Di Maria is 'one of best signings' Man United could make, insists Old Trafford hero

Federico Macheda insists Angel di Maria is "one of the best signings" Manchester United could make.

The Argentine winger is on the verge of completing a British record move from Real Madrid, and Macheda believes his arrival will give everyone a boost.

Macheda, now at Cardiff City, said: “I think he's one of the best signings they could make. At Man United a player like Di Maria will lift the players and the club as well. If they can get him it will be great for the club.

"He has played already for a big club in Real Madrid so he will be fine with the pressure on him.”

Reports: Eto’o close to agreeing Everton move

Veteran striker Samuel Eto’o is set to join Everton on a free transfer, according to reports.

The 33-year-old is a free agent following his release from Chelsea at the end of last season and was strongly linked with a move to Merseyside rivals Liverpool this summer, as well as fellow Premier League sides West Ham and Sunderland.

It was thought Eto’o was close to signing for the Reds, though they instead opted to sign £16million striker Mario Balotelli from AC Milan.

Upon his release from Stamford Bridge, the Cameroon international insisted he wanted to continue playing in the Champions League, with Serie A runners-up Roma one of a host of other European sides linked with a swoop.

But it now seems Everton, who can offer the striker Europa League football this season, are leading the race to agree terms with the former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan ace, whose career club tally exceeds well over 300 goals.

The Blues held detailed negotiations with the forward last week but after those initial discussions the chances of a move to Merseyside appeared to cool.

However, talks have re-started over a potential two-year deal as manager Roberto Martinez searches for an understudy to record signing Romelu Lukaku, with current back-up forward Arouna Kone still to return from a knee injury sustained in October.

Eto’o represents a wise buy for the Toffees boss, with the Spaniard surely hoping the experienced striker will have a positive impact on Lukaku’s progression following the Belgian's £28m permanent switch to Goodison Park.

Transfer rumours and paper review – Tuesday, August 26

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

Angel di Maria flew into England last night to complete his record £60m move to Manchester United. The Argentina midfielder will undergo a medical today and the deal should be confirmed in the next 24 hours. (Various)

Louis van Gaal wants to follow up the signing of Di Maria by signing Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal in £34m deal. (Daily Telegraph)

And United could be prepared to use Javier Hernandez as part of their deal for Vidal. (Daily Express)

Manchester United are also lining up an £18million swoop for Ajax star Daley Blind. (The Sun)

Arsenal could turn to Danny Welbeck or Loic Remy as fears grow that striker Olivier Giroud has broken his ankle. (The Sun)

Arsenal and Manchester United have received a huge boost in their pursuit of Roma defender Mehdi Benatia after the Italian club scrapped a proposed meeting with potential suitors Bayern Munich. (Daily Star)

Arsenal have been handed another major transfer boost after Sporting Lisbon agreed to lower their demands for defensive midfielder William Carvalho. (Daily Express)

Everton are closing in on a deal to sign Samuel Eto’o as Roberto Martínez seeks to add experience and quality to his attack to relieve some of the pressure on Romelu Lukaku. (The Times)

AC Milan are continuing talks with Chelsea over a potential deal for Fernando Torres. Milan want to take the former Atletico Madrid forward on loan but the player's camp are awaiting proposals for a permanent transfer. (Daily Mail)

Southampton are lining up a raid for Feyenoord's Holland midfielder Jordy Clasie. (The Sun)

Tottenham are willing to meet the release clause of Sevilla captain Federico Fazio, according to the La Liga club's sporting director Monchi. (London Evening Standard)

West Ham have made enquiries about Bayer Leverkusen defender Philipp Wollscheid. The 25-year-old centre-back has spent the last two years at Leverkusen, and played 24 times last season for the German side, who finished fourth in the Bundesliga. (Daily Mail)

West Ham are ready to sell Carlton Cole to Bournemouth for £1million – but the striker is reluctant to move to the Championship. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland are closing in on a deal to bring Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates to the Stadium of Light on a season-long loan. (Daily Star)

Leicester midfielder Andy King is being eyed by Sunderland, QPR and West Brom. (The Sun)

Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes is poised to ask for a transfer to help push through a £12million move to Hull City. (Daily Mirror)

Balotelli is back! Liverpool complete £16m signing of striker from AC Milan

Liverpool have completed the signing of striker Mario Balotelli from AC Milan.

