Football Corner

Liverpool have completed the signing of Birmingham winger Jermaine Pennant for a fee believed to be in the region of £6 million. The 23-year-old has signed a has signed a four year deal with the Merseyside club. Pennant becomes Liverpool boss, Rafa Benitez fifth signing of the summer after the arrival of Craig Bellamy, Gabriel Paletta, Mark Gonzalez and Fabio Aurelio. After completing his move, Pennant spoke of how happy he was that the deal had gone through.

"I'm over the moon," he told his new club's official website. "I've dreamt about this since I was a little boy so to actually be here and to be able to wear a Liverpool shirt and play at Anfield is a dream come true. "My family have always supported Liverpool and I grew up watching videos of them on the television. My grandad and grandma came here in the seventies and I think Liverpool must have caught their eyes. "The love of the club has spread through the family ever since. I actually got my first Liverpool kit when I was about four years of age. John Barnes was my idol when I first started watching Liverpool, but then as I got older I loved Robbie Fowler.

I have to say that I'm not too surprised that Pennant has left Birmingham because of their relagation last season, I believe that Pennant is great value for money and I think that he will become a big hit with the Kop. This will obviously make Pennant's chances of making the England team far greater because he will be playing at a top club with Champions League status.

After his sides demotion from the Seire A, Patrick Vieira looks set to move, but to who? Former Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp, who was speaking after his testimonial which Patrick Vieira took part in, has urged current Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to sign the former Gunners skipper. Bergkamp said : "I think about 56 people said to me today that Patrick should have another year here and I hope he will," Bergkamp said in the Daily Mirror. "Maybe that's not the right thing to say in football, but everyone saw what he did in the World Cup and if he can get to that level with Arsenal, it would be fantastic. "I have a great relationship with Patrick. We had a good connection even after he left the club to join Juventus and I have a lot of respect for him, as I do for Thierry (Henry)."

But Arsenal wouldn't be the only team after the 30 year old Frenchman, Italian side Inter Milan have also expressed an interest in the player with current Inter boss Roberto Mancinni saying that he expects to have Vieira in his side next year. Mancini will bring in the 30-year-old to replace Juan Sebastian Veron and has outlined the role he has lined up for the midfield powerhouse. "It's true that they (Veron and Vieira) are not so similar players, but they are both central midfielders," commented Mancini.

"Should Vieira really arrive, something will change in comparison to last season. "I could say we would be a little less technical and a little more thoughtful. "Anyway, in the middle we could also line up Pizarro as a playmaker, with Vieira and Cambiasso on the wings."

I think that Dennis Bergkamp is right that Arsenal should go after Vieira because he would be cheaper than usual and in my view Arsenal missed him last year. I think that he would favour a move back to Arsenal but I have heard a few rumours linking him with Spanish giants Barcelona but I'm not sure that Barcelona need him at this time.

Chelsea winger Damien Duff looks set for a move to Glenn Roeder's Newcastle after the two clubs agreed a fee. The Republic Of Ireland international has attracted intrest from many clubs in the Premiership most notably Tottenham and Liverpool but it looks as though he is heading north to Newcastle. The fee is believed to be around the £10 million mark for the former Blackburn man.

Duff was one of the first players to join Chelsea after Roman Abramovich moved in and he cost the London club £16 million but has been frustrated at the lack of first team football at Chelsea. He is said to have had a conversation with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and the Portugese manager said that Duff was free to go.

I think that this is a good move for both Newcastle and Duff because Newcastle could really do with a top class left winger and Duff would be getting alot more games at the Magpies. Duff is a very very good player and if he were to have stayed with Chelsea then I feel it would be a waste of great talent.

Everton have taken South African international Delron Buckley on trial. The 28-year-old who joined Borrussia Dortmund last season can play as a winger or as a striker. Tottenham have already showed an interest in the player earlier this year but Everton have decided to take the player on a week long trial. "He is spending the next week at Everton with a view to a deal being done," his business manager Rob Moore told skysports.com. "This is a great opportunity for Delron, he wants a fresh challenge and the English game will suit him. "He likes to play a quick style and that is what The Premiership is all about."

Wigan are closing in on the signing of AZ Alkmaar midfielder Denny Landzaat after the 30-year-old agreed terms with the Premiership side. The Latics had a fee of around £3million accepted last week and are set to complete the signing in the next few days. "Denny's been on holiday in Italy. The deal's agreed and hopefully, he's just coming over to sign it," Jewell told the club's official website. "But you never know with transfers. Until the player signs on the dotted line you can't ever be certain it's going to happen, which is why we normally like to keep negotiations behind closed doors until everything is finalised."


Former Middlesbrough striker Joseph Desire Job is training with Premiership new boys Watford. Job spent all of last season on loan with Asian club Al Ittihad but is available on a free transfer now after he was released by Boro. "Joseph is training with Watford," his agent Barry Silkman told skysports.com. "They are assessing his fitness and having a look at him. "He is looking to stay in England and is keen to secure a deal."