David de Gea spoke of his pride yesterday after agreeing to join Manchester United on a five-year contract. De Gea, the Spain Under 21 goalkeeper, flew to Manchester on Monday for a medical and although the deal is still to be completed, he has agreed to leave Atletico Madrid for Old Trafford and take Sir Alex Ferguson's summer spending beyond £50 million (Dh292.5m).
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The 20-year-old Spaniard is rated as one of the brightest prospects in the game and is expected to fill the void left by the retirement of Edwin van der Sar. De Gea, told MUTV: "I can't wait to start playing here. When a club the size of Manchester United comes in for you it obviously makes you very, very happy. I saw their interest as an extra motivation to work even harder to show off my ability. It's a great privilege to be part of a club like United."
Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, yesterday landed a major transfer coup when he snapped up Connor Wickham, the teenage Ipswich Town striker. The 18 year old headed for Wearside last night to undergo a medical after Sunderland's offer of £8.1m, potentially rising to £12m, was accepted.
Talks over a four-year contract have now been concluded with Bruce having got his man after striking decisively to land a player who had previously been linked with Liverpool - the club he supported as a boy - Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester City have pulled out of the race to sign Alexis Sanchez, the Udinese winger, according to Roberto Mancini. The Chile international is a target of Barcelona and is under contract with Udinese until June 2014. "I have spoken to Sanchez," Mancini, the coach, told Sky Italia.
"He said he was open to the idea of coming to City but then we have pulled out [of negotiations]. After our last offer, we are out of the race." Udinese, meanwhile, confirmed the winger, 22, would prefer a move to Spain. "The will of the player is to go to Barcelona," Gino Pozzo, the son of Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo, told Corriere dello Sport. "The negotiations are going forward."
Wolverhampton Wanderers will have to increase their offer for the Reading defender Matt Mills to around £4m if they want to secure his signing, according to reports. The midlands club have offered £3m for 24-year-old Mills, who is believed to be keen on a move. A centre-back is a priority for Wolves.
Jody Craddock, who will be 36 next month, has signed a new one-year deal and his experience is regarded as being an important factor in a young squad. Wolves have also let French centre-back Steven Mouyokolo, 24, join French club Sochaux on loan.
Roy Hodgson, the West Brom head coach, is confident the midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu will remain at The Hawthorns. Hodgson has played down fears that Mulumbu could be tempted away from West Brom because of the interest shown in him by Italian club Fiorentina.
Mulumbu was one of Albion's outstanding performers last season and also weighed in with seven goals to make him their second-highest scorer after Peter Odemwingie. "Youssouf Mulumbu has a long contract that has to be respected — and he has given no indication that he plans to break that commitment," said Hodgson.
"Talk of a transfer is just fantasy at the moment. It will be difficult for anyone to take him. Mulumbu will not go, at least not for another year."
