Hofmann heads to Mainz on loan

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jonas Hofmann has joined Bundesliga rivals Mainz on a season-long loan.

Hofmann made 22 top-flight appearances from the bench for Dortmund last season, in addition to four starts, but will expect more regular action at the Coface Arena.

And the Germany Under-21 international is confident he can make an impact at his new club.

"I am looking forward to my time in Mainz and the prospect of being able to make a contribution in the Bundesliga," he said. "I'm sure we will have a successful time together."

Mainz general manager Christian Heidel expressed delight at being able to bring in a player of Hofmann's calibre.

"We have been in contact with Jonas Hofmann for a long time and are very pleased that he will now strengthen us this year," he added. "Jonas is flexible in midfield and is particularly quick down the wings." 

Mainz will also have the services of defender Philipp Wollscheid this season after Bayer Leverkusen confirmed they would be loaning the player out.

Wollscheid has made 51 league appearances for Leverkusen.

Koscielny withdraws from France squad

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has been forced to withdraw from the France squad with a head injury.

The 28-year-old was involved in a clash of heads with Jeffrey Schlupp early on in Arsenal's 1-1 Premier League draw at Leicester City on Sunday.

Koscielny came off the worse of the two and had to be replaced by Calum Chambers in the 26th minute.

The French Foootball Federation have now confirmed the injury has ended his involvement in the country's forthcoming friendlies against Spain and Serbia.

Koscielny will be replaced in the French squad by Barcelona new boy Jeremy Mathieu.

Mathieu, who moved to the Camp Nou from Valencia during the close-season, has made just two international appearances.

Alonso targets Seedorf's Champions League record

Xabi Alonso has targeted winning the UEFA Champions League with a third different club - a feat only previously managed by Clarence Seedorf.

The Spanish midfielder joined Bayern Munich from Real Madrid last week, making his debut in Saturday's 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Schalke.

Alonso won last season's Champions League with Real, although he was suspended for the final victory over local rivals Atletico, and also lifted the trophy with Liverpool in 2005.

The 32-year-old says he intends to continue his impressive run in Europe's elite club competion, and could equal the haul of Seedorf, who won the tournament with Ajax, Real and Milan.

"I've already won the Champions League with two teams," he said at a press conference on Monday. "It'd be a dream come true to win it with a third."

Alonso revealed his switch to the Allianz Arena came as something of a surprise.

"The whole transfer happened very quickly," he added. "It's an honour an a privilege to be here in Munich.

"I was surprised that I went straight into the team but I felt very good out on the pitch and my team-mates helped me a lot.

"I've followed the Bundesliga for the last few years so it's fantastic to be here now. It's a new experience for me.

"Munich is a great city. There's always lots to do here and I'm looking forward to discovering it with my family."

Meanwhile, Bayern confirmed on Monday that midfielder Javi Martinez had returned from the United States following a "successful" operation on his knee.

PSG can still improve, says Blanc

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc was satisfied but not completely convinced despite his side's rout of Saint-Etienne on Sunday.

Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned from injury to score a hat-trick as PSG powered to a 5-0 victory over Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes.

Ibrahimovic, who overcame a rib injury, completed his treble haul in a 31-minute period, while an own goal from Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier and Edinson Cavani's long-range strike inspired the rout.

The win lifted the defending champions up to second in the standings, two points adrift of leaders Bordeaux after four rounds.

But Blanc told Canal+ post-game there was still room for improvement from his side.

"This was not the perfect match," said Blanc.

"But we are happy with the result and the way it came.

"During certain parts of the game we found the PSG I love, [but] you can always improve as the perfect match does not exist.

"We knew Saint-Etienne wanted to block us in midfield. We therefore knew the flanks would be important and we used them well tonight."

Hamburg loan Green from Bayern

Hamburg have announced the signing of United States international Julian Green on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich.

The Florida-born winger has spent his entire professional career with the German champions, but is yet to make a Bundesliga appearance.

However, that now looks set to change after Hamburg moved to take the 19-year-old on a temporary deal on Monday.

Despite his lack of domestic experience, Green caught the eye during his brief cameo at the World Cup, scoring America's only goal in a thrilling 2-1 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the last 16.

