Today's other stories in brief
Everton ponder move
Everton are considering a loan move for Manuel Fernandes despite an insistence by their manager, David Moyes, yesterday that he was unaware of the club's interest in the Portugal international.
Fernandes, who spent Thursday night in custody following an incident at a nightclub in Valencia, has been made available by the Valencia manager, Ronald Koeman, just four months after joining the Spanish club for €16 million.
Everton are prepared to take the midfielder, who rejected a permanent move to Goodison Park in August, on loan but only if Valencia lower their fee.
Mourinho in demand
Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer said yesterday that he would welcome Jose Mourinho as the next coach of his club when Ottmar Hitzfeld leaves in the summer.
The fact Mourinho does not speak German could rule him out. Beckenbauer, however, feels there is enough time for Mourinho to learn the language and be ready to take control in six months' time.
"He could do a language course between now and the summer, so why not?" he wrote in his column in Germany's Bild newspaper. "Our club needs a big name. He has got to be a great tactician, have already accumulated experience and have command of the German language."
Derby want Savage
Paul Jewell, the Derby County manager, has confirmed his interest in signing Blackburn Rovers' Robbie Savage.
Jewell said of the 33-year-old former Wales international: "I've spoken to Blackburn but whether we can do something is out of my hands. We've not yet agreed a fee, so it's up to the chairman if we can do a deal. I'd like to bring someone of (Savage's) character to Derby."
Keane takes Evans in
Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, has sealed the loan signing from Manchester United of Jonny Evans, the 20-year-old centre back arrested following an alleged rape at the Old Trafford players' Christmas party.
Evans, who spent six successful months on loan at Sunderland last season, trained there yesterday after Alex Ferguson agreed to allow the Northern Ireland international to return.
United, meanwhile, have turned down a bid from Newcastle for 28-year-old England international defender Wes Brown.
Hutton rejects Spurs
Rangers defender Alan Hutton has turned down a move to Tottenham and pledged his future to the Glasgow side's manager Walter Smith.
"We received a bid from Tottenham which was reluctantly accepted but the player himself wants to remain at Rangers," Smith said.
The approach for the 23-year-old Scotland full -back was reported to be around €11 million.
In brief . . .
Celtic have completed the signing of Sevilla's German international defender Andreas Hinkel (25) for a fee believed to be €2.7 million. . . The Nigerian FA has given Yakubu Ayegbeni and Joseph Yobo permission to delay their departures for the African Cup of Nations until after Everton's League Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea on Tuesday . . . Burnley have signed Sunderland defender Stanislav Varga (35) on a one-month loan deal . . . Derby County have completed the loan signing of Manchester City defender Danny Mills (30) . . . Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson (26) has been told he can leave Manchester City by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
