Reds and Cats wrap Hendo deal

Liverpool and Sunderland have confirmed that Jordan Henderson's transfer from Wearside to Anfield for a "substantial" fee has been completed.

England Under-21 international midfielder Henderson, 20, has signed "a long-term deal" on Merseyside.

Henderson: Now a Liverpool player

He agreed personal terms and visited the Reds' Melwood training complex on Wednesday before undergoing a medical.

The highly-rated starlet has moved for an undisclosed fee, described as "substantial" by Sunderland's website, with reports suggesting it could be up to £16million rising to nearly £20million depending on adds-on and clauses.

Henderson has spoken of his excitement at signing for Liverpool, telling the club's website: "I'm over the moon, overjoyed to be here and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I was flattered to know Liverpool were interested in me and, once I knew, it was a massive decision for me to make but also a massive opportunity.

"Obviously it's hard to leave your local club. I'm a Sunderland lad, I've supported them all my life.

"But I'm really looking forward to the future now and obviously this is a massive opportunity for me. I'm really excited by it."

A statement from Liverpool read: "Liverpool Football Club have completed the signing of Jordan Henderson after the 20-year-old passed a medical and agreed personal terms.

"Henderson travelled to Merseyside on Wednesday after a fee was agreed with Sunderland. He then underwent a medical examination in Liverpool before signing a long-term deal."

Henderson is Liverpool's first signing of the summer and - following the big-money captures of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January - the third high-profile new recruit since Fenway Sports Group's takeover of the club and Kenny Dalglish's return as manager last season.

Currently part of the England Under-21 squad who get their European U21 Championship campaign under way in Denmark this weekend, Henderson won his first senior international cap against France last November and his value has soared over the past year, despite a recent dip in form.

The Sunderland youth academy graduate made his Black Cats debut in a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in November 2008.

In total he has made 79 appearances for the Wearsiders, scoring five goals, and he also spent a spell on loan at Coventry in the 2008-09 season.

He said: "My family are all Sunderland fans as well, and it's pretty tough because I've had some great years there.

"I've been there since I was seven and I'll definitely miss it but, like I say, I'm looking forward to playing for Liverpool now."

Henderson admits he cannot wait to link up with midfield colleague Steven Gerrard.

"He is one of the best players in the world, you want to be playing with him and training with him to try to improve yourself as a player," Henderson said.

"I've trained with him once (for England) and he was unbelievable, to be honest. I'm looking forward to it, and there are other good players here who can help me as well.

"Steven has been a massive, massive player for Liverpool for years now and he still is. Hopefully I can learn a lot from him."

It had been thought Liverpool striker David Ngog might travel in the opposite direction as part of the transfer.

He remains at Anfield for now, but Reds director of football Damien Comolli has indicated the 22-year-old could still be headed for the Stadium of Light.

"Sunderland have had a strong interest in David, so we've agreed to let David speak to Sunderland about his future to see if he's interested in going there," Comolli said.

"They've expressed a strong interest, so we'll see what's next for him."

Comolli conveyed his delight at the conclusion of the Henderson deal and insisted Liverpool had not paid over the odds.

"I'm very pleased because he was one of the targets we had and when you get your first target it's always a good sign because you think the others will come through as well," Comolli said.

"We are very, very pleased. He has got all the skills technically that we needed.

"He's good with the ball, he's creative, he's got good passing, he's physically very good.

"That's everything we wanted in a midfielder and he's versatile as well. For Kenny, he will be the player we wanted.

"On the fee, I've read and heard a lot of things. There was a lot of speculation on how much we would pay for Jordan and none of the figures I've seen are correct so far.

"We've paid a price that we are comfortable with, otherwise we would not have done the deal."

Dalglish is likely to continue doing business in the transfer window as he attempts to rejuvenate his squad this summer.

Liverpool are believed to retain interest in Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, while Ipswich youngster Connor Wickham is thought to be another target.

FA reveal Toure's 'belly hell'

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure was obsessed with "the appearance of his belly", according to documents released by the FA.

