COENTRAO COMPLETES MADRID SWOOP

Real Madrid have completed the signing of Fabio Coentrao from Benfica on a six-year deal. Madrid have not disclosed the fee for the Portugal international but a reports from Benfica to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMCM) earlier put the transfer fee at 30million euros.

Coentrao passed his medical at the Hospital Sanitas La Zarzuela in "perfect condition" and travelled to the Bernabeu, where he signed his contract alongside club president Florentino Perez.

The versatile 23-year-old wing-back started his career at Rio Ave and he made his top-flight debut at the age of 16, before moving to Benfica in 2007. He spent loan spells at Nacional, Real Zaragoza and also back at Rio Ave before helping Benfica win the Portuguese league in 2010 and cup in 2011.

Coentrao made his debut for Portugal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2009 and has won 15 caps for his country.

Coentrao is Mourinho’s fifth signing of the summer as he looks to build a squad capable of knocking arch rivals Barcelona off top spot in both Spain and Europe.

The other new arrivals are Turkey duo Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, former Espanyol winger Jose Maria Callejon and Frenchman Raphael Varane.

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CHICHARITO:"I 'LL ONLY GET BETTER"

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has warned defences he will only get more dangerous next season.

The Mexican ace enjoyed a spectacular debut season at Old Trafford since arriving from Guadalajara last summer, scoring 13 goals in 27 league games to held United to a record 19th title.

Looking ahead to the new season, the 23-year-old says he is working his socks off to improve himself as a player.

"I feel at home now and believe my game is developing all the time as I understand better how to play for this great club," he told Inside United magazine

"My strength has improved and also I'm improving how I play - being quicker with the ball, with more technique and concentration - because it's very difficult to keep the ball in this league.

"Of course I have a lot more improving to do and I will work hard every day to achieve that.

"There are a lot of great players in this league, and that I need to keep improving my game to succeed here.

"I'm working on all aspects of my game - speed, strength, technical ability with the ball, movement off the ball - as well as heading."

Hernandez went on to express his delight at playing for United.

"I have learned that you need to defend this shirt with your life, because Manchester United has a lot of history.

"This is the most important team, certainly in England, in terms of history, and everyone who works here understands and appreciates that. It's one of the nice things about the club."

It has been a huge step up for the young Mexican playing in the Barclays Premier League.

"For me there are no small teams.

"They are labelled as such because they don't have the same history as some of the other clubs, but I quickly realised that every team in the Premier League is as hard to play as Chelsea or Arsenal.

"It was only through playing that I've realised that this league is the best in the world. I thought this before, but it's not quite the same watching it on TV."

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ALEX SONG INVOLVED IN ASSAULT

Arsenal midfielder Alex Song could face jail time for a nightclub brawl if he is found guilty. According to the Daily Mail, the Cameroon international could face a jail sentence of up to 2 years if he is convicted for an alleged attack on a student in a nightclub in his home town of Douala, Cameroon.

This news adds to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's frustration as he struggles to stop an exodus of first-team players from the Emirates, with Gael Clichy having already made a £7million move to Manchester City on Monday.

Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott have all been seriously linked with a move away from the London outfit.

The 23-year-old has not been detained and does not have to appear at a court hearing on August 18.

The victim Ludovic Achille Mouaha said in a primary hearing: "I was with my girlfriend. She went to the bathroom but when she hadn't come back after 15 minutes I went to see if something had happened.

"Two bodyguards blocked my way telling me I couldn't use it because Alex Song was inside. He then came out and was visibly angry. I ended up in a drain and afterwards went to hospital."

Song's representative told the judge: "Some fans asked for his autograph including a young woman. The plaintiff later caused a scuffle and Alex's bodyguards reacted.

"But at no time did Alex lay a hand on the plaintiff."

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ASAMOAH GYAN SET FOR BRUCE TALK

Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan's agent has refused to rule out the prospect of his client leaving the Stadium of Light this summer.

The former Rennes star has been linked with a move despite only joining last August following a £13million switch.

Russian club Zenit St Petersburg are thought to be interested and agent Fabien Pivateau claims at least one bid has been made.

Pivateau has confirmed Gyan will be returning to pre-season before he holds crunch talks with boss Steve Bruce over the striker's future.

"I can't say if he is staying or not," explained Pivateau. "As far as I know one club has tabled an offer.

"He is returning to the club for pre-season and we will sit down with the coach to talk about it."

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CHELSEA TARGETTING SCOTT DANN

Chelsea are said to be interested in Birmingham's defender Scott Dann, as new Chelsea manager Andre-Villas Boas orders tapes on the centre back.

According to the sources, Villas-Boas is looking to buy a British centre back in this transfer window, with Bolton’s Gary Cahill, Everton’s Jack Rodwell and Scott Dann said to be on his wish list. The Portuguese is keen on assessing the 24-year-old, who formed a formidable partnership with Roger Johnson in the last two seasons at St Andrews.

Villas-Boas wants to strengthen an increasingly leaky defence on the back of an underwhelming season for first-choice pairing John Terry and Alex.

The 6'2 Walsall youth product has been out of action since January, as he suffered a hamstring injury in a League Cup semi-final. His absence was widely believed to have contributed to Birmingham's relegation from the Premier League.

The £10million rated Dann is said to be interested in staying in the Barclays Premier League and Birmingham City are ready to cash in on their high-quality asset. The Liverpool-born defender has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Liverpool and Stoke City .

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