Int'l - Low confirms new two-year deal

Joachim Low has confirmed he will remain as Germany coach until after Euro 2012.

Low, 50, ended speculation over his future on Tuesday by announcing he has extended his contract by two years.

Low's previous deal expired after the World Cup, but the team's impressive display in South Africa - where they reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Spain - led to a public clamour for it to be extended.

Team manager Oliver Bierhoff, Low's assistant Hans-Dieter Flick and goalkeeping coach Andreas Kopke have also renewed their deals until after the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

EPL - Eduardo set to join Shakhtar

Croatia boss Slaven Bilic has confirmed Arsenal striker Eduardo is set to join Shakhtar Donetsk.

Widespread reports on Monday said Eduardo would move to Shakhtar in a £6 million deal, and Bilic has now backed the Brazil-born Croatia international to succeed in the Ukraine.

Eduardo is reported to have completed a medical at Shakhtar on Monday.

EPL - Arsenal and Birmingham City join vuvuzela ban

Arsenal and Birmingham City have followed the lead of Tottenham Hotspur and announced that the infamous vuvuzelas will not be welcome in their stadia.

Vuvuzelas were the source of heated debate during the World Cup in South Africa as the droning sound of the instruments became a familiar one throughout the tournament.

Tottenham announced on Monday that vuvuzelas would be banned from White Hart Lane and North London rivals Arsenal have taken the same step on Tuesday.

Birmingham City are the third Premier League club to ban the instruments.

Serie A - Papastathopoulos joins Milan

AC Milan have confirmed the signing of defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Genoa.

Papastathopoulos, 22, is said to have cost around €5 million. Milan have also allowed Gianmarco Zigoni, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Rodney Strasser to join Genoa on a co-ownership arrangement as part of the deal.

It is believed Papastathopoulos, who represented Greece at this summer's World Cup, will operate as a right back. He made 50 appearances for Genoa after leaving AEK Athens in 2008.

Serie A - Giovinco to leave Turin this summer

Juventus playmaker Sebastian Giovinco will leave the club in the summer, according to his agent, as he has not been guaranteed first-team football ahead of the new season.

Giovinco has long been tipped as one of the hottest talents in the Italian game, but has struggled to assert himself under numerous managers in Turin and will now leave the Old Lady in a bid to play more games after a meeting with new boss Luigi Delneri.

The 23-year-old is reportedly being tracked by the likes of Arsenal, Bari and Parma with Bari coach Giampiero Ventura already openly expressing his interest in the player.

Primera - Filipe Luis set for Atletico switch

Deportivo La Coruna president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro has confirmed negotiations are at an advanced stage for the sale of defender Filipe Luis to Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish press claimed this morning that a deal was imminent for the Brazilian left back, who is set to join Atletico for a fee of €12 million. The player is expected to undergo a medical on Tuesday before signing a four-year deal with Quique Sanchez Flores' side.

Filipe almost signed for Barcelona last summer, but Deportivo demanded €20million for the full-back and they ended up signing Maxwell from Inter Milan instead.

The player then suffered a serious injury to his right fibula in a match against Athletic Bilbao last January and only returned just before the end of the season.

His sale will allow the club to pay off the reported €4 million owed to midfielder Sergio Gonzalez in unpaid wages. Failure to pay that debt by August 2 could have seen them punished with relegation to the Segunda Division.

EPL - Cole opts for Liverpool on four-year deal

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has agreed sign for Liverpool on a free transfer, subject to a medical.

It has been reported that Cole, 28, was offered wages of £90,000-a-week to stave off interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Cole left Stamford Bridge at the end of last month after Chelsea decided not to offer him a new deal.

Cole will head to Liverpool for his medical in the next 48 hours when his move to Anfield will be rubberstamped. It may be seen as a statement of intent from new manager Roy Hodgson, who was expected to make few major signings this summer due to the club's financial constraints.

With Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard thought to be considering their futures on Merseyside, supporters will hope the signing of Cole will indicate an ability to challenge for a place in the top four this season.

EPL - Lombardo joins City coaching staff

Former Italy international Attilio Lombardo has joined Manchester City's coaching staff, linking up with former Sampdoria team-mates Roberto Mancini and David Platt at Eastlands.

Lombardo, 44, is the second addition to the Eastlands staff this summer after Platt arrived earlier this month, and has experience in the Premier League, having become a cult figure at Crystal Palace in the late 90s as a player and player-manager.