Ivory Coast international Toure was handed a six-month suspension by the FA in May after being found guilty of taking banned water tablets.

Toure: Became obsessed with his weight, says FA

His suspension has been backdated to March and he will be able to play again in September, but the FA have revealed that his battle with his weight led him to take the pills.

The governing body have also said the 30-year-old claimed City's club doctor, Jamie Butler, had okayed the tablets, a claim refuted by Butler and quashed by the FA.

A report issued by the FA reads: "The context is that for some years KT (Kolo Toure) has had a problem controlling his weight.

"He has become obsessed with his weight and more particularly the appearance of his belly."

The FA have released a 16-page report giving their reasons for the ban.

Toure said he had been given the tablets by his wife, Mahoo, and the report continued: "MT put the water tablets into a drug dosette. On January 29, he travelled for the fourth round FA Cup match to be played against Notts County.

"He took his supplement including the dosette in a bag branded 'Herbalife'. KT's recollection was that he gave that bag (including the dosette) to the club doctor, Dr Butler, in the hotel restaurant early that evening and asked him, '...these are the supplements I take. Are they okay?'

"At the time two of the MCFC coaching staff, Attilio Lombardo and Fausto Salsano were close by. KT recalled Dr Butler looking through the bag, lifting out some of the contents and then telling him that 'everything in the bag is okay'. That was not Dr Butler's recollection."

The statement went on to add that Toure "did not have any products with him at the time and simply informed him (Butler) he wanted to start taking 'Herbalife' supplements".

Butler added that Toure had given him some 'Herbalife' products to check at the club's training ground a few days later but "never saw the drug dosette".

The FA said: "It was not suggested that he was shown the medicine bottle with the 'water tablets x21' label then or at any stage."

The report concluded that Dr Butler "never told him it was safe to use water tablets" and "he would unequivocally have said such were prohibited and should not be used".

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard: I'll be in top shape

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been 'doing yoga' and expects to return next season in the best shape he has been in for a decade.

The influential England midfielder has not featured for club or country since March, when he saw his season cut short by a groin injury.

Gerrard: Expects to return for Liverpool in top shape

He has since undergone an operation and is eight weeks into his recovery, with the 31-year-old expected to return when the Reds' pre-season training begins early next month.

And captain Gerrard is hungry to get back on the pitch, insisting he feels in top shape ahead of his comeback.

"I have confidence in what I can do," he told the Daily Express. "I am going to be in the best condition physically going into this season that I have been for the last 10 years.

"I am working doubly hard on my body, on my core and on strengthening my groin, which I have suffered with.

"The operation went well and I have nearly double the strength in the groin now than before. The physios at Liverpool are measuring that on a weekly basis and the results show that.

"I know I will be rusty in friendlies but I have confidence that I am going to be the freshest I have been, both mentally and physically, for a long, long time."

Gerrard says he has been working hard to ensure he is in the best possible condition ahead of the new campaign.

"For two or three hours each day I will have to work on my body to make sure I am right," he said. "But I don't see that as a chore. This is me getting right for Liverpool Football Club.

"I have started doing yoga a couple of times a week as well. It absolutely wipes you out. People who think you turn up and you're just posing in different shapes should have a go!

"I am enjoying it after the sessions because I am feeling the benefits. That is part of the reason why my groin feels so good just now.

"I've not kicked a ball for a long time, probably the longest I have gone in my career, and I can't wait to get back now."

Trezeguet move to Napoli 50-50

The agent of David Trezeguet has confirmed that his client has a '50 per cent' chance of joining Napoli from Hercules.

The former France international's future is up in the aire after Hercules suffered relegation from Spain's Primera Liga.

Trezeguet's representative, Antonio Caliendo, declared last week that there was plenty of interest in the striker.

"I can say that there's a 50 per cent chance Trezeguet will play for Napoli next season," Caliendo told Naples-based radio station Kiss-Kiss.

"We've taken a few steps forward, but you'd have to ask (Napoli sporting director Riccardo) Bigon.