His arrival will come as a welcome boost to Hamburg, who have endured a difficult start to the Bundesliga season.

After being held to a goalless draw at Cologne, Mirko Slomka's men were thumped 3-0 by Paderborn on home soil on Saturday.

Rodgers hails England trio

Brendan Rodgers expects Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson to be influential figures for England in the coming years.

The trio impressed on Sunday as Liverpool bounced back from a 3-1 defeat to champions Manchester City by easing to a 3-0 victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Sterling opened the scoring inside eight minutes following good work from Sturridge and Henderson, and all three players earned praise from their manager after the game, with Rodgers believing England boss Roy Hodgson will benefit from their continued development.

"These are boys that are playing in a top league, with a top club and are showing great awareness, work rate and energy," he said.

"They are showing they can play in different systems as well, so they'll be key over the coming years for Roy."

Henderson has blossomed into one of Liverpool's most valuable players since Rodgers' arrival at Anfield in 2012, forming a strong partnership with former England captain Steven Gerrard in central midfield.

"He's certainly taken on those leadership qualities - you can see his complete stature on the field," Rodgers added.

"Other than Steven, he's played the most games since I've come into the club, so I obviously rate his talent very highly."

Italy striker Mario Balotelli enjoyed an encouraging debut for Liverpool at Tottenham, albeit having been provided with unexpected duties by Rodgers.

"I'm giving him responsibility - for the first time in his life, he marked at a corner," said the Liverpool boss with a smile.

"Seriously, he's an international player, with league titles and a Champions League, and when we working on corners in training, I told him to pick someone up and he said 'I don't mark at corners' - so I told him 'you do now'."

Leicester City 1 Arsenal 1: Arsene Wenger's men held on their travels

Leonardo Ulloa's second Premier League goal of the season earned Leicester City a 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Sunday.

Leicester's record signing headed home in the 22nd minute to immediately cancel out Alexis Sanchez's first league goal for Arsenal since joining from Barcelona.

Ulloa's intervention proved enough to earn a valuable point as the visitors failed to find a winner in an entertaining encounter at the King Power Stadium.

Arsenal headed into the game desperate to cap a good week, having qualified for the UEFA Champions League group phase for the 17th successive season on Wednesday.

Yet an inspired Ulloa proved a handful and, with Leicester also defending doggedly, Arsene Wenger's men had to settle for a share of the spoils. 

Arsenal have now collected a win and two draws from the opening three league fixtures of 2014-15, with Leicester taking two points from the same number of games. 

The home side began confidently, Ritchie De Laet sending in a teasing cross for Ulloa - whose attempt to control the ball flew straight to Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal found themselves briefly depleted when Laurent Koscielny was forced to go to the dressing room for stitches to a head wound following a nasty collision with Jeffrey Schlupp.

And Leicester almost made full use of their one-man advantage when Riyad Mahrez hit just wide following a fine one-two with Ulloa.

But, soon after Koscielny returned to the field, Arsenal took the lead through Sanchez after 20 minutes.

Santi Cazorla's wonderful lobbed pass freed Yaya Sanogo and, after the striker's woeful effort was blocked by Kasper Schmeichel, the Chilean was left with a simple finish.

Yet Leicester found an immediate riposte through Ulloa, who met Schlupp's stunning cross with a powerful header that gave Szczesny no chance.

Koscielny, still suffering from the effects of his earlier injury, was at fault for the goal and it came as no surprise when Calum Chambers replaced him.

Arsenal continued to dominate possession after half-time, but were fortunate not fall behind when Ulloa chipped into the side-netting after brilliantly turning Chambers.

The visitors fashioned a couple of chances of their own almost immediately after, Aaron Ramsey heading tamely at Schmeichel before Sanogo hit straight at the goalkeeper when clean through.

Leicester, though, were always on hand to fire warning shots of their own, David Nugent seeing a goal-bound effort blocked following good work from the outstanding Ulloa.

The game entered something of a lull thereafter as neat Arsenal football failed to bring chances.

That impasse ended when substitute Jamie Vardy came agonisingly close to grabbing a second Leicester goal, Szczesny producing a fine reactionary save.