Clint Dempsey agrees Tottenahm deal

Tottenham sealed a shock deadline-day move for Fulham forward Clint Dempsey as they also signed France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and sold Rafael van der Vaart.

 

On Saturday morning Tottenham also confirmed that winger Aaron Lennon has signed a new contract which commits him to the club until 2016.
"We are delighted to announce we have reached agreement with Fulham for the transfer of Clint Dempsey," Spurs said on their website.
The 29-year-old had been strongly linked by the media with a move to Liverpool following his 17-goal haul in the Premier League last season but the Anfield club failed to meet Fulham's transfer evaluation.
Dempsey joined Fulham in 2007 from New England Revolution, scoring 60 goals in 224 appearances for the Craven Cottage team.
Earlier in the evening, Spurs agreed to pay Lyon a fee of £10 million for France number one Lloris, plus possible add-ons worth £5m.
"Lloris has signed a four-year contract," Lloris's former club Lyon said on their official website.
Lloris, 25, who has won 38 caps and featured at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, joined Lyon in 2008 from Nice.
He won Ligue 1's best keeper award in 2009, 2010 and 2012.
Midfielder Van der Vaart, 29, previously played at Hamburg from 2005 to 2008 before leaving to spend two seasons each at Real Madrid and Tottenham.
"I'm enthusiastic that Rafael van der Vaart is playing for HSV again," said Thorsten Fink, favourite to be the first coach to lose his job in the Bundesliga this season. "He will be an important reinforcement for our team."
Van der Vaart, a regular with the Dutch national team for a decade, said on the club's website: "This is a dream for me and my family. I'm looking forward to three great years."
Having finished third, seventh and fourth in the three years Van der Vaart played for them, Hamburg, the only ever-present side in the Bundesliga's 50-season history, narrowly avoided relegation last season as they finished 15th.
They have also made a poor start this term, losing at home to Nuremberg in their Bundesliga opener on Saturday and getting knocked out of the German Cup by third tier Karlsruher the week before.
The news came hours after Van der Vaart was dropped from the Dutch squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Turkey and Hungary, with coach Louis van Gaal saying he had not played enough club football recently.
Also moving on is defender Danny Rose who has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan while Real Mallorca have agreed to sign Mexico forward Giovani Dos Santos on a four-year deal.
Lennon, 25, has played more than 230 matches in all competitions for Spurs since joining from Leeds in 2005.
He has started both Premier League matches for Andre Villas-Boas's side this season.

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Man city defeats uninspired QPR

Manchester City went third in the table after beating Queens Park Rangers 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in a match they made far harder than it needed to be.

The meeting between the two sides brought back memories of last season's final day 3-2 classic but City were hoping to avoid the need for such dramatics this time out.
Yaya Toure gave them an early lead and the champions proceeded to completely dominate the first half without being able to double their advantage.
Bobby Zamora then scored a scarcely deserved equaliser in the 59th minute for the visitors from West London but Edin Dzeko, making his first start since March, headed City back in front two minutes later.
City would have been expected to push on from there and kill off the game but instead they tired badly giving a previously laboured QPR side a chance of an unlikely point.
However, despite playing seven summer signings, QPR were similarly uninspired, and Carlos Tevez redirected a mis-hit Edin Dzeko shot into the net in stoppage time to wrap up the victory.
An indication of City's early domination was the fact that their opening goal came from what was already their seventh corner of the match in just the 16th minute.
Samir Nasri curled the corner to the back post where Tevez shot against Zamora – the ball then bounced out to Yaya Toure near the penalty spot and the Ivorian fired home the opener.
QPR were completely devoid of ambition in the first half and just sat back in numbers hoping that City wouldn't break them down.
Roberto Mancini's men had a number of chances but it was somehow only 1-0 at the break. The closest QPR actually came was a bizarre clearance from halfway back towards his own goal by Jack Rodwell that sailed just over.
The second-half followed a similar patter and Pablo Zabaleta was desperately unlucky not to score in the 52th minute when, after been slipped in by a cute David Silva pass, he curled a great effort off the underside of the crossbar.
Then QPR scored completely against the run of play in the 59th minute. Andy Johnson nicked David Silva in possession and ran into the box; he fired a shot on goal that took a deflection and Joe Hart did superbly well to save it, however, he could only put it into the path of Johnson's former Fulham team-mate Zamora who nodded home a header from two yards.
That seemed to wake up City though who had the lead again just two minutes later.
Tevez was again involved as he reacted quickly to a fizzed ball by Aleksandar Kolarov into the box to push the ball forward with his right foot before pulling back a cross with his left from the end-line that landed perfectly on Dzeko's head, allowing the big striker to nod home from close range.
However, after that City got sloppy again and seemed to tire badly. New signing Esteban Granero was having a decent game for QPR in midfield and the booked Kolarov was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch after barging into Anton Ferdinand and then his replacement Nedum Onuoha.
QPR did create a couple of changes as City looked gassed but they were perhaps unlucky that their two best openings fell to centre back Ryan Nelsen who mis-hit one effort and couldn't get onto the end of another cross that Jolean Lescott had failed to deal with.
Instead it was City who would get the game's fourth goal, as Tevez scored his 50th Premier League goal when he redirected a poor effort from Dzeko past Rob Green.
It was fully deserved, as the Argentine had allowed Yaya Toure to feed the Bosnian by harassing the QPR defenders in possession.
It was again a stoppage time goal from an Argentine against QPR, but while it may not have had the drama of last season's meeting between the sides, and Sergio Aguero's heroics, three points are three points, and once again it was City who took the spoils.

