Udinese have signed Brazilian midfielder Willians from Fla-mengo. The northerners were looking to reinforce their mid-field line, with Kwadwo Asa-moah and Mauricio Isla set to depart this summer.
“Our latest signing hails from Brazilian club Flamengo and is Willians Domingos Fernandes,” read an Udinese statement.
The 26-year-old was contracted to Flamengo until December 2014 and had a release clause set at €10 million.
Lazio dismiss Yilmaz rumours
Lazio have quashed speculation that they are close to signing Trabzonspor striker Burak Yilmaz.
Reports claim Lazio are in advanced talks to acquire the Turkey international, who has also been linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid.
However, Lazio sporting director Igli Tare said: “With regards to the negotiation with Burak Yilmaz, I would like to point out that at this time no meeting is scheduled with the player or with his agent.”
The 26-year-old Yilmaz set a new club record by scoring 33 league goals in 34 appearances last season for Trabzonspor. He is under contract until June 2015.
Manager Sergio parts with Hearts
Hearts manager Paulo Sergio confirmed that he has rejected a new contract and is leaving the Scottish Premier League club.
Sergio, who took over in August last year and led Hearts to Scottish Cup success in May, said he could not accept the offer made to him to stay.
“I deeply regret I will not continue my work at Hearts,” said the 44-year-old coach.
“I appreciate the road the club is now going down and respect what our board is doing. But I cannot accept the offer the club has made me.”
Paris SG to stay at Parc des Princes
Paris city council said that capital club Paris SG “wish to remain at a totally renovated Parc des Princes for the long term”.
The statement, released by the municipal authorities – who own the stadium – said that the Ligue 1 runners-up wish to remain in a stadium that “corresponds to the highest international standards and the sporting ambitions of the club”.
“Work will begin in the coming months,” the statement added, with the city council and PSG agreeing to continue talks over the best way to go about increasing the capacity of the stadium, which presently holds 47,428 fans.
The current capacity is not enough to satisfy the wishes of the club’s Qatari owners as they seek to turn PSG into a major player in Europe.
Clarke appointed West Brom boss
Steve Clarke ,the former Liverpool assistant manager, was yesterday appointed as the new coach of West Brom-wich Albion.
Clarke, who quit Anfield on Wednesday, takes over at West Brom from Roy Hodgson, the new England coach.
Clarke, who has also had spells as assistant at Newcastle, West Ham and Chelsea, has signed a two-year contract at the Hawthorns.
This is the 48-year-old former Scotland international’s first position as manager.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity,” Clarke said.
“Becoming a head coach in my own right has always been an ambition of mine and now I feel I have served my apprenticeship.”
Ajax form part of Saints build-up
Southampton will face Ajax and Udinese as the club prepares for its return to the English Premier League.
The Championship runners-up will welcome Dutch champions Ajax to St Mary’s on July 28, before Serie A outfit Udinese head to the south coast on Au-gust 11.
Saints will also host Wolves on August 4 and will travel to Bristol City three days later.
The club’s four friendlies on English soil will be preceded by a seven-day training camp in Evian-les-Bains.
Southampton recently an-nounced that Arsenal and Rangers will take part in the Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup on July 14.
Dortmund take Fair Play award
Borussia Dortmund have another title to add to the two trophies they won in Germany last season by topping the Fair Play Award standings for the Bundesliga.
The Westphalians, who won their first ever league and cup double in the 2011/12 season, beat Bayern Munich into second place once again.
They won a classification compiled by the German Football League which takes into account the conduct of the players, positive or negative play, respect shown for the opposition and the behaviour of the fans.
Borussia M’gladbach finished third in the standings which did not lead to an additional place in Europe next season.