Becks set to join AC Milan

Major League Soccer have confirmed David Beckham is in talks over a possible loan move to AC Milan but insisted any deal would only be short term. AC Milan confirmed on Wednesday their desire to sign Beckham in January with initial speculation being that Beckham would head to Italy for six months. However, MLS said the deal would be restricted to around two to three months via soccernet

Chelsea monitoring Real's Robinho

Chelsea are interested in signing Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Robinho - but have not offered £48m in a bid to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old is on the list of targets drawn up by Chelsea's new manager, Robinho's fellow countryman Luiz Felipe Scolari. and the

Brazilian Robinho is an admirer of Chelsea manager Scolari
Chelsea have not, as claimed by sources at the Bernabeu, made a £48m offer.
Robinho is unhappy that Real have tried to use him in their attempt to sign Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Scolari is currently working on bringing in new faces ahead of his first Premier League campaign and Robinho is believed to be keen to work with the former Brazil coach.
Robinho said: "It would be a dream for me to work with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is one of the best coaches in the world.
"I have always spoken highly of him and he has always spoken very highly of me, since well before he was at Chelsea
"In 2003, when I was unknown in Europe, he called me to play in a charity match. It was brief but it was enough for me to see his style and character."
And Robinho's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, was reported as saying in Spain: "Madrid have failed to value him as he deserves and I do not like the fact that they tried to include him in the Ronaldo deal. Money is not the problem for us now.
"What matters for Robinho is to leave the club and play for Scolari at Chelsea."
Real, however, are reluctant to sanction any deal for Robinho to leave while their bid to bring Portugal winger Ronaldo to Spain remains in the balance - and this could yet cool Chelsea's interest.
bbc

Mascherano has appeal deadline extended
The Football Association have extended the deadline for Javier Mascherano to respond to his improper conduct charge until 6pm on Thursday.

The Liverpool midfielder has been on international duty with Argentina, and the FA have agreed to a 24 hour extension.
However, the date for the case - scheduled to be heard by a regulatory commission - has been brought forwards to Thursday April 3.
The charge came after studying Mascherano's reaction to his dismissal from Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester United.
The Argentinian midfielder had to be dragged from the pitch by coaching staff and colleagues after being shown a red card in the 45th minute by Steve Bennett.
The referee had given Mascherano a second yellow following his protests against a caution issued to Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez admitted Mascherano made a mistake in refusing to leave the pitch, but felt his sending off was harsh.
Mascherano can accept or deny the charge and also has the option of requesting a personal hearing.
The 23-year-old is currently serving a one-match suspension for the dismissal, ruling him out of Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield.
But if the charge of improper conduct is upheld then he will also miss Premier League games against Arsenal on April 5 and Blackburn eight days later. However, any ban would exclude the Champions League quarter-final first and second legs against Arsenal on April 2 and 9.

Egypt retains trophy

Egypt were crowned African Nations Cup champions after Mohamed Aboutrika's goal secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Cameroon.
Egypt celebrate their Nations Cup success
The Al-Ahly midfielder slotted home the winner 14 minutes from time after Mohamed Zidan capitalised on a Rigobert Song error to give the Pharaohs a record sixth continental title.
It is also a record third crown for captain Ahmed Hassan - the most by any player in the history of the competition.
The North Africans looked sharp from the outset, using their pace and skill to outwit Cameroon, who they beat 4-2 in the opening match of the tournament.
Geremi created the first opening for his side when he played in Samuel Eto'o with a fine cross from the right that was headed over by the Barcelona forward.
Egypt hit back when Hosny Abd Rabou curled a 25-yard free-kick over the wall, but Carlos Kameni was on hand to save low to his left, before Sayed Moawad drew a similar save with his shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Geremi's cross again caused confusion in the Egyptian penalty area after 10 minutes, but goalkeeper Essam El Hadary managed to punch the ball away.
Aboutrika then forced Kameni to dive low and parry away his fizzing 20-yard shot for a corner as the Pharaohs looked sharp on the break.
Otto Pfister's side were dealt a major blow after 15 minutes, when Alexandre Song-Bilong, who came into the game with an injury, had to be replaced by Gilles Binya.
But the change did not immediately seem to affect them as Geremi's 30-yard free-kick drew a sprawling save from El Hadary to his left.
Another good chance came for Egypt after 19 minutes when Amr Zaky played in Emad Moteab inside the area, but Kameni made another excellent block. The parry fell into the path of Aboutrika, but he blazed over.
The Al-Ahly midfielder again fired over midway through the half after Hany Said's commanding run and cross into the left side of the penalty area.
At the other end, Eto'o controlled the ball 20 yards out and turned well towards the right by-line, before firing across the face of goal.
But Egypt looked threatening on the break and Moteab had a fantastic chance to give them the lead in the 36th minute after being put through by Aboutrika, only for Kameni to pull off another stunning stop from the striker's close-range volley.
Zaky then fired narrowly over from a 30-yard free-kick on the left on the stroke of half-time.
After the restart, Kameni denied Zaky with an excellent save from an acute angle on the left, before somehow managing to keep out Hosny's shot from the edge of the penalty area as Hassan Shehata's team piled on the pressure.
Hosny came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly after the hour mark, when he headed against the upright after a brilliant floated cross from Aboutrika on the right.
After several half-chances and a little bit of play-acting from the Egyptians, they eventually managed to forge ahead after 76 minutes - making the most of Song's error.
Instead of clearing to safety, the Galatasary defender held on and was robbed of possession by Zidan, who slid the ball across to an unmarked Aboutrika to steer the ball home.
Cameroon upped the tempo, but struggled to create any openings until five minutes from time when a cross from the right took a nasty bounce forcing El Hadary to tip over, before Stephane Mbia drew a fine stop from the Egyptian custodian with his close-range shot from the right side of the box.
Song then missed a good chance at the death when he headed Geremi's pin-point cross over as the North Africans claimed a hard-fought win.

