Elano’s future at the City of Manchester Stadium had been uncertain after he found himself in and out of Mark Hughes’ side last season and had had been linked with moves to several clubs in Italy.

Juventus were mooted as admirers of the 28-year-old, while city rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan had recently been credited with an interest. Although no concrete offer was made.

But on Thursday night, Elano accepted a surprise move to Turkey after Galatasaray confirmed he had signed a contract until 2013.

Reports have put the fee in the region of £8m – the figure City paid to sign Elano from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk two years ago.

During his time at City, Elano scored 18 goals in 80 appearances in all competitions, but has been squeezed out by the raft of big-name signings at the club over the summer.

The Reds and the Blancos have refused to budge from their respective valuations of the Basque star all summer, but it is thought that a middle-ground figure of around €34 million could be agreed by the weekend.

Alonso’s departure would leave a sizeable hole in Liverpool’s midfield, given the enormous impact he had last season, and recent reports have suggested that Roma’s Alberto Aquilani could fill the void.

However, it would seem that Rafael Benitez – who has stated that he wants Xabi to stay put – will turn to English alternatives if his prized playmaker returns to his homeland.

The Reds were briefly linked with Lee Cattermole in the not-too-distant past, and now The Daily Mail claims that they could use part of Alonso’s transfer fee to fund a £12m bid for the Wigan Athletic youngster.

Furthermore, the newspaper suggests that Benitez will attempt to bolster his back line by offering Hull City £5.5m for their star centre-back, Michael Turner.

The Latics have already knocked back an approach for Cattermole from Steve Bruce’s Sunderland, while Tigers boss Phil Brown has stated that the club won’t consider anything less than a “ridiculous bid” for Turner.

Levadia find themselves in the unenviable position of needing at least a 2-0 win next week against Debreceni after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to their Hungarian counterparts. Travelling slightly light on firepower after losing Jozsef Varga and Peter Mate, Debreceni survived some early scares and held on long enough to produce the winning goal through Leandro.

Last year’s UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk had to fight from behind twice tonight in their epic battle against Timisoara – despite having a home advantage. Shakhtar’s Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu – who no doubt would have been able to provide some inside information on his countrymen – had to miss out on the match due to illness. However, all was not lost in Ukraine as a late Fernandinho strike put the teams level at 2-2.

Cypriot outfit APOEL stroll into their next matchup with Partizan two goals to the good after an impressive second half performance that saw Nenad Mirosavljevic and Marcin Zewlakow earn themselves a place on the scoresheet.

Olympiakos got off the starting block with deadly swiftness tonight in Slovakia, putting two goals past Slovan Bratislava in the space of 20 minutes. It would appear that the Greeks have nothing left to do but tie a bow on their ticket to the next round.

Copenhagen welcomed their southern neighbours over for a well fought match tonight in Norway. The hosts had scored two unanswered goals at the break, but Stabaek midfielder Palmi Palmason bit back with an early second-half strike. However, in the Danes’ haste to find an equaliser, temperatures began to run high – resulting in a late penalty awarded to the home side. Cesar Santin stood over the ball to earn his second goal of the night.

It was all square in Zurich at half-time, with both teams heading back to the dressing rooms with two goals apiece. But it would the Slovenian coach’s pep talk that would earn the winning goal – veteran Maribor captain Zoran Pavlovic finding the net in the second half to split the teams.

Alexander Zickler’s goal put Red Bull Salzburg in the lead on the stroke of half-time, giving the Austrian hosts an important advantage at the break. It was not to be though, as Croatian international striker Mario Mandcukic brought the teams back to level pegging after 63 minutes. Tension rode high for the young hitman, however, the 23-year-old seeing red deep in second half injury time.

Tony Mowbray suffered his first European defeat at the helm of new club Celtic tonight in Glasgow, the Scottish runners up losing out to a single Dinamo Moscow goal scored after 7 minutes.

New signing Marc-Antoine Fortune made his competitive debut for the side, but was hooked early in the second half to be replaced by former Man City striker Georgios Samaras. The lofty Greek could do nothing to help the cause though, and the Hoops must dust off and find a way through next week in Russia.

Steve McClaren’s FC Twente held on by the skin of their teeth tonight in Portugal, after a double foul on Helder Postiga saw goalkeeper Sander Boschker dismissed from the field of play. Kenneth Perez then made way for on-loan Liverpool stopper to live up to his name and save Joao Moutinho’s spot-kick.

A late barrage from the hosts threatened until the final whistle was blown after four minutes of added time, but ten-man Twente held out for a draw.

