Pompey players given wages pledge

Al Fahim took control of the club in August

Portsmouth’s players have been assured that they will be paid the wages they are owed within the next 48 hours.

Some players were not paid earlier in the week because of “a delay in the transfer of funds” following Sulaiman al Fahim’s recent takeover.

Al Fahim took control of the club in August but doubts have constantly surrounded his financial suitability.

The club, who are bottom of the Premier League, sold several of their highest earners in the last transfer window.

Those players included England internationals Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch.

“Portsmouth FC can confirm that the first-team squad and executive board was not paid yesterday (Wednesday),” a statement read.

“The club is currently being refinanced by the owner Sulaiman al Fahim following the recent completion of his takeover.

“There was a delay in the transfer of funds but the lawyers have received confirmation that this will happen today which will enable the players to be paid within the next 24 to 48 hours. The players have all been informed of the situation.

“The executive board will continue to help the new owner in his efforts to refinance which has come about as a direct consequence of the banks’ requirements to retain all television receipts and profits generated during the transfer windows.”

Al Fahim recently told the club’s supporters he will inject £50m into the club within the next month.

It is likely the funds will largely be used to clear a reported £40m debt and Al Fahim also insisted his finance plan was guaranteed by international institutions and is backed by firm commitments.

Portsmouth lost their seventh straight Premier League match on Saturday when they were defeated 1-0 by Everton.

The only side to ever lose their first seven and avoided being relegated was Liverpool exactly 100 years ago.

Premier League preview

Chelsea look to continue their formidable start to the 2009/10 Premier League season as they travel to Wigan Athletic, while bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth host Everton on a weekend of nine top-flight fixtures.

The above is a tale of two hugely contrasting beginnings to the new campaign. The Blues have powered their way to the summit and Carlo Ancelotti’s charges look unyielding. Pompey, though, are already, and worryingly so, considered an opponent whom three easy points are there for the taking.

Among the other encounters on the sixth weekend of the latest campaign, Manchester United head to the Britannia Stadium, Liverpool entertain struggling Hull City, Arsenal meet London rivals Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur host newly-promoted Burnley and Sunderland clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers in Sunday’s only game.

After an opening victory in the Midlands promised so much, Wigan Athletic have largely slumped. And the fixture compiler has been unfair to them as they prepare to tackle Chelsea after travelling to Arsenal seven days prior. And the omens are not good for the Latics, who have faired awfully against the so-called ‘big four’, having failed to win in 34 attempts.

For Chelsea, this is a chance to match their best-ever start to a Premier League term, as they eye a seventh straight win under Ancelotti. Next up for the Blues comes a fierce test at home against Liverpool, so three points at the DW Stadium is crucial to stand them in good stead ahead of their first meeting with a title rival.

Portsmouth are in action versus Everton on Saturday lunchtime. Having become the only team in Premier League history to lose their opening six games, the future is already looking bleak on the South Coast. However, Pompey can take heart from having beat Everton in both their meetings last season, while the Toffees have not yet won on the road this term.

Off the back of their dramatic success last weekend, Manchester United return to league action against Stoke City. A late goal saw the Red Devils take the spoils in last term’s corresponding fixture, and again this time around the encounter promises to be a tricky affair for the champions. But with striker Wayne Rooney rested during midweek and in frightening goalscoring form, boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be optimistic of disposing of the Potters.

Liverpool lock horns with Phil Brown’s Hull City spying a fourth successive triumph. The Reds showed character and grit to overcome West Ham United last week but will be hopeful Saturday’s test will be more of a routine outing. Goals can be expected, with 25 scored in five games between these two sides, while the leaky Tigers must call upon some of that early-season spirit from 2008/09 if they are to come away from Anfield with anything to show from their trip West on the M62.