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Injuried Andy Carroll to miss world cup qualifiers

Striker Andy Carroll withdrew from England's squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine after injuring his hamstring on his West Ham United debut.

Carroll fell awkwardly after colliding with Fulham centre back Brede Hangeland midway through the second half of West Ham's 3-0 Premier League win at Upton Park.
The pony-tailed front man, who joined the London club on a season-long loan from Liverpool on Thursday, immediately clutched his right hamstring and was substituted.
The Football Association said on its website that Carroll was ruled out of the England matches, adding that any decision to replace him would "not be made until after the three league fixtures on Sunday have been completed".
England, already without injured striker Wayne Rooney, open their Group H campaign in Moldova on Friday before hosting Ukraine four days later.
Carroll made an instant impact for West Ham, flicking on a long ball inside the first minute which led to Kevin Nolan's opening goal.
"He will probably be on our treatment bench for a while. He was injured in a jump with their centre half and he over-extended himself," West Ham manager Sam Allardyce told the BBC.
The 23-year-old Carroll moved to London in search of the form that led Liverpool to pay a club record fee of 35 million pounds ($55.59 million) to Newcastle United for him in January 2011.
Carroll failed to live up to that price tag at Anfield, scoring 11 times, and West Ham have the option of signing him on a permanent deal at the end of the season for an undisclosed fee.

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Spurs offers Lennon new deal

Tottenham have confirmed winger Aaron Lennon has signed a new contract which commits him to the club until 2016.

The 25-year-old has played more than 230 matches in all competitions for Spurs since joining from Leeds in 2005.

He has started both Barclays Premier League matches for Andre Villas-Boas' side this season.

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Javi Garcia officially to Man city

Spain international Javi Garcia has signed for reigning Premier League champions Manchester City for a fee of €20.1million (£16m) from Portuguese giants Benfica.

Garcia brings extensive experience of the Champions League with him to Manchester, having made his competition debut for Real Madrid back in 2005.

A defensive midfielder by trade, the 25-year-old has been capped by the Spanish national team once, in a friendly against Serbia earlier this year.

Garcia began his career with Madrid, representing the Primera Division side's B team 86 times before graduating to the first team.

He won the European U19 Championships with his country, playing alongside Juan Mata and Gerard Pique as they defeated Scotland in the final in Poland.

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Andy Caroll to West ham as loan

 

 England forward signs for Hammers on season-long loan from Liverpool

England forward Andy Carroll has joined West Ham United on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool.

The 23-year-old, who on Thursday was named in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine, agreed a move to Upton Park after holding talks with Hammers boss Sam Allardyce.

Carroll said: "It's great to be here at West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to get started now.

"I want to be playing games and obviously hoping to score some goals.

“I know the manager well and some of the lads, so it is nice for me to come to a place where I know people.

"I'm hoping to add a lot of goals and create a few chances. I know Sam from Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me coming.

“When I worked with him at Newcastle it was great so it was a no-brainer really."

Allardyce added: "I think for all parties this is a great signing. Andy is an all-round footballer, but because he is 6ft 3in and one of his strengths is his aerial power, everybody dismisses the ability he possesses on the floor.

