Soccer News and Scores

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert looks set to bolster his strikeforce with the signing of Genk striker Christian Benteke, ESPN can reveal.

Benteke, 21, has been linked with a move to Fulham in recent weeks, but a ?4 million offer from Villa looks set to clinch his signature and the Belgium international will be charged with forming a potent scoring partnership with Darren Bent.

The forward fired 16 goals for Genk last season and has already been on target in the opening few weeks of this new campaign, with his arrival at Villa Park set to be a huge boost to Lambert after a difficult start to his reign has seen him lose his first two games in charge against West Ham and Everton.

Despite that poor start, the new Villa boss is refusing to hit the panic button and after signing Ron Vlaar and midfield player Karim El Ahmadi from Feyenoord and Matt Lowton from Sheffield United already, the Benteke deal confirms he is being given healthy financial support from Villa chairman Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner

"There's not a magic wand in this job, but we have got to win games and if we don't do that then clearly it becomes a problem," Lambert said. "We will not have a quick fix, but it's something where you don't want to be left behind. However, I have to say the chairman and Paul (Faulkner) have been great in their support."

Next on Villa's shopping list is a new left back and Ipswich's Aaron Cresswell is on Lambert's radar, with Stephen Warnock's future at the club increasingly uncertain. "There are few [left backs] out there I'd be interested in," Lambert told ESPN. "I can't talk about anyone else's players but there's a few. Cresswell? He's one of about 54 I'm looking at."

The Benteke deal will take chairman Lerner's investment in Villa to well over ?250m since his arrival at the club in 2006 and despite negative publicity in some sections of the media of late, this latest addition is evidence of the American owner's continued commitment to the midlands club.

Atletico Madrid warmed up for their European Super Cup meeting with Chelsea on Friday with a devastating 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao thanks to a hat-trick from Radamel Falcao.

The Colombian opened his account for the season with a brilliant individual effort on 19 minutes and had his second just before half-time as he slotted home Diego Godin's fine cross at the back post.

Athletic continued to offer little resistance after the break and Falcao completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot just shy of the hour mark before Tiago rounded things off with a stunning strike from outside the box late on.

Falcao has now scored seven goals in the last three meetings between the sides having also scored a brace in the Europa League final at the end of last season and his power was far too much for an Athletic defence still without the seemingly Bayern Munich-bound Javi Martinez.

The opener was purely the creation of the former Porto striker's own work as he received a throw-in near the byline, turned Carlos Gurpegui and then dinked a lovely finish over Gorka Iraizoz.

Ander Herrera then went close to an equaliser with a curling effort that drifted just over, but that proved to be as good as it got from Athletic and Falcao should have doubled his tally moments later but wastefully headed over from Arda Turan's perfectly weighted cross.

However, Falcao did not have to wait long for his second of the evening as he nipped in at the back post to bury Godin's wonderful cross.

Marcelo Bielsa introduced Iker Muniain and Ibai Gomez at half-time in a bid to offer the visitors more attacking impetus, but the changes failed to have any tangible effect as Atleti continued to dominate.

The third goal arrived on 57 minutes when Gurpegui was somewhat harshly ruled to have deliberately handled and Falcao confidently stepped up to send Iraizoz the wrong way.

The Athletic keeper then did brilliantly to avoid the scoreline becoming even more embarrassing for the visitors as he denied Falcao his fourth from point-blank range and produced a fantastic double save from Adrian and Koke, whilst Mario Suarez also hit the underside of the bar.

However, Iraizoz could do nothing as Tiago sealed a perfect night for Diego Simeone's men with a superb strike from 20 yards with six minutes remaining.

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas acknowledged that he and his team-mates must take responsibility for Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Getafe, but insisted that Los Blancos can recover from a difficult start to the season.

Madrid had looked in control after Gonzalo Higuain's early opener, but lost their focus and conceded second half goals to Juan Valera and Abdel Barrera. The result leaves the reigning La Liga champions with only one point from their first two games, five points adrift of rivals Barcelona.

The result left Jose Mourinho fuming and the Madrid boss pointed the finger of blame directly at his players, describing their performance as "horrible" and saying he did not want to speak to them after the game.