"Trezeguet to Napoli would be the cherry on the cake of a big transfer window, but the dice have not yet been cast."

Trezeguet has already spent 10 seasons in Italy as he represented Juventus between 2000 and 2010.

He scored 12 goals for Hercules this season, but could not prevent the Alicante side from being relegated.

Own goal gives Les Bleus win

Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia forced Tomasz Jodlowiec into an own goal to gift France a 1-0 victory over Poland in Thursday's friendly in Warsaw.

Defender Jodlowiec put through his own net after 13 minutes in one of only a handful of chances created by Les Bleus during the first half.

N'Zogbia: Congratulated after goal

Laurent Blanc's men then raised the tempo in the second half but were unable to add to their tally against the Euro 2012 co-hosts.

It still marked a successful end to France's tour having also hammered Ukraine on Monday night.

Poland looked the better side in the opening half and could have taken the lead after 10 minutes, but Robert Lewandowski directed his header past the right post.

France made the breakthrough just two minutes later, though, with the help of N'Zogbia, whose left-footed strike was turned into the net by the head of Jodlowiec.

The home side set about trying to find an equaliser, but their finishing was poor with Adrian Mierzejewski creating the best chance on the stroke of half-time with a 25-yard strike which whistled past the right post.

Les Bleus had been disappointing so far, but things picked up after the restart with Mathieu Valbuena firing the first warning shot with an effort which narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Poland responded with a free-kick from Ludovic Obraniak which stung the palms of Cedric Carrasso in the visiting goal, with the midfielder seeing another good effort turned away minutes later.

But it was home goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny who soon found himself at the heart of the action, first turning away a left-footed strike from Valbuena before keeping out a free-kick from N'Zogbia.

The Arsenal star did even better to palm clear another shot from N'Zogbia after 64 minutes with Valbuena again denied in what was proving to be a frustrating spell for the French.

Lewandowski tried to take some of the pressure off his goalkeeper with a drilled effort which was tipped away by Carrasso, but Szczesny continued to be tested and another fantastic save nine minutes from time prevented Adil Rami from turning a header into the bottom corner.

Having weathered the storm well, Poland had one last chance to take something from the game but Carrasso was equal to the challenge, keeping out a powerful 30-yard drive from Adam Matuszczyk with his feet.

Aguero delays decision about future

Sergio Aguero has said he will not make a decision on his future after the forthcoming Copa America.

Aguero, 23, is currently with the Argentina national squad ahead of the championships, which will be held in his homeland.

"A decision about a possible transfer elsewhere will be made when the Copa America is over," the Argentina forward told Canal 7. "At the moment, I don't know anything about what will happen."

The former Independiente striker informed Atletico of his desire to leave the Vicente Calderon last month, and has subsequently been linked with a move to rivals Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter.

Aguero was recently praised by Real's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

"Obviously, I am pleased that a coach like him [Mourinho] talks positively about me," the forward said. "It's always good to be praised by other coaches."

Lazio can Klose on Scudetto

New Lazio striker Miroslav Klose believes his club can battle for the league title next season.

The Germany international became Lazio's first summer reinforcement.

Klose: New Lazio recruit

The 33-year-old joined the Roman outfit as a free agent and put pen to paper on a two-year contract with the Serie A outfit yesterday.

"Lazio is a very interesting team," said Klose on the club's official website, www.ssslazio.it.

"They have a mix of young players and experienced ones.

"I think it will be an interesting campaign and I am certain we will be able to battle for the scudetto."

The former Werder Bremen forward endured a disappointing campaign for Bayern Munich in 2010/11, scoring just one goal in 20 Bundesliga appearances.

After four seasons with the German giants, Klose is eager to show his worth in Italy's top flight.

"I am very happy with this new adventure," he said."I cannot wait to make my debut in Serie A.

"I will try to do my best for Lazio, who have a great team and very strong players."

Lazio narrowly missed out on Champions League football after a fifth-place finish in Serie A and will compete in the Europa League.