"Hopefully he can score goals for us and we will be in a very good position at the end of the year in the Premier League."

Carroll joined Liverpool in a club record £35million deadline day deal in January 2011. He scored nine goals for the Reds last season but did not command a regular starting place.

However, he began to impress towards the end of the campaign and shone at Euro 2012 with the Three Lions, scoring a header in the 3-2 win over Sweden.

Tickets are still on sale for England's match against Ukraine at Wembley on 11 September, so make sure you're here for the first competitive home match of Hodgson's era.

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Lampard wants to end his career at Chelsea

Frank Lampard wants to end his career at Chelsea but is still waiting for talks to open over his future as he enters the final year of his current contract.

 Midfielder Lampard is delighted to be back in the England set-up after missing the Euro 2012 finals through injury and will skipper the side in Wednesday's friendly international with Italy in Berne.

But at club level the 34-year-old is uncertain of what lies ahead, and said: "We spoke once last season and it was a case of coming back - and it hasn't come back from their end. I don't know (what will happen). At the minute I'm just playing. I'd like to sit down and speak with them. But at the minute I'm playing and it's up to the club to do that."

He went on: "I would like to end my career there. I feel I can play at the top level for a good few more years, but it's whether the club feels the same.

"I know there are a lot of changes at Chelsea. I'd love to be involved, and the youth coming into the squad this year has really freshened up our team.

"I'd love to carry on but it's a club decision to come and sit down with me.

"They used to sit down with me three years before the end of my contract! Now I'm waiting."

Lampard admitted: "People do look at you differently when you get the other side of 30. That's natural. I don't mind that at all.

"I want to keep myself as fit as possible, to live right, and keep my edge so I know I can keep competing at the top.

"That's what drives me on. If I don't feel I can do it, I wouldn't be happy playing football anyway."

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Fabrice Muamba retires from Football

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba has announced his retirement from professional football, five months after suffering a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie.

Muamba, 24, collapsed on the pitch during a televised encounter between Bolton and Tottenham at White Hart Lane in March and the game was abandoned as medics fought to save his life.

The midfielder's heart stopped for 78 minutes before finally starting up again after prolonged resuscitation and following his arrival at the London Chest Hospital.

His plight shocked football but Muamba was discharged from hospital on April 16 after what was described as an "incredible" recovery.

He said he hoped to return to professional football, but following further surgery in Belgium last week doctors have informed the former England Under-21 international that he should not play again.

Muamba said: “Since suffering my heart attack and being discharged from hospital, I have remained utterly positive in the belief I could one day resume my playing career and play for Bolton Wanderers once again.

“As part of my on-going recovery, last week I travelled to Belgium to seek further medical advice from a leading cardiologist. But the news I received was obviously not what I had hoped it would be and it means I am now announcing my retirement from professional football.

“Football has been my life since I was a teenage boy and it has given me so many opportunities. Above all else, I love the game and count myself very lucky to have been able to play at the highest level.

“While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for. I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me. I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, and the Bolton fans who have been incredible. I am blessed to have the support of my family and friends at this time.”

Muamba arrived in England as a refugee from DR Congo at the age of 11 and joined Arsenal's youth academy in 2002. He made two appearances for the Gunners before joining Birmingham, initially on loan, in the summer of 2006.

A permanent move followed the next year when Muamba joined the Blues for £4 million but Bolton moved in the summer of 2008 and brought him to the Reebok Stadium for a fee of £5m.

Muamba made 148 appearances for Bolton, scoring four times.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle said: “We have spoken with Fab and he knows we will always support him in whatever he wants to do and that we will always be here for him.

“He is obviously massively disappointed that he won’t be able to carry on his career, but everyone has seen what a fighter and strong person he is in mind and body.

“We know that he will go on to achieve great things and within all this disappointment, the most important thing is that he is here, alive, today.”

Muamba represented England at several different youth levels, and earned 33 caps for the under-21 side.

FA chairman David Bermstein said: "On behalf of everybody at The FA I'd like to say how sorry we are to learn that Fabrice Muamba has had to end his professional football career.

"His recovery has been miraculous and a great tribute to all who have been involved.

"I would like to wish him the very best for the future and I know that the thoughts of the entire football family will be with him."

