Soccer Shorts: Portsmouth are threatening to wreck Wigan Athletic's hopes of signing the England striker Andrew Johnson with the south coast club, backed by the Russian Alexandre Gaydamak, considering trumping the Latics' club record £8.5 million bid for the striker.
Wigan had their offer for the 25-year-old accepted by the Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan late on Tuesday night and followed that up by agreeing a fee of £5.5 million with Chelsea for their German centre-half Robert Huth. However, they have yet to agree personal terms with either player over a potential move to the JJB Stadium with fears growing that their hopes could yet be dashed. Meanwhile, Wigan manager Paul Jewell is poised to sign a new five-year deal with the club.
Carlos 'offered' deal
Brazil full back Roberto Carlos said yesterday he had been offered a three-year contract by English champions Chelsea. The 33-year-old has one year to run on his contract with Real Madrid and said he would make up his mind after the World Cup.
Rangers' fine increased
Rangers had their fine for crowd disorder in the Champions League tie against Villarreal increased to €19,500 yesterday. The Scottish club were fined €13,000 by Uefa's Control and Disciplinary Body for incidents in the two-legged first knockout round tie, although their fans were found not guilty of sectarian chanting. Uefa appealed against its disciplinary body's ruling and that appeal was partially upheld, Uefa's official website reported.
Di Vaio says no to Liverpool
Valencia striker Marco Di Vaio insists he has no intention of joining Liverpool in a swap deal with Fernando Morientes. The Italian forward claims his club have approached him about the prospect of signing for Rafael Benitez's men in a deal which would take Morientes to the Mestalla. "Valencia wants Morientes but I don't want to know anything about a possible exchange. I'm not going to go where I don't want, more so, if it means that another player joins Valencia. I'm not a parcel, I have a family." Di Vaio has set his sights on a permanent move to Monaco, where he was on loan from December.
Staunton for Lourdes Celtic
Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton will be at Sundrive Park in Dublin today to officially open Lourdes Celtic's new all-weather facilities. The club has benefited over the past couple of years from the Uefa backed solidarity payment scheme as a result of two of its former players, Damien Duff and Andy Reid, completing major moves in England and the sums paid out of the transfer fees have helped fund the development being unveiled at noon today.
In brief . . .
Everton defender Alan Stubbs (34) has signed a new one-year contract to keep him at Goodison Park next season . . . Portsmouth and the newly-promoted duo of Watford and Sheffield United are interested in signing Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie . . . Tottenham had a £3.5 million bid for West Brom defender Curtis Davies rejected . . . Dundee have appointed Alex Rae as their new manager. He succeeds Alan Kernaghan, who was sacked last month after a disappointing first season at Dens Park.
