CHELSEA SIGN BEGOVIC

Chelsea have signed Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on a four-year deal.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper leaves Stoke after five-and-a-half years and will challenge Thibaut Courtois for the keeper's role at Stamford Bridge. 

Everybody at Stoke City would like to thank @asmir1 for his services & wish him the best of luck in the future #SCFC pic.twitter.com/AVc5EKilLw

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) July 13, 2015

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has had this to say about his departure from the Britannia Stadium, while Chelsea confirm he will take the No 1 shirt, with Thibaut Courtois keeping the No 13.

"I would like to say thank you to everyone at Stoke Football club, the chairman and Coates family, Mark Hughes and Tony Pulis, goalkeeper coach Andy Quy, all my team mates and especially the fans who have made me and my family so welcome.

"I have loved my time at Stoke, but feel I had the opportunity for me to continue to develop and challenge myself as a player.

"I am very proud of what we have achieved during my time at Stoke, and it has been a great team of players to work with. I wish you all the best for the season ahead."
 
Source : Sky Sports

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UNITED'S DE GEA ULTIMATUM

Manchester United have told David De Gea's representatives to get a deal done to Real Madrid in the next 24 hours, or he will stay at Old Trafford, according to The Sun. 

De Gea, 24, is set to join team-mates this afternoon on their tour to the United States, and Louis van Gaal reportedly only wants to use players who will definitely be at the club this coming season.

Source : Sky Sports

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RODGERS ON STERLING

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is in Bangkok as part of the club's pre-season tour, and he's currently speaking about Raheem Sterling's imminent move to Manchester City...

"The situation is very simple," says Rodgers. "The club has agreed a deal with another club for Raheem.

"Raheem and I have always kept very strong in our relationship and that remained the case when we left. There is no issue."

"I spoke to Raheem at length yesterday so there's no issue. The two clubs have agreed a deal and he will move on. But at the moment the interest is with the players that are here.

"It was important to improve and build the squad. We are very pleased with the players we've brought in.

"The key for us is the overall team. Individuals like Raheem will have benefited from the team. We aim to be much stronger and more competitive than we were last season, and we're relying on everyone."

Source : Sky Sports

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'VALDES WANTS TO SAY'

Victor Valdes has no interest in a move to Antalyaspor and is keen to stay at Manchester United, according to his agent. Valdes, who joined United on an 18-month deal in January, has been linked in recent days with a move to Turkish club Antalyspor, whose president declared that the Spaniard wants to leave Old Trafford. 

Speaking to AS, Gines Carvajal said: "I’ve been contacted by a series of individuals from Turkey to negotiate a move for Victor.

"But I haven’t spoken with the president of the Turkish club in question. I don’t know him. I have no plans to talk with them again as my player has no interest in a move to Antalyaspor."

Source : Sky Sports

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SCHNEIDERLIN HAVING MAN UTD MEDICAL

Sky sources understand Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is indeed having a medical at Manchester United.

Sky sources are telling us that Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is all set to complete a move to Manchester United. The 25-year-old is having a medical at United's Carrington training HQ and the club appear keen to get a deal done so that he can join United's pre-season tour of the United States. Louis Van Gaal and his squad fly to Seattle on Monday afternoon.

United had a bid for Schneiderlin rejected last week - but have now agreed a fee for the midfielder. The France international is now poised to join his prospective new team-mates on their pre-season tour of the United States.

Schneiderlin was a target for Tottenham last summer - and he missed the start of pre-season after telling the club he was "not mentally or physically ready" to play after a bid was rejected. He went on to make 30 appearances for Southampton last season as they finished in seventh place.

Source : Sky Sports

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STERLING: THE NEXT STEPS

Sky Sports News HQ reporter Peter Stevenson is at the Etihad Stadium this evening chasing all of the latest information on Raheem Sterling. He says there are only a couple of obstacles to overcome before the deal is completed.

"The stage is set for Sterling to meet with City or certainly start talks over personal terms. Then there would be the normal formality of a medical. Once those two aspects are sorted out we imagine this deal will hurriedly move to a conclusion and Sterling will become a Manchester City player.

"What happens next is very interesting because City, by coincidence, are also in Australia on their pre-season tour. Will Sterling join up with them? We'll have to wait and see."

Source : Sky Sports

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