Arsenal got back to winning ways against Wigan but visit a ghost of last campaign in shape of Fulham on Saturday’s evening kick-off. The Cottagers took four points off the Gunners last term, with Arsene Wenger’s men even failing to find the back of the net in those two clashes. But Fulham have looked unusually rocky to date, and as Wenger reinstates his more senior personnel the Frenchman will be optimistic that his side can avoid another poor showing against their London rivals.

Tottenham Hotspur’s momentum has been somewhat dented by match-ups versus United and Chelsea, but they tackle Burnley in a seemingly more winnable game. The two clubs met in the Carling Cup last season, with Spurs edging out the then-Championship outfit over two legs of 10 goals. The Clarets will of course be envisaging an upset, and they could see Tottenham’s weakness as their backline, which has failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous eight outings.

Blackburn Rovers welcome Aston Villa to Ewood Park, the former stuttering and the latter in fine temper. Interestingly, under the stewardship of Paul Ince at the time, after five games last campaign Rovers had three points more than their current total under Sam Allardyce. Villa, meanwhile, will look to the in-form Gabriel Agbonlahor to help fire them to a fifth straight league victory.

Birmingham City are in action against Bolton Wanderers in what is expected to be a low-scoring game, with neither side really finding their shooting boots to date. Trotters manager Gary Megson has come in for much criticism from supporters already this campaign, but a late point claimed last week and a midweek win in the Carling Cup has helped to ease what has been growing pressure.

On Sunday, Sunderland take on Wolves at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats suffered a surprise defeat last time out in the league so must look to respond from that setback at Burnley. Indeed, Steve Bruce’s side have lacked consistency, with each of their wins followed by a loss. For Wolves, who have faired poorly on Wearside, the encounter is a chance to record back-to-back Premier League triumphs.

Eriksson ‘let down’ by Campbell

Notts County director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted he is disappointed by Sol Campbell’s decision to quit the club after just one match.

The former England boss signed Campbell on a five-year deal last month. Asked if he felt let down by the ex-England defender’s swift exit, Eriksson said: “Yes, a little bit. “I am very disappointed, very much so because we signed him and we thought we should have him for longer,” he told Sky Sports News. “But I think everyone has the same feeling, the players, the staff, the directors, the fans, because he’s a big name and a very important player.” Campbell made his League Two debut for Notts County in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Morecambe but left the club by mutual consent five days later. The 35-year-old former Portsmouth, Arsenal and Tottenham star had arrived as a free agent last month on a deal reported to be worth £40,000 a week. It was a real statement of intent from the ambitious new owners at Meadow Lane, with Eriksson playing an instrumental role in persuading Campbell to drop down to the Football League’s bottom tier. But the move quickly turned sour, with reports suggesting Campbell had become disillusioned with the club’s rate of progression during his short stay. Eriksson claims not to know why the player walked away from the club, but insists that reason would be grossly unfair should it be true. We are all sorry that he has gone but the project goes on without Sol Campbell, nothing has changed Sven-Goran Eriksson The Swede continued: “I really don’t know the real reason. He didn’t like the training pitch and the dressing room and things like that but he knew that before because we showed him around before he signed. “We know we are not perfect at this moment and I don’t think that would be fair at all. It is a long-term project. “Since the new owners came in, the club have signed seven or eight new players – and you can’t build a new training ground in four or five weeks. “It takes time to make the stadium better, it can’t be done over a weekend so I think that’s unfair. “We are all sorry that he has gone but the project goes on without Sol Campbell, nothing has changed.” County manager Ian McParland also expressed his dismay with the departure of Campbell. “I’m disappointed because I got on well with Sol. He’s a gentleman, he’s a nice man and the lads got on really well with him,” he told BBC East Midlands Today. ‘Resilient’ Notts can cope without Campbell “He was in that dressing room and mucking in with all the boys. “I enjoyed working with him, he was never a problem. I’m disappointed he’s not stayed around but that’s life. People come and go from football clubs all the time. “The fans will be disappointed – there’s never been a star like that here for a long time… an England captain coming here was fantastic for them.” Campbell’s own future remains uncertain. Capped 73 times by his country, he is now highly unlikely to be allowed to play for any other club until the January transfer window. But former manager Arsene Wenger thinks he could still play at the top level again. “It depends how much he wants it,” said the Arsenal boss. “He still has enough in the locker to play in the Premier League. If he wants to play in the Premier League, he can still play in the Premier League.”

