Chelsea sign Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic

Chelsea swooped yesterday to pick up Nemanja Matic of Slovakian side MSK Kosice for just £1.1m, according to the Sun. The deal was sealed yesterday afternoon when the Londoners agreed to pay MSK the full balance of the deal in cash, and the 21-year-old Serbian international was on his way. The 6ft 4in tall Matic has played twice for his country and had attracted attention from other Premier League clubs are spending time on loan with Middlesbrough last season...

Manchester United could be on the verge of losing another of their star players to the resurgent Spanish league, as Barcelona are lining up a bid for defensive rock Nemanja Vidic, the Daily Mail claims. While it is felt at Old Trafford that the Cristiano Ronaldo show had reached its natural conclusion, and that his transfer to Real Madrid was the best for all parties, there will be horror at the prospect of losing the Serbian international, who helped Man Utd to the title last season with his staunch defending and regular goals...

Fulham completed the signing yesterday of Damien Duff from recently relegated Newcastle, reuniting the Republic of Ireland winger with Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson, the Times reports. The pair first worked together when Hodgson was boss of Blackburn in the late 1990s and Duff was an up-and-coming talent. Now the 30-year-old has been brought to west London on a three-year deal for an undisclosed amount that is believed to be in the area of £4m, prompting his new boss to say: ""I am delighted to add a player of Damien Duff's calibre to our squad, and welcome the further midfield options he provides us with"...

Everton boss David Moyes is hoping to bring Argentinean midfielder Ever Banejo to Goodison Park to bolster his side's options in the middle of the park, but he must wait to see if the Football Association approves the club's request for a work permit for the 21-year-old who currently plays for Valencia, the Guardian reports. Banejo was bought by the Spanish club for £15m from Boca Juniors in January 2008 then loaned out to Atletico Madrid. The combative central midfielder has played twice for Argentina, but has not made enough appearances for Valencia to satisfy the FA's criteria governing foreign players, so the matter will go to a hearing... ·