Transfer round-up: Pool continue spending spree
- Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Benfica winger Lazar Markovic on a "long-term deal".
While no fee was disclosed, the Reds are believed to have paid £20 million ($42.6m) for the 20-year-old's services.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased with his team's latest acquisition, calling Markovic an "exciting signing" who was "hugely impressive for Benfica last season", "flexible to play in a number of positions" and "always positive and looking to make something happen".
The Serb is Liverpool's fourth summer signing so far, with Rickie Lambert, Emre Can and Adam Lallana heading to Anfield before him.
- Newcastle are poised to make a double swoop for Daryl Janmaat and Emmanuel Riviere.
Manager Alan Pardew told Sky Sports that the Magpies' £5m move for Feyenoord right-back Janmaat, who starred at the World Cup for Holland, is "pretty close" to completion while Riviere, a French striker from Monaco, is set to meet Newcastle for a medical and to agree terms, according to the Mail Online.
The British media are also reporting that Ecuador's World Cup star Enner Valencia is undergoing a medical with West Ham United ahead of a proposed £12m move from Mexican side Pachuca.
- In more continental news, Bayern Munich have confirmed that they are in talks to sell Toni Kroos to Real Madrid.
The German international claimed he was bound for the Santiago Bernabeu after winning the World Cup.
While the club are adamant that no deal has been agreed yet, Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "Nothing is official yet, however he could be sold for a certain fee.
“I can confirm that Toni and us are in talks with Real Madrid.”
Sources: BBC, Football365, Mail Online, Liverpool official website, The Guardian
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