QPR sign Arsenal defender Traore
LONDON: Premier League newcomers Queens Park Rangers continued adding depth to their squad on Tuesday with the signing of left back Armand Traore from Arsenal. The 21-year-old Senegalese, who played in Arsenal’s 8-2 hammering at Manchester United on Sunday, has signed a three-year deal at Loftus Road, QPR said in a statement. Traore follows midfielder Joey Barton, signed from Newcastle United, and former Aston Villa defender Luke Young to the west London club who were taken over by Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes earlier this month.“When I talked to (manager) Neil Warnock he was very passionate about what I could bring to the club,” Traore said in a club statement. (Agencies)
Bender ruled out of Euro qualifier
BERLIN: Germany will be without midfielder Sven Bender when they host Austria in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday after he failed to recover from a minor ankle injury, coach Joachim Loew said. The 22-year-old Borussia Dortmund player has also been ruled out of his country’s September 6 friendly away to Poland. “He picked up an ankle injury at the weekend and that now forces him to take a break, so we will have to do without him,” Loew told reporters on Tuesday. Striker Mario Gomez and attacking midfielder Marco Reus have already been ruled out with injuries, joining midfielder Sami Khedira, who has also dropped out. (Agencies)