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Sky Sports.com reports that Italian outfit Lecce has pulled off a surprise signing by snatching Dusan Basta from the clutches of Udinese.

The 24-year old defender had been on the verge of sealing a move to Udinese from Red Star Belgrade after playing in some pre-season friendlies for the Zebrette.

But a deal was never completed and Lecce have stolen in to capture the Serbian international.

Lecce boss Mario Beretta was keen to boost his defensive options after suffering a 3-0 defeat at Torino in their opening Serie A game of the season.

Basta captained Serbia’s Under-21s and made 96 appearances in eight years with Red Star.

[Source: Sky Sports]

Nikola Zigic has turned down the chance of a move to England and has completed a loan move back to Racing Santander, the club he left 2007 when he joined Valencia.

According to Sky Sports the 27-year old Serbian international has opted to re-join Santander after being linked with a host of English clubs like Aston Villa, Blackburn, Everton, Newcastle, Stoke and West Ham over the summer.

It is understood that Zigic was never interested in a move to the Premier League, which the loan switch to Racing indicates.

“I have preferred to return to Santander and not the adventure in England,” Zigic said as he signed.

Sky Sports further reports that the two clubs will be splitting the player’s wages 50/50.

[Source: Sky Sports]

According to Sky Sports Monaco has signed Switzerland international and former Lyon defender Patrick Muller on a two-year deal, as well as Nigerian midfielder Sani Kaita from Sparta Rotterdam.

31-year old Muller, famous for his hand-ball incidents at the 2006 World Cup was released by Lyon at the end of last season, while Kaita has been with Sparta for the past three seasons.

Kaita is a 22-year old defensive midfielder who has made 8 appearances with the national team.

[Source: Sky Sports]

According to Sky Sports.com, Roy Keane has completed the signing of West Ham center-back George McCartney.

McCartney has signed a four-year contract with West Ham receiving a reported £ 4.5 million. The 27-year old Northern Ireland international leaves much to the despair of the West Ham United supporters who voted the left sided defender as runner -up in the Club’s Hammer of the year competition.

West Ham have been attempting to cut their wage bills and it now seems McCartney has become the latest casualty of this venture.

[Source: Sky Sports]

According to report from the BBC, Blackburn Rovers have officially signed Northampton Town goalkeeper Mark Bunn.

The 23-year old is highly rated though playing in the lower leagues and has signed for an undisclosed sum, in four-year contract.

The ex-Tottenham youth player’s arrival will finally bring an end to Rovers’ chase for another goalkeeper.

New manager Paul Ince had been chasing Oman international Ali Al-Habsi of Bolton, but received a negative response to his enquiries from Wanderers manager Gary Megson.

Bunn had this to say about his move. “It’s a dream come true really,”

Bunn will act as an understudy to England international Paul Robinson, who arrived at the club from Tottenham during the summer.

[Source: BBC Sport]

According to the latest report on Sky Sport News, Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton could be set to make a late exit today from St. James Park.

The report claims that an unnamed club is currently in talks with Newcastle for the services of the midfielder. The only information released regarding the clubs identity was that it was one of the top ten finishers in the Prem last year.

Speculation is rife that it could be Everton but no confirmation has been given from the club.

Barton made 24 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle last season after signing for £5.8 million from today’s headline making club – Manchester City – last summer.

However his off-the-pitch affairs have made him a poster boy for rebellion in English football. Kevin Keegan recently gave him the vote of confidence for this coming season offering him “one more chance” and even bringing him in late in this weekend’s loss to Arsenal.

[Source: Sky Sports]

According to FoxSports.com, Newcastle is reported to have agreed a £5.7million deal with La Liga outfit Deportivo La Coruna to sign Spanish starlet Xisco.

Deportivo have claimed that they have accepted a £5.7million fee with Newcastle for the former Spainish U-21 international.

Xisco had been linked with Aston Villa, but it appears Newcastle have successfully hijacked that move by luring the 22-year-old to St James’ Park.

The highly-rated striker has scored 12 goals in 44 games for Deportivo and he will link up with former team-mate Fabricio Coloccini on Tyneside.

[Source: FoxSports.com]

According to the Spanish press, Italian outfit Genoa have swooped to sign former hero Diego Milito from Real Zaragoza.

The 29-year old striker had been rumored to leave the relegated Spanish team for quite some time with his name being linked to clubs like Newcastle in England and Villareal in Spain.

However La Marca reports that he has opted to re-join Genoa signing a three-year contract for a fee reported to be around €8 million.

He left Genoa for Zaragoza in 2005, where he established himself as one of the best goal-scorers plying his trade in La Liga.

Meanwhile, Genoa have also snapped up Palermo’s Bosko Jankovic on loan, and they have acquired the rights to sign half of the midfielder’s contract should they choose.

The Serbian was rated as one of the best young talents in Europe when he joined Palermo from Mallorca last summer, however he struggled to settle in Sicily, and will be hoping that a move to Genoa will kick-start his career again.

[Source: Sky Sports]

According to a report on Sky Sports, Hertha Berlin have secured Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin on a one year loan deal.

The 29-year old Ukranian international joined the Kop for the 2007-2008 season from Bayer Leverkusen but never became a fixture in the First XI making just 19 appearances for the club.

He has now decided to return to Germany in hopes of more regular first team football.

[Source: Sky Sports]

According to the BBC, Tottenham have signed Croatian defender Vedran Corluka from Manchester City for £8.5 million on a six-year deal.

The 22-year old defender began his career at Dynamo Zagreb before he was signed by former City manager Sven Goran Eriksson in 2007.

Corluka, who has 24 caps under his belt for Croatia, said: “I am delighted to be here because I am coming to a big club with great players, great ambition.”

“Also my best friend [Luka Modric] is here so it is a very happy day for me.”

It has been reported that Corluka demanded a transfer following previous interest from Tottenham.

City’s new signings Espanyol defender Pablo Zabaleta, who agreed a five-year deal on Sunday and Brazilian defender Glauber Berti, who signed a one-year contract, can replace Corluka at the right back position.

[Source: BBC Sports]