Armed raid on soccer star’s mansion

A Premier League footballer has been confronted by knife-wielding burglars in a terrifying raid on his home. 

Injured Everton star Phil Jagielka, 27, was watching his team on TV when three men burst into the mansion in Knutsford, Cheshire.

The married star, a father-of-two, was threatened with a knife and forced to hand over jewellery and the keys to his Range Rover.

 A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said: “Three men gained entry to a house in Knutsford. “The homeowner was threatened with a knife and forced to hand over jewellery and the keys to his Range Rover car. “Fortunately nobody was hurt during the incident and the car was found abandoned a short distance away.”

The robbery took place at around 8pm on Wednesday as Everton were playing Hull City in the Carling Cup. Jagielka is the latest in a growing list of footballers whose homes have been targeted by raiders.

Last month the Blackburn Rovers midfielder Vince Grella was also held at knife-point when thieves smashed their way into his home in Wilmslow, also Cheshire. Other players to have been targeted in the past include Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane.

Owen Stuns Man City In Derby Thriller

Man Utd   4 - 3   Man City

Owen delivered a remarkable conclusion to a gripping derby game

Michael Owen’s winner deep into stoppage time gave Manchester United a dramatic victory in a classic derby encounter at Old Trafford.

Owen, on as a substitute for Dimitar Berbatov, pounced in trademark fashion to beat Manchester City’s defiant goalkeeper Shay Given and provoke hugely contrasting emotions in the technical area.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson set off on an impromptu wild dance along the touchline – while City counterpart Mark Hughes immediately demanded to know how the decisive moment of a thrilling game could come almost six minutes into four minutes of stoppage time.

Craig Bellamy looked to have earned City an unlikely point as they came from behind for the third time to level only seconds before the end of the 90 minutes.

Hughes demands explanation for added time. And an agitated Hughes was already questioning the amount of time being added on when his hopes of a draw were wrecked by Owen’s first goal for United at Old Trafford as City slipped to their first defeat of the season.

Earlier Carlos Tevez, back at his former club for the first time after his acrimonious switch to City, had threatened to return to haunt United in a game that had everything – apart from competent defending.

Wayne Rooney put United ahead after two minutes, but City swiftly restored equality when Tevez took advantage of Ben Foster’s hesitation to provide the opportunity for Gareth Barry’s equaliser.

Darren Fletcher restored United’s lead with a header just after half-time, but Bellamy ensured parity quickly returned with a thunderous 25-yard effort.

United mounted ceaseless pressure and only the efforts of keeper Given kept them at bay as he defied Berbatov twice and the truly outstanding Ryan Giggs.

Fletcher looked to have finally confirmed the three points for United with another header 10 minutes from time, but as Ferguson moved to the touchline and ordered his side to nail down the win, a moment of madness from defender Rio Ferdinand looked to have thrown away two points.

He gifted possession to City substitute Martin Petrov, who sent Bellamy away to beat a poorly-positioned Foster to score.

City’s fans inside Old Trafford were understandably jubilant – but a game that put everything the Premier League has to offer on full show, offered up one final twist with Owen’s winner.

For United, it was a win they deserved and illustrated that City still have some way to go to achieve boss Hughes’ stated aim of knocking their rivals “off their perch”.

Hughes will have admired his side’s resolve in coming back into the game three times, but the concern will lie in City’s hapless defending, where the £40m central defensive pairing of Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott struggled to cope with a constant bombardment of crosses in the second half.

