West Ham have signed Ecuador striker
Enner Valencia from Mexican club Pachuca for a fee in the region of
£15million, according to Sky sources.
The
25-year-old, who scored all three of Ecuador's World Cup goals in Brazil
this summer, has put pen to paper on a reported five-year contract
after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.Hammers manager Sam Allardyce beat off competition from several other Premier League clubs to sign Valencia, whose fee could equal the club record £15m paid for Andy Carroll.
He will become West Ham’s fifth signing of the summer, joining Argentine striker Mauro Zarate, centre-back or midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, Ipswich Town left-back Aaron Cresswell and Charlton midfielder Diego Poyet at the club.
Valencia also caught the attention ahead of the World Cup when he scored a header for Ecuador in a 2-2 friendly draw with England in Miami, and prior to that he had netted 18 goals in 23 outings for his club.
West Ham winger Stewart Downing has already tipped Valencia to be a success alongside Zarate and Carroll at Upton Park.
He said: "For large parts of last season we played without a striker. We can't rely on Andy all season.
"He was the big signing last season, but Andy struggled with injuries so hopefully the new signings will take the pressure off him a little bit. And from what I've seen of Valencia against England, he looks a very good player.
"He can nick a goal and it is competition for places. It's what we've needed as we didn't have that last season. It will help the manager that he has options and he can bring other people in who can perform straight away."
Manchester United Transfer News: Juventus Claim Arturo Vidal Not for Sale
Manchester United's hopes of signing Arturo Vidal remain in the balance after Giuseppe Marotta, Juventus CEO, confirmed the Chilean midfielder is not for sale.
Marcus Christenson of The Guardian reported comments from the Italian club's latest press conference, which saw Massimiliano Allegri unveiled as Antonio Conte's managerial replacement:Transfer news: Alvaro Negredo is not looking to leave Manchester City
Alvaro Negredo is 'happy' and 'settled' at Manchester City and has no intention of leaving the Premier League club.
It had been suggested that the Spain international could return to his homeland this summer after just one season in England.City are looking to generate funds ahead of the imminent arrival of Eliaquim Mangala in another big-money deal.
Negredo could be among those moved out, with the 28-year-old said to be keen on the idea of a return to La Liga.
He has, however, taken the opportunity to rubbish the rumours by insisting that he remains fully committed to the Premier League champions.
"I had a difficult end to the season and that’s why there has been a lot of talking but I’ve been very happy here from the first day I arrived."Alvaro Negredo
“I had a difficult end to the season and that’s why there has been a lot of talking but I’ve been very happy here from the first day I arrived.”
On suggestions that he is feeling homesick, Negredo added: “No. Maybe a bit more on the personal side than when we talk about football but I don’t cry easily.
“I am sensible but I have to love that person a lot to feel homesick.”
Negredo can look back positively on his debut season at City as he netted 23 times in all competitions.
He did, however, suffer a dip in form towards the end of the campaign and ended up missing out on a place in Spain’s World Cup squad.
Asked to pick out his most difficult opponent from the first 12 months of his English adventure, Negredo said: “One of them was (Martin) Skrtel from Liverpool. A very strong player who fights for every ball and is one of the centre-backs that I like the most.”
Arsenal Transfer News: Sami Khedira Urged to Join Gunners by Lukas Podolski
Lukas Podolski has less-than-subtly urged fellow World Cup winner Sami Khedira to join Arsenal, shouting the Gunners' name during one of the Real Madrid midfielder's interviews on the national team's day of celebration.
Liam Prenderville of the Mirror provides the details:During Tuesday's epic World Cup homecoming, Khedira was asked where he will be plying his trade next season in front of thousands of German supporters.Podolski's interruption was posted on Twitter via GunnerPunner:
While he was giving his answer, the midfielder was interrupted with a yelp of "Arsenal!"
Serie A: Mario Balotelli will feature in AC Milan's pre-season tour of United States
Mario Balotelli: Has three years left on AC Milan contract
AC Milan have confirmed Mario
Balotelli will feature in their pre-season tour of the United States
despite speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League.
The
23-year-old is coming off a disappointing campaign with the Rossoneri,
and the club's president Silvio Berlusconi revealed earlier this summer
that he came close to selling Balotelli to an English club prior to the
World Cup.There has been reported interest from Arsenal and Liverpool in Balotelli, who has three years left on his contract with Milan and is currently on holiday after competing with Italy in the tournament in Brazil.
"Mario will return with willingness on the 21st (of July) and will come with us to the United States," AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi said to Italian TV station Sportmediaset.
Milan will take part in the Guinness International Champions Cup.
The Rossoneri will take on Olympiakos in New York on July 24 before facing Balotelli's former club Manchester City in Pittsburgh three days later.
Milan end the competition against Liverpool on August 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Balotelli scored 14 goals in 30 league appearances for Milan last season but the club finished eighth in Serie A and will not play in Europe in the 2014-15 campaign.
The Italy international started in all of the Azzurri's three group games but scored just once as his country failed to reach the knock-out round in Brazil.
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