Ibrahimovic expects to retire in 2016

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has indicated that he will end his playing career when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires in 2016.

The Sweden striker joined PSG from Milan in July 2012 and has enjoyed a prolific stint with the French capital club.

Ibrahimovic has fired PSG to two straight Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de la Ligue crown and two Trophee des Champions successes in his time at the Parc des Princes.

The 32-year-old, who has scored 76 goals for the Parisian giants, has revealed that he expects to hang up his boots after the 2015/16 campaign.

"I have a contract until 2016," Ibrahimovic told ESPN.

"I will be 34 next season and I don't see myself continuing to play at the top level after that. So probably the answer is yes."

Ibrahimovic was one of a number of high profile signings funded by PSG's Qatari ownership group, who took over the club in 2011 with designs on turning the club into a European force.

And the former Barcelona, Juventus and Inter frontman is in no doubt his switch to PSG was the right move for his career.

"It is very special. I was here from the beginning. I wanted to join PSG for the project that I believed in at the time and still believe in," he added.

"I knew it would be a great choice, and so far it has gone exactly like I expected to be. I am very happy and proud.

"I think that to reach the next step, I have to do better than last year. I have reached the level I am at now because I have always wanted to be better than the season before."

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld Luis Suarez's four-month ban from football, but has allowed him to train with Barcelona.

Suarez's punishment - which covered all football-related activity - also now only applies to official matches, meaning the Uruguay star can play in friendlies.

As such, the striker could feature in Barcelona’s non-competitive fixture with Leon at Camp Nou on Monday. 

FIFA suspended Suarez until October 25 after he bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup group-stage clash in June.

Suarez was also banned from playing in Uruguay's next nine competitive fixtures following an incident that marked the third time he had bitten an opposition player on the pitch. 

The former Ajax man, who left Liverpool for Barca in a reported €94million (£75m) deal last month, appealed to CAS after seeing his initial pleas to reduce the suspension rejected by FIFA.

Suarez and his representatives have always maintained that the punishment was excessive, and although he cannot represent his new club in competitive action until late October, he can at least now partake in "training, promotional activities and administrative matters".

The 27-year-old can therefore train with his team-mates and be officially unveiled as a Barca player, as well as play in friendlies. 

The first competitive match Suarez could be eligible for is Barca's first El Clasico clash of the season, with their Liga meeting with Real Madrid currently scheduled for the weekend of October 25 and 26

Suarez to start Barca training

Luis Suarez is to begin training with Barcelona on Friday and will be officially presented at Camp Nou ahead of Monday's friendly with Leon.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on Thursday that while Suarez's four-month suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup has been upheld, the striker is now allowed to partake in "training, promotional activities and administrative matters".

As such, Barca - who signed Suarez from Liverpool for a fee thought to be around £75million last month - have confirmed the 27-year-old will join up with his team-mates for the first time on Friday, before then being formally unveiled at Camp Nou next week.

A statement on the Liga giants' official website read: "Following the announcement of the verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the appeal against the sanction imposed on Luis Suarez by FIFA, FC Barcelona hereby announces that the player will join the first team's training session scheduled for tomorrow Friday in the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

"Likewise, the public presentation of Suarez as a new FC Barcelona player will be held on Monday at the Camp Nou, on occasion of the Joan Gamper Trophy match [with Leon]."

Suarez could make his competitive debut in Barca's first El Clasico encounter of the season, as they are scheduled to meet Real Madrid on the weekend of October 25 and 26.

Remy would not walk out on us - Redknapp

Harry Redknapp.is confident striker Loic Remy is "too decent" to leave Premier League new boys QPR late in the transfer window.

The France international saw a move to Liverpool fall through last month, having spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Newcastle United..

The collapse of the deal meant Remy had to return to training with Rangers and Redknapp is hopeful that the 27-year-old will remain at Loftus Road.

"We hope he'll stay," he said. "He's a fantastic player and his attitude has been first class, but you never know. I'm not trying to sell him because we don't want to sell him.