Ferguson celebrates Michael Owen’s last-gasp winner

The derby was played out against a background of bold words from both managers – and it was an occasion when the game surpassed the hype, and there is no doubt that United’s supremacy merited the win.

Tevez was named in City’s line-up as he completed his recovery from injury – although he was wearing heavy strapping on his right knee during the warm up.

And he set the tone for a typically industrious display when he almost cashed in on hesitation on the edge of the area between Foster and Nemanja Vidic. It was a flaw that was to have more serious consequences for United later.

United opened with serious intent and took advantage of sloppy defending from City to strike the first blow in only the second minute, with Patrice Evra breaking free inside the area to set up Rooney for a close-range finish.

Tevez’s status as a one-time hero at Old Trafford had been wiped out in an instant with his move to Eastlands, but he endeared himself even more to the City fans when he helped set up an equaliser against the run of play after 16 minutes.

Derby victory was deserved – Fletcher

Once again Foster was at the centre of a breakdown of communication with his defenders and was robbed by Tevez as he attempted to collect the ball on the edge of his area. The Argentine found Barry, who made a difficult finish look very easy as he slid home from 18 yards with United’s goalkeeper hopelessly stranded.

It was a goal that took away all of United’s early momentum and by the interval it was City who could justifiably feel more satisfied.

Tevez, who was booked for a late challenge on Ferdinand, was guilty of a dreadful miss on the stroke of half-time, squandering the opportunity to punish the club where he ultimately believed he was undervalued.

Toure ended a surging run with a pass that released Tevez inside the area with only Foster to beat. A desperate late lunge from Evra may just have distracted Tevez, but to only strike the outside of the post represented a dreadful waste.

And Tevez’s miss caused even more pain as United started the second half as they had the first, regaining the lead after 49 minutes. Once again City were guilty of poor defending as Giggs was allowed time to cross and Fletcher completed the job at the far post, rising above Barry to head home.

City needed to mount a swift response – and they did in the most spectacular fashion possible as they drew level again within three minutes.

Tevez was given a hostile reception on his Old Trafford return

There looked little danger as Bellamy collected possession on the left flank, but he then unleashed a stunning rising angled drive from 25 yards that arrowed into the top corner beyond the outstretched arms of Foster.

It provoked a furious attacking response from United, and only the brilliant Given kept City in the game as the goalkeeper demonstrated his enduring talents once more.

Given twice saved headers from Berbatov and then added to his catalogue of outstanding stops by turning a powerful drive from Giggs over the top.

United boss Ferguson was clearly frustrated at his side’s failure to emphasise their obvious superiority, and he replaced Berbatov with Owen on 77 minutes.

When the goal came with 10 minutes remaining, it once again arrived from the unlikely source of Fletcher, who headed home a free-kick from Giggs.

It brought Ferguson to the touchline to gesticulate at his players in a manner that suggested his famous “hairdryer” would be turned on to full power should they allow their lead to slip again.

Sadly, his words fell on deaf ears as Ferdinand committed an error that would have shamed a schoolboy, extravagantly attempting to lift the ball away he only found Petrov, who sent Bellamy clear.

Ferguson’s hands were already clasped to his head in anguish even before Bellamy made the most of more poor positioning from Foster to score at the near post.

As City fans celebrated an unlikely point the board went up for four minutes of stoppage time – so it was to the obvious consternation of Hughes that it was closer to six minutes when Owen pounced on Giggs’s pass to send Old Trafford into ecstasy with a clinical finish.

This Weekends Premier League Preview

Premier League preview

Saturday
Arsenal v Wigan
Aston Villa v Portsmouth
Bolton v Stoke
Burnley v Sunderland
Hull v Birmingham
West Ham v Liverpool
Sunday
Chelsea v Tottenham
Everton v Blackburn
Man Utd v Man City
Wolves v Fulham

// Two mouth-watering Premier League derbies take place this weekend as Manchester United host bitter rivals Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur make the short trip to Chelsea.