Casillas accepted the criticism, but was also keen to point out that Real had dropped points early last season (at Levante and Racing Santander) before roaring back to win the title.

"Last season we had two stumbles in a row and we lifted ourselves back up," he said. "To be five points off the top is not a good start. Nobody expected this. We have to look at what we are not doing well.

"The dead ball situation is a reality. We did not know how to defend. We cannot allow it because it is costing us points and games. There are collective and individual errors. I agree with the 'mister' (Mourinho)."

Goalscorer Higuain said his team had to demonstrate the mettle they showed to bounce back last season.

"We will try and turn things around," the Argentine said. "We have been in this situation before and we did that. It is the time to show why we were champions."

Madrid's first chance to bounce back comes on Wednesday at the Bernabeu, where they host Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa decider with the Catalans holding a narrow 3-2 advantage from the first leg.

"The Supercopa brings us an opportunity to try and forget these three games," Casillas said. "To beat Barcelona to a title always tastes good for Madrid fans. We want to redeem ourselves."

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong knows the champions must stop falling behind in matches if they are to retain their Premier League crown.

City have been in losing positions in each of their last four matches, with their 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday the latest example of that.

This unwanted run began with the club's dramatic last-day win over QPR, and has continued this season against Chelsea, Southampton and now Liverpool.

Roberto Mancini's side spent long spells being outplayed at Anfield, but managed to snatch as draw as Carlos Tevez equalised late on following a mistake from Martin Skrtel.

"I don't know what it is. It is a bad habit. We picked that up from the last game of the season against QPR and have continued that in these first two games of the new season," De Jong told City TV.

"We have to improve and show that we are up for the test wherever we go, away or at home. It is not going to be an easy season. Wherever you go everyone wants to beat the champions. We have to stand tall with each other and improve.''

De Jong is now in the final year of his contract and his future has been the subject of speculation, but Mancini said last week he expects the player to stay at the Etihad Stadium, and the Dutchman now looks set to fight for his place in the side.

"We played some decent football at times, not all the game but at least we tried a lot of times," De Jong claimed. "It was a pity we let the goals in but on the other side we showed the determination to come back twice and get away with a point.

Mancini is yet to taste victory at Anfield, with his team struggling to reach their high standards from last season on Sunday.

"Liverpool are a different side when they play away than at home. They have still got (things) to prove but that is not my concern at the moment. My concern is we have to focus on our own squad and get those small things out to improve.''

Liverpool took the lead on two occasions thanks to goal from Skrtel and Luis Suarez, but were pegged back, first by Yaya Toure and then Tevez.

De Jong as particularly impressed by Tevez, who has returned to City reinvigorated following his well-documented long-term absence last season. Tevez has scored in each of his three appearances this season, and has also lost a considerably amount of weight.

"He looks quite slim," De Jong said. "He always had a little belly but that is gone now at the moment! All credit to him. Don't get me wrong, it is always hard to get him off the ball, but I'd rather have a slim Tevez than one with a belly. As long as he scores goals for me it is okay.

"He is on fire at the moment and a Tevez on fire is good for any team wherever he is. I am just glad he is still part of this City team and if he continues like this he will score a lot of goals this season.''

Manchester United new boy Shinji Kagawa says he can get even better after scoring on his home debut in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Fulham.

Kagawa, a ?17 million summer signing from Borussia Dortmund, impressed with the way he combined with his new team-mates.

But the 23-year-old believes he can make a greater impact and urged them to give him the ball more.

"I want to improve parts of my game. I think the combination play with the other players will improve match by match," he said. "I want my team-mates to have the confidence to play it up to me when I'm ahead of them. That is one of my strengths and style. I want to be on the ball more. I want to be busier."

Team-mate Tom Cleverley led the praise for Kagawa and said he feels they have already built up a good understanding.

"He's brilliant," Cleverley said. "He has settled in really well. He links defence with attack. He gets on the half turn and creates chances. I can't speak highly enough of him. I love playing with him - one and two touch, high-energy football. We're on the same wavelength."

