By AVI CREDITOR
Manchester City has signed the outside midfielder that it has long coveted.
No, it's not Landon Donovan.
City agreed to terms with Valencia on an £30 million transfer fee for Spain international David Silva, making him the second superstar to bolt Los Che this offseason. David Villa had already left to sign with Barcelona.
Silva, 24, will reportedly sign a four-year contract that will keep him at Eastlands through 2014. He joins Germany defender Jerome Boateng as major summer acquisitions by the Citizens, who continue to re-tool in an attempt to crack the Premier League's upper echelon. Silva was one of the higher-profile names on the transfer market, as Chelsea and Real Madrid were among his other suitors.
Here are a few more stories to get you through this World Cup-less day:
BRAZIL MIDFIELD IN CRISIS
Brazil's midfield depth will be tested in its quarterfinal match against the Netherlands, as Elano has been ruled out and the statuses of Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista are very much in question as all three are nursing injuries.
Elano, who absorbed a hard tackle against the Ivory Coast and has a bone bruise in his ankle, was forced to leave training Tuesday and has been ruled out for the upcoming match by Brazil's team doctor.
Felipe Melo, who hurt his ankle against Portugal, is doubtful for the game against the Dutch, and Julio Baptista is also battling an injury ahead of Friday's contest. All three players missed the Selecao's last game against Chile.
Making matters worse for Dunga, Ramires is suspended for the match against the Dutch after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament against Chile. The healthy/non-suspended midfielders remaining on Brazil's roster are Gilberto Silva, Kaka, Josue and Kleberson, though defender Dani Alves has been used as a right-side midfielder in the last two matches.
NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM SUSPENDED BY PRESIDENT
The president of Nigeria has suspended its national team from international competition for two years as a result of its poor showing in the World Cup. An adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan told Reuters that the country's federation will not participate in competitions over that time period "to enable Nigeria to reorganise (sic) its football."
Nigeria finished last in Group B with a draw and two losses.
HODGSON TAKING OVER AT LIVERPOOL
Roy Hodgson is reportedly going to be introduced as Liverpool's new manager on Wednesday, replacing the ousted Rafa Benitez at Anfield.
Hodgson, who guided Fulham to the Europa League final last season, inherits a Liverpool team in flux. Yossi Benayoun left to sign with Chelsea, and Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres have all been rumored to be heading elsewhere.
Hodgson, who had been at Craven Cottage since 2007, will sign a two-year deal with Liverpool.
UNIVISION SETS RECORD
Sunday's Mexico-Argentina World Cup match was the most-watched program on a Spanish-speaking network in the United States, according to the Nielsen Co. Almost 9.4 million viewers watched the game on Univision, setting the new standard.
—————-
Do you think adding Silva makes Manchester City a contender for the Premier League title? How do you think the injuries affect Brazil's chances against the Dutch? Think Sepp Blatter and FIFA are going to welcome Nigeria's government interference? What do you think Hodgson-to-Liverpool means for Clint Dempsey?
Share your thoughts below.