A.S. Roma sporting director Franco Baldini has confirmed the Giallorossi have reached an agreement with Fulham regarding the transfer of Holland international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Sky Sports understands.
Stekelenburg, 30, had been linked with a move to Craven Cottage on several occasions in recent months, but a deal could not be finalised on transfer deadline day in January.
In all likelihood, the arrival of Stekelenburg for a rumoured fee of just over £4 million will have current Fulham No. 1 Mark Schwarzer searching for pastures new.
“I went to London for the sale of Stekelenburg at Fulham,” Baldini, whose name has been mention as a candidate for Spurs’ technical director position, told Corriere dello Sport.
“There were questions to be answered, but I closed a deal subject to the usual conditions.”
The Holland international shot-stopper managed four clean-sheets in 22 starts in all competitions for Roma last season; meanwhile, Stekelenburg’s Australian counterpart Mark Schwarzer kept eight clean-sheets in 39 competitive appearances for the Cottagers last season.
Now then, according to reports in the Italian media, Roma are lining up a move for Brazil and Santos F.C. goalkeeper Rafael Cabral Barbosa.
Rafael, 23, has earned three international caps for Brazil since making his debut in a 4-1 win over the United States on 30 May 2012.
Kuba signs new Dortmund deal
Borussia Dortmund attacker Jakub Blaszczykowski has put pen to paper on a new five-year deal with the UEFA Champions League runners-up, Sky Sports reports.
Blaszczykowski, 27, joined Dortmund from Ekstraklasa giants Wisła Kraków for an undisclosed transfer fee in 2007.
Since arriving in Dortmund, the Poland international has made 168 appearances for the club, tallying 25 goals and 41 assists.
Both Blaszczykowski and Dortmund director of sport Michael Zorc are delighted with the new deal.
“Kuba is an important cornerstone of our team, both sportingly and in terms of his character, and he was outstanding across Europe last season,” said Zorc.
“We are delighted to be able to form a long-term future with him.”
Kuba added: “I feel this is my second home. When my contract expires, I will be able to look back on over a decade with BVB.
“That’s not something which you can take for granted in professional football nowadays.”
Blaszczykowski bagged 15 goals and 14 assists in 46 competitive appearances for club and country in 2012-13, including 11 goals and 10 assists in 27 league appearances for Dortmund.
In other news, Dortmund continue to be linked with Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, with Michael Zorc claiming the Belgium international “only wants to join us.”
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