Petr Jiracek is set to undergo a medical at Hamburg and will sign for the club in a €4 million deal from Wolfsburg, NDR Sportsclub has reported.

Jiracek, 26, will join after being told by coach Felix Magath that his services are no longer required in Lower Saxony despite the Czech Republic international only arriving at Wolfsburg in January.

Hamburg, who lost 1-0 at home to Nurnberg in their opening game of the season on Saturday, are desperate to add to their squad. Director of sport Frank Arnesen said that, in Jiracek, the club were signing "a fighter".

Hamburg also brought Croatian midfielder Milan Badelj, 23, to the club from Dinamo Zagreb earlier this month.

Speaking to the Hamburger Morgenpost, coach Thorsten Fink said: "He is in training, and it is an option to me that he will play against Bremen."

Hamburg have spent €17 million on new players since Arnesen's arrival last summer, but have failed to make much impression in the Bundesliga since.

"For two years now, we have not been making any progress. Clubs like Freiburg or Mainz have shown us how it's done," Hamburg midfielder Marcell Jansen told kicker. Even after the additions of Jiracek and Badelj, Hamburg have not given up on re-signing Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

Arnesen told the Hamburger Morgenpost: "He is currently a Tottenham player. I don't deny our interest, but I also can't talk about it." However, he said he would not rule anything out.

Reports say a Van der Vaart deal could add up to €35 million, including transfer fee and salary, and could only be financed by local multi-millionaire Klaus-Michael K?hne, who is keen to bring him back to the club.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert will hold talks with club owner Randy Lerner in the next 48 hours as he looks to bring in two more new signings before the transfer window closes.

Lambert's home debut ended in a 3-1 defeat to Everton - a second successive loss after a 1-0 defeat at West Ham on the opening day - underlining the need to bring in reinforcements.

The manager has confirmed that he will be holding discussions with American owner Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner over potential new arrivals before Friday's 11pm BST deadline.

He wants to add a striker and a left-back to his squad and said: "Randy, Paul and me will have a conversation, and we'll see what happens from there. I've got ideas in my head - but as I said, I have to speak to them and see."

Lerner is understood to have initially wanted to offload Alan Hutton and Stephen Warnock before bringing in new players as he continues to lower the wage bill at Villa Park, but it is believed Lambert has scope to sign two players even if the experienced duo are not moved on.

Villa retain an interest in Blackburn Rovers defender Martin Olsson and want to add more of a goal threat to help Darren Bent, but Lambert feels Stoke's Kenwyne Jones or Tottenham's Jermain Defoe would be out of his price range.

Lambert said: "I think we have to start to win, I know that, that's first and foremost. Whether you have the players or not, you have to start to win - and that's something we will try and do."

Tottenham Hotspur look set to spend some of the Luka Modric money on Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Spurs have reportedly been pursuing Lloris ever since the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas earlier this summer, and the ?37 million sale of Modric to Real Madrid appears to have freed up funds and prompted a breakthrough in negotiations.

"The sale of Modric from Tottenham to Madrid is important, as is the amount of the transfer," said Jean-Michel Aulas, the Lyon president.

"It's true that on Sunday we had a lot of contact with Daniel Levy. Things progressed during these talks, both qualitatively and quantitatively, but nothing's concrete yet.

"I've informed Hugo of these discussions. We'll have to be a bit patient to find out.

"The decision belongs to Hugo who, I think, will be approached by Tottenham very soon. The clubs' positions have moved closer together."

Lloris, 25, has won 38 caps for France, and captained the national side at Euro 2012.

Spurs' current No. 1 is 41-year-old Brad Friedel, with Carlo Cudicini and Heurelho Gomes, both in their 30s, the back-up options. Tottenham have conceded three goals in their two Premier League fixtures so far this season.

Modric, who was unveiled at the Bernabeu on Monday following the completion of his €37 million transfer, said making the move had been an easy decision on his part.

"When I first heard Madrid were interested, nothing else mattered," Modric said. "I just wanted to come here, this is the best club in the world, with the best coach, and great players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria ... so many great players. I am looking forward to playing with them. It is an honour to be here and my desire is to win trophies with Madrid."