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Finally Van Persie to Manchester United

Arsenal have agreed terms to sell their captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United, the two Premier League rivals have announced.

The Dutch striker, voted the league's player of the year last season, will travel to Manchester on Thursday to discuss personal terms and complete a medical ahead of the proposed move to Old Trafford.

No financial details were immediately available from the clubs. Media reports said United would pay £24 million for Van Persie, who is poised to sign a four-year contract with them.

The 29-year-old, who had also attracted interest from the Premier League champions Manchester City and Juventus, said last month he would not extend his contract at Arsenal. He had one year left on his deal after eight years with the club.

Van Persie scored 37 goals last season as Arsenal finished third in the league and reached the last 16 of the Champions League. But the club have not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup final defeat of United.

At Old Trafford Van Persie would link up with England striker Wayne Rooney as Alex Ferguson's team try to take the title back from their city rivals. United have made only one major signing since the end of last season, Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa joining from German champions Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was keen to avoid a repeat of the tumultuous start to last season when protracted transfer speculation swirled around their then captain Cesc Fabregas and his fellow midfielder Samir Nasri.

Fabregas moved to Barcelona in mid-August and Nasri was sold to Manchester City nine days later. Before the end of the month Arsenal had suffered an 8-2 hammering by United at Old Trafford.

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Lampard hopes to end his career in Chelsea

Frank Lampard wants to end his career at Chelsea but is still waiting for talks to open over his future as he enters the final year of his current contract.

Midfielder Lampard is delighted to be back in the England set-up after missing the Euro 2012 finals through injury and will skipper the side in Wednesday's friendly international with Italy in Berne.

But at club level the 34-year-old is uncertain of what lies ahead, and said: "We spoke once last season and it was a case of coming back - and it hasn't come back from their end. I don't know (what will happen). At the minute I'm just playing. I'd like to sit down and speak with them. But at the minute I'm playing and it's up to the club to do that."

He went on: "I would like to end my career there. I feel I can play at the top level for a good few more years, but it's whether the club feels the same.

"I know there are a lot of changes at Chelsea. I'd love to be involved, and the youth coming into the squad this year has really freshened up our team.

"I'd love to carry on but it's a club decision to come and sit down with me.

"They used to sit down with me three years before the end of my contract! Now I'm waiting."

Lampard admitted: "People do look at you differently when you get the other side of 30. That's natural. I don't mind that at all.

"I want to keep myself as fit as possible, to live right, and keep my edge so I know I can keep competing at the top.

"That's what drives me on. If I don't feel I can do it, I wouldn't be happy playing football anyway."

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Angelo henriquez Officially to Manchester united

The teenager was believed to have undergone a medical in Manchester on Tuesday, although it has been claimed in Chile that he will be immediately loaned back to his current club, Universidad de Chile.

United are yet to make any announcement on the subject.

However, Henriquez is regarded as one of his country's brightest prospects.

He impressed at the recent Milk Cup tournament in Northern Ireland, when Chile finished third in the six-team elite competition.

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Fletcher backs to action

Former Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson included Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand in a star-studded side as he returned to the Granite City for the match in honour of his former player, who is currently the head of the Pittodrie youth academy.

Fletcher, who is on the road to recovery from a chronic inflammatory bowel condition, featured for United for the first time since a Champions League match against Benfica last November, coming on a second-half substitute.

Former Old Trafford favourites Dwight Yorke, Clayton Blackmore and Quinton Fortune all made cameo appearances, while the home support were also treated to a trip down memory lane with Brian Irvine, Dougie Bell, Doug Rougvie and Steve Tosh all donning an Aberdeen top once again.

The hosts took an unexpected lead after 38 minutes when Jonny Hayes pounced on a rare lapse by Scholes when he dispossessed the midfielder and coolly slotted the ball past David De Gea.

Fletcher was introduced just before the half-hour mark to a warm reception from the Pittodrie crowd before Aberdeen doubled their lead when Joe Shaughnessy turned the ball home from an Andrew Considine pass after United failed to deal with a Rob Milsom corner. Yorke had a strike ruled out for offside before Anderson pulled a goal back for United after 81 minutes with a neat finish. But Aberdeen held on for a surprise victory against the English Premier League giants.

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Kompany wants Van Persie

Vincent Kompany has described Arsenal striker Robin van Persie as a "great player" and believes he would improve Manchester City, or any other squad.

