CAMPBELL JOINS SUNDERLAND

Sunderland have signed England Under-21 striker Fraizer Campbell from Manchester United for an initial fee of £3.5m, potentially rising to £6m.

 

The 21-year-old was also being tracked by Hull City, where he enjoyed a successful loan spell during the 2007/08 season, but signed a four-year deal with the Black Cats.

 

Campbell spent most of last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, where he helped the team reach the Carling Cup final before being ruled ineligible to face United - who went on to win on penalties.

 

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OWEN TO OLD TRAFFORD

 

Michael Owen has been confirmed as a Manchester United player. The striker has signed a two-year deal to play at Old Trafford and no transfer was paid as the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle forward was a free agent.

 

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson happily confirmed the deal and recognized him as a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level.

 

Owen himself was similarly happy, and admitted that Sir Alex had breakfast with him one expressed about United's interest to sign him. And he agreed immediately.

 

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REAL MADRID SIGNS BENZEMA

 

Lyon have accepted an offer from Real Madrid for striker Karim Benzema. The striker becomes Real's third major signing after Brazil's Kaka and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Madrid and Manchester United have been vying for the services of the 21-year-old but Lyon continued to insist before today that the France international would remain at the Stade Gerland for another season at least.

 

However, Les Gones announced on their official website this afternoon that they have accepted a fee of at least 35m euros (£30m) from Madrid for the player, with performance clauses set to see that fee rise to 41m euros.

 

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DOOR IS OPEN FOR RIBERY

 

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has left Real Madrid with a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of Franck Ribery, but reiterated that it will take "something crazy" for them to consider a sale.

 

Speaking on the day Louis van Gaal was officially unveiled as the Bavarians' new coach, Hoeness revealed what he had told Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in their last telephone conversation.

 

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LYON CONFIRM BENZEMA BID

 

Lyon have confirmed that they have received a bid for Karim Benzema from an unnamed club, but insist that any agreement over the France international's transfer is yet to be reached. The side in question is thought to be Real Madrid with strong reports in both Spain and France linking them with a £35million move for the 21-year-old.

 

The striker is also been rumoured to have interested Manchester United with manager Sir Alex Ferguson said to be a big admirer of the gifted youngster. The Premier League champions have £80million burning a hole in their pocket after the confirmed sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real and know that they must find someone to take on the scoring burden left by the Portugal winger.

 

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SIR ALEX HAILS VELENCIA

 

Sir Alex Ferguson believes new signing Antonio Valencia can help Manchester United to a record fourth consecutive league title. Having sold World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a record £80m, United are believed to have reinvested around £16m on the Wigan Athletic winger.

 

Valencia, 23, is likely to be the first of a handful of new arrivals at Old Trafford as Ferguson seeks to replace the attacking threats of Ronaldo and striker Carlos Tevez, who has opted not to join the Red Devils permanently.

 

But despite the prospect of more new names on the way, Ferguson is already convinced he has secured a player who can have a big impact on next term's title defence. If nothing else, Valencia's arrival ensures Wayne Rooney should be given the more central berth he craves next season as the Ecuador star is unlikely to venture into the middle quite as much as Ronaldo.

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