Soccer Shorts:Former Liverpool captain Tommy Smith is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack, the Premier League club said yesterday. The 62-year-old collapsed with chest pains while mowing the lawn at his home on Tuesday.
Carlos for Fenerbahce
Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has agreed to join Turkish champions Fenerbahce at the end of the season. The 34-year-old former Brazil left-back will leave Real on June 30th after 11 years at the Bernabeu. Carlos told Spanish newspaper Marca: "I had a lot of offers from Italy, England and other countries but I was keen to help Fenerbahce."
Blow for Foster
Ben Foster's hopes of ousting Edwin van der Sar as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper next season are in tatters after it was confirmed the England international requires surgery on a cruciate knee ligament injury. The 24-year-old had been suffering knee problems during the latter half of last season, which he spent on loan at Watford. It is likely to be early 2008 before Foster is in action again.
Nani passes medical
Portugal winger Nani has passed a medical at Manchester United and now just needs international clearance before joining the Premiership champions. United announced last week they had agreed a deal to sign the 20-year-old from Sporting Lisbon. Nani and Porto midfielder Anderson cost United a total of £30 million last week. United are in the process of applying for a work permit for Anderson but are not expected to get one initially as the player has not featured for Brazil yet. Instead it is expected they will get one on appeal as the 19-year-old has been named in his country's Copa America squad.
Milan eye Eto'o
AC Milan have confirmed their interest in signing Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, but distanced themselves from media reports suggesting a deal was almost done. "Eto'o is a Barcelona player. Milan will make an official approach to Barcelona when the Spanish league finishes, but without the certainty that the great striker will eventually arrive at Milan as the Catalonia club rightly have the final decision on whether to sell or not."
Parker signs
West Ham have completed the £7 million signing of England midfielder Scott Parker from Newcastle. Parker has agreed a five-year deal and becomes West Ham's first signing of the summer. Parker's move to West Ham could spark a midfield merry-go-round in the Premier League. Manchester City outcast Joey Barton is set to replace Parker at Newcastle, while West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker is close to a move to Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Yossi Benayoun's agent insists the Israel midfielder is committed to staying at West Ham even though he is yet to formally sign a new five-year contract.
Lampard wanted
New Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri wants to make Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard his first major signing. The Italian tactician was confirmed as the new Juve coach earlier this week, but it seems he was already laying the foundations as it is claimed he approached Lampard last week.
Ranieri was present at England's friendly with Brazil and Italian sources claim a brief approach was made. "I want you with me," Ranieri is quoted as telling Lampard in the Corriere dello Sport.
Figo rules out Spurs
Inter Milan winger Luis Figo (34) has ruled out the possibility of a move to Tottenham. He admits his future at the San Siro is uncertain but has dismissed talk of a move to England or his native Portugal.
Sligo seek funds
Sligo Rovers supporters have been told that the club needs to raise significantly more money from off the field activities after suffering a 45 per cent decline in gate receipts since the start of last season, Emmet Malone reports.
"We don't owe the players anything and there are no immediate problems, in fact we'd hope to increase the manager's budget slightly during the transfer window," said Rovers PRO Dermot Brannigan. "The number of bums on seats is an issue for every club and our gates are down from around €9,000 per game to just over €5,000 so we have to look at every other option available to us."
Hoolahan setback
Livingston chief executive Vivien Kyles has conceded that the club's attempt to block a permanent move by Wes Hoolahan to League One play-off champions Blackpool is the result of the player valuation having increased substantially since a £75,000 fee was agreed last summer.
"I would be naive to say that wasn't a contributory factor," said Kyles after his club issued a statement on Tuesday night claiming that the three-year contract Hoolahan had signed with the English outfit was invalid because a number of payments made by Blackpool last year under the terms of the loan agreement that was in place had arrived late.
Blackpool have referred the matter to the English FA but may yet have to come up with more money in order to complete the deal. Shelbourne will receive five per cent of whatever fee is eventually agreed.
Gerrard case settled
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard yesterday accepted undisclosed libel damages over a claim he had been in secret talks over a possible move to Real Madrid. The England star brought proceedings in London's High Court over a "world exclusive" in Sport Magazine in February.
Shepherd sells
Mike Ashley is on the verge of assuming complete control of Newcastle United after Freddy Shepherd yesterday agreed to sell his stake in the club to the billionaire retailer. Newcastle's chairman is expected to make a statement to the London Stock Exchange this morning, announcing his decision to cede power by accepting Ashley's £37,279,000 offer for his 28.06 per cent stake in the club.