The Croatia international said that spending most of the summer training alone as talks between Spurs and Madrid continued had been frustrating, but he was now delighted with how things had ended up.

"Everything started before the Euros," Modric said. "It was hard as I wanted to be here (Madrid) as soon as possible, but sometimes negotiations go on longer than expected. Now I am very happy to be here. Of course it has been a tough time, almost one month without training fully with a team, but finally it has been done."

Modric, 26, said he had no complaints about how the transfer had been handled from any side, and was grateful for the support he and his family had received during their spell in the UK.

"I want to thank all the people at Tottenham. I had four great years there, and I enjoyed every moment. I want to thank everyone who made my life enjoyable in London. There are no hard feelings on my side, this is a new page in my life. I am looking forward."

Modric said that he was now focused on winning a place in Madrid's starting XI, preferably in central midfield.

"My challenge of course is to win a place in the team. To do that I must work hard, it will be difficult, but I am ready for that. This is the biggest challenge of my career. I know I have the quality to play here. My position at Tottenham was in the centre of midfield, and I have played there for Croatia, I feel I am best there. I hope to play there (for Madrid), but I can play in other positions on the pitch, the coach will decide."

After signing a five-year deal with the La Liga title holders - with a reported annual salary of €4.5 million - Modric revealed he had been following his new team's disappointing start to the season on TV but stressed it was far too early yet to make any judgements.

"I watched all three of Madrid's games. I have to say that it is not important how you begin a season, but how you finish. There is still a lot of games left in La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. The most important thing is how the season ends."

Madrid and their new No. 19 can kick-start their season by overcoming a 2-3 first leg deficit when they face Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa decider on Wednesday.

Modric said he was looking forward to training with his new team-mates and was available to play immediately, although his disrupted pre-season meant it would be a few weeks before he was at his best.

"I feel I am ready to play, but the coach will decide. I have to be honest, I have missed games. I trained with the fitness coach at Spurs, worked hard and the 25 minutes with Croatia will have helped me. I will need a couple of games to be at the high level Madrid expect of me."

Tottenham have had a bid of almost ?12 million for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Willian rejected by the Ukrainian club.

However, news that the North Londoners have agreed a €37 million deal for the sale of Luka Modric to Real Madrid means they will be back in with an improved offer for the 24-year-old.

ESPN understands that Shakhtar want ?20 million for Willian. While it is unclear whether Spurs would be prepared to pay that much, the Modric sale means they will table an increased bid.

A White Hart Lane source said: "We are going to replace Modric and the money is available. We are looking for a creative player, and Willian at Shakhtar is someone who interests the manager, Andre Villas-Boas."

Earlier on Monday, reports quoted Shakhtar officials as saying that an offer from Tottenham had been turned down, but White Hart Lane boss Villas-Boas is eager to add to his attacking options and has made the Brazilian his top target.

He had also been interested in bringing the Brazil international to the Premier League during his time as Chelsea manager.

Speaking last week, Willian, who joined Shakhtar from Corinthians in 2007, said he was keen to take up a new challenge, adding: "I don't regret having come here, but I regret what's been going on with this situation. Chelsea tried to sign me, now Tottenham, so I have to rethink.

"I have been here for five years and have won many trophies, so I hope they respect my will."

Unconfirmed reports suggested that Tottenham had tabled a bid for Yann M'Vila of Rennes, but that it was short of the ?15 million valuation the club has placed on the defensive midfielder.

The reports came a week after Villas-Boas had told L'Equipe: "He is an interesting player, but I don't think he will join Tottenham. We are looking for a more creative player."

Meanwhile, the Tottenham insider has said striker Jermain Defoe is not for sale despite interest from QPR. Villas-Boas wants three players in contention for every position and is happy with Defoe, Emmanuel Adebayor and Harry Kane.

Spurs are also relaxed about the prospect of selling defender Michael Dawson - another QPR target, and also interesting Stoke - with the insider saying: "The club are not desperate to sell him and would be happy if he stays, but he understands the position that he is no longer first choice and might not get many games.

"QPR made a good offer - a very good one for a 28-year-old - and it is now up to Michael to see whether he goes or not. It could go either way: we would be happy."