Sky Sports 1 & HD1 brings you live action from both of Sunday’s Manchester and London derbies, with the clashes promising to make intriguing viewing as the table’s top four vie for a position at the summit.

The weekend fixtures begin on Saturday lunchtime when newly-promoted Burnley tackle an improving Sunderland side. This clash can too be seen live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1 as the Clarets aim to avoid a third straight loss and the Black Cats, whose summer signings appear to be gelling, hope to better recently poor form on the road.

Four matches kick off at the traditional time of 3pm, with Arsenal returning to domestic competition off the back of their entertaining midweek European comeback. The Gunners, who have leaked eight league goals already this term, tackle Wigan Athletic, whose passing style under Roberto Martinez could prove to be the making or breaking of their attempts to make it back-to-back victories during their visit at Emirates Stadium.

Aston Villa appear to have found their early-season groove, with a fourth consecutive victory in their sights. It is quite the stark contrast for their opponents, bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth, who have lost their opening five games of this campaign. The pressure is already mounting on Pompey manager Paul Hart, in the knowledge that a loss in the Midlands would set a new, and unwanted, club record of seven straight defeats.

Bolton Wanderers notched their first win of the season last weekend – against fellow strugglers Portsmouth – and will be out to prove that the result was no fluke when they welcome Stoke City to the Reebok Stadium. This match-up is unlikely to be one for the purists, with both sides ‘boasting’ the lowest passing accuracy in the top-flight.

Birmingham City have struggled for goals to date but could see their encounter at Hull City as an opportunity to reignite their firepower – the Tigers have let in 12 goals in their first five games. Such a statistic will be cause for concern for boss Phil Brown, whose side have not reached the heights of last season’s enthralling beginning.

Liverpool face a potentially tricky test when they go head-to-head with West Ham United at Upton Park. The Hammers have not won since the opening day, with a lack of goals (just three mustered) proving their Achilles heel. Set-pieces could be their route to a shock result over the Reds though, with all seven conceded by Rafa Benitez’s men coming from said method.

Sunday’s first game sees champions United face big spenders City. The latter will be without Emmanuel Adebayor as the striker begins his three-game suspension while Carlos Tevez must pass a fitness test if he is to meet the side he left in the summer. City hinted at their title credentials with victory over Arsenal last weekend and will again look to send shockwaves through the league with a convincing display at Old Trafford.

Wolverhampton Wanderers meet Fulham at 2pm and can take heart from a solid record against their London opponents at Molineux. The Cottagers are notoriously indifferent on the road, particularly in the Midlands. Furthermore, Roy Hodgson’s charges must learn how to cope with their relatively unfamiliar midweek European exertions, after they travelled to Bulgaria on Thursday.

North West duo Everton and Blackburn Rovers do battle. The latter have not travelled all too well of late while the Toffees have had a typically rocky start to the campaign, so anything could happen really. Also, David Moyes will be hopeful his charges are not too fatigued from their Europa League tie versus AEK Athens, with Blackburn hopeful of benefiting from a week on the training field.

And finally, the weekend rounds off in emphatic style when table-toppers Chelsea host Tottenham. The Blues still have their 100 per cent record intact, but Spurs’ was relinquished versus United last weekend. Carlo Ancelotti has made a fine impression since taking over at Stamford Bridge, but this match is clearly his most scrutinous examination to date.

skysports

Adebayor Absence From Manchester Derby Boosts Ferguson

Adebayor serves the first of a three-game ban on Sunday

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester City will be without their “best player” in Emmanuel Adebayor for Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Adebayor misses the game at Old Trafford through suspension, while fellow striker Carlos Tevez is doubtful with a knee injury.

“I am not bothered whether Tevez plays or not,” said United boss Ferguson. “City’s best player won’t be playing.

“Adebayor is their star player, there is no question about that.”

