Football News

Goalkeeper Marco Storari yesterday joined Milan from Serie A strugglers Messina as the San Siro giants made their move following news that Zeljko Kalac is likely to be out for a month with injury.

Although the fit-again Nelson Dida is being tipped to start against Lazio on Sunday, there are still doubts over his fitness.

As a precautionary measure, Milan have increased their options in goal with the acquisition of the 30-year-old. Storari, formerly of Perugia, Ancona and Napoli, has signed a contract until June 2010 even if no details of the fee paid to the Sicilian side have been released.

Celtic bid unacceptable

Celtic have been told not to make another bid for Kyle Lafferty, the Burnley forward. The Northern Ireland player was the subject of an offer from Parkhead, reported to be £500,000, which Burnley instantly rejected.

The Division One side are determined to keep Lafferty at Turf Moor and insist they will not entertain a further approach from Celtic for the 19-year-old.

Manager Steve Cotterill, who insists Lafferty is worth at least £6 million, said: "The bid that has been made for Kyle is nowhere near acceptable."

Borriello facing doping ban

Marco Borriello's B sample also found traces of a banned substance. The striker had tested positive for illegal corticosteroids following the 2-1 home defeat to Roma late last year.

Although the player has maintained his innocence, his B sample has confirmed the results of the initial test.

The incriminating substances are commonly used as antibiotics in treating inflammatory illnesses and can be either ingested, injected or included in creams or sprays.

However, according to doctors, the quantities found in Borriello's sample were high enough to exclude that the positive result was due to an external use.

Hargreaves close to fitness

England midfielder Owen Hargreaves is on his way back to action for Bayern Munich after recovering from a broken leg. Hargreaves, 25, resumed training this week for the first time since the injury in September.

"The injury is getting better and better and I'm feeling stronger all the time. I'm increasing my programme day-to-day so when I've been training for a week or two I'll probably play a half."

Hargreaves broke his leg while playing for Bayern against Arminia Bielefeld on September 17. He was initially expected to miss six weeks but has been sidelined for four months.

Heinze linked with Spurs move

Gabriel Heinze, the out-of-favour Man. United defender, has been linked with a move to Tottenham. The Argentine has not managed to establish himself in United's starting line-up this season after recovering from injury.

Patrice Evra has regularly been preferred at left-back, while Southampton's Gareth Bale remains a January transfer target for Alex Ferguson.

United could be tempted to part with Heinze, with reports suggesting he will be on his way out of the Old Trafford exit door if Bale arrives.

Juventus and Paris SG are both interested in bringing in Heinze, but Tottenham are believed to be lining up a £5 million swoop.

Door open for Emerson

Juve have not ruled out the return of Brazilian midfield Emerson at the end of the season. Emerson joined Real Madrid last summer after Juve's demotion to Serie B, but recently he suggested that he was interested in moving back to Italy.

"Emerson? You can never say never," club chief Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said yesterday.

"However, I believe that a player who chose to leave in the past is more likely to not return to his former club. Has he asked to come back to Juventus? I know nothing about it."

Barton happy at Man. City

Joey Barton yesterday said he is happy to stay at Man. City despite interest from Everton who have been told Barton is not for sale despite a clause in the 24-year-old's contract allowing him to speak to any club offering £5.5m.

After City beat Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup, Barton said: "I have stated on record I don't want to leave.

"I am totally settled. We are going in the right direction and I have got a manager who believes in me."

Dong set for United debut

Manchester United's China striker Dong Fangzhuo has been given a British work permit and is clear to make his competitive debut for the Premier League leaders.

United signed the 21-year-old from Dalian Shide in January 2004 but sent him out on loan to Belgian club Royal Antwerp, where he scored 35 goals in 61 games.

Handed shirt number 21, Dong is now eligible to turn out in league and cup games for United and has signed a new contract until 2010. He has only played previously for them in pre-season friendlies, scoring the winner against Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa last July.