The Italy international moves to the Merseyside club for an undisclosed fee and has signed a 'long-term' contract with the side.

It will be Balotelli's second spell in the Premier League, the 24-year-old having spent three years at Manchester City before being sold to Milan in 2013.

His City career was littered with controversy, with numerous unsavoury incidents on and off the pitch overshadowing occasional flashes of brilliance.

He had similar behaviour-related problems at Inter Milan prior to joining City, and was described as 'unmanageable' by Jose Mourinho, his former manager at the San Siro.

Brendan Rodgers was warned against signing the player by a host of former Liverpool stars, including Gary McAllister and Steve Nicol, after it emerged that the Reds had made a move.

But that has not stopped Rodgers from pushing through the deal, with AC Milan understood to have received a fee of £16million from the Reds.

And the Reds boss believes the club have secured one of the bargain deals of the summer.

"This transfer represents outstanding value for the club and I think we have done a really smart piece of business here," the Northern Irishman told the club's official website.

"There is no doubting Mario's ability; he is a world-class talent and someone who, for such a young age, has vast experience of playing at the very highest level.

"He has scored goals in the Premier League, in Italy, in the Champions League and for his country at international level.

"I believe we have the infrastructure, culture and environment to get the best out of him and help him achieve his true potential. We are a strong group here, committed to hard work and he will benefit from being around it.

"I am looking forward to working with him and helping him learn more, improve and progress as a player. I'm sure the supporters will make him feel very welcome."

Balotelli also said he is excited to be back in England following his short return to Italy.

The striker added: "I'm very happy. We've been talking about coming here and now I'm happy to be here.

"Liverpool are one of the best teams here in England and the football is very good here.

"It's a great team with young players, and that's why I came here."

Balotelli's arrival ends Liverpool's extensive search for a replacement for Luis Suarez following the Uruguayan's £75million for Barcelona.

He has not been signed in time to play in Monday night's Premier League clash with his former club City, but is expected to be at the Etihad Stadium to watch his new teammates in action.

Tottenham star exits on loan

Swansea City have completed a season-long loan move for Tottenham’s Tom Carroll.

The talented 22-year-old midfielder has been on the fringes at Spurs for the last two seasons and spent time on loan with Derby County before helping Queen Park Ranger earn promotion to the Premier League last year.

And now Mauricio Pochettino has decided to allow the playmaker to move to the Jacks to gain valuable top-flight experience.

Swansea manager Garry Monk, who is currently without Leon Britton and Jay Fulton through injury, will be able to call on Carroll in Saturday’s match with Burnley at the Liberty Stadium.

Tottenham star exits on loan

Swansea City have completed a season-long loan move for Tottenham’s Tom Carroll.

The talented 22-year-old midfielder has been on the fringes at Spurs for the last two seasons and spent time on loan with Derby County before helping Queen Park Ranger earn promotion to the Premier League last year.

And now Mauricio Pochettino has decided to allow the playmaker to move to the Jacks to gain valuable top-flight experience.

Swansea manager Garry Monk, who is currently without Leon Britton and Jay Fulton through injury, will be able to call on Carroll in Saturday’s match with Burnley at the Liberty Stadium.

Tottenham and Chelsea's £20m transfer target – goals guaranteed?

A striker capable of scoring goals. That's the dream for Tottenham and Chelsea – Diego Costa aside – and Mattia Destro is in their sights. Here, talkSPORT's Transfer Spotlight has more on a man who, as it turns out, is not the baddie from GI Joe in disguise...

Name: Mattia Destro
Date of birth: 20/03/91
Born: Ascoli Piceno, central Italy
Club: Roma
Position: Forward
International: Five Italy caps

What's the latest?
Apparently both Chelsea and Tottenham have been sounded out by Roma to see if either club would be interested in buying Mattia Destro. Reports from Italy say Tottenham sporting director Franco Baldini met his opposite number at Roma, Walter Sabatini, in London to discuss a deal. One back page report in the UK, though, claimed Chelsea may offer Fernando Torres for Destro, who is valued at £20m, with the Spaniard moving to Rome on a season-long loan.

Did you know?
1) Destro, whose dad Flavio played for Ascoli in the 1980s, joined the Inter academy in 2005, winning several honours at youth level including two league titles. Genoa signed him on loan in 2010 with the option to buy, and in September of that year he scored on his Serie A debut against Chievo.

