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Football Round-up: Mangala would reject Man City for Man Utd, Senderos joins Villa
ASTON VILLA boss Paul Lambert says his former Borussia Dortmund mentor Ottmar Hitzfeld urged him to sign Philippe Senderos.
Former Arsenal and Fulham centre-back Senderos, 29, flies out to Brazil with Switzerland today after agreeing a two-year deal to join Villa from Valencia on a free.
He came with a glowing reference from national team coach Hitzfeld, who managed Lambert at Dortmund.
Lambert said: "He has a good, strong mentality for the game. Ottmar knows players and for him to say that Philippe has never disappointed him on the pitch is no small commendation."
DEFENDER Eliaquim Mangala would happily turn down the chance of playing Champions League football with Manchester City if he could join rivals United instead.
Mangala, in the France squad for the World Cup, would cost £30million and is the top defensive target for City boss Manuel Pellegrini, who is looking for a partner for captain Vincent Kompany. However, the Porto centre-back, 23, would prefer to sign for United.
PREMIER LEAGUE chief executive Richard Scudamore is to undergo heart surgery next week. The operation, which has been some months in the planning, is to repair "genetically defective valves".
NORWICH CITY have snapped up Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old scored 35 goals during his 93 matches over two seasons with the Cherries.
England Vs Ecuador in Miami
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