Birmingham hand over Pennant

Liverpool have completed the signing of Birmingham winger Jermaine Pennant for a fee believed to be in the region of £6 million. The 23-year-old has signed a has signed a four year deal with the Merseyside club. Pennant becomes Liverpool boss, Rafa Benitez fifth signing of the summer after the arrival of Craig Bellamy, Gabriel Paletta, Mark Gonzalez and Fabio Aurelio. After completing his move, Pennant spoke of how happy he was that the deal had gone through.

"I'm over the moon," he told his new club's official website. "I've dreamt about this since I was a little boy so to actually be here and to be able to wear a Liverpool shirt and play at Anfield is a dream come true. "My family have always supported Liverpool and I grew up watching videos of them on the television. My grandad and grandma came here in the seventies and I think Liverpool must have caught their eyes. "The love of the club has spread through the family ever since. I actually got my first Liverpool kit when I was about four years of age. John Barnes was my idol when I first started watching Liverpool, but then as I got older I loved Robbie Fowler.

I have to say that I'm not too surprised that Pennant has left Birmingham because of their relagation last season, I believe that Pennant is great value for money and I think that he will become a big hit with the Kop. This will obviously make Pennant's chances of making the England team far greater because he will be playing at a top club with Champions League status.

Vieira on the move?

After his sides demotion from the Seire A, Patrick Vieira looks set to move, but to who? Former Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp, who was speaking after his testimonial which Patrick Vieira took part in, has urged current Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to sign the former Gunners skipper. Bergkamp said : "I think about 56 people said to me today that Patrick should have another year here and I hope he will," Bergkamp said in the Daily Mirror. "Maybe that's not the right thing to say in football, but everyone saw what he did in the World Cup and if he can get to that level with Arsenal, it would be fantastic. "I have a great relationship with Patrick. We had a good connection even after he left the club to join Juventus and I have a lot of respect for him, as I do for Thierry (Henry)."

But Arsenal wouldn't be the only team after the 30 year old Frenchman, Italian side Inter Milan have also expressed an interest in the player with current Inter boss Roberto Mancinni saying that he expects to have Vieira in his side next year. Mancini will bring in the 30-year-old to replace Juan Sebastian Veron and has outlined the role he has lined up for the midfield powerhouse. "It's true that they (Veron and Vieira) are not so similar players, but they are both central midfielders," commented Mancini.

"Should Vieira really arrive, something will change in comparison to last season. "I could say we would be a little less technical and a little more thoughtful. "Anyway, in the middle we could also line up Pizarro as a playmaker, with Vieira and Cambiasso on the wings."

I think that Dennis Bergkamp is right that Arsenal should go after Vieira because he would be cheaper than usual and in my view Arsenal missed him last year. I think that he would favour a move back to Arsenal but I have heard a few rumours linking him with Spanish giants Barcelona but I'm not sure that Barcelona need him at this time.