SUNDERLAND SIGNED GARDNER

Sunderland has confirmed midfielder Craig Gardner has joined the club from Birmingham on a three-year contract.

The former Aston Villa player scored 10 goals last season but it was not enough to keep Birmingham in the top flight.

Gardner is understood to have cost his new club in the region of £4.5 million rising to £6 million, was City's top scorer last season and will be handed the task of providing goals from the middle of the park, where he is likely to take over from Jordan Henderson following his big-money move to Liverpool.

The Solihull-born player is a boyhood Birmingham fan despite beginning his senior career with derby rivals Aston Villa, and helped the Blues to a Carling Cup final victory over Arsenal last season.

Gardner told the club's official website: "It's unbelievable, to be honest. As soon as I found out Sunderland were interested, it was a no-brainer. Obviously, I have heard so much about Steve Bruce and his backroom staff and how good a chairman Niall Quinn is.

"It's such a massive club and their ambitions for this season meet my ambitions, and it was too good to turn down.

"It means that the club wants to go places. Obviously, we want to finish as high up the table as we can - we want to be in Europe next year and it's a great task to go and chase.

"It's a good goal for us and we can go and do it, and I am sure we will.''

Cristiano Ronaldo and Irina Baby Sit Junior in Ibiza

It finally happens...!!!

According to Portuguese media, Ronaldo and Irina left Algarve yesterday with a private jet and headed to Ibiza. And they weren't alone, coz Ronaldo took Junior with them. So it's going to be the three of them on a holiday, for the first time. It's like a test for Irina whether she could make a good mom for lil Junior or not...


While they will enjoy a few more days in Ibiza, the Aveiro's family stays in Quinta do Lago beach. Before they got separated, Ronaldo and the whole family spent an hour in Vilamoura Casino.

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ARSENAL SET SIGHT ON VIVIANO

Inter Milan shot stopper Emiliano Viviano is an £8million target for Arsenal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will make his move as soon as he finally offloads Manuel Almunia.

Inter have only just paid Bologna £3.8m to acquire the full rights for Viviano, 25, who had been co-owned by the two clubs.

But the 6ft 5in Italian would welcome a move to Arsenal to battle Wojcech Szczesny for the No 1 spot rarther than be Julio Cesar's standby at the San Siro.

Almunia lost his place at Arsenal after a series of blunders last season and fans expecting Wenger to bring in an experienced stopper this summer.

But targeting Viviano suggests Wenger is not prepared to break the bank with a £20m swoop for Lyon and France No 1 Hugo Lloris.

DI MATTEO CONFIRMED AS CHELSEA ASSISTANT MANAGER

Villas-Boas has confirmed former West Bromwich Albion Manager Roberto Di Matteo will be his No2 at Chelsea.

Di Matteo is already a firm favourite with the Stamford Bridge faithful after playing for the Blues from 1996 to 2002.

The Italian scored the first goal in the 1997 FA Cup final victory over Middlesbrough with a thumping drive after just 43 seconds.

Di Matteo, 41, has managed MK Dons and West Brom after completing his coaching badges.

And Villas-Boas believes he has chosen the perfect man to help him guide Chelsea to success.

The Blues boss said: "I am very pleased that Roberto has stepped down from being a manager to assist me.

"The first thing that I told him when I called was that he was the right man for the job.

"I believe this because of what he achieved at Chelsea and the quality of his work with MK Dons and West Brom.

"I am very proud to have him here."

THIAGO STAYING AT CAMP NOU

Manchester United target Thiago Alcantara has agreed a two-year contract extension at FC Barcelona. The midfielder was the star of Spain's European Under-21 Championship triumph last week.

His performances alerted a host of top European clubs, including United and Roma.

But Barca have confirmed the 20-year-old will sign his new deal today, keeping him at the Nou Camp for another four years.

A club statement said: "FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with Thiago for the improvement and prolongation of his contract until 2015."

Thiago’s buy-out clause will also be increased to £81million after this contract extension.

SUNDERLAND SIGNS WICKHAM

Sunderland have completed the signing of teenage Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham. The 18-year-old headed to Wearside on Tuesday night to undergo a medical after the offer of £8.1million, potentially rising to £12million, was accepted.

Talks over a four-year agreement have now been concluded with Steve Bruce having got his man after striking determinedly to land a player who had previously been linked with Liverpool , Arsenal and Tottenham.

Bruce said: "A number of top sides have been chasing Connor for some time now, so naturally we are absolutely delighted he has chosen to come to Sunderland.

"He's still very young, but at 6ft 3in he's a physical presence. With his height and style of play, he will offer us a threat in front of goal and complement our existing strikers.

"We have been watching him for a while now and he is improving and developing all the time. He's a great prospect and I'm sure our supporters will love watching him play."

The England Under-21 international emerged from the ranks at Portman Road to establish himself in the first team. He scored nine npower Championship goals last season.