Liverpool's mixed bag: Liverpool have secured the free-transfer signing of the Brazil full back Fabio Aurelio from Valencia, although their attempts to add his compatriot Daniel Alves to their squad continue to flounder, writes Dominic Fifield
Aurelio was paraded as a Liverpool player yesterday alongside the young Argentinian centre half Gabriel Paletta, who has joined from Banfield.
Yet Rafael Benitez is growing frustrated with the delay in securing Alves from Sevilla, with the clubs unable to reach a compromise over the fee required to lure him to Merseyside.
Benitez is actively pursuing alternative options in the hope that Sevilla will drop their £12-million valuation of the right back. - Guardian Service
Pay-off for Bolton: Manchester City have paid compensation to Bolton to secure the services of Dietmar Hamann even though he never kicked a ball for Wanderers.
It is the latest twist in a drama that unfolded on Tuesday when initially it was stated Hamann was leaving Liverpool for Bolton.
Then Hamann did a U-turn and decided to join City and was unveiled by manager Stuart Pearce yesterday.
Greeks off the hook: Fifa has lifted its suspension of the Greek federation after the Greek parliament approved an amendment to its legislation relating to sport.
Fifa imposed the ban because the original sports law gave the government too much say in running Greek football, notably setting up of the Super League and the election of federation officers.
Diving clampdown: English referees chief Keith Hackett has insisted diving will not be tolerated.
Hackett, general manager of Professional Game Match Officials - the regulatory body that oversees referees throughout the country - maintains he and his members are committed to clamping down on those who dive.
Petrov in demand: Portsmouth are to make an improved offer for Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov.
"We are going back (with a bid)," chairman Milan Mandaric said. "And I hope we can resolve something by the end of the week."
The 27-year-old Bulgaria international had a transfer request rejected by Celtic at the end of last season.
Ferdinand's late call: Sven-Goran Eriksson asked West Ham's Anton Ferdinand to join England's World Cup standby list as a replacement for the injured Luke Young, the defender revealed yesterday.
But the England coach's phone call to the centre back came 24 hours too late as the player had just undergone a double hernia operation.
Eriksson instead turned to Tottenham's Michael Dawson to provide the defensive cover.
In brief . . .
Marseille have completed the signing of Dijbril Cisse from Liverpool on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent . . . Manchester United forward Paul Scholes, who missed much of last season with an eye problem, has confirmed he will be available for the start of the new season . . . Inter Milan have signed former Leeds United and Everton midfielder Olivier Dacourt (32) from AS Roma on a free transfer . . . Fulham have signed Swedish striker Björn Runström (22) from Hammarby
. . . Middlesbrough have signed Lyon midfielder Herold Goulon (18) . . . Ennis-born midfielder Willie Boland (30) has been given a trial at Swansea with a view to a full-time contract. He played with Cardiff last season.