The former Juventus midfielder made 19 appearances for the Italy national team and became friends with City boss Mancini while playing at Sampdoria.

Lombardo arrives at Eastlands having worked with Sampdoria's youth team and managed Swiss side FC Chiasso since retiring as a player. He has already begun work with the team on tour in the United States.

Serie A - Viola agree Insua fee

Fiorentina have agreed a fee with Liverpool over defender Emiliano Insua.

Insua, 21, played regularly at left back under Rafael Benitez last season, but it appears new manager Roy Hodgson is happy to allow the player to move on as he reshapes his squad.

Insua is now travelling to Italy to discuss personal terms.

The move would leave Hodgson short of options at left back, with Fabio Aurelio also having departed this summer following the expiry of his contract.

EPL - Dorrans signs new contract with WBA

Graham Dorrans has moved to end speculation about his future by signing a contract extension with West Bromwich Albion.

Dorrans, 23, has been the subject of interest from West Ham United through the summer with the Hammers seeing two bids rejected. Manchester City were also linked with the attacking midfielder.

West Brom always insisted that Dorrans, who joined the Baggies from Livingston for just £250,000 two years ago, was not for sale. The player only signed a contract extension in January but the newly-promoted Premier League club felt they would have to go further to end West Ham's pursuit.

Dorrans has signed a four-year contract at the Hawthorns, with an additional year in the club's favour.

Dorrans scored 13 Championship goals last term as West Brom were promoted to the top flight behind Newcastle United. The Scotland international was named in the divisional Team of the Year.

Primera - Zaragoza swoop for Franco

Real Zaragoza have confirmed the signing of former Argentina goalkeeper Leo Franco from Galatasaray.

Franco, who has played more than 300 Primera Division matches in spells at Mallorca and Atletico Madrid, is back in Spain to make Zaragoza his fourth club in the country, having also had a brief stay at Merida.

The 33 year-old, who appeared for Argentina at the 2006 World Cup, is set to compete with fellow new signing Toni Doblas for the goalkeeping spot next season.

Serie A - Genoa cool interest in signing Boateng

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini has played down the club's interest in signing Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng from Portsmouth.

Boateng was attracting interest from the Serie A club following his exploits at the World Cup finals and Genoa were considering signing the midfielder in a co-ownership deal with Lazio.

However, Gasperini has cooled on the issue, and was equally coy when questioned about his interest in Sporting midfielder Miguel Veloso.

Serie A - Man City Balotelli bid rejected

Inter Milan have rejected a €25 million bid from Manchester City for striker Mario Balotelli.

City officials, who were in Italy to tie up a deal to sign Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio, met with their Inter counterparts late on Thursday night but were told to come back with a bigger offer.

However, president Massimo Moratti professes to know nothing of the reported talks between the two clubs.

Inter play Manchester City in friendly on July 31 in Baltimore, USA, and it's thought the deal could be concluded by then.

EPL - Hammers confirms double deal

West Ham have signed Mexican winger Pablo Barrera and Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne and are poised to confirm the signing of defender Tal Ben Haim.

Barrera represented Mexico at the World Cup and will join the club from Pumas UNAM in a £4 million deal. He has agreed a four-year contract with a one-year option with the Hammers.

Piquionne played under Grant during a loan spell with Portsmouth last season and has been in East London to undergo a medical and conclude negotiations.

The Hammers have been in talks with Ben Haim, who has an escape clause in his Portsmouth contract which was activated upon their relegation to the Championship, for weeks. West Ham have finally come to an agreement over his wages, which were £50,000-a-week at Fratton Park.

EPL - Gordon out with fractured arm

Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon will not be fit for the start of the new campaign after fracturing a bone in his arm during pre-season training.

Gordon has undergone what the club describe as a "minor operation" but it is reported that the injury could sideline the Scotland international for up to three months.

In November 2009 Gordon suffered a similar injury following a collision with Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe and did not appear for the Black Cats again until January 23.

Sunderland have not confirmed the likely duration of Gordon's recovery, only that he "is set to miss the start of the season".

EPL - Ferguson extends Birmingham deal

Birmingham midfielder Barry Ferguson has signed a one-year extension to his contract to remain at St Andrew's until the summer of 2012.

Ferguson, 32, was named the club's players' player of the season last campaign and has impressed since moving to the midlands from Rangers last summer and was delighted to have signed his new deal.

The Scot also revealed that playing a part in a strong season for Alex McLeish's side, who finished ninth in the Premier League against expectations, had made it an easy decision to stay.

