Soccer Shorts: Everton finally got the all clear to sign €16.6 million striker Ayegbeni Yakubu from Middlesbrough yesterday after the Nigerian front man was given a work permit, but manager David Moyes still has €17 million burning a hole in his pocket.
Yakubu was initially going to be part of a double Everton signing, with Moyes having agreed a deal to acquire midfielder Manuel Fernandes last weekend, only for the Portuguese star pulled out last weekend and joined Valencia instead.
Everton need another midfielder now, and have been linked with Bolton's Kevin Nolan, Fulham's Papa Bouba Diop and Fenerbahce's Ghana captain Stephen Appiah.
Dyer fracture confirmed
England midfielder Kieron Dyer, playing in only his third match for West Ham United, has suffered a double fracture of his right leg, the Premier League club confirmed yesterday. Dyer (28), who has a long history of injuries, was tackled by Joe Jacobson during West Ham's 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup second round on Tuesday. A statement on West Ham's Web site (www.whufc.com) said Dyer had broken both the tibia and fibula of his right leg. "It is too early to say at this stage how long the player will be out for as this will become clearer once the first stage of surgery is completed," the club said. Dyer, who made his 33rd appearance for England as a substitute in a friendly against Germany last week, joined West Ham from Newcastle United for €8.9 million earlier this month.
Jenas to stay at Spurs
England midfielder Jermaine Jenas has signed a new five-year contract with Tottenham which will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2012. Jenas (24) joined Spurs from Newcastle in August 2005 and has been capped 17 times by England. He told the club's website www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "This club has the calibre of squad that any player would want to be part of. The spirit in the squad is terrific, the club is ambitious and undoubtedly moving forward. I feel I still have a lot of potential to develop further and playing alongside team-mates of this quality will help me do that. I am very happy here and would love to stay at Tottenham for the rest of my career."
Champions League draw
The elite of European football descend upon Monaco today for the Champions League draw, though while this occasion usually demands glitz and glamour, the mood will be more sombre this time around, writes Dominic Fifield. The death of Antonio Puerta, a Uefa Cup winner in May, will overshadow the event with tomorrow's Super Cup showpiece match against Milan to be played in tribute to the Sevilla defender.
The 22-year-old died on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack during his side's La Liga victory over Getafe on Saturday. Sevilla's Champions League qualifying return at AEK Athens was postponed with the squad attending yesterday's funeral and, while the side will fulfil their fixture with the European Cup winners, Milan, the Uefa president Michel Platini has conceded that "this is a bad moment for Sevilla and for football, but everybody in the game will be thinking about Puerta".
All four English sides - Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal - are in the eight top-seeded clubs and will avoid Milan, Internazionale, Real Madrid and Barcelona in the group stage. The draw is live on Setanta Ireland at 5pm.
Redknapp wants Crouch
Liverpool have rejected an ambitious attempt by Portsmouth to take Peter Crouch back to Fratton Park but their resolve may be tested again before the transfer deadline as Harry Redknapp targets the England international as a proven replacement for David Nugent, writes Andy Hunter. The Portsmouth manager, who is prepared to sell Nugent one month after his €8½ million transfer from Preston, has turned his attention to the unsettled Crouch, having struggled to lure Nicolas Anelka from Bolton. Contact was made between officials of Portsmouth and Liverpool at the weekend, when the Anfield club made clear their opposition to a sale.
In brief . . .
Aston Villahave completed the €5 million signing of the 27-year-old Fulham defender Zat Knighton a four-year deal . . . West Hamhave made a €7 million for Reading's England left-back Nicky Shoreyaccording to BBC Radio 5live . . . Shunsuke Nakamurahas reiterated his commitment to Celtic by insisting he has unfinished business with the Scottish champions . . . Laziohave joined the race to sign Brazilian striker Adrianofrom Inter Milan . . . Leicesterhave parted company with manager Martin Allenafter the club admitted differences of opinion had caused a fall-out at the Walkers Stadium.