Roberto Mancini's side have been heavily linked with a move for the 29-year-old although reports now suggest Manchester United are in pole position to sign the Dutch striker.

"It's very easy to say you want to play next to Robin van Persie," Kompany told Sky Sports News. "He's a great player. He's proved it so many times last season and any team he would play for he'd make it stronger."

The Dutchman, whose contract expires at the end of the 2012-13 season, announced earlier this summer that he would not renew his deal and was booed by some Arsenal fans during their friendly against Cologne on Sunday.

Team-mate Thomas Vermaelen does not believe the speculation or reception from the Gunners' supporters have had a negative effect on the striker, who scored 37 goals last season.

"To me he looks fit and sharp in training," said Vermaelen.

"He's working hard. He's working on his fitness. I don't see anything (different) and I hope he stays the next four years as well.

"I don't know what happens behind the scenes but at the moment I can only say he's a player for Arsenal.

"I feel really positive for the new season. If we all stay fit, the squad is strong enough to compete for the title."

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Carroll scores for Liverpool win

It took just three minutes for the home side to break the deadlock at Anfield through youngster Raheem Sterling. The 17-year-old latched on to an incisive ball from Jose Enrique down the left before cutting inside to curl a shot into the bottom corner past Bernd Leno in the Leverkusen goal.

Liverpool's second of the match came on the 29th minute from a free-kick won by Luis Suarez who was brought down by Daniel Schwaab on the edge of the area.

The cleverly worked set piece found Suarez unmarked in the area, who got the ball stuck under his feet before it was deflected into the path of Lucas who side-footed home into an open goal from six yards out.

A goalkeeping blunder allowed Liverpool to get their third of the match on 65 minutes when Carroll turned nicely on the ball before firing a routine shot from outside the area goalwards that Leno fumbled into the back of the net.

The visitors snatched a consolation through Gonzalo Castro on 75 minutes when he shrugged off Jamie Carragher and unleashed a fierce left-footed shot that sailed past Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.

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Manchester waiting for response to van Persie bid

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United have hit a brick wall in their attempts to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal.

Ferguson revealed on United's recent tour of South Africa United had made a bid for last season's Premier League Golden Boot winner. The Red Devils interest seems to have fended off competition from Manchester City and Juventus.

However, Arsene Wenger has never sold a player to United. And, from Ferguson's comments to reporters following the penalty shoot-out defeat to Barcelona in Gothenburg, it doesn't appear he wants to start now. "We have made a bid and they've been trying to negotiate with other clubs," said Ferguson.

"I don't have a gut feeling on it at the moment, I must admit. We're not getting any breakthrough with Arsenal. It's difficult to say why they're operating this way. I don't know what their thoughts are because they're not giving anything away."

There had been rumours circulating prior to Wednesday night's game that Van Persie was heading to Manchester for a medical. It seems they were wide of the mark.

"I can't give you any more information," said Ferguson. "We just have to persevere. We are trying our best and hopefully it will come our way but there's no progress at this moment in time."

It was the second transfer blow of the day for United, who discovered prior to kick-off that Brazilian midfielder Lucas Moura had joined cash-rich Paris St-Germain. Ferguson was keen to sign the teenage midfielder from Sao Paulo and remained in Manchester at the weekend when his team headed to Norway "to do some business".

The clearest indication Moura was looking elsewhere was that Ferguson jetted out of Manchester prior to Brazil's Olympic semi-final win over South Korea on Tuesday night, when the midfielder was an unused substitute. It seems United simply could not compete with PSG's Qatari-backed spending power.

Following the huge purchases of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, Ferguson stated the world had 'gone mad' saying: "I find it quite amazing that a club can pay 45million euros for a 19-year-old boy," said the Scot. "To tell everyone that PSG are here they've signed Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They must have spent about £150m in the last month.

"The only deterrent to that is UEFA. In the conditions of European football, you don't qualify for Europe by winning the league or coming second - you only get in by invitation. That's where, hopefully, UEFA can have some power. When somebody's paying £45m for a 19-year-old boy you have to say the game's gone mad."

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Manchester United lost against Barcelona on penalties

Gerard Pique scored the winning spot-kick as Barcelona beat Manchester United on penalties after the sides played out a goalless draw in Gothenburg.

Nani and Ashley Young failed to convert United’s two penalties as the sides needed a three-penalty shootout to decide a match that Barcelona had dominated.

