Schmidt signs new Leverkusen deal

Eintracht Braunschweig have confirmed goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz as their first signing for the 2014-15 season.

The 26-year-old won the the Polish championship in 2012 with Slask Wroclaw, and will join the German club on a free transfer.

Gikiewicz has penned a two-year deal at the Eintracht-Stadion, meaning he will stay at the club until June 2016.

Speaking to the club s official website, he said: I am very happy that I came to Braunschweig. All have welcomed me very warmly.

Sports director Marc Arnold added: We noticed Rafal (when) observing matches. We are firmly convinced that he will help us in the next two years.

Braunschweig are currently involved in a battle to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.

They currently prop up the table with 25 poi…

The Professional Footballers Association have named Liverpool forward Luis Suarez as their Player of the Year.

The Uruguay international has spearheaded his side s Premier League title challenge this season, scoring 30 goals in 31 games to date.

Liverpool had three players in contention for the PFA s main gong, with Daniel Sturridge and captain Steven Gerrard also nominated, but Suarez unsurprisingly gained recognition for a series of magnificent displays.

Chelsea s Eden Hazard finished second to Suarez in the voting, but had the consolation of picking up the Young Player of the Year prize, while Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure claimed third.

Suarez found himself banned for 10 league matches at the end of the 2012-13 season after biting Chelsea s Branislav …

Barcelona want Bayern’s Alaba

Barcelona are weighing up summer move for Bayern Munich full-back David Alaba, according to .

It is no secret that the Catalans are searching for a new left-back, with Tottenham star Gareth Bale and Valencia hotshot Jordi Alba high on their wishlist.

El Mundo Deportivo reveals that Bayern Munich youngster David Alaba has also caught the attention of Barcelona officials.

The 19-year-old produced a stunning performance as Bayern Munich ensured progress to the Champions League final at Santiago Bernabeu, convincing the Catalans they should step up their interest in his services.

While Alaba has largely impressed in the left-back role at Alianz Arena this season, he also successfully deputized for Bastian Schweinsteige…

West Brom striker Romelu Lukaku does not expect to return to Chelsea in January.

And Lukaku has even hinted at the possibility of rejoining the Baggies on loan next season.

The Belgium international joined the Blues from Anderlecht in 2011 but found first-team opportunities difficult to come by in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.

He has impressed, however, under Steve Clarke s tutelage at the Hawthorns, leading to speculation that Chelsea could recall the 19-year-old during the upcoming transfer window.

But when asked if he had been in direct contact with new manager Rafael Benitez, he told West Brom s official website: No. I know what is going on. For me, it is one-year loan.

Then hopefully it may be one year again because I need to play as…

Owen Hargreaves was among four first-team regulars missing from the Manchester United squad that set off for their pre-season tour to South Africa on Thursday.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has selected a 21-man squad for the four-match trip, but Hargreaves, Edwin van der Sar, Patrice Evra and Nani did not board the flight to Cape Town.

England midfielder Hargreaves missed Saturday s friendly at Aberdeen with a knee injury, while Portugal winger Nani, Dutch goalkeeper van der Sar and France left-back Evra have all been excused after playing at Euro 2008.

Cristiano Ronaldo had already been ruled out following his ankle operation.

Ferguson confirmed Hargreaves has the same tendonitis problem which forced him to have pain-killing injections to ease t…

Mikel Arteta remains fully focused on guiding Arsenal to Premier League glory this season amid rumours he is wanted by Real Madrid to replace Carlo Ancelotti.

Arsenal are five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the English top flight in pursuit of their first title since the 2003-04 campaign.

Arteta has been widely praised for his work at Emirates Stadium in his third full season in charge, with a report from Spain on Wednesday suggesting Madrid could make a move.

Ancelotti is said to be under pressure as Madrid head coach, despite guiding the club to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season.

However, when asked about the speculation ahead of Arsenal s Europa League last-16 first-leg tie with Sporting CP, Arteta said he is giving it lit…

Stuttgart have confirmed the departure of head coach Hannes Wolf after their 2-0 home defeat to Schalke on Saturday.

Although Stuttgart beat Hertha Berlin 1-0 in their first match following the Bundesliga s mid-season break, Wolf s men subsequently suffered back-to-back losses.

And following talks in the aftermath of the Schalke loss, which left the club 15th in the table, Stuttgart announced the end of Wolf s tenure on Sunday.

Sporting director Michael Reschke said: We firmly believe that the danger that the current situation cannot be turned around is too great and that we need a new impulse to get back onto a more successful track.

None of us wanted to be in this situation and we would very much liked to have continued working with Hannes, because h…

Crystal Palace signed Norway striker Alexander Sorloth from Midtjylland for a reported £9million on deadline day.

Sorloth, 22, joins the Premier League club on a four-and-a-half year deal after an impressive campaign in Denmark, where he scored 15 goals and set up nine others in 26 games.

The 12-time Norway international is a handy addition to a Palace side in a relegation scrap after netting just 23 times in 25 league outings.

It s a big club with ambition, a good club who takes good care of its players, Sorloth told Palace TV.

It feels amazing, it s a dream come true to play in the Premier League. I ve dreamt about this since I was six years old.

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC)

Sorloth has scored one international goal …

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly urged the club to make another move for Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger.

According to Sportyou.es, the Portuguese coach requested that Real sign the Germany international just after his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2010, and again last off-season.

The La Liga giants failed to land the player on both occasions and it was their interest in Schweinsteiger which allegedly prompted Munich to offer the midfielder a new contract two years ago. He ultimately ended up committing himself to the Bavarians until 2016.

But Mourinho, who is covering Euro 2012 as a television pundit, remains enamoured with the player who laid on two goals for Mario Gomez in Germany s 2-1 victory over Netherlands on Wednesday.

…

Germany manager Joachim Loew has revealed Bastian Schweinsteiger will be fit to face Greece in their Euro 2012 quarter-final clash on Friday.

There had been doubts over the midfielder s fitness with an ankle injury hampering the Bayern Munich man in recent days.

Bastian Schweinsteiger will play tomorrow, there s no question about it, Loew said at a press conference.

Yesterday and the day before he didn t train as long because he had a slight problem with his ankle. Today he could train quite normally.

Schweinsteiger s availability means he will probably line up alongside Sami Khedira in the heart of midfield and Loew hailed their partnership.

The two central midfielders, Khedira and Schweinsteiger, have played very well. They re very good at…