A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Gill keen to keep Giggs at United for another season
MANCHESTER United chief executive David Gill is planning on opening contract talks with veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs. The 37-year-old Welshman, who is closing in on 20 years as a first-team player at Old Trafford, is approaching the end of his current deal.
But Gill is keen to keep him with the club for another season.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he extends his contract for another season.
“That will be addressed in the next month or so. He has been playing well, keeps himself in great shape and is a wonderful advert for the modern footballer.”
United manager Alex Ferguson called Giggs an “incredible human being” on Sunday after he made his 600th league appearance for the club against Tottenham.
Ivanovic close to Chelsea deal
BRANISLAV Ivanovic was yesterday close to signing a new four-year contract with Chelsea.
The 26-year-old defender, who scored one and made the other in Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Blackburn, has 18 months left on his current deal. Talks over extending it have dragged on for some time, while AC Milan and Juventus are reportedly interested in the Serbia player.
But Ivanovic is keen to stay and is not far from putting pen to paper.
Speaking after Saturday’s game, he said: “I want to stay and I hope it will be sorted out soon. We are talking about my new contract but we will see in the next couple of weeks. I don’t want to say anything wrong. I hope things are going the right way. This is all I can say.”
Ivanovic joined Chelsea two years ago from Lokomotiv Moscow.
Chelsea are understood to retain an interest in Benfica’s David Luiz and reports yesterday claimed they are back in talks with the Portuguese club, having had a bid rejected for the player last month.
Gerrard aims to continue playing
LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has set himself the target of playing for another five years.
The England midfielder, 31 in May, admits he has been lifted by Kenny Dalglish’s return as manager in the last fortnight.“I believe I can play football for another four or five years but I do sometimes think about what I’m going to do when I finish playing. I would like to stay involved in some capacity, whether that’s on the media side or in the dugout we’ll have to wait and see. I will certainly try to get my coaching qualifications at some point.”
WEST Ham defender Manuel da Costa has been charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident in a nightclub. Da Costa will appear at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court on January 25th charged with sexual assault and common assault on a woman. The 24-year-old, of Wards Wharf Approach, Newham, east London, was arrested in October and bailed by police pending further inquiries. Scotland Yard said allegations had been made by a woman in her early 20s at an east London police station in the early hours of October 17th.
Gullit to manage Russian team
RUUD Gullit has been unveiled as the new coach of Russian Premier League side Terek Grozny.
In his first role since a stint with the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, former Chelsea boss Gullit will take the reins at the club from Chechnya in the south of Russia.
After penning an 18-month deal, the Dutchman said: “I’m very happy with my contract of a year and a half. Next weekend I will join up with the team and we will begin preparing for the season.”
The former Chelsea manager added: “I look forward to getting back into it and this is a beautiful, great opportunity for me.”
The team finished 12th in the table last season, under the regime of Anatoly Baidachny.
Celtic terminate Kapo’s contract
CELTIC have confirmed Olivier Kapo has left the club after just three months.
The Frenchman joined the Glasgow team in November and made just two appearances for the Hoops. Celtic say they took an option to terminate the former Birmingham and Wigan midfielder’s contract this month.
Defender Jos Hooiveld has moved from Celtic to FC Copenhagen on loan for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old Dutchman has made seven appearances for Celtic this term, but has not seen first-team action since November.
A statement on Celtic’s website read: “Jos Hooiveld has joined FC Copenhagen on loan until the end of the season. The defender joined Celtic in January 2010 and has made nine appearances for the club.
“Everyone at Celtic wishes Jos every success during his loan spell in Denmark.”
No extra funds available for Grant
AVRAM Grant has not been handed extra funds to recruit players following West Ham United’s statement this week backing their under-pressure manager. The Israeli will have to continue working to a budget which gives him €6 million to €7 million to spend unless he sells a player, plus loan signings. Grant is concerned that rumours suggesting he would be sacked after last Saturday’s match with Arsenal, to be replaced by Martin O’Neill, have allowed crucial time to be lost in his attempt to strengthen the bottom side’s squad. West Ham said this week that they had “identified potential transfer targets to give us the best possible chance of retaining Premier League status”.
Grant has so far managed to sign only Wayne Bridge, a left back, on loan from Manchester City and is continuing his attempt to add a creative midfielder and a striker. Tottenham Hotspur’s Jamie O’Hara and Robbie Keane head the list.
Cantona gets Cosmos post
FORMER Manchester United forward Eric Cantona has joined the New York Cosmos as their new director of soccer.
The 44-year-old, who retired as a professional player nearly 14 years ago, was voted United’s player of the century after sparking a trophy-winning revival at Old Trafford.
“I am very honoured to join the legendary New York Cosmos,” the Frenchman said. “It’s a big project, a wonderful project.”