2) At the end of the 2011/12 season Destro was loaned out to Siena, where he scored regularly for the first time in his senior career, producing 12 goals in 30 Serie A games, the most by any player under the age of 22 in the Italian top flight for more than 40 years. Roma snapped him up in the summer of 2012.

3) The 2012/13 campaign proved to be a memorable one for the forward, with five goals in five Coppa Italia games – including three against former club Inter – making him the top scorer in the competition. However, he could not command a regular place with Francesco Totti, Dani Osvaldo and Erik Lamela in the forward roles blocking his path.

4) A knee injury sustained in January 2013 halted his progression and returned to the first team in style at the beginning of December where he scored against Fiorentina to secure a 2-1 win (see video evidence below). Destro finished the 2013/14 season with 13 goals in 20 games. He is simply an exceptional finisher and looks to finally be fulfilling the promise he showed earlier in his career.

5) To date he has played five times for Italy and scored once. He missed out on a place in the 2014 World Cup squad, however, with manager Cesare Prandelli explaining he did not want to take three forwards with him.

What is being said?
They say:

Today he proved that he is not only a box striker, but a complete forward and he understood you have to give your all in every second of every game. He must maintain that desire to win.
– Roma manager Rudi Garcia after Destro's hat-trick against Cagliari in April

Roma enquire about Chelsea frontman Fernando Torres and offer Mattia Destro

Roma have asked about the availability of Chelsea striker Fernando Torres.

The Italian side, keen to sign the Spain frontman, are seeing if the Blues would take Mattia Destro as part of any deal.

Torres has struggled for form since moving to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool in a £50million deal back in January 2011.

Manager Jose Mourinho has bolstered Chelsea's attacking options this summer with the signing of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa for £32million while Blues legend Didier Drogba also returned to the club.

Roma already have one former Chelsea star amongst their ranks having signed left back Ashley Cole on a free transfer.

Done deal! QPR sign Norwich star for £9m

QPR have signed Dutch international midfielder Leroy Fer from Norwich for a fee believed to be £9million.

The 24-year-old, who played and scored for the Netherlands in this summer’s World Cup in Brazil, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Loftus Road.

The £9m fee is a club-record sale for the Canaries and Fer becomes Harry Redknapp's fifth summer signing for the Hoops.

The former FC Twente star told QPR's official website: "I can’t wait to get started here.

“It was always my dream to stay in England, in the Premier League. QPR did well last season to come up and the squad is full of top players, so I’m delighted to be here.

“Harry told me I was a big target for him and when you hear that from a coach, you want to work with them and play for them.

“I’m just looking forward to showing what I’m capable of here at QPR.”

Fer has been handed the number 10 shirt at the Hoops and a delighted Redknapp added: “Leroy’s arrival is a massive boost for us. He’s another excellent signing and I’m delighted we’ve been able to get him to QPR.

“He played for Holland in the World Cup this summer and has all the attributes you'd be looking for from a central midfielder.

“He's just an outstanding midfield player - great physique, fine ability, he gets box-to-box. I’m really looking forward to integrating him into the squad.”

CONFIRMED! Manchester United sign Argentine star

Manchester United have confirmed the arrival of Argentine defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon for a fee of £16million, with Nani joining the Portuguese club on a season-long loan.

The Red Devils have been linked with the left-back, who is comforable in the central of defence, in recent weeks and have now completed a deal for the Sporting Lisbon star.

Rojo, 24, who starred for his country at the World Cup told United's official website :"It is such an honour to say that I now play for Manchester United. The Premier League is the most exciting league in the world and to have the chance to play in it for the world's biggest club is a dream for me.

"I am young and am very keen to continue to learn the game, so playing for such an experienced technical coach as Louis van Gaal is a fantastic opportunity for me.

"I have joined United to work hard with my team-mates to win trophies and I know that the manager shares that ambition."

United boss Van Gaal added: "Marcos is a very gifted defender. He has played at the highest level in world football and can play either as a central defender or left-back.

"He has ability, physical strength and a willingness to learn that means he has a very bright future ahead of him.

"He had a very strong World Cup and has been playing in Europe for a couple of years now. He is a very good addition to the team."