Highly rated Japan teenager Takashi Usami has signed for Germany’s Bayern Munich, J-League club Gamba Osaka said on Monday, the striker vowing to become the new Arjen Robben. The 19-year-old Usami, called up for Japan’s senior squad for the first time earlier this month, is expected to make the switch permanent if his six-month loan deal is successful “I was worried about leaving the team during the (Japanese) season but chances like this don’t come along every day,” Usami told a news conference.
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Manchester United are set to boost their defensive options with a move for Germany World Cup 2010 skipper Philipp Lahm, according to Kicker.

Lahm, 26, became the youngest tournament captain in his nation’s history this summer as he guided the side to a third placed finish in South Africa. This form followed another solid season for Bayern Munich as he played a vital role in their run to the Champions League final.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is rumored to have been watching the full back since the turn of the year, and was impressed by his performances in Bayern’s win against his side at the quarter-final stage of the competition.

The Bundesliga champions had been rumored to have moved for Ajax right back Gregory van der Wiel, with this prompting reports they are ready to let the player go as he has just two years to run on his contract. Portuguese star Fabio Coentrao has also been linked with a move to the Allianz Arena.

With veteran Gary Neville sidelined once again, the Scot is understood to be ready to boost his options in the position. Real Madrid are set to provide competition for the Premier League runners-up.

Sarah Brandner could be the perfect woman.  Beer, blond hair, hot body and a footy fan = PERFECT!!!!

Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid secured the services of Argentinian international Angel di Maria from Benfica earlier this week and the Blancos are apparently desperate to further strengthen their squad in the upcoming days. Real have been in the market for a new midfielder for quite a while now and the Liga titans are continually being linked with players such as Steven Gerrard and Javi Martinez. However, the Merengues have clearly made Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger their primary target on the summer transfer market.

Carlo Ancelotti is planning to fill the hole by bidding £25m for Bayern Munich‘s Bastian Schweinsteiger

Wolfsburg managing director Dieter Hoeness has rejected reports Manchester City have bid £36 million for star striker Edin Dzeko.

Dzeko has attracted the interest of several of the sport’s biggest sides, but City were rumoured to have stolen a march on Manchester United, Bayern Munich and A.C. Milan to enter negotiations. A release clause in the contract of the giant Bosnian — who scored 22 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances last season — expired on Monday but this hadn’t stopped speculation he would make the switch to Eastlands.

Speaking to Deutsche Presseagentur, Hoeness moved to dismiss claims City had made a move.  ”There is no bid, we have received no offer,” Hoeness said.

“What we have received was an email, short, before the end of Monday.

“But that email was in a written form and with regard to its content in no way near anything we could and wanted to consider in this case.

“We have not changed our viewpoint on the future of Edin Dzeko, we want him to stay on.”

Nicknamed “Der Afro” for his big curly hair, Paul Breitner was a starplayer at an early age. He signed for Bayern Munich when he was nineteen in 1970 and made his debut for the West German national team the following year. Paul started his career as a full-back, but moved up in midfield towards the end of his career. He had a very good right foot shot which he used frequently with great results.

Breitner was a member of some of the finest teams Europe has produced. West Germany won the European Championship in 1972 and two years later, on home soil, they mopped up their second World Cup title. Breitner scored three goals from his defensive position, two long range thunderbolts against Chile and Yugoslavia and a penalty in the final against Holland. Also in 1974, Bayern Munich won the European Cup making it a fantastic year for “Der Afro”. At 22, he had already won everything a footballer could dream about winning.

Breitner now searched abroad for new challenges. Real Madrid was next destination and he continued to win more trophies in the Spanish capital. When he came back to Bayern after three years in 1977, he had won two league championships with Real and a Spanish Cup title. Paul’s international career was in the meantime temporarily over. Disagreements with the coaching staff and certain players made him stay away from the West German national team for several years, but he changed his mind on the eve of the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Rummenigge was one of several players who said the team needed him after a run of poor results in the build-up to the finals.

In his midfield role, Breitner guided West Germany to the final where Italy beat them 3-1. Breitner scored the West German goal making him only the third man, after Pelé and Vava, to score in two World Cup finals. He retired in 1983 having won many trophies including seven league championships in Spain and West Germany. Breitner was also named German Player of the Year once.