Ferguson also repeated his assertion that City behaved in an “arrogant and cocky” manner when they displayed a giant banner bearing Tevez’s image and the words “Welcome to Manchester” in the city’s main shopping area this summer, following the 25-year-old’s move to Eastlands.

Tevez has yet to score a league goal for City – his only strike so far coming in the Carling Cup second-round tie at Crystal Palace – while fellow striker Adebayor has scored in every Premier League game since his £25m summer move from Arsenal.

However, the Togo international will be forced to watch from the sidelines following his three-match ban for stamping on Arsenal striker Robin van Persie during last Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the Gunners.

He could be joined by Tevez, who injured his knee on international duty and was described by City assistant boss Mark Bowen as “very doubtful” for the match.

City are already without Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz, who has yet to fully recover from knee surgery, and Brazilian forward Robinho, who suffered a stress fracture of the ankle playing for Brazil in the game that also saw Tevez injure his knee.

Having spent two seasons on loan with United, Tevez rejected the opportunity to sign a permanent deal at Old Trafford before making the high profile switch to City this summer for a reported fee of £25.5m, paid to the Argentine’s advisors.

Despite scoring 34 goals in 99 league and cup games to help United win successive Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008, Tevez grew disillusioned from starting many games on the bench and at the length of time it took for the club to offer him a new deal.

Tevez has yet to score a league goal for City this season

City head to the home of their local rivals looking to preserve their 100% start to the season.

Ferguson is aware the derby clash has far more interest and significance now City are pushing for a place in the top four, having spent in excess of £120m this summer.

However, he stated that he continues to view Liverpool as a greater rival to United than City.

“To me, Liverpool has always been the derby,” he said. “It is because of the history. My aim was always to do well against them. It is hard for me to think any other way.”

Rio still hurt by final loss

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand insists he is still ’sickened’ at how they lost the Champions League final to Barcelona last season.

Barcelona ended United’s reign as European champions with a comprehensive 2-0 win in Rome last May and the defeat still hurts Ferdinand.

Ferdinand, who made his return from injury against Tottenham at the weekend, is determined to make amends this season, starting with Tuesday’s trip to Besiktas.

“Having lost a Champions League final, I know what it feels like. It was sickening in Rome because we felt we were on the cusp of greatness, so to lose the way we did was really difficult,” said Ferdinand.

“The worst thing about it was that we didn’t even put up a fight.

“We never got going. If we had scored in the first 10 minutes, I think we’d have gone on to win the game, but Barcelona got the first goal and it stunned us.

“We never recovered after that and that was so disappointing.”

Ferdinand is confident United can enjoy more success in Europe this term.

“You want to win it at all costs and as long as we’re winning, that’s all that matters,” added Ferdinand.

“Over the last three seasons, we’ve performed really well. We won the league three times, reached two Champions League finals so people expect a lot of us.

“If you sometimes don’t deliver the big one, then you get a bit of flak and you have to deal with that.”

Uefa overturns Eduardo diving ban

Eduardo wins a penalty after going down in the penalty area

Uefa has overturned its decision to ban Arsenal striker Eduardo for two Champions League games for diving.

The Croatia international was suspended after being found guilty of diving to win a penalty in the Champions League qualifier against Celtic on 26 August.

But on Monday, Uefa accepted Arsenal’s appeal and he will now be eligible to play in their opening two Group H ties.

“I’m very pleased that we have finally arrived at the truth,” said Eduardo in a statement on the Arsenal website.

“All we needed to do was to prove what happened and we have managed to do that. This decision makes me feel a lot better.

“I just want to say that I am a fair player. To score goals you must take your opportunities and I’m not the type of player who needs to be dishonest to score goals.”

Arsenal also welcomed Uefa’s decision.

“We were able to show there was contact between the keeper and Eduardo and that the decision should be annulled,” a Gunners statement said.

“We fully support the drive for fair play in football and believe it is important that Uefa provides clear and comprehensive standards that will be consistently enforced going forward.

