MADRID CAPTURE DEFENDER VARANE

Real Madrid have signed teenage defender Raphael Varane from Lens, the Primera Division club have announced.
The 18-year-old centre-back was in Madrid on Monday and passed his medical with the Spanish giants before penning a six-year contract at the Bernabeu.

 

Varane - Madrid switch.

Madrid announced on their website: "Real Madrid and Lens have reached an agreement for the transfer of the French player Raphael Varane, who will be tied to the club for the next six seasons."
Varane made 23 appearances for Lens last season but could not prevent their relegation to Ligue 2.
Varane becomes Madrid's fourth new addition this summer following on from Turkey international duo Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, and Espanyol winger Jose Maria Callejon.
Borussia Dortmund playmaker Sahin, 22, agreed a six-year deal with Madrid while 28-year-old Altintop moves to Madrid on a four-year deal after leaving Bayern Munich.
Callejon re-joined Madrid, where he came up through the youth ranks before moving to Espanyol in 2008, on a five-year contract.
Madrid won the Copa del Rey last season in Jose Mourinho's first campaign in charge while they finished second in the Primera Division and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Reina rejects Atletico talk

Reina: No Atletico Madrid move

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has moved quickly to reject rumours linking him with a switch to Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid.

The Primera Liga outfit are set to find themselves without a first-choice goalkeeper once David de Gea completes his proposed move to Manchester United.
The youngster arrived in England on Monday to undergo a medical and is close to putting the finishing touches to a big-money transfer.
Speculation has already begun to circulate regarding who may be drafted in by Atletico as his replacement.
Liverpool number one Reina has been touted as a possible candidate, after spending the last six years away from his homeland.
The Reds ace has given short shrift to the rumours, though, by insisting that he remains fully committed to the Anfield cause.
He told La Gaceta: "I know Atletico are looking for a goalkeeper, but I won't be changing colours.
"I have a five-year contract and I'm happy at Liverpool."
Reina will come into direct competition with De Gea next season and he believes the 20-year-old will be a resounding success at Old Trafford.
He said: "I very much welcome this news because David is a great keeper.
"When it becomes official he is going to start working to prove in the Premier League what a good goalkeeper he is."

Cesc will go, if price is right

Fabregas: Wanted by Barcelona

Arsenal would be willing to sell captain Cesc Fabregas to European champions Barcelona if they can agree a fee, according to reports.

The 24-year-old World Cup winner is continually linked with a move back to his boyhood club during every transfer window.
Last summer, the Gunners rejected a £30million offer for their inspirational skipper.
However, with Fabregas appearing more determined to rejoin the club he left as a teenager in 2003, Arsenal are said to be ready to allow the deal to go through, if Barcelona improve their £27million bid.
BBC Sport quote a senior Arsenal official as saying: "The offer was made formally in writing to our chief executive (Ivan Gazidis), and we said no straight away."
When asked if the club expected an improved offer this week, the source added: "Possibly yes, and if it's enough then I expect we'll have to sell."
Last week, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell claimed the European champions would not break the bank for Fabregas, of whom he said: "It is clear that this year his value is less."
During the 2010 summer transfer window, Arsenal released a statement confirming their captain was not for sale. However, so far, there has been no official comment from the Premier League club following renewed speculation over Fabregas' future.