Other soccer stories in brief
Liverpool bid for Neill rejected
Liverpool have made a late move for Lucas Neill but his chances of completing a move from Blackburn before tonight's transfer deadline are hanging in the balance, with the clubs still some distance apart in their valuation of the Australian, reports Dominic Fifield.
Rovers rejected a bid worth around £1.5 million for the 28-year-old yesterday and, having budgeted for Neill seeing out the final year of his contract and then leaving for nothing under the Bosman ruling, are under no real financial pressure to sell. They quoted Liverpool a price nearer £4 million, a fee the Merseysiders will not consider. Yet there could be scope for negotiation today, not least because Neill is desperate to move to Anfield having recently rejected the chance to join Tottenham.
He may even attempt to buy out the final year of his contract, which new Fifa regulations allow him to do, though Rovers would consider a part-exchange deal.
Having seen Liverpool loan Florent Sinama-Pongolle to the newly promoted Primera Liga club Recreativo Huelva for a year, they would attempt to persuade Rafael Benitez to part with his full back Stephen Warnock.
Liverpool's interest in Neill is something of a surprise as three years ago the Australian broke Jamie Carragher's leg to prompt a very public spat between the then managers Gerard Houllier and Graeme Souness.
Sinama-Pongolle, who spent five months at Rovers last term, may be followed to Recreativo by Salif Diao. The Senegalese is expected to sign for a season though he hopes to secure a permanent move to Portsmouth.
PSV have submitted an improved bid for Jan Kromkamp, though Liverpool would hope to recruit Neill first, and Neil Mellor has joined Preston for £500,000.
Meanwhile, Tottenham last night had a bid rejected by Liverpool to take Harry Kewell on loan.
Rossi for Roeder learning curve
Giuseppe Rossi is expected to join Newcastle United on loan from Manchester United today, writes Louise Taylor.
Alex Ferguson has spent the past 48 hours weighing up requests from Newcastle, Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion to borrow the 19-year-old New Jersey-born Italy Under-21 international striker, and has seemingly decided Rossi will fare best under Glenn Roeder's management.
One in, one out at Celtic
Celtic have signed Denmark midfielder Thomas Gravesen from Real Madrid on a three-year contract.
No details were given about the deal for the 30-year-old, who joined Real from Premier League club Everton last year but whose opportunities for the coming season looked limited under new Real coach Fabio Capello.
Gravesen's move came on the day that Bulgaria midfielder Stilian Petrov left Celtic for Aston Villa in a deal worth £8 million.
Boro make case for defence
Defenders Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate agreed to join Middlesbrough yesterday. Centre half Huth signed a five-year deal for £6 million from Chelsea while injury-plagued Woodgate agreed a one-year loan from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Manager Gareth Southgate, who hopes to complete the signing of the striker Jason Euell from Charlton today and is weighing up a bid from Fulham for Massimo Maccarone, was less pleased by an approach for Mark Viduka from Newcastle.
City ban Thatcher for six games
Manchester City have suspended Ben Thatcher for six games and fined the full back six weeks' wages for his nasty challenge on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes.
Thatcher crashed forearm first into the Portuguese midfielder early in the second half of last week's league match as both players chased a ball over the touchline.
In Brief . . .
Portsmouth have signed Manuel Fernandes (20) on loan from Benfica and the midfielder could eventually become the club's record signing at £7 million if he proves his fitness at Fratton Park . . . Charlton have confirmed the signing of Senegal defender Souleymane Diawara for a fee of £3.7million from French club Sochaux . . . Charlton have had their work permit application for Costa Rica winger Christian Bolanos (22) rejected by the British Home Office
. . . Watford have signing of their former winger Tommy Smith (26) on a four-year deal from Derby for £500,000 . . . MK Dons have signed Hull midfielder and former Republic of Ireland under-18 international Keith Andrews (25) on a free transfer . . . Swindon manager Dennis Wise has revealed Paul Ince "wants to sign for us" and expects to finalise a deal for the former England and Manchester United midfielder . . . Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky will captain the Czech Republic in their Euro 2008 Group D qualifying campaign . . . Israel will play their "home" Euro 2008 Group E qualifying match against Andorra behind closed doors in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, next Wednesday . . . Former West Germany defender Jurgen Kohler has been named Ivory Coast's new coach.
