Spain winger David Silva joined Manchester City on a four-year deal from Valencia Wednesday. The transfer will be completed when Silva has a medical examination after the World Cup. The 24-year-old Silva was leaving Valencia after rising through the youth team. “The time is right for me to seek a new challenge, and I am thrilled about playing in England with Manchester City,” Silva said from the World Cup in South Africa. “I believe the Premier League is one of the best competitions in the world and I want to bring success to City and win trophies for them.” City has splurged hundreds of millions of dollars on new players since being bought by Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour in September 2008. But despite that spending spree, City could finish only fifth last season - missing out on Champions League qualification. City manager Roberto Mancini expects Silva to make a “big, big impact” as the club chases its first English championship crown since 1968. “David Silva is one of the best midfielders in Europe,” Mancini said. “In signing David, we are showing the world that we are bringing the best players here and that we hope to compete to win the Premier League. “When players see what is happening at Manchester City and the ambition, they are attracted to what we are building and want to be a part of it.” European champion Spain plays Paraguay in the World Cup quarterfinals Saturday. Liverpool to hire Hodgson Liverpool is reportedly close to hiring Fulham's Roy Hodgson as manager. Several British newspapers agree that Liverpool will announce the arrival Wednesday of the man who guided unfashionable Fulham to this season's Europa League final. Rafael Benitez left Liverpool this month after last season's English Premier League runner-up slumped to seventh place. The 62-year-old Hodgson saved Fulham from seemingly certain relegation in 2008 after returning to his native England, and guided the west London club to an all-time best seventh place a year later. Fulham dipped to 12th this season but made it to only the second major final in the club's 131-year history before losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg. Benitez's six years in charge at Anfield ended on June 3, and the Spaniard has since been hired by Inter Milan, one of Hodgson's former clubs.
