SOCCER: Ashley Cole's Arsenal future is expected to be settled next month, when contract negotiations resume with the Highbury hierarchy.

Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger indicated last week that talks would be concluded in "the next few months" but the process will be accelerated by the two parties' willingness to reach an amicable agreement.

Real Madrid were linked with a £14 million bid for the England international to become the replacement for Roberto Carlos. However, with two-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract, Arsenal are relaxed about retaining their left-back; that, though, will require a significant hike to his basic salary.

That is reportedly less than £20,000 a week but Wenger has declared his club willing to meet any reasonable demand and negotiating terms will be down to vice-chairman David Dein when he returns from his Christmas holiday.

Freddie Ljungberg, meanwhile, presented Arsenal with an unusual injury worry recently. A migraine kept him out of the Champions League match on December 7th and he did not return to the line-up until Sunday's win over Fulham. Neither party will favour a rushed attempt at a comeback in future.

"The doctors told me I had to be off for a week to 10 days," said Ljungberg, "but we had the Chelsea game four or five days later and I really wanted to play in that one. So I rushed it a bit and had another attack and had to take it easy for a week. The doctor told me I'd been stupid and should have known better."

Arsenal sent him to a neurologist but Ljungberg already understood how severe his condition can be. "It is concerning when it happens to me," he said. "I throw up and lose my vision and also lose all the feeling in my hands.

"It's quite severe in that way, although it's something I've had since I was 14. It was two-and-a-half years since the last one."

Striker Thierry Henry has been named French player of the year for the second year running by France Football magazine.

Giuseppe Papadopulo, who was banned for five months earlier this year after an investigation into gambling related match-fixing with Siena, has been appointed coach of Lazio.

Papadopulo (56), replaces Mimmo Caso after Lazio's poor start to the season which sees them just above the relegation zone and out of the UEFA Cup.