Arsenal have signed highly-rated Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell from Deportivo Saprissa, the Barclays Premier League club have confirmed on their website.

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS yesterday hinted Chelsea would not be held to ransom over Luka Modric as he continued to explore alternatives to the club’s number one transfer target.

Andre Villas-Boas today hinted Chelsea would not be held to ransom over Luka Modric as he continued to explore alternatives to the club’s number one transfer target.

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger yesterday refused to give any clear indication over the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri but stated that no player is irreplaceable.

Arsenal have agreed terms with Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa to sign teenage striker Joel Campbell, the London club have confirmed.

Porto have signed Brazilian left-back Alex Sandro on a five-year contract from Santos, the Portuguese champions have announced.

Chelsea have reached agreement with Barcelona for the signing of Oriol Romeu.

Arsenal continue to face a battle to hold onto captain Cesc Fabregas – with Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola vowing the Champions League holders will fight to the end to bring their former trainee back to the Nou Camp.

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien have been included in the final three-man shortlist for the 2009 Africa Player of the Year award.

FT: Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1

Leinster Academy manager Colin McEntee has announced the squad of young players charged with making the breakthrough into the senior set-up.

Juan Martin Hernandez has been included in the Argentina squad for next month’s tour of Europe after recovering from a hand injury.

Wales captain Ryan Jones is flattered to be considered a potential candidate to lead the Lions on their 2009 tour of South Africa.

Benfica are close to signing Freddy Adu from Major League Soccer.

Freddy Adu’s agent is expected to speak to representatives of Celtic next week which might pave the way for the talented American youngster to move to Glasgow.

Scotland legend Archie Gemmill threw his weight behind the idea of a revamped home international series – and claimed “Utopia” would be the eventual inclusion of England.

Argentinian club Banfield have announced defender Gabriel Paletta will travel to England at the weekend to open talks with Liverpool.

DWIGHT YORKE claims playing in the World Cup finals for Trinidad & Tobago will be “the icing on the cake” as he approaches the end of his glittering career.

Switzerland Under-21 0 Republic Under-21 2

Don Givens has been handed a new two-year contract as manager of the Republic of Ireland Under-21s.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 coach Don Givens believes new national team manager Brian Kerr has the attributes to make a success of the job.

Brian Kerr will be unveiled as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland later today.

Brian Kerr has been appointed as the Republic of Ireland’s new manager.

Ecuador's national soccer coach Hernan Gomez has vowed to continue as boss despite being shot during an argument over team selection.