Atsu to join Rafalution
SOUTHAMPTON have shattered their transfer record to sign Lille midfielder Sofiane Boufal, right, for £16million.
Moroccan Boufal, 22, has signed a five-year deal and said: “I can see that this club is the best place for me to continue my progression. I hope I can achieve many great things with Southampton.”
Fellow newcomer Jeremy Pied needs surgery on a knee injury after just 11 minutes of action since joining from Nice. RAFA BENITEZ is set to push through his 12th summer signing after Newcastle agreed a loan deal for Chelsea winger Christian Atsu.
The 24-year-old Ghana international, below, will have a medical today before joining on loan for the remainder of the season with an option to make the transfer permanent after that.
Atsu joined the Blues in a £3.5million switch from Porto in September 2013 but is yet to make a senior appearance for them and has been loaned out to Vitesse Arnhem, Everton, Bournemouth and Malaga since his arrival. Another midfielder on Newcastle’s radar is Callum McManaman, three years after he was Public Enemy No1 with the Toon Army. The £4.7m West Brom winger became a hate figure on Tyneside after a horror tackle on Massadio Haidara in 2012 when he was playing for Wigan. Benitez has totally reshaped Newcastle’s squad with 15 players leaving so far. SAIDO BERAHINO last night dropped a major hint about his future as he welcomed £13million record signing Nacer Chadli, left, to West Brom. Tony Pulis had hinted that Stoke target Berahino could finally leave before tomorrow’s deadline. But Berahino tweeted yesterday about the arrival of the Spurs star: “Great signing by the club! Welcome to the team NChadli, looking forward to playing with you bro!”
HULL boss Mike Phelan, who has signed Cardiff keeper David Marshall for £3.5m, is returning to former club Manchester United to bring in striker Will Keane for £1m.