Other soccer stories in brief

Tottenham may be disappointed

BORDEAUX president Jean-Louis Triaud will not allow the departure of striker Fernando Cavenaghi to Tottenham in January.

Cavenaghi said he would like a move to Spurs and reports claim the London club are lining up a bid of €15.5 million.

"For us, the question of Cavenaghi's departure this winter is not even being asked," said Triaud. "You don't let a player go in the middle of a season."

Kinnear in charge until end of season

JOE Kinnear was yesterday appointed as the Newcastle United manager until the end of the season.

The 61-year-old Dubliner, who has been working on a month-to-month contract at St James' Park since the departure of Kevin Keegan in September, will now take charge for the rest of the campaign, with efforts to sell the English Premier League club so far coming to nothing.

Kinnear said: "Ever since I came to Newcastle United, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

"The players have been great to work with and the fans have made me feel at home since day one.

"We have a big challenge ahead of us for the rest of the season, but together, I'm confident we will make good progress.

"We have some very good players already at this club and hopefully we can further strengthen the squad in January, and I will be working very closely with the directors to try to achieve that."

Barry staying on at Villa for now

ASTON Villa midfielder Gareth Barry has squashed speculation about his immediate future by pledging to stay at the midlands club for the rest of the season.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill yesterday revealed he has held talks with the England international, who was the subject of four unsuccessful bids from Liverpool during the summer.

United line up Tosic as work permit is granted

MANCHESTER United have been granted a work permit for young Serbian winger Zoran Tosic.

Alex Ferguson attended a hearing for the 21-year-old yesterday morning and emerged with positive news, meaning Tosic will sign from Partizan Belgrade during the January transfer window.

United have not confirmed the fee they have agreed for Tosic, although they have been looking at the wide-man for some time.

Tosic has appeared 12 times for his country and can play on either flank - he also starred for Serbia at the Uefa European Under-21 Championships last year, in which they reached the final.

He will join fellow countryman Nemanja Vidic at Old Trafford, with the prospect of more to come as another Partizan player, Adam Ljajic - a 19-year-old dubbed the "Serbian Kaka" - is also thought to be in talks with United.

Old Trafford officials are staying tight-lipped on talks with Ljajic though, insisting there have been no developments.

Liverpool change tack on Torres

LIVERPOOL plan a total overhaul of Fernando Torres' medical care to try to discover the reason for his fifth hamstring injury in 16 months.

The Spanish striker broke down again during Wednesday's Champions League victory over Marseilles.

Scans have revealed a repetition of the injury that could rule him out for three weeks.

Torres has had three similar injuries on international duty, and two now with Liverpool, in the 16 months since his arrival at Anfield.

The 24-year-old striker will miss Monday's game at home to West Ham, and could also be sidelined for matches against Blackburn, PSV Eindhoven and Hull.

Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane will now get an opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place, having been substitute against Marseille to facilitate Torres' comeback.

• INTER Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has poured cold water on reports linking Chelsea's Didier Drogba to the San Siro by claiming the Ivorian's services are not needed: "He (Drogba) is a great player . . . But when it comes to great strikers we already have plenty."

• THE son of former Manchester United Champions League-winning striker Andrew Cole has signed as a junior at Manchester City, who Cole senior also played for during the later part of his career.

• Devante Cole (13) has been recruited by City's training academy after turning down a place on United's training scheme.