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Newcastle duo reject revolt claim

Newcastle goalkeepers Shay Given and Steve Harper have released a statement refuting claims that senior players have voiced their concerns to under-fire boss Sam Allardyce. It has been reported that a string of experienced players complained to Allardyce following their heavy defeat to Liverpool on November 24

Given and Harper hit back at claims that they had been part of a delegation unhappy with Allardyce's methods.
A statement read: "The story that has appeared is total and utter nonsense.
"Sam Allardyce has the full backing and support of every Newcastle United player and we are all working together as one to bring success to the club."
The statement went on: "Many issues are discussed between players and the manager, as is commonplace at any club.
"Far from that being 'player power' or any other ridiculous description, this is sensible and constructive communication and a key part of the process of helping to build a stronger football club which will also take us forward."

Wigan's Chris Hutchings Joins the List

Wigan Athletic have sacked manager Chris Hutchings 12 games into the Premier League season and just six months after he was appointed.
Wigan lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea on Saturday to slip into the bottom three with on eight points. Hutchings becomes the fourth Premier League manager to leave their job this season following Sammy Lee (Bolton Wanderers), Martin Jol (Tottenham Hotspur) and Jose Mourinho (Chelsea).

'This has been a very difficult decision for me and the board to make but I felt we had to act in the best interests of the club and its long-term future,' chairman Dave Whelan said in a statement.
'Chris has worked very hard since becoming manager and I cannot fault either his effort or commitment to the cause. However, it is crucial for the development of Wigan that we maintain our Premier League status this season and following results and performances in recent matches, we feel it is critical to act now.
Assistant Frank Barlow will take over on a caretaker basis until Whelan finds a replacement for a manager he described in May as 'the right person to progress the club into the next era.'
'I'd like to give him my assurance that he will have my full and total backing,' Whelan said at the time.
Hutchings was formerly assistant to Paul Jewell, who stood down immediately after Wigan avoided relegation on the final day of last season.
Hutchings, who previously had a brief spell in charge of Bradford City in the Premier League in 2000, got off to a great start as the top man at the JJB Stadium.
After winning all their pre-season friendlies the club had home wins over Middlesbrough and Sunderland and drew at West Ham United in their first four games.
But they were then knocked out of the League Cup at home by Championship side Hull City and have mustered only one point since, losing their last six games in a row.
Hutchings was sad to leave but insists he can look back on his time at the club with great satisfaction.
He said: 'I am immensely proud of what has been achieved at Wigan Athletic during my time here; two promotions, a cup final and three successive seasons so far in the top flight of English football - and hopefully many more in the future.
'It's a journey we have been on together since the summer of 2001 and can only be described as a real-life football fairytale.
'When I was given the opportunity to manage this club, I had no hesitation in taking on the challenge.
'I believe I have assembled an excellent bunch of players, a superb squad of professionals, and I still firmly believe that over time they will prove their worth and push this club to the next level. My only regret is that I will not be here to see that progression reach its summit.'
Former Liverpool, Blackburn and Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has emerged as the early favourite to replace Hutchings but the Scot is also thought to be interested in the Republic of Ireland job. Jewell is again likely to be linked with vacancy.
Whelan added: 'My energies will now be fully focused on getting the right man, firstly to stop the decline we have suffered in the last two months or so, and secondly, to take us forward in the future.
Jewell, who was in charge for six years and oversaw their climb from the second division to the top flight for the first time - with Hutchings as his assistant - has already been linked with a possible return to the club.

Dropped Lehmann hits out at Arsenal 'humiliation'
Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has warned coach Arsene Wenger his 'humiliation' at being left out of the Gunners side must end sooner rather than later.

The 37-year-old has now returned to full fitness following an elbow injury suffered on international duty with Germany towards the end of August.
However, the veteran was not involved at all, even in the squad, for the weekend's Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton at Emirates Stadium - and it remains to be seen whether Lehmann will feature in tonight's Champions League game against Slavia Prague.
Lehmann has not played for Arsenal since the Premier League match at Blackburn on August 19, when his error proved costly in a 1-1 draw. In his absence, Manuel Almunia has proved a more than able deputy, keeping seven clean sheets, as the Gunners stormed to the top of the table, with Poland international Lukasz Fabianski warming the bench.
Wenger accepts the German - and also fellow senior player Gilberto, another currently out of the side - is not happy with the situation, but has praised their professional attitude in training as 'spot-on'.
Lehmann, however, has clearly indicated it is something he expects resolved in his favour soon.
Speaking in an interview with German pay-tv station Premiere, which will be aired during tonight's Champions League programme, Lehmann declared: 'It could be that at some point I feel like commenting on the whole issue, but right at the moment I just accept everything as part of the humiliation. You have to let it happen.
'But I think - and this is directed towards my dear coach - that you should not humiliate players for too long. I am an Arsenal player and I will not just fade away quietly.'
Lehmann insisted: 'I am convinced I will soon be playing again. Almunia hasn't shown that he can win us matches just yet. I have been through this situation once and know how the other keeper is situated mentally. I can't imagine he will handle this.
'Wenger has spoken of three world-class goalies. I guess I must be one of them. The others have proven their class by winning titles? I'm just thinking about it, and I can't recall any. But yet today they are considered world class.'
Germany coach Joachim Low has already suggested Lehmann must be back playing regular club football if he is to remain first choice for his country in the run up to next summer's European Championships.
Lehmann, who turns 38 next month, added: 'The disadvantage from the game against Ireland is that my coach now knows that he has a keeper who can produce a pretty good game out of nowhere and without match practice. He could not ask for a better keeper on the bench.'