Ajax sign Duarte as Eriksen replacement

The Amsterdam giants have completed the transfer of the former Sparta star after already agreeing terms with Heracles at the weekend

Ajax have announced the capture of attacking midfielder Lerin Duarte from Heracles in a deal believed to be worth up to €3 million.

The Eredivisie champions were in the market for a new midfielder due to the departure of Christian Eriksen to Tottenham last week and they have snapped up the 23-year-old as his replacement.

Both clubs already reached an agreement over the transfer on Saturday and Duarte has now inked a four-year deal with the Amsterdam side to finalise the move.

Duarte started his professional career with Sparta, but left the Rotterdam side for Heracles in the summer of 2011. He had since become a key player in Almelo, scoring 12 goals in 65 Eredivisie appearances.

The midfielder was called up for Netherlands' Asian tour earlier this summer, but has yet to make his official debut for Oranje.

Sneijder added to Netherlands squad

The playmaker was initially omitted from 21-man squad to face Estonia and Andorra, but an injury to Georginio Wijnaldum opens door for return
Wesley Sneijder's international exile is over after Louis van Gaal brought the 29-year-old back into theNetherlands fold.

The Galatasaray midfielder was initially left out of Van Gaal's 21-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Andorra, but an ankle injury to PSV winger Georginio Wijnaldum paved the way for Sneijder's return.

The former Ajax, Real Madrid and Inter man has won 93 caps for Oranje, but has not featured since playing friendlies in East Asia at the end of last season.

Van Gaal chose not to call Sneijder up for the August international in Portugal and again overlooked the playmaker for September's clashes before misfortune struck for Wijnaldum.

Netherlands top their World Cup qualifying group after posting a 100 per cent record from six games played and a pair of wins away to Estonia and Andorra over the next fortnight will confirm their place in Brazil next year.

Tottenham reject Hulk loan

Spurs have baulked at Zenit St Petersburg's €11.8 million demand over a season-long deal and have failed to sign young Blackpool star Thomas Ince


Tottenham have rejected the chance to sign Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk on a season-long loan for €11.8 million and have missed out on Tom Ince.

Spurs pursued deadline day moves for the wide forwards but have now abandoned hope of signing them in this window.The Londoners baulked at the Russian outfit's proposal for Hulk following talks on Monday, while Blackpool youngster Ince has opted to stay with the Championship side until the end of the season. 

Tottenham enquired about the availability of Hulk, who played under Andre Villas-Boas at Porto during the 2010-11 season, on a temporary deal but were priced out of a move after being quoted an eight-figure sum for a loan before returning to Russia at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Ince has rejected the chance to move to Tottenham after having previously turned down Cardiff City in July, with a view to seeing out the final year of his contract at Bloomfield Road. 

Ince is understood to be happy playing under his father Paul at the second-tier outfit and doesn't want to leave the north west after the recent birth of his first child. 

Speaking earlier this summer, the England Under-21 international confirmed that he would likely be staying at Blackpool for one more season, despite admitting his interest in playing for a Premier League side. 

"I am ambitious about playing at the highest level I can, but I’m content in the knowledge time is on my side and I can afford to wait and see what develops," Ince told the Daily Mail. 

"If the window passes without a move, I will have no problem knuckling down to another Championship campaign at Bloomfield Road."

Ozil completes Arsenal move

The Germany star has agreed a stunning €47 million move from Real Madrid to the Emirates, signing a five-year contract with the Premier League side

Mesut Ozil has sealed a spectacular €47 million move to Arsenal after signing a five-year contract.

The Gunners have smashed their transfer record to land the Germany international, who underwent the second part of his medical in Munich on Monday after agreeing personal terms with the club.

Goal has learned that Ozil has signed a deal worth around €150,000-a-week that will run until 2018 after Real Madrid gave the green light to his departure.

He will comfortably become Arsenal’s highest-paid player as well as the club’s record signing, after Arsene Wenger sanctioned the first €23m-plus transfer in their history.
Arsenal were in advanced discussions with Real to sign Ozil before Monday night’s transfer deadline.

The two clubs agreed a €47m fee before Ozil’s representatives began discussing personal terms with senior Arsenal officials.

An agreement was reached late on Monday morning before Ozil underwent medical tests in Germany, where he had been based as the national team prepare for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Arsenal are hoping to sign at least three players on deadline day as they try to make amends for a frustrating summer of transfer activity at the club.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has already had a medical, which he passed on Monday morning, and has agreed the terms of a season-long loan from Palermo. Arsenal are also in talks with Chelsea about a season-long loan move for Demba Ba.

The Gunners have still not abandoned hope of signing Angel Di Maria, also from Real, for €30m.

The Gunners tabled a bid for Di Maria last week and the offer is still believed to be on the table. However, the Argentine winger has begun the season in impressive form and is reluctant to cut his ties with the Santiago Bernabeu.

Official: Schalke loan Barnetta to Frankfurt

The Switzerland international is ecstatic about taking on a new challenge at the Hessian outfit this season, after S04's new arrivals reduced his chances of a starting berth

Eintracht Frankfurt have announced the signing of Tranquillo Barnetta from Schalke on a season-long basis.

The arrivals of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Christian Clemens have lowered Barnetta's chances of making regular appearances at Veltins Arena.

The Swiss winger is now relishing the opportunity of making an impact at Armin Veh's side this season, whom recently qualified for the Europa League group stages.

"I'm delighted that the deal went through and about getting to know the city and the team," the 28-year-old was quoted as saying on the club's official website.

"First, I must meet with the national team, however, and will return to Frankfurt with Pirmin Schwegler in 10 days."

Barnetta scored 10 goals during 68 appearances for his country to date.

Ibrahimovic: I don't want to just score goals

The Paris Saint-Germain star has refused to take on the sole responsibility to net for his club and believes he brings other qualities as well

Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has expressed his irritation at the expectation for him to always score.

The Sweden international was the top scorer in Ligue 1 last season, netting a total of 30 goals during 37 appearances. 

However, Ibrahimovic is adamant that finding the net should not be his only responsibility, as modern strikers have a much bigger ground to cover in their game.

"People are demanding," the 31-year-old told reporters. "They always expect more of me. 

"For an attacker, it is always important to score. But I do not want to be reduced to that. I try to play the game and help the team. I hope to deliver more assists. 

"It's important for a team that the responsibility for scoring goals is shared. At PSG, we can always score a lot."

After four matches played, PSG currently sit fourth in Ligue 1, two points behind table-toppers Monaco. They will face Bordeaux on September 13.

Chelsea demand £2m fee for Ba loan to Arsenal

The London rivals are in talks about the Senegal striker moving to the Emirates Stadium for this season, with a medical at London Colney reserved for Monday evening

Chelsea have slapped a £2 million-plus loan fee on Arsenal target Demba Ba.

The London rivals are in talks about the Senegal striker moving to the Emirates Stadium for the rest of the season on loan, having made an initial enquiry on Sunday.

Arsenal have earmarked a medical at their London Colney training headquarters on Monday evening if a deal can be closed.

The transfer is likely to hinge upon the Gunners' willingness to pay the loan fee that Chelsea are demanding for a player who has found himself out of favour under new manager Jose Mourinho.However, Roma have cooled their interest in Ba and have now made a move for Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella. Sources have told Goal that Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has flown to Serie A's headquarters in Milan for talks about capturing the 30-year-old before Monday's transfer deadline.

This could give Arsenal a free run at landing Ba, who is their main striker focus in the final hours of the window.

The 28-year-old forward has not even made the bench for Chelsea's last two fixtures, despite being fully fit, and slipped even further down the pecking order when the Blues signed Samuel Eto'o.

With Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku also at Stamford Bridge, Ba is unlikely to feature much this season and Chelsea can trim their wage bill by loaning out the forward.

Arsenal had an interest in signing Ba permanently in January when he was at Newcastle but were concerned about his history of knee trouble.

Arsene Wenger wants proven backup for Olivier Giroud, who has begun the season in outstanding form.

The Arsenal manager has failed in a series of bids to land a new forward on a permanent deal this summer and has now adjusted his sights to a loan deal.