Ribery to skip Bayern Munich training camp

Franck Ribery will not join Bayern Munich's pre-season training camp, instead staying in Germany to receive individual treatment and training, the club has announced.

Ribery has now returned from his post-Euro 2012 holiday, but while the rest of the Bayern squad has gathered together in northern Italy, the France attacker will remain in Munich.

"Frank will not join the training camp, but he will remain here. He will train intensively with a physical trainer in Munich," Bavarian club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Bild.

Rummenigge did not give any more details about the reasons for Ribery staying in Munich.

Bayern are scheduled to play a friendly with Napoli on July 20 before flying off to China for a five-day tour that includes matches against Beijing Guo'an and Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg.

It is not yet known whether or not Ribery will link up with the rest of the squad in Asia.

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Luuk de Jong 'set for Gladbach'

Netherlands striker Luuk de Jong is set to leave FC Twente for Borussia Moenchengladbach, according to Kicker magazine in Germany.

De Jong, 21, has been linked with several clubs, including Newcastle United, as he looks to capitalize on a season that saw him score 25 goals in 31 Eredivisie matches.

And with Gladbach coach Lucien Favre looking for added firepower in anticipation of a Champions League campaign, De Jong has emerged as the prime target to replace Marco Reus, who joined Borussia Dortmund this summer.

Kicker claimed that Twente have accepted a €14 million bid, although chairman Joop Muntermann had been holding out for 20m.

Gladbach finished fourth last season and will enter the Champions League at the third qualifying round.

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Leverkusen seal Fernandes deal

Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of Chilean striker Junior Fernandes from Universidad de Chile for an undisclosed fee.

Fernandes, 24, has scored 14 times so far in 2012, including six goals in the Copa Libertadores as Universidad de Chile reached the semi-final stage. Brazilian-born, Fernandes only joined La U last December, when they purchased 50% of his economic rights from Palestino for $700,000.

"Junior Fernandes was the player we wanted to fill the spot vacated up front by the departure of Eren Derdiyok," Leverkusen executive director Wolfgang Holzhauser said. "We are happy to have signed this highly talented youngster and are convinced that we will now be able to better compete on the international stage."

Sporting director Rudi Voller was equally enthusiastic about the transfer deal, having travelled to South America to watch Fernandes before embarking on negotiations.

Voller added: "Junior Fernandes has got everything a modern forward needs. He is strong both technically and physically and is quick and efficient in front of goal. We are confident he'll be able to establish himself in the Bundesliga."

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Pizarro: Bayern want to win everything

New Bayern Munich signing Claudio Pizarro has said he and his team-mates are aiming to win "everything" after two trophyless seasons for the Bavarians.

Pizarro, 33 - in his second spell at Bayern - vowed to help make up for the disappointment of last season, which saw Bayern finish as runners-up in the Bundesliga and lose the Champions League final to Chelsea on penalties.

The Peruvian became used to winning trophies during his first spell at the club, claiming three league and cup doubles and the FIFA Club World Cup.

"I want to win everything - everything that there is. That is the aim," he told Bayern's official website. "I have always said that Bayern is the best club I have ever been at."

And he said he was not afraid of the fierce competition for places up front at Bayern, where he is competing with strikers including Euro 2012 joint top scorers Mario Gomez and Mario Mandzukic.

"Competition for places is normal," he added. "You have that at every club. Back then [his first spell in 2001], there were five strikers, so it was much more difficult."

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Bayern keen on Javi Martinez

Bayern Munich's newly-appointed sporting director, Matthias Sammer, has confirmed the club's interest in Athletic Bilbao youngster Javi Martinez.

Martinez, 23, is highly-rated in his native Spain, having impressed for his club Athletic in midfield and also at centre-back.

Bayern have been linked with making a summer swoop for the Spain international, although the Bundesliga side have stressed they will not pay over the odds for his signature, with an asking price of €40 million mooted.

"I know Javi Martinez pretty well as a player, but I intend to get to know him really well. The people at Bayern who have been monitoring him are of the opinion that he is very good. Let's just wait and see what happens," Sammer was quoted as saying by TZ.

"He has a lot of quality, but quality comes at a price. That's why he is quite expensive. One can always make some crazy signings, but nothing unreasonable. We have a certain responsibility toward the club."

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