Today's others stories in brief
Benitez turns to Bent
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has reportedly stepped up his interest in signing Charlton Athletic's Darren Bent (23).
The striker scored 15 goals last season in Charlton's relegation campaign. West Ham United, Tottenham and Valencia are also keen on Bent but Charlton's £14-million valuation of their striker is putting off a number of clubs.
No holding back Owen Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has admitted he is powerless to prevent Michael Owen from walking out of St James' Park.
The striker has a £9 million release clause and Allardyce said: "If Michael wants to leave, there's nothing I can do about it, especially if another club triggers his release clause."
Nugent wants action
Preston striker David Nugent still wants to join Everton this summer, but says he will not "hang around" waiting for them to make a bid.
He said: "Everyone knows that Everton is my favourite club, but if that doesn't happen then I'm not going to hang around waiting for them.
"There's another few clubs interested and hopefully it will be sorted. I need to leave and hopefully someone will make the bid, and I will be playing in the Premiership next season."
Birmingham buy out
Birmingham City's directors are expected to convene an emergency board meeting today to discuss a potential £70 million takeover bid.
Reports over the weekend suggested the deal with an unnamed Far East-based businessman could be rushed through within the next three weeks.
Napoli back at the top
Genoa and Napoli were both promoted to Serie A yesterday after a tense goalless draw on the final day of the season which ended in chaotic scenes.
The Serie B game in Genoa was billed as a virtual promotion play-off, but in the end the two sides joined champions Juventus in going up under Italy's complicated league rules.
Strachan wants move
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan believes the club need to be playing regularly outside Scottish borders to eliminate sectarianism.
Both Celtic and Rangers have shown a strong interest in joining the English leagues, and Strachan believes it would be a beneficial move on many levels.
Strachan said: "If we could get into a British league, I don't just think it would help us financially, it would also help this West of Scotland thing we have to live with.
"Sometimes you hear our people singing the IRA stuff, but I think all that would go if we were in a bigger league."
Meanwhile, Kilmarnock have revealed that Celtic have joined Rangers in the race to sign striker Steven Naismith (20).
In brief . . .
Tottenham have completed the signing of Lens midfielder Adel Taarabt (18), who has been on loan with the Premiership club since January . . . Manager Alex McLeish is hoping to convince Aston Villa's English-born striker Gabriel Agbonlahor (20) to turn his back on England and play for Scotland, who he is eligible to play for through his mother . . . England players have agreed to donate all their match fees leading up to the 2010 World Cup to charity . . . Aston Villa are tracking SV Hamburg Dutch international midfielder Nigel de Jong.