EPL - McCarthy denies Arsenal offer

Mick McCarthy has denied receiving a bid from Arsenal for Kevin Doyle and says the striker will be staying at Wolverhampton Wanderers, barring a huge offer.

Doyle is reported to be interesting Arsenal after scoring nine goals for Wolves last season following a club record £6.5 million move from Reading.

But McCarthy says Arsenal have not been in contact and will only consider losing the Republic of Ireland international if a silly proposal arrives.

EPL - Sonko heading to Portsmouth

Despite operating under a transfer embargo, Portsmouth have agreed a loan deal for Stoke City defender Ibrahima Sonko.

Portsmouth are currently in administration and are not permitted to sign players. However, the Football League does relax those rules if a club has less than 20 players on their books.

Portsmouth are now awaiting confirmation from the league that they can sign a player who made nine appearances on loan at Hull City last season.

EPL - City complete Toure deal

Manchester City have completed the signing of Yaya Toure from Barcelona on a five-year deal.

Toure, 27, has long been linked with a move to Eastlands and, having agreed a deal for David Silva earlier in the week, Roberto Mancini said he is delighted by the new arrivals.

The move unites Toure with his brother, Kolo.

EPL - Benayoun completes Chelsea move

Chelsea have completed the signing of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. And Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano could soon follow him out of the door.

The sale of Benayoun to Chelsea was completed personally by owner Roman Abramovich, who will now step up his efforts to capture Torres.

Hodgson plans talks with Gerrard, Torres and Mascherano but all three are now likely to leave Anfield, according to sources.

Benayoun moved to English football in 2005 when joining West Ham United from Racing Santander. He was signed by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez three years ago for £5 million and despite scoring important goals could never force himself into the starting team on a regular basis.

EPL - Greening joins Fulham

Jonathan Greening has joined Fulham on a permanent deal following his season-long loan from West Brom.

The 31-year-old midfielder has agreed a two-year contract to remain at Craven Cottage. The former Middlesbrough player was a member of the side beaten in the Europa League final in May and was keen to extend his stay.

EPL - Platt joins City's coaching staff

Former England midfielder David Platt has joined Manchester City as first-team coach.

Platt, 44, was a team-mate of City manager Roberto Mancini at Sampdoria.

EPL - Simonsen released by Stoke

Goalkeeper Steve Simonsen has left Stoke on a free transfer, the Premier League club have announced.

Simonsen had a clause in his contract which allowed him to leave the Britannia Stadium if he was offered the chance of a move by another club.

Simonsen, who spent the closing stages of last season on loan at Championship side Sheffield United, leaves after six years at Stoke. He joined Stoke on a free transfer from Everton but found himself third choice behind Danish international Thomas Sorensen and Asmir Begovic.

Primera - Cruyff loses title

Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has been stripped of his title of honorary president of the Catalan club following the takeover of Sandro Rosell on Thursday.

Cruyff was given the title in April by former president Joan Laporta, but Rosell argued in his election campaign that the decision was undemocratic, claiming the club members (socios) should have been given the right to vote on such an appointment.

And Rosell, who secured a landslide election victory on June 13 and took over officially on Thursday, has moved quickly to strip Cruyff of the title.

Barca's socios will now have the chance to vote on whether they want a president of honour and if so, who it should be. However, Cruyff will be recognised one way or another.

Serie A - Inter Milan sign Faraoni

Inter Milan have announced Marco Davide Faraoni has signed a four-year contract at the San Siro.

Inter reportedly beat the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United to snap up Faraoni, who had come to the end of his contract at Lazio. Defender Faraoni has put pen to paper on a deal which ties him to the San Siro until 2014.

Faraoni had been at Lazio for nearly 10 years but had never made a first-team appearance and told reporters his decision to leave stems from the belief the club he supports is not focusing on youth. He has been part of the Italy Under-19 squad on several occasions.

Serie A - Krasic reiterates Juve desire

CSKA Moscow winger Milos Krasic has reiterated his desire to join Juventus but has suggested he could consider a move to Manchester City.

Krasic, 25, has long been linked with a move to Juventus and, with his contract due to expire in December 2011, there have been suggestions he has threatened to leave on a free transfer if he is not granted a move this summer.

However, while he would love to sign for Juve, he insists he has not issued any ultimatum to his club.

Roberto Mancini had previously suggested City could be interested in Krasic and, while the Serbia international is determined to join Juve, he is not ruling out a switch to Eastlands.