Glen Johnson sidelined by knee injury
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has injured the medial ligament in his knee and is set to miss several games for the Premier League club. The England defender limped off in the 88th minute of Liverpool's 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday. Johnson is due to see a specialist on Thursday to establish the severity of the injury and the length of his rehabilitation.
Hodgson signs one-year contract extension
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has signed a one-year contract extension at the Premier League club. "It is really nice that the club wants me to stay," Hodgson said yesterday on the club's Web site. "I've made it clear that I'm happy here and enjoying my time. The club and the team are constantly growing and we're running as fast as we can to make sure we don't ever go backwards." Hodgson joined Fulham in 2007. The only previous English clubs he had managed were Bristol City and Blackburn after having built his reputation abroad through two stints at Inter Milan and coaching the Finland and Switzerland national teams.
Works on Stanley Park could start in April
Work on Liverpool's new stadium in Stanley Park could begin as early as April 2010. Warren Bradley leader of Liverpool’s City Council said Liverpool have told the council they are "very close now to securing the finances". He added it would be "in April that we'll see some activity on Stanley Park". Bradley also revealed the council would hold talks with Everton about their plans for a new stadium on 11 January. The government rejected Everton's plans for a 50,000-seater stadium in Kirkby, with Liverpool City Council one of the opponents of the plan. Construction on the new site in Stanley Park, which is next to the Reds' current Anfield Stadium and has a planned 60,000 capacity, was frozen in August 2008 after preliminary work because of the financial conditions.
Milan close transfer window
The transfer window is closed for Milan before it has even opened according to Adriano Galliani.David Beckham has been picked up on loan from MLS side LA Galaxy and Ghanaian wonderkid Dominic Adiyiah is scheduled to arrive from Norwegian side Fredrikstad in January. Consequently the Milan vice-president has signalled that there will be no more new arrivals next month - not even Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic."The purchases by Milan in January are Beckham and Adiyiah, no other," confirmed Galliani. "Jovanovic? He is one of the names on which we are working but only for next season."He also ruled out any challenge to Inter for the signature of free agent Goran Pandev.
Bayern wish Toni luck
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has as good as confirmed Luca Toni's transfer to Roma by wishing the Italian striker well on his return home."I wish him good fortune for his return to Italy. I hope he can score many goals so as to win himself a space in the World Cup squad for South Africa," stated the Hoeness."I hope he can contest the championship well with Roma."Toni himself stated earlier this week that he hoped to introduce himself to Roma before next Saturday.The 32-year-old began this term injured and has failed to gel with new Bayern boss Louis Van Gaal - playing just four games and scoring just once.In total he bagged 30 goals in 68 matches during his spell in the Bundesliga and was leading scorer in his debut season back in 2007-08.
Suazo already in Genoa
David Suazo is already in Genoa and training with the Rossoblu ahead of his loan move from Inter.The Honduran international is expected to formalise his transfer in the early days of January but the Nerazzurri have given him permission to link up with his new club early."We have granted permission to Genoa to authorize the arrival of David Suazo for medical tests, training and eventual terms beginning from December 30," explained an Inter statement.Genoa President Enrico Preziosi has also revealed that Suazo's arrival makes it likely that Sergio Floccari will depart when the transfer window opens."The player is interested in a move to Lazio," he revealed.
Hiddink going nowhere - agent
Guus Hiddink's agent has scotched rumours that the Dutchman is imminently arriving at Juventus.Despite chatter on the peninsula suggesting that a deal to bring the Russia national manager to Turin is close, his handler has denied the claims."The whole story is an invention of the Italian media," stated Cees Van Nieuwenhuizen. "Neither I nor Guus has received any official offer from the club."Guus is in Kenya and the only one leading the negotiations are lions."I am spending the Christmas holiday in the south of France and the only one I'm negotiating with is my wife."The official line is that Hiddink will make a decision on his future in February after the new president of the Russian FA has been elected.