Football news

Real Madrid are on the verge of finalising talks with Chelsea to sign winger Arjen Robben, according to reports in Spain.

Both AS and Marca said the deal is closer than ever to being done, with the latter suggesting Chelsea are ready to accept Real's offer of 30 million euros for the Dutchman.

Robben's countrymen Royston Drenthe and Wesley Sneijder both completed moves to Real in the past few days, the former after threatening to take his former club Feyenoord to the Court of Arbitration.

Boro agree fee for Mido

Middlesbrough have agreed a fee with Tottenham Hotspurs for Egyptian striker Mido.

A deal is expected to be completed today as the forward was due to have a medical in the north east yesterday.

Mido's move to Birmingham collapsed earlier this summer with Blues boss Steve Bruce claiming the player's insistence upon various contractual clauses prompted the breakdown.

Sunderland had also expressed an interest in signing Mido.

Keane admits Cole interest

Roy Keane is ready to resurrect the Premier League career of Andy Cole by taking the former Newcastle frontman back to the north-east.

Cole, 35, has been searching for a new club after being released by Portsmouth this summer and the Sunderland manager is considering making him one of two more signings before the