Heinze & Robben seal Real switch

Real Madrid have completed the signings of Premier League duo Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze after they both passed routine medicals. Chelsea winger Robben, 23, who has been a long-term target for the Spanish champions, has signed a five-year deal.

Real were believed to be ready to pay in the region of £21m for his services.

Heinze, 29, has arrived from Manchester United on a four-year deal after his club blocked the £8m-rated defender’s preferred move to Liverpool.

After being unveiled at the Bernabeu, the Argentine said: “I am a man of few words but I always speak my mind and I am enormously proud to get the chance to play for Madrid.”

Chelsea seal Belletti swoop

Chelsea’s search for a right-back has finished with the signing of Juliano Belletti from Barcelona on a three-year deal.

After declaring an interest in Dani Alves but not agreeing a fee with Sevilla, Chelsea closed in on Belletti – underlining chairman Bruce Buck’s insistence that they would not be held to ransom in any transfer deal.

Buck has also described Arjen Robben’s move to Real Madrid as a ‘very good business result’, with Jose Mourinho’s squad taking shape as Chelsea look to win back the Premier League title.

Yakubu poised for Everton medical

Middlesbrough striker Yakubu is set to have a medical and discuss personal terms at Everton on Thursday ahead of his proposed £11.25m move. Boro have given the 24-year-old Nigerian permission to begin talks with the Toffees.

Portsmouth were also said to be interested in re-signing Yakubu, who they bought from Maccabi Haifa in 2003.

A Boro spokesman said: “We can confirm we’ve agreed a fee but will only confirm it once the deal is complete.”

Yakubu featured in Boro’s opening two Premier League games of the season but was left out of their weekend victory at Fulham.

Wenger close to signing new deal

Arsenal are confident manager Arsene Wenger will commit himself to the Premier League club by early September. Wenger is out of contract at the end of the season and reports suggest he has delayed signing a new deal following the exit of vice-chairman David Dein.

But the Gunners remain optimistic the Frenchman, 57, will stay at the club.

“It should happen within the next two to three weeks,” said BBC sports editor Mihir Bose. “Wenger has the option of signing a two- or three-year deal.”

Wenger, who has been with the London club for 11 years, hinted earlier this month that his protracted negotiations would soon reach a favourable conclusion.

Lee fears Diouf and Anelka exit

Bolton manager Sammy Lee admits he could be powerless to stop El Hadji Diouf and Nicolas Anelka leaving. Diouf, 26, has said he wants to quit the club to play in the Champions League and fellow striker Anelka, 29, has been linked with Arsenal and Lyon.

“It’s a concern and it might be out of my hands but at the moment it is only speculation,” said Lee.

“We want to keep our better players but – as I’ve said before – if people want to go sometimes you can’t stop them.”

Bolton are bottom of the Premier League after losing all three games so far this season and that dismal start has led to increased speculation that both Diouf and Anelka could leave before the transfer window closes on 31 August.

Beckham dismisses jet-lag claims

Midfielder David Beckham has flown back to the United States insisting the long-haul flights for England duty will not affect his performances. “Not at all,” said the 32-year-old, who could play for Los Angeles Galaxy against Chivas USA on Thursday – 24 hours after facing Germany.

“So far it hasn’t affected me,” he added. “In the future, who knows?

“I can’t say it’s not going to but, at the moment, it is not and I’ll play for my country as long as I’m wanted.”

Beckham took part in the whole of England’s friendly against Germany, which his side lost 2-1.

Real to unveil Heinze and Robben

Real Madrid are set to unveil Premier League signings Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze at 1600 BST on Thursday. Robben will sign a five-year deal with the Spanish champions – once his move from Chelsea is finalised by a medical.

The 23-year-old winger has been a long-term target for Real and the club are set to pay in the region of £21m.

Heinze, 29, will arrive from Manchester United for about £8m and on a four-year deal after his club blocked the defender’s preferred move to Liverpool.

The Anfield outfit tabled a bid of more than £6.8m but United refused to let the Argentine join their bitter north-west rivals.

Heinze took his case to a Premier League arbitration panel but it ruled against him.

Heinze, who had lost out on a first-team place at United to Patrice Evra, was considering lodging an appeal when Real made their move.

Chelsea agree deal for Belletti

Belletti scored his first goal for Barca in the Champions League

Chelsea have agreed a deal to bring Barcelona right-back Juliano Belletti to Stamford Bridge. The 31-year-old Brazilian will seal a reported two-year deal once he has agreed personal terms and completed a medical in London.

Belletti joined Barcelona in 2004 from Villarreal but only made 13 appearances for the Catalan club last season.

The Brazilian scored the winning goal in Barcelona’s Champions League win over Arsenal in 2006.