Dunne blow hits City and Ireland

Manchester City FC today suffered "a big loss" after learning that Republic of Ireland central defender Richard Dunne faces three months on the sidelines. Last season's player of the year damaged his foot when kicking a door in frustration at the actions of his team-mate Joey Barton on the club's pre-season tour to Thailand. Dunne will also sit out Ireland's vital FIFA World Cup qualifier against France on 7 September.

England striker Andy Johnson has ended speculation over his future by signing a new five-year contract with Crystal Palace FC. The Eagles were relegated from the Premiership last season despite the 24-year-old scoring 21 goals, prompting fears that he would quit Selhurst Park to avoid damaging his hopes of featuring at the 2006 World Cup. "Playing in the [second-level] Championship is no barrier to him being in the England squad," said Palace manager Iain Dowie.

Mick McCarthy, manager of newly-promoted Premiership side Sunderland AFC, has made Alan Stubbs of Everton FC his seventh signing of the summer, the 33-year-old agreeing a one-year deal with the option of a further season. The north-east club have also signed 22-year-old French striker Antony Le Tallec on a season-long loan from Liverpool FC. Another Liverpool youngster moving on loan is French Under-21 captain Carl Medjani who, having spent 2004/05 with FC Lorient, has now joined FC Metz on loan for the current campaign.

The Brazilian striker Kim will play in the French top flight next season after joining newly promoted AS Nancy-Lorraine from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahly. The 25-year-old former Clube Atlético Mineiro player has agreed a four-year contract.

Belarussian international Aleksandr Khatskevich has returned to FC Dinamo Minsk on a free transfer until the end of the year. The midfielder played for the club between 1992 and 1996, winning four titles, ahead of a move to FC Dynamo Kyiv where he added seven more championships in a magnificent eight-season spell. Khatskevich spent time on loan in China and Latvia last season.

In Portugal, SuperLiga side A. Académica de Coimbra have signed Portuguese Under-21 international Filipe Teixeira for two years with the option for a further season. The attacking midfield player had negotiated his release from his contract with Paris Saint-Germain FC.

Newly-promoted Dutch team Heracles Almelo have signed 19-year-old Moldovan striker Denis Calincov from RSC Anderlecht for an undisclosed free on a three-year contract. Calincov, who spent last season on loan at SC Heerenveen without securing a permanent deal, currently has a stomach muscle injury but is expected to be fit within weeks.

French midfield player Julien Brellier has joined Scotland's Heart of Midlothian FC from Serie B side AC Venezia on a two-year deal. The 23-year-old was signed by FC Internazionale Milano as a teenager before moving to Venezia and then Salernitana Sport on loan, and impressed during a three-week trial in Edinburgh.

Also in Scotland, Dunfermline Athletic FC have signed Polish striker Bartosz Tarachulski on a one-year contract after a medical. The 30-year old scored 13 goals for English lower division side Yeovil Town FC last season and has also played in Belgium and Israel.

Eintracht Frankfurt will be able to count on their Brazilian defensive midfielder Chris in their Bundesliga comeback season. A year ago he signed for Brazil-based SC Prudentopolis but continued to play for Eintracht, and was fined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport with a three-month ban or €250,000. However, he has accepted a loan from the Frankfurt club to pay the fine and avoid a suspension, and will remain at Eintracht until the end of his contract in June 2007.

Another promoted team, 1. FC Köln, have loaned 22-year-old midfielder Timo Achenbach to second division side SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Both clubs have agreed not to announce any further contractual details.

FC Bayern München midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss the first match of their Bundesliga defence on Friday against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach after suffering an achilles injury. However, BV Borussia Dortmund midfielder Sebastian Kehl should be back to face VfL Wolfsburg the next day after three months out with ankle injury.

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