Valencia keeper Diego set for Brazil move

Valencia and Brazil goalkeeper Diego Alves is poised to join Brazilian football giants Flamengo, ending weeks of speculation about his future.

According to Valencia football director Mateu Alemany, the Spanish club is negotiating financial terms with Flamengo after 32-year-old Alves expressed his wish to leave, reports Xinhua news agency on Friday. "There was originally contact from (Deportivo) La Coruna but now we are in talks with a Brazilian club, Flamengo to be specific," Alemany was quoted as saying by the Globo newspaper. "We are in negotiations. I am aware that he wants to play for the club (Flamengo) and we are discussing it."

Alves has made 146 firstteam appearances for Valencia since his 2011 move from Almeria. In 2016, he became the goalkeeper with the most penalty saves in Spain's top flight, breaking Andoni Zubizarreta's previous record of 16. Last month Alves said his immediate priority was to become Brazil's first-choice goalkeeper ahead of next year's World Cup in Russia.

Dortmund extend Kagawa's contract

Borussia Dortmund have extended the contract with Japan attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa ahead of schedule and penned a deal until summer 2020.

"We are very delighted that Shinji will play for us in the next three years," Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said in a statement on Friday.

"He is an extremely important part of our young team and one of the most experienced players."

During his two spells with Dortmund, Kagawa provided 33 assists and 36 goals in overall 127 competitive appearances. He lifted two Bundesliga titles and clinched two German Cups with Dortmund. "Dortmund with its incredible fans has grown to my heart. I am very happy to be part of this extraordinary club in one of the best leagues in the world with the highest number of spectators," Kagawa said.

Lille bid for Maia

French top division football club Lille LOSC has submitted a formal offer for Santos midfielder Thiago Maia, according to the Brazilian club's president Modesto Roma.

"A proposal has been made and this weekend we will be taking a good look at it," Xinhua news agency quoted Roma as telling Uol news service.