But it could have been different for United had Victor Valdes not denied Wayne Rooney from the spot in first half stoppage time – with Rooney slashing the rebound wide.

Manchester United had the better of their friendly against Barcelona at FedEx Field in Washington DC this time last year, with Michael Owen scoring the winner on that occasion.

But despite Paul Scholes looking in inspired form Barcelona dominated from early on this time around, and the Catalan giants should have led when Lionel Messi drove at the United defence before feeding Cristian Tello, who took too long to shoot – and could only find the side-netting.

Barca came even closer moments later when Messi jinked his way beyond Antonio Valencia and drilled a low shot towards the bottom corner, but David De Gea pulled off a superb fingertip save low to his left - the first of many excellent saves by the former Atletico Madrid keeper.

Barca opened United up at will and they spurned another big chance when Messi again found Tello in space on the left, but Rio Ferdinand made up enough ground to deflect the shot over the bar.

The game’s big moment came in first half injury time when Tello clumsily brought down Nani in the box, but Rooney’s powerful penalty was at a comfortable height for Valdes to palm away.

Rooney was first to the rebound, but snatched at it and the ball flew wide.

Andres Iniesta, Messi and Rooney were among the big names rested for the second half, but United’s new signing Shinji Kagawa came off the bench and almost made an instant impact.

Collecting Danny Welbeck’s cushioned pass, Kagawa tried to coax the ball into the bottom corner – but Jose Manuel Pinto, another player introduced at the break, made an accomplished save low to his right.

But it was mostly one-way traffic in the second half as Barca threatened to get their noses in front, but they were unable to breach De Gea, who was in inspired form.

The Spaniard, playing his first game for United this summer having represented Spain at the European Championships and the London Olympics, made two crucial saves – one with his legs from Alexis Sanchez, and the second an acrobatic flying save from Pedro’s goalbound header.

Chances came and went as the game limped towards an inevitable conclusion, with Xavi and Pique each scoring from the spot to ensure victory for the Catalan club.

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Suarez signs new Liverpool deal

The Uruguay forward was on international duty at the Olympics, but penned the new contract after returning to pre-season training with Liverpool.
Suarez has scored 21 goals in 52 appearances since moving from Ajax to Anfield in January 2011.
To sign a new contract with Liverpool is unbelievable for me because I am so happy here at both the club and also in the city, said Suarez, who is believed to have extended his stay at the club until 2016.
That is important for me and I am very happy with my new contract.
When you are a kid, everybody wants to play for Liverpool. I am here now and it is a dream for me, and now I am a Liverpool fan.
I am happy off the pitch because the people of Liverpool are good with me and my family. I try my best on the pitch and when you are happy off the pitch, you are happy on the pitch.
I want to say thank-you to the fans because they are our 12th player. The supporters of Liverpool are unbelievable.
Five or six years ago I watched on TV the stadium and the club, and now I play here and the supporters have helped me. That's very important for me.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: "I'm delighted. When you have the opportunity to work with world-class players it's fantastic.
There were certainly a few clubs who were interested in him but over the off-season he and I communicated well - and he's committed himself for the long term here now.
He's really looking forward to playing in this way of working. As a manager and for the supporters, I'm delighted because I know how important he is for them.
Liverpool club's official television channel had earlier sparked confusion when it appeared to announce that Suarez has signed a new contract, only for the broadcast to be cut off with no other confirmation forthcoming.
During a 60-second news bulletin on LFC TV on Tuesday afternoon, the station claimed that the Uruguay striker had signed a new "long-term" deal amid speculation of interest from Serie A champions Juventus.
However, the broadcast was cut short before the end of the report, and no further word had come out from the club either from the channel or its press office.

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Pre-Season Friendlies

Wolfsburg 0-2 Manchester City

Limerick 0-4 Manchester City

The Barclays Premier League champions finished their pre-season programme with victories in their final two friendly matches.
On Saturday, Sergio Aguero's toe-poked finish and Yaya Toure's shot secured a win over Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg.
On Sunday City were in Ireland, with Edin Dzeko scoring twice in a comfortable win over Limerick.
Dzeko, the only player to start both matches, bundled the ball in from close range and finished from a breakaway either side of Dedryck Boyata's strike.
That left City 3-0 up at the break and then Luca Scapuzzi completed a comfortable win ahead of Sunday's Community Shield match against Chelsea.

