Transfer news from Europe: Including Gargano and Llorente

Internazionale, Juventus, Celta Vigo, Bayern Munich and AC Ajaccio feature.

Walter Gargano has joined Inter Milan from Napoli in today’s major European transfer news. The Uruguayan defensive midfielder will battle it out with Gaby Mudingayi, Esteban Cambiasso and Macdonald Mariga for a holding midfield berth at the San Siro and he admitted it was a tough decision to leave his adoring Neapolitan fans, but the move to Inter was too big for him to turn down. The deal is a loan which could potentially become a permanent deal at the end of the season.

Times are hard for Athletic Bilbao in the transfer market at the moment as they look set to lose their star players Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente. The Spanish internationals have been left out of the Europa League squad for tonight against HJK Helsinki as the clearest indicator yet that their futures lie elsewhere. Martinez, who has been previously linked with Manchester City, is still pushing for a move to Bayern Munich whilst Llorente appears to be on his way to Juventus. The Arsenal and Spurs target has been earmarked by the Turin club as a top target and reports in Italy suggest they are now in the driving seat in the pursuit of his signature for a reported €30 million fee.

Meanwhile Juventus have secured the permanent signing of one of Italy’s top defensive talents in 19-year-old Alberto Masi. He impressed earlier in the summer after signing a co-ownership deal with the club from Pro Vercelli and has now made the deal permanent.

Meanwhile former Juventus striker Adrian Mutu has completed a shock move to French club AC Ajaccio on a free transfer following his voluntary release from Cesena. The controversial striker, who has served 2 separate drug bans in his career, has decided to add the Corsican club to his list of teams after spells with Chelsea, Parma and Fiorentina. The Romanian still believes he has plenty to offer at 33, proclaiming he will out score PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Celta Vigo have won the race to sign one of Euro 2012’s most surprising standout performers in Denmarks Michael Krohn-Dehli. The former Ajax man scored twice in the Euro’s prompting many teams to approach Brondby about his availability, including Swansea. However the newly promoted La Liga side has won the race for his signature.

And in a roundup of other news former Bolton Wanderers full back Gretar Steinsson has signed for Turkish side Kayserispor. The club, who are managed by former Rangers star Shota Arveladze, have brought the Icelander in on a free transfer.

Former Everton loanee Royston Drenthe is in the sights of Italian side AC Milan. They want to add depth to their current crop of players and see the Dutchman as a cheap option after his release from Real Madrid this summer. The player is also a reported target for West Ham and Manchester City.

And finally, across the water in Brazil, former Parma, Inter and Roma striker Adriano has signed for Flamengo in an attempt to save his flagging career and Flamengo are also struggling to get the cash together to sign Arsenal target Ganso in a sensational deal from Santos.

image: © juanjaen

Mathew Nash

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I’m Mathew Nash a 23 year old graduate in Sports Studies and I have an insatiable love for sport. With a particularly keen interest for the madcap world of football I have always been known amongst friends as a beacon for bizarre sporting trivia and knowledge. My other passion is for writing and hopefully combining the two will create a superb and entertaining marriage that will create, divide and share opinion.