“We are glad to put this incident behind us and concentrate on the games ahead.”

Arsenal had called the initial decision by Uefa “deeply flawed”.

And the decision to charge and then ban Eduardo provoked a strong response from Gunners manager Arsene Wenger who claimed any action against the Croatian would set a dangerous precedent with tens of similar incidents every week in European football.

A Uefa statement on Monday said: “Following examination of all the evidence, notably the declarations of both the referee and the referees’ assessor, as well as the various video footage, it was not established to our satisfaction that the referee had been deceived in taking his decision on the penalty.”

Diving has been the subject of much debate since the Eduardo incident with Wayne Rooney also coming under the spotlight following two penalty decisions that went in his favour, first playing for Manchester United against Arsenal and then for England in the friendly against Slovenia.

Celtic winger Aiden McGeady was also sent off after he was shown a second yellow card for an alleged dive in Celtic’s 1-0 win over Hibernian which occurred only days after the Eduardo furore.

Arsenal begin their Champions League group stage campaign with a trip to the Maurice Dufrasne Stadium to face Standard on Wednesday and then play at home against Olympiakos on 29 September.

Latest Football News 14.9.09

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has emerged as a transfer target for Celtic boss Tony Mowbray.

Tottenham skipper Robbie Keane is a shock transfer target for Scottish giants Celtic – with a multi-million deal planned for the next window.

Tony Mowbray’s club are planning the sensational raid for Republic of Ireland hero Keane and hope to pull off one of the moves of the season in the New Year. Keane only went back to White Hart Lane from Liverpool at the beginning of 2009 but he could be on his travels again if the Parkhead club can pull off this massive coup.

Chelsea have agreed in principle to sign 17-year-old Croatian goalkeeper Matej Delac from Inter Zapresic for about £2m. However, unless the Blues win an appeal over their transfers ban, they will not be able to sign him until January 2011. (Daily Mail)

Wigan striker Marlon King has been linked with a loan move to Championship side Sheffield United
Full story: Daily Mirror

Former Manchester City defender Michael Ball is being targeted by Notts County director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson. The 29-year-old is currently without a club.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Preston defender Sean St Ledger will be recruited to help strengthen Middlesbrough’s rearguard in a £3m deal.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Roy Keane’s Ipswich are hoping to agree a loan deal for Bolton’s Nigerian defender Danny Shittu. (Daily Mail)

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor could be handed a six-match ban by the Football Association for his clash with Robin van Persie, who claims he was deliberately stamped on, and the goal celebration in the game against the Togo international’s former club Arsenal. (Daily Star)

Or Adebayor’s punishment may consist of a four-match suspension.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Reading may be the next club in line for a big-money takeover, with chairman John Madejski weighing up a £80m deal to sell the Championship club to a Middle Eastern consortium.
Full story: The Sun

George Burley is poised to axe assistants Steven Pressley and Tommy McLean if he keeps his job as national manager after a review by the Scottish FA. (The Scotsman)

Rangers manager Walter Smith saved Madjid Bougherra from a second red card by telling the defender to say sorry for the outburst that led to him being sent off against Motherwell on Saturday. (The Sun)

St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay has accused St Mirren midfielder Stephen McGinn of cheating by diving to win a penalty in Saturday’s 1-1 draw. (Various)

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson has complained that his side have had novice referees in three of their four games this season. (The Sun)

Hibernian striker Colin Nish, who was sent off in injury time in the 2-0 defeat by Hamilton, claims he is being targeted by referees. (The Sun)

AND FINALLY

There were no draws in the Premier League this weekend and there have only been three in the 46 top-flight matches played in England so far this season. (The Sun)

John McVeigh is to appeal against a four-year touchline ban from the junior FA after allegedly hitting a referee with his own notebook, after which the former Partick Thistle and Airdrie boss resigned as Lanark United manager. (The Sun)