Nottingham Forest 3-1 Aston Villa

Barry Bannan scored a wonderful free-kick as Villa cancelled out Lewis McGugan's opener, but Villa slumped to defeat against the Championship outfit with late goals by Marcus Tudgay and McGugan's second.

Brighton 3-1 Chelsea

The European champions suffered a third successive pre-season defeat as Brighton came back strongly to shock the Barclays Premier League side after Frank Lampard's opener.

Blackpool 2-0 Everton

Everton gave starts to new signings Steven Naismith and Steven Pienaar but Alex Baptiste and James Caton gave the Championship side victory.

OGC Nice 0-4 Fulham

Martin Jol's side recorded an impressive win over the Ligue 1 side as Mladen Petric's spectacular opener was followed by goals from Alex Kacaniklic, Mahamadou Diarra and substitute teenager Mesca.

Den Haag 0-0 Newcastle United

Papiss Cisse saw his header cleared off the line and Shola Ameobi had a strike ruled out for offside as the Magpies were held to a stalemate in the Netherlands.

MK Dons 0-0 Norwich City

Robert Snodgrass played his first 90 minutes for the Canaries, but the visitors could not break down a resilient MK Dons side.

Trabzonspor 1-1 QPR

Shaun Wright-Phillips' emphatic low drive earned QPR a draw in Turkey, after Trabzonspor took the lead through a fine chip from Ondrej Celustka.

Bournemouth 2-2 Reading

Jem Karacan returned from injury but Reading could not secure victory despite twice taking the lead through Adrian Mariappa's header and Hal Robson-Kanu's penalty.

Southampton 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Billy Sharp finished smartly from Adam Lallana's cross and Jason Puncheon struck with a low shot as the Saints secured victory against Wolves.

Helsingborgs 2-0 Sunderland

The Swedish champions inflicted the third defeat of pre-season on Martin O'Neill's side thanks to Alfred Finnbogason's long-range effort and May Mahalangu's close-range finish.

Llanelli 1-1 Swansea City

Rory Donnelly capitalised on a poor back-pass to put Swansea ahead, but Rory Jenkins equalised as the visitors were held by their south Wales neighbours.

Watford 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Jermain Defoe headed in Kyle Walker's cross in the second half as Spurs recorded victory over their Championship rivals.

Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

The Baggies needed a late 25-yard finish from Peter Odemwingie to earn a draw in an entertaining encounter against the Owls. 

Ipswich Town 3-1 West Ham United

Matt Taylor fired a shot in off the post but the Hammers were beaten by the Championship side who scored through Michael Chopra, Luke Chambers and substitute Jason Scotland.

Wigan Athletic 0-2 Real Mallorca

The Latics were beaten by two second-half goals from their Spanish opponents, Victor Casadesus and Kevin Garcia finding the ne

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Lindegaard signs a new four-year deal

The Denmark international, who joined the club from Aalesund in January 2011, has committed himself to United for until the end of the 2015-15 season.

"I'm very pleased to have signed a new contract," Lindegaard told the club's official website. "I'm glad and proud that the manager has shown the confidence he has in me by giving me a new deal.

"There is nowhere in the world I would rather be than right here. The competition for places is tough, as it should be in a club like this. It only makes us better as individuals and, more importantly, stronger as a team.

"It's what I have dreamt of all my life and nothing makes me more proud than wearing the Manchester United badge.”

Though the 28-year-old has largely played as back-up to David De Gea over the past 12 months, he did briefly displace the Spaniard last season before succumbing to injury himself.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Anders is still relatively young for a goalkeeper but he has come on leaps and bounds since joining us last year.

"There is healthy competition in the goalkeeping department, which is always good for the team, albeit a headache for me.

"I am delighted he has signed a new contract and also delighted to see that he has clearly returned from the summer break in good shape after the disappointment of suffering an injury last season.”

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Rooney : We are ready for Norway

United's stars have been back at Carrington this week, working hard to prepare for the trip to Oslo on the latest leg of the DHL tour.

Euro 2012 performers, including Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Nani and Patrice Evra, are captured on camera going through their paces and David De Gea is also back in the fold following Spain's elimination from the Olympics.

Check out our exclusive gallery of shots taken by official club photographers John and Matt Peters ahead of the weekend clash with Valerenga.

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