"To have lost him for the amount that we were going to would have been too cheap, so to have him back is fantastic.

"When I looked at what he was going to go for, he was a fantastic buy for Liverpool at that price, so their loss is our gain.

"I don't think Loic would leave us late on. He's too decent a guy to walk away in the last week of the transfer window" 

One man who appears destined for the QPR exit door is Adel Taarabt, who Redknapp revealed had not trained during pre-season.

"I don't know what he's going to be doing to be honest," he added. "He's not fit.

"Adel hasn't done one day's training since we got back in pre-season. He just needs to get fit, whether he's here or not.

"I think he's looking to move. If anybody wants to buy him for that money then they have to pay the money.

"We just need a club to come in and pay the money that the chairman is looking for."

Discussing a long list of rumoured transfer targets, Redknapp described a deal for former Swansea City loanee Jonathan de Guzman as "possible", but rubbished reports linking him with a move for Barcelona's Alex Song.

QPR begin their Premier League campaign against Hull City on Saturday.

Hull accept Long offer

Hull City have accepted an offer from Southampton for striker Shane Long, according to manager Steve Bruce.

The Republic of Ireland international, who only arrived at the KC Stadium in January, has emerged as a surprise transfer target for the south-coast club after Southampton's squad was decimated by a host of close-season exits.

Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren have all joined Liverpool, Luke Shaw made a big-money move to Manchester United and Calum Chambers signed for Arsenal.

But new Southampton boss Ronald Koeman appears to have taken a huge step towards landing Long for a reported £12.5million, with Bruce confirming a bid has been accepted.

"We'd not been looking to sell Shane but it's a fantastic offer and we've decided to accept it," Bruce told the Hull Daily Mail.

"The challenge is always to become bigger and better and this money will be put towards strengthening again.

"Whether you are Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, everyone in football has got their price.

"Myself and the owners didn't want to lose Shane but we accept it's a very good offer, especially when you consider what we paid [roughly £6m] in January.

"I've got no issues. Ever since I walked through the door of this club the board have supported me in every possible way and I'm sure that will be the case as we look to reinvest.

"In an ideal world the money would have come a month ago but it's come now and we'll deal with it."

Buckley makes Sunderland move

Sunderland have announced the signing of winger Will Buckley from Brighton and Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old worked under Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet at the Championship club and arrives on Wearside on a three-year contract.

Having started his career at Rochdale, Buckley made 68 appearances for the Lancashire club before making the step up to the Championship to join Watford in January 2010.

Buckley spent a season and a half at Vicarage Road, with Poyet then swooping to take him to Brighton in June 2011.

And Poyet has now signed Buckley, who scored 19 goals in 100 league appearances for the south-coast club, for a second time having also signed Liam Bridcutt from his former club in January.

Jack Rodwell, Costel Pantilimon, Jordi Gomez, Billy Jones, Patrick van Aanholt and Santiago Vergini have also arrived on Wearside ahead of the new season.

Poyet's men begin their Premier League campaign at West Brom on Saturday.

Kelly confirms Palace switch

                                    

Liverpool defender Martin Kelly has confirmed he is moving to Crystal Palace.

The 24-year-old, who came through Liverpool's youth system, had been strongly linked with a move to Selhurst Park in recent days, and could be in contention to play at Arsenal on Saturday.

And although there has been no official confirmation of the transfer from either club as yet, Kelly took to Twitter to thank Liverpool and announce his Anfield departure.

"I would like to thank all the managers at LFC for making my wish from the age of seven come true playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world," he wrote.

"Most of all [I] would like to thank the fans for supporting me since my home debut against Lyon in October 2009 even through injuries always by my side.

"Now to start a new chapter of my football career at Crystal Palace a great club with unbelievable fans excited already for the weekend."

Kelly made 33 Premier League appearances at Liverpool, and also spent a spell on loan at Huddersfield Town in 2009.