CHELSEA’S summer restructuring continued apace last night when Eidur Gudjohnsen joined Barcelona for £8 million. The Iceland forward passed a medical at the Nou Camp yesterday morning before putting pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Spanish champions, who view him as a replacement for the departed Henrik Larsson, the Sweden striker.
Gudjohnsen requested a move after playing only a peripheral role in Chelsea’s second successive Barclays Premiership title success last season, and while José Mourinho was reluctant to lose the 27-year-old, the manager granted him his wish to leave after accepting that opportunities would be even more limited at Stamford Bridge after the arrivals of Andriy Shevchenko, Salomon Kalou, Michael Ballack and John Obi Mikel.
The signing of Gudjohnsen, who scored 78 goals in 263 appearances for Chelsea after a £5 million move from Bolton Wanderers six years ago, was immediately hailed by Carles Puyol, the Barcelona captain. “I have played against him and he is a great player,” Puyol said. “He is strong, fast, makes goals and can do very well for us.” Bolton will receive a substantial sum as part of the sell-on clause they had inserted in Gudjohnsen’s Chelsea contract.
Liverpool are hopeful of reaching a deal with Seville for Daniel Alves, the Brazilian full back, within the week. The Merseyside club have had two bids rejected, but with Alves having made it clear that he wants to move to Anfield, Seville are expected to accept a third offer of about £9 million.
“I can say that, without any doubts, the player wants to go to Liverpool,” José Rodríguez Baster, Alves’s agent, said. “The two sides are getting closer, we are still quite a way apart, but if the president of Seville has said this [that they are resigned to losing him], who am I to contradict it?”
Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals, Everton, have finally completed the signing of Joleon Lescott from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a four-year contract. The deal could eventually be worth up to £5 million to the CocaCola Championship club.
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Bob Murray has resigned as the chairman of Sunderland, who were relegated from the Premiership last season. His departure paves the way for a consortium led by Niall Quinn, the former Ireland striker, to take over the club.
Sheffield United have smashed the club’s transfer record by signing Claude Davis, the Jamaica defender, from Preston North End in a deal that could be worth up to £3 million.
Cardiff City have signed Michael Chopra, the Newcastle United striker, and Stephen McPhail, the Barnsley midfield player, on three-year contracts.
René Meulensteen, the Manchester United reserve-team coach, has confirmed that he is in talks with Brondby about becoming the Danish club’s new manager.
Steve Gibson, the Middlesbrough chairman, is hopeful that Gareth Southgate will help to guide the club into the Champions League. Southgate succeeded Steve McClaren as manager last week.
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Wigan Athletic have joined Aston Villa in the race to sign James Milner, the Newcastle winger. Wigan are also interested in Emile Heskey, as are Blackburn Rovers, who are growing resigned to losing Steven Reid. Tottenham Hotspur have made a reported £2 million bid for the Ireland midfield player.
Tony Pulis has returned to Stoke City as manager on a 12-month rolling contract after a change of ownership at the club. Pulis quit Plymouth Argyle to take charge at Stoke, who he left in June last year.
Leroy Rosenior is the new manager of Brentford, taking over from Martin Allen, who resigned despite guiding the club to the League One play-offs. Rosenior, formerly in charge at Torquay United, left his post as first-team coach at Shrewsbury Town yesterday.