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South Korean captain signs for Newcastle United

By Nicholas MendolaJul 1, 2018, 11:35 AM EDT
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Ki Sung-Yueng is staying in the Premier League even as his Swansea City side joins the Championship.

South Korea’s captain is signing a two-year deal with Newcastle United. He had two goals and two assists in under 2,000 minutes for Swans last season.

[ MORE: World Cup roundtable ]

The Chronicle claims that Everton, West Ham, and AC Milan wanted to sign Ki, but the 29-year-old opted for a return to Northeast England having played on loan for rivals Sunderland.

Ki has also played for Celtic and FC Seoul, and is fresh off another stint captaining South Korea at the World Cup. Ki has 104 caps with 10 goals. From NUFC.co.uk:

“I’m so pleased I can join the club. I was always pleasantly surprised when I came to St. James’ Park to play against Newcastle – there is a great atmosphere and the passion from the fans is a great support to the players.

“Everyone knows how big this club is so I’m really looking forward to playing with my teammates and for the fans.”

Japan reach last 16 despite loss to Poland

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By Joe Prince-WrightJun 28, 2018, 12:08 PM EDT
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  • Bednarek scores first international goal
  • Japan advance to last 16 on fair play points
  • First time Japan has reached knockout round since 2010
  • Poland finish 2018 World Cup with one win, two defeats

Japan lost 1-0 to Poland in their Group H finale but the Samurai Blue still advanced to the last 16 virtue of two fewer yellow cards than Senegal.

Seriously. That happened.

Jan Bednarek‘s volley in the second half won the game for Poland who already knew they were eliminated heading into the game.

However, Japan held on to not concede another goal or pick up any more yellow cards to advance to the last 16 for just the third time in their history.

Japan will play either England or Belgium in the last 16.

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A much-changed Japan team did plenty of the pressing early on as Muto’s shot was pushed away by Lukasz Fabianski.

And the Samurai Blue continued to look the most likely to take the lead in a tight, tense first half in Volgograd.

[ LIVE: World Cup scores ]

At the other end Poland came so close to taking the lead as Eiji Kawashima stopped a header from Bartosz Bereszynski brilliantly with goal-line technology showing the ball only went halfway across the line.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ]

Poland did take the lead in the second half as a free kick to the back post was volleyed home impressively by Southampton’s young center back Bednarek to make it 1-0 and leave Japan on the brink of elimination.

What a way to score your first goal for your country.

Robert Lewandowski came so close to making it 2-0 as Kamil Grosicki‘s cross found him in the box but the Bayern Munich striker put his effort over.

Makino almost put into his own net from Grosicki’s dangerous cross as Japan were holding on for dear life late on as Poland aimed to finish their tournament with a flourish.

The Samurai Blue did just enough to reach last 16.

Ajax excited to land $16m “first class winner” Tadic

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaJun 27, 2018, 6:26 PM EDT
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Dusan Tadic really has left Southampton.

The 29-year-old Serbian star is leaving St. Mary’s for the Amsterdam Arena, just as Southampton appears ready to replace him with Mohamed Elyounoussi.

Ajax could end up paying as much as $16 million for his services

[ MORE: Rodwell to MLS? ]

Tadic told his incredible life story to Joe Prince-Wright earlier this season, and is a big reason Saints remain the Premier League.

A star in Eredivisie stints with Groningen and Twente, Tadic leaves the Premier League with 24 goals and 35 assists in 162 league appearances.

Here’s Ajax director Marc Overmars, via english.ajax.nl:

“Dusan Tadic’s arrival gives our selection a big shot of quality.  He can play in several positions, at midfield and offense.  Moreover, his experience is important for many young talents from our selection. He’s a ‘first class winner’, and those are the players we like to have with us.”

Ajax sold star youngster Justin Kluivert to Roma, and lost Amin Younes to Napoli, but has brought in Tadic as well as Zakaria Labyad from Utrecht and Hassane Bande from Mechelen.

Tadic is clearly the cream of that crop, and the veteran will be tasked with leading the Amsterdam unit from three successive second place Eredivisie finishes back into first.

Southampton close in on Elyounoussi deal

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By Joe Prince-WrightJun 27, 2018, 1:53 PM EDT
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Mohamed Elyounoussi could be a Southampton player by the end of the week.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ] 

Pro Soccer Talk understands the Premier League club are hopeful of wrapping up the deal for the FC Basel attacker in the next few days, with the Norwegian international thought to be in contract talks after a transfer fee was agreed.

Multiple outlets are reporting a fee of $21 million has been agreed between the two clubs, with Elyounoussi, 23, seen as a direct replacement for Dusan Tadic who completed his move to Dutch giants Ajax on Wednesday.

That fee would make Elyounoussi the second most expensive signing in Southampton’s history after the $25 million they paid for Guido Carrillo in January.

The attacking midfielder has been a star for Basel over the past two seasons, scoring 24 goals in 84 appearances in all competitions and he scored 14 times last season, which included a goal in a UEFA Champions League last 16 win at Manchester City.

Elyounoussi is able to play in a variety of roles across the front line and he is said to be keen on a move to the Premier League despite German side Wolfsburg also making a bid for him. The Moroccan born attacker can drift inside off the left flank and with central attacking midfielder Stuart Armstrong signing for Southampton from Celtic on Tuesday, Mark Hughes is getting the attacking help he wanted to add over the summer after taking the job on a permanent basis.

Saints have been shrewd in the transfer market in recent times after picking up the likes of Victor Wanyama, Sadio Mane, Tadic and Virgil Van Dijk for relatively small fees and then selling all of them on for a tidy profit.

In recent times that model of recruitment has taken a bit of a hit but Elyounoussi’s potential means he could well be their main attacking threat next season and beyond.

With starting goalkeeper Alex McCarthy also signing a new four-year contract on Wednesday following his fine displays at the end of last season, it appears Southampton aren’t messing around this summer as they aim to make sure they aren’t involved in another relegation battle like they one they narrowly escaped in 2017/18.

Southampton sign exciting midfielder Armstrong

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By Joe Prince-WrightJun 26, 2018, 12:51 PM EDT
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Southampton have made their first signing of the summer with Stuart Armstrong arriving from Scottish champions Celtic.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ] 

Armstrong, 26, joins Saints on a four-year deal for a fee reported to be worth $9.2 million with the Scottish international expected to slot into the No.10 role with Dusan Tadic on the verge of leaving for Ajax. 

Speaking about his arrival at St Mary’s, Armstrong can’t wait to get going as he’s a player the South Coast club have been tracking for quite some time.

“Southampton seems a really good fit for me. Watching from afar, I really enjoy the attractive football that they play and I’m very happy to be here,” Armstrong said. “Every season, I put demands on myself to create and score goals. I hope going forwards from here that it will be the same this term at St Mary’s. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and I’m very excited to get started. It’s a four-year contract; there will be a lot to learn and I want to hit the ground running.”

Armstrong has experience in the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League, plus has won the domestic treble with Celtic and four league titles and two League Cups and Scottish Cups in total.

2016-17 was his best season to date as he scored 15 goals in 31 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, while last season he struggled with injuries and made just 27 appearances in the league.

Saints manager Mark Hughes had the following to say about Armstrong’s arrival.

“Our research tells us he is an excellent young man, intelligent, and a strong team player, and clearly having another really good character in our group is part of what we want here at Southampton,” Hughes said. “He has shown tremendous drive to improve and has also displayed a great desire to be a part of what we are trying to achieve here, and I believe he will be a real asset to the squad in the years ahead.”