Manchester City's Brazilian striker Jo has joined Internacional, the Premier League club has said. The 24 year old, who moved to City in 2008 for a then-club record fee of £18 million from CSKA Moscow, returns to Brazil having failed to make an impact at Eastlands.
"Jo has left Manchester City for Brazilian club Internacional," City said in a statement on their website. Jo, who has played three times for Brazil, scored six goals in 41 games in his three years at the club that included loan spells at Premier League Everton and Turkish side Galatasaray. Jo's move to Internacional comes a day after another Brazilian side Corinthians pulled out of a deal to sign City striker Carlos Tevez.
Arsenal ave confirmed that Denilson has returned to his former club Sao Paulo on loan for the 2011/12 campaign. The 23-year-old midfielder, signed in August 2006, struggled to hold down a regular place in Arsene Wenger's side last season. The Brazilian is looking forward to getting back into action. He said: "I will be playing in Brazil next season as I felt that this is a good opportunity for me to play regular first-team football. I move away with sadness because I have so many friends at Arsenal ... I'm now focused on doing well in Brazil next season, but will always be looking out for the Arsenal results."
Aston Villa's Marc Albrighton is hoping the lessons he has learnt from departed wingers Ashley Young and Stewart Downing will help him to step up and fill their boots this season. The pair left the club for a total of £35 million (Dh207.4m) this summer, and Alex McLeish, the manager, has predicted Albrighton will shine in their absence. "It's always nice to hear that from your manager," Albrighton, 21, said. "They are big boots to fill, but for me it's an opportunity. I'll go out there and do my best and hopefully something will come of it."
Nicolas Anelka has vowed to fight for his place under Andre Villas-Boas, the new Chelsea manager. With Daniel Sturridge, the England Under 21 striker, back from an impressive loan spell at Bolton Wanderers, Fernando Torres insisting he is ready to justify his £50m price-tag and the evergreen Didier Drogba ready to go again, there had been suggestions the 32-year-old Frenchman would be ready to leave, with a move to Major League Soccer in the United States mooted. However, Anelka said he is ready to play his part. "It is all part of the game and when you play at a club like Chelsea you have to be ready to meet the challenge from wherever it comes," he told the London Evening Standard. "Every single member of this squad will have to fight to play and I am ready to fight."
Martin Jol, the Fulham manager, has announced that Czech Under 21 international Marcel Gecov has joined from Slovan Liberec for an undisclosed fee. Gecov has penned a two-year deal with the club after successfully passing a medical. "He's signed and I am happy with him," said Jol. "He is a very talented player."
Milan Jovanovic appears to be edging closer to the exit at Liverpool with a return to Belgium looking likely. The 30-year-old Serbia international forward joined the Reds on a free transfer last summer from Standard Liege but struggled to hold down a regular place under Kenny Dalglish last season. "We're currently negotiating with Jovanovic, but we couldn't achieve an agreement [yet]," a spokesman for the Belgian side told BBC Sport. "We're very much interested and the player would like to come. Anderlecht are due to contact Liverpool today [yesterday]."
Matt Taylor has flown home from the club's preseason tour of America in order to seal a move to Championship club West Ham United. The 29-year-old winger, who has 12 months left on his contract, has attracted interest from a number of clubs. It is understood Wanderers have accepted a bid worth an initial £2.2m from the Hammers.