Football news

West Ham will continue to seek an out-of-court settlement with Carlos Tevez's representatives after they started legal proceedings against the London club. The Premier League club said that if they failed to achieve an out-of-court agreement, then they would present a robust case to the High Court on August 22.

Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian, who claims that he and his companies own the economic rights to Tevez, 23, applied to the High Court after serving a writ on West Ham in a bid to ease his proposed transfer to Manchester United.

West Ham claim they are the true 'owners' of Tevez.

Di Michele banned three months

Italy striker David Di Michele has been banned for three months for illegal betting. The 31-year-old, who has made six appearances for the Azzurri and moved from Palermo to Torino last month, has also been fined 20,000 euros.

Di Michele had been accused of betting "directly or through third parties, on the results of official matches organised by the FIGC". The maximum possible ban was three years.

Top-flight team Udinese were fined 15,000 euros with Serie B sides Vicenza and Mantova having to pay 7,000 euros following the probe. Three lesser known players also received bans of between three months and five months plus 20 days.

Smith attracting interest

Alex Ferguson said various clubs have asked about Alan Smith. But with Newcastle and Middlesbrough thought to have had bids accepted for the 26-year-old striker, Ferguson said no deal was imminent.

"There have been a few inquiries and we know Alan wants first-team football but nothing has been decided yet," he said.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb says they are to step up their interest in the former Leeds player.

"Our position hasn't changed. If you go back a few weeks, it was well documented that we had agreed a fee and had permission to talk to Alan," he said.

Four players join Hearts

Hearts have made four new signings, including Spanish playmaker Ruben Palazuelos, formerly of Gimnastic. Striker Ricardas Beniusis and winger Andrius Ksanavicius have joined on year-long loans from Kaunas.

Slovenia U-17 captain Matej Rapnik has signed a two-year agreement.

Midfielder Palazuelos, who bought himself out of his contract, did enough to impress as a trialist in Saturday's friendly against Barcelona at Murrayfield.

Reds will struggle - McManaman

Steve McManaman, the former Liverpool player, said the club will struggle to win the league title this season despite spending more than £40m on new players.

Liverpool finished 21 points behind Manchester United last season - closer to 12th place than first.

"I certainly think they'll be in the top four," McManaman said.

"Whether they can win it this year, who knows? They've strengthened, but so have the teams that finished ahead, so it's going to be very difficult."

Pato price set at £15m

Milan will have to fork out £15m to get Internacional's Alexandre Pato. The 17-year-old is one of the hottest properties on the transfer market and has attracted the interest of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter as well as Milan.

"Pato's get-out clause is set at £9.8m and whoever wants to sign him will have to pay that amount of money, which will go entirely to the club," announced Internacional president Vitorio Pifero.

The remaining £5m would most probably be for the player's agent Gilmar Veloz, who is expected to meet with Milan official Leonardo shortly.

Villarreal agree deal for Rossi

Villarreal have reached an agreement with Manchester United to sign striker Giuseppe Rossi on a six-year contract, the Primera Liga club said.

Rossi will take a medical and be presented at the Madrigal today. Media reports have put the transfer fee at around 10 million euros.

The 20-year-old American-born Italian spent the second half of last season on loan with Serie A side Parma, and scored nine goals to help them avoid relegation.

Rossi, an Italian under-21 international, joined United from Parma in July 2004 and last year signed a contract extension until 2010.

Cicinho rejects Roma talk

Cicinho, the Brazilian wing-back, said he has no intention of leaving Real Madrid to join Roma. Cicinho is considered the next name on Roma's wish list and speculation at first indicated that the player wanted to join the Italian Cup winners.

"People say that I want to leave, but that is crazy," Cicinho said

"I have heard that there is an offer from Roma, but if Real Madrid don't send me away I will not leave. When I told my wife that we might move elsewhere she said I could go alone."

Chiellini won't join City - Juve

Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, the Juventus supremo, said any offers from Manchester City for Giorgio Chiellini will not be accepted. The defender has been linked with Sven-Goran Eriksson's new club and reports in England suggest that he was close to signing a £7m deal.

"Juve's position is to refuse Manchester City's offer for Chiellini," Cobolli Gigli said.

The full-back recently complained that he felt neglected by the club and his agent confirmed on Monday that his client would favour a move to Manchester City, where he would increase the Italian contingent already formed by Rolando Bianchi and Bernardo Corradi.