Other soccer stories in brief

 Path cleared for Nasri to leave

MARSEILLE HAVE confirmed the signing of French forward Hatem Ben Arfa from Lyon subject to a medical - seemingly paving the way for Samir Nasri's transfer to Arsenal.

The French club have not revealed the length of the 21-year-old's contract or the transfer fee but is believed to be for four years and his arrival looks likely to mean compatriot Nasri will leave the Stade Velodrome and head for north London.

A statement on the club website, www.om.net, read: "An agreement has been reached between Olympique Lyonnais and OM for the permanent transfer of Hatem Ben Arfa.

"The player will be in Marseille in the next few hours to undergo the traditional medical before signing his contract."

Marseille are understood to have been following Ben Arfa for some time, after the forward admitted to being unsettled at the end of last season due to the lack of first-team football at the Stade Gerland.

Donadoni will know his fate 'soon'

ITALY COACH Roberto Donadoni will find out his fate "in the next few days", the Italian football federation confirmed yesterday.

Donadoni is under fire following the Azzurri's quarter-final exit from Euro 2008 on penalties to Spain and bowed out of the tournament with just one win from four games.

His predecessor Marcello Lippi, who quit after leading Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, has been linked with a return to the helm.

Reports in Italy suggest Donadoni could face the axe as early as today or tomorrow. Donadoni renewed his contract before Euro 2008 and revealed before travelling to Austria that it did not contain a compensation clause should he face the sack after the tournament.

Donadoni's appointment after the 2006 World Cup came as a surprise to many with the former AC Milan star having only managed Livorno in Italy's top flight.

Valencia hope Villa will stay

VALENCIA HAVE confirmed receiving a number of offers for forward David Villa, but remain convinced the Spain star will stay at the Mestalla.

Technical secretary Juan Sanchez revealed that "more clubs than those being spoken about" in the media have put in bids for Villa, but as yet none have offered the kind of money that would tempt the club to part with their star player.

"I've got a feeling that in the end he'll stay - honestly," he told Spanish newspaper AS.

Fabregas criticises Barcelona

CESC FABREGAS has hit out at his former club Barcelona over their pursuit of several of his Arsenal team-mates, and has told the Catalan club to show more respect.

Barcelona have been linked with a number of Arsenal's top players this summer, with forward Emmanuel Adebayor and midfielder Alexander Hleb the most talked about targets in the Spanish media.

The amount of speculation coming out of Spain regarding the duo has upset Fabregas, who told Catalunya Radio that such reports unsettle players and that the London club would not act in such a public manner.

"A club like Barca should show a bit more respect to the intimacy of a club like Arsenal that never make a lot of noise (over transfers) and who always try to do things properly," he said.

"In the last few weeks it's come out that Barca are in for at least seven Arsenal players and there's no need for that."

Tottenham offer Lennon plus cash for Bentley

TOTTENHAM HAVE offered Aaron Lennon plus €8.8 million for Blackburn's David Bentley, and have allowed goalkeeper Paul Robinson to talk to Aston Villa. The bid for Bentley has been rejected but Spurs retain an interest in the player, who has declared an intention to leave.

Robinson's future has been uncertain and Spurs are close to completing the signing of Heurelho Gomes from PSV. They hope to use Lee Young-pyo, previously a full-back with the Eindhoven club, as a makeweight in the deal, which would be worth €12.5 million. Tottenham value Robinson at €6.3 million but Villa, who have sent Scott Carson back to Liverpool, value him at €4.4 million.

Reading are mulling over a €4.4 million bid from Middlesbrough for midfielder James Harper but Sunderland have distanced themselves from reports they are to make a €6.3 million offer for James Beattie, the Sheffield United centre forward. However, they are expected finally to recruit Stephen Hunt from Reading.