Business.view: On the ball

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has been given permission to join German side Hoffenheim after the Premier League club accepted their bid for the Dutch international.Babel will now travel to Germany to discuss personal terms with Hoffenheim and could complete his transfer in time to make his debut against St Pauli on Sunday."Liverpool FC this afternoon announced they had accepted a bid from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim for the transfer of Dutch international Ryan Babel," a statement on the club's website confirmed on Tuesday.

Three days after he was hired as manager by English Premier League club Sunderland, Paolo di Canio released a statement addressing his pro-fascist past. "I am not a racist and I do not support the ideology of fascism," he said.

Valencia CF, currently seventh in Spain's top divi

West Ham have signed Senegalese striker Demba Ba from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, the Premier League club confirmed Friday.A statement on West Ham's official website said the 25-year-old forward had signed a three-and-a-half year deal which would run up to June 2014.The transfer fee and terms of the deal were not disclosed but West Ham said the final figures would be "heavily dependent on appearances."Ba, who has scored nine goals this season in the Bundesliga, said he was relieved to have finally signed for the Hammers.

West Ham's Senegalese striker Demba Ba on Wednesday slammed Hoffenheim coach Ernst Tanner for ruining his reputation in the Bundesliga.The 25-year-old fell out with Hoffenheim in January after failing to attend a training camp, which he insists he was given permission to miss but something Tanner denies.Ba had been set to join Premier League side Stoke City, but a problem during the medical examination ruined a potential transfer at the last minute and he then joined West Ham before the transfer window closed at the end of January.