Champions League Third Round Qualifying Results

Ventspils 1 – 0 BATE

Levadia 0 – 1 Debreceni

Sheriff Tiraspol 0 – 0 Slavia Prague

Shakhtar Donetsk 2 – 2 Timisoara

APOEL 2 – 0 Partizan

Slovan Bratislava 0 – 2 Olympiakos

Copenhagen 3 – 1 Stabaek

Zurich 2 – 3 Maribor

Red Bull Salzburg 1 – 1 Dinamo Zagreb

Celtic 0 – 1 Dinamo Moscow

Sporting CP 0 – 0 FC Twente

The full-back will sign a five-year contract after successfully passing his medicals on Wednesday.

Dr. Carlos Diez, who administered the examinations which included blood and urine tests as well as electrocardiogram, radiology and musculoskeletal scans, said, “He’s been subjected to a standard examination.

“The results of every test are very satisfactory. He’s delighted about playing for Real Madrid. It’s always been his dream and he can’t wait to join his team-mates.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool released a statement on their own website confirming that Madrid will pay ₤3.5 million, or €4m, for Arbeloa, but did not elaborate on how the payment will be made, considering it was the only stumbling block prior to the agreement.

The 26-year-old is the third player from the Madrid youth academy to be brought back to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer after Alvaro Negredo and Esteban Granero.

The Italians were trailing most of the way by a single strike, but always looked second best before a flurry of late goals ensured they had no chance at a comeback.

Leonardo employed a 4-4-2 formation, using the energetic Ignazio Abate on the right wing with Ronaldinho supporting Pato, but the tactical change has not improved the club’s poor results in pre-season.

It was an uphill battle early on as Bayern forward Thomas Muller opened the scoring after just 12 minutes and the Bavarians looked in complete control for the entire first-half.

Leonardo threw on Marco Borriello and Gennaro Gattuso at the outset of the second-half, but the duo did not help Milan’s cause as Bastian Schweinsteiger doubled the lead in the 79th minute from after a defensive mix-up.

Andrea Pirlo pulled one back from a set-piece following a hand-ball, but Saer Sene and Muller ensured the scoreline reflected Bayern’s dominance.

Boca Juniors lost to Manchester United 2-1 in the other semi-final. The string of losses will give Milan coach Leonardo more ammunition to make a plea for reinforcements before the start of the 2009-10 campaign.

The Ecuadorian winger needed just 42 minutes of his United debut to find the target after Anderson had earlier netted his first goal for the club with a stunning free-kick.

Federico Insua reduced the arrears in the 55th minute as the Argentinians dominated the second half, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s side held on to reach tomorrow’s final, where they will meet the winner of the later clash between AC Milan and hosts Bayern Munich.

Ferguson named Federico Macheda and Wayne Rooney in his attack with Valencia making his debut on the right wing.

Much of the attention was on the Ecuadorian, who is earmarked to fill the void left by the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

His first few touches exhibited a touch of nerves and it was Boca who made the more confident start to the game with Juan Roman Riquelme playing an intricate one-two with Insua before his shot was deflected wide of the post.

The sale of Ronaldo has not only provided Valencia with the opportunity to take his career onto the next level, but Anderson showed he too could benefit from a bit more of the limelight this season.

He curled an unstoppable free-kick from outside the right-hand corner of the penalty area into the far corner of Roberto Abbondanzieri’s goal for his first ever goal for the Red Devils.

He was inevitably invited by the fans to shoot the next time he received the ball 25 yards from goal, but his earlier strike had not quite given him the confidence to try his luck once again as he instead laid the ball off to Wayne Rooney.

The sight of Wes Brown limping from the field with 10 minutes of the first half remaining dampened the spirits somewhat as Rio Ferdinand made an earlier than expected entrance into the game.

By this time, Rooney was fully warmed up and he led United’s search for a second.

His first shot, a volley from fully 35 yards out, drew the approval from 61,000 fans inside the Allianz Arena, but it lacked the direction to trouble Abbondanzieri.

Rooney’s persistence almost earned him United’s second five minutes before the break. He had two bites of the cherry from Valencia’s right-wing cross but was denied twice, first by a Boca defender and then by Abbondanzieri.

Valencia’s early nerves had evaporated as he started to find his rhythm and it was not long before he opened his account for his new club.

He received the ball centrally from Rooney and, with a dip of the shoulder, he skipped past two Boca defenders before taking aim and releasing a shot from the edge of the area which squirmed under Abbondanzieri’s body and in.

Boca emerged for the second half five minutes later than United, but they entered the field with a renewed determination.

Substitute Christian Chavez’s curling shot tested Tomaz Kuszczak for the first time in the 52nd minute before Insua brought Alfio Basile’s side back into the tie.

He volleyed in Gary Medel’s right-wing cross as Boca began to stamp their authority on the game.

Riquelme curled a shot just wide before Craig Cathcart headed against his own crossbar as United began to show a degree of tiredness after their recent trip to the Far East.

Riquelme tested Kuszczak again with 15 minutes remaining and Pablo Mouche’s effort just skimmed past the United goalkeeper’s left-hand upright as Boca threatened an equaliser, but failed to find one.

The French midfielder spent nine trophy-filled seasons with the Gunners, captaining the ‘Invincibles’ side that went unbeaten throughout the 2003-04 Premier League season.

Now, the Senegal-born star’s future at Inter is uncertain, and a return to England looks increasingly likely. Birmingham City have had an offer rejected, while Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as surprise suitors.

Harry Redknapp has publicly admitted his interest in Spurs’ old foe, but now it appears that he will have to contend with Arsene Wenger’s advances in what was already a complicated proposal.

In many a pundit’s view, Arsenal have struggled to properly replace Vieira since he left for Juventus in 2005, and thus it would perhaps be fitting if they filled their void in midfield with the man who created it in the first place.

It is understood that the club will offer the 33-year-old a one-year contract identical to that put forth by Tottenham.

Die Wolfe manager Armin Veh had recently voiced his admiration for the Nigerian striker, with the German boss admitting that ‘Oba’ was on his list of possible targets.

“We have two tall strikers in Edin Dzeko and Grafite and they both play pretty much centrally,” he told the Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung.

“Therefore, we are looking for a player who can combine with them both, [someone] who can come in from out wide.”

Martins himself has claimed that he feels the Bundesliga will soon become the best football league in the world. However, it may be difficult for the striker to find first team starts if Wolfsburg’s star double-act remain with the club.

If Martins arrives at the Volkswagen-Arena then he could well serve as third choice behind last season’s hit duo of Edin Dzeko and Grafite.

But with both players, Dzeko in particular, being linked with a host of clubs this summer, there are some rumblings within Germany that Martins could in fact serve as one’s replacement.

AC Milan have already failed in their attempt to land Dzeko but this news may see them spurred on to make a new attempt, while Premier League clubs such as Arsenal will also look on with interest.

The central defender who spent seven years with the Gunners has signed a four-year contract and becomes the sixth summer signing.

He passed a medical late this afternoon and then headed straight to the Blues headquarters to finalise paper work.

Boss Mark Hughes who added Kolo to other new faces in England midfielder Gareth Barry, strikers Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Roque Santa Cruz and goalkeeper Stuart Taylor believes that the Ivory Coast defender will be a huge influence in the dressing room and on the pitch.

“I am delighted to welcome Kolo to Manchester City. It is no secret that we have been looking to strengthen our defence, and in Kolo I feel we have recruited a world class player. He brings a wealth of Premier League experience from his seven seasons with Arsenal,” he declared.

“Kolo has been a central figure in a very strong Arsenal team for many years, and I have been an admirer of him for a long time. He is strong, quick, reads the game well and will be an influential figure in the dressing room.”

The game itself finished 1-1, with Geovanni’s spectacular opener cancelled out moments after the interval by the impressive William.

Dean Marney missed for the Tigers in the shootout, but Beijing’s failings from 12 yards allowed the Premier League outfit to book a meeting with Tottenham on Friday.

The lively home support helped the game to feel anything but friendly early on, with a small section of hardy Tigers supporters drowned out by a cacophony of horns and whistles.

It did not take Phil Brown’s men long to dampen the atmosphere, though, as they took the lead inside nine minutes.

Brazilian playmaker Geovanni will once again be vitally important to the Tigers’ hopes of Premier League survival next season and he showcased his undoubted class with a stunning strike from 25-yards.

Beijing did threaten to find a route back into the game on occasions thereafter, but the final ball let the Chinese outfit down on too many occasions.

The lively Emil Martinez looked the most likely to find a way through, with the Honduran playmaker a thorn in the Tigers’ side throughout the opening 45 minutes.

It became only a matter time before an equaliser materialised, and a leveller duly arrived two minutes into the second half as William converted a clever cross from Wei Tau.

At this stage there only appeared to be one winner, with Beijing coping better with the searing temperatures.

They came agonisingly close to snatching a winner late on, only to be denied by the width of a post, but the game ultimately drifted tamely towards a penalty shootout.

Marney saw his effort saved by Zhi Yang after six perfect spot kicks, but Donglieng Sui blazed over with the very next effort.

Sudden death was eventually required to determine a winner, with Caleb Folan slotting home for the Tigers before Ting Zhou lashed his effort high into the stands.