London clubs after making it clear to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers that he wants to leave. West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham are all considering a move. (Sunday Mirror)

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is hopeful of being reunited with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Napoli. (Independent on Sunday)

Kolo Toure could be on his way out of Liverpool after agreeing terms with Turkish side Trabzonspor. (Metro)

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to sign troubled West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison, 21. (Independent on Sunday)

QPR are launching a bid to sign Lassana Diarra from Lokomotiv Moscow. Diarra, 29, blossomed under manager Harry Redknapp while at Portsmouth and was part of the 2008 FA Cup-winning side. (Mail on Sunday)