Today's other stories in brief
Adebayor only man for Milan
MILAN WILL intensify their efforts to prise Emmanuel Adebayor away from Arsenal after the Italian side's vice-president Adriano Galliani said yesterday that the Togolese striker was the club's only transfer target.
Galliani had previously stated that Chelsea's Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona and Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov, together with Adebayor, were on Milan's radar as they looked for fresh blood up front.
"One single player interests us and that is Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor," said Galliani. "If he doesn't come, then nobody will come."
Barcelona vice-president Marc Ingla claims the club are in talks to sign Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb.
"The negotiation with Hleb is still in progress and despite him being a player with special qualities, if his club are not ready [to sell him], we have other options in mind," Ingla said.
King names squad for Sweden test
REPUBLIC OF Ireland senior women's team manager Noel King has announced his 18-player squad for the Uefa Championship Group Two qualifier against Sweden next Wednesday in Bray.
Striker Katie Taylor returns from suspension for Ireland's penultimate group fixture.
Ireland are vying for third place in the group having accumulated 12 points from their six matches. Should they take a point from their last two matches, both against leaders Sweden, they will give themselves a good chance of a play-off spot for the 2009 finals.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD:E Byrne (Arsenal), Fahy (Salthill Devon), Moran (New York Athletic Club), Boyle (Raheny United), Curtin (Hofstra University), Grant (Arsenal), Hughes (Franklin Pierce), Curtis (Bristol Academy), O'Gorman (Stella Marris), Taylor (Peamount United), O'Toole (Raheny United), O'Brien (Long Island Lady Riders), Treacy (Arsenal), Da Burcha (Salthill Devon), Bradley (Raheny), Malone (Hofstra University), Cooke (Arsenal), Byrne (St John's University, New York).
Mourinho eyes Lampard and Drogba
THE FUTURE of Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard is under intense scrutiny again after the club's former manager Jose Mourinho revealed he is ready to launch a transfer raid on Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho has made it clear he wants to be reunited with both Lampard and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba at Inter Milan.
Mourinho, who is also keen to sign Barcelona's Deco - who he managed at Porto and who is also a target for Chelsea - said: "I cannot forget Deco, Lampard and Drogba. These are players who I could never say no to. I would love to work with them again in the future."
Dunga jeered as Brazil misfire again
BRAZIL COACH Dunga was jeered by the crowd as his side were held to a 0-0 home draw by Argentina in a World Cup qualifier yesterday morning.
The visiting side ended a run of defeats by their arch-rivals, having lost the previous three meetings between the sides by three-goal margins, and went second in the South American group with 11 points, two behind leaders Paraguay.
Brazil, beaten 2-0 by Paraguay on Sunday, are fourth on nine points after completing their third game without scoring and narrowly avoiding a first-ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
Meanwhile, Brazilian team doctor Jose Luiz Runco does not believe the knee injury Manchester United midfielder Anderson suffered in the draw with Argentina is serious.
Real waiting
REAL MADRID are willing to play the waiting game in their pursuit of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Madrid director general of the presidency Miguel Angel Arroyo claims the Spanish giants are happy to sit back and see what transpires.
Angel Arroyo said: "We are waiting for Ronaldo to say something, and as soon as he says he wants to play for Real Madrid, there will be conversations between the two clubs."
Ince likely to fill vacancy at Rovers
PAUL INCE is expected to leap from MK Dons into the Premier League with Blackburn today.
Ince has emerged at the head of a shortlist that includes Steve McClaren, Sam Allardyce and Michael Laudrup, all of whom were interviewed by the Rovers chairman, John Williams, in the past week.
Barring a late change of heart by the Blackburn board, who are keen to meet today's self-imposed deadline for announcing the successor to Mark Hughes, Ince should be confirmed as the club's manager 20 months after starting his managerial career at Macclesfield.
