Soccer Shorts: Jose Mourinho last night dismissed English tabloid reports that he has held secret transfer talks with Arsenal's Ashley Cole.
It has been reported the Chelsea manager was spotted talking to the England left back in a London hotel along with the player's agent last week. Mourinho, however, made light of these claims.
"I was in Milan with Adriano," he joked, mischievously suggesting he had a meeting with the Inter and Brazil striker. "On Thursday I flew to Milan, so I couldn't be with Ashley Cole."
In case anyone was in any doubt, the Chelsea manager quickly made it clear his claims of talks with the likes of Adriano were in jest.
"Steven Gerrard, Adriano, Ashley Cole - and next week it will be another one," he added. "I have a perfect and wonderful squad and I don't need any more players this season. Next season I will need one or two."
Parry reacts with fury
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has has hit back at claims that he has already negotiated a summer move to Chelsea for midfielder Steven Gerrard. And the club will today seek legal advice over the claims.
Gerrard was ready to move to Stamford Bridge during Euro 2004 but eventually committed his future to Liverpool. However, an English tabloid yesterday alleged that Parry had met Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon last week to agree a £30million deal.
Parry said in a statement: "I did not meet with Peter Kenyon, nor did I agree a deal for Steven Gerrard. Both (Liverpool manager) Rafa Benitez and myself have made it clear to Steven that we want him to stay and we see his future at Anfield."
Parry and Benitez have constantly said Gerrard is not for sale, although it is clear the situation will be reviewed in the summer when the Liverpool captain knows whether the club are in the Champions League next season
World Cup break for Kerr
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr may inadvertently benefit from the English Football Association's board decision to support England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's appeal for a four-week break before the 2006 World Cup finals.
Eriksson was given a positive reception at an FA board meeting on Saturday and a working group is now investigating a handful of possible ways to find enough time within the hectic fixture schedule in England.
These could include scrapping FA Cup sixth round replays, asking the Football League to do away with the two-legged semi-finals in the League Cup or moving the FA Cup final before the end of the Premiership season.
The Premiership is scheduled to end next season on May 13th, the date on which FIFA are requiring all domestic leagues to finish ahead of the World Cup finals, which starts in Germany four weeks after that on June 9th.
The Champions League final will be on May 17th and the FA were also given permission to hold the FA Cup final on May 20th.
The proposed break would also benefit other international managers hoping to rest players before the showcase event next year, especially Kerr, should the Republic of Ireland qualify, as most of his current squad ply their trade in the English Premiership.
Turk delight for Anelka
Nicolas Anelka finalised his protracted £7million move to Fenerbahce last night, according to the Turkish club. The 25-year-old French striker flew to Istanbul to conclude his long-awaited departure from Manchester City.
Anelka has been in talks with the ambitious Turkish outfit since Thursday after City confirmed a fee had been agreed for the striker.
City boss Kevin Keegan has a matter of hours to bring in a replacement before the transfer window closes at teatime today.
Richardson farmed out
West Brom have signed Manchester United winger Kieran Richardson on loan for the remainder of the season. United manager Alex Ferguson is keen for the 20-year-old to gain regular Premiership experience and he is likely to make his debut for West Brom against Crystal Palace tomorrow.
Richardson has only made two substitute appearances in the Premiership this season for United - despite featuring prominently in their run to the League Cup semi-final.
Meanwhile, Albion are still optimistic of signing Burnley teenager Richard Chaplow after making a third offer for the player late on Friday evening. Albion have had a second bid rejected on Friday but Robson is determined to land the player today.
Russian hat in the ring
Russia has filed a late bid to host the 2012 European Championship, just beating today's deadline set by UEFA. The Russians, who made an unsuccessful attempt to stage the 2008 tournament, waited until the last minute before finally deciding to go ahead with their plan.
"We didn't want to make fools of ourselves by submitting an unprepared bid like we had the last time," outgoing Russian soccer chief Vyacheslav Koloskov said.
Russia will face tough competition from Italy and Greece as well as joint bids from Poland/Ukraine and Hungary/Croatia. UEFA said it would draw up a shortlist of three candidates in November before announcing the host country in December 2006.
In brief . . .
French defender Vincent Candela will join Bolton, Roma have given the club permission to talk to he 31-year-old former France international . . . Borussia Moenchengladbach signed 32-year-old Brazilian striker Giovane Elber from Olympique Lyon on a free transfer yesterday . . . Argentinian defender Fabricio Coloccini is set to join Deportivo La Coruna today, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur . . . Argentina forward Carlos Tevez, the most expensive signing made by a South American club when he was sold by Boca Juniors for $18 million for the 20-year-old last month, made his Corinthians debut when they beat America-Sao Jose do Rio Preto 1-0 in Brazil's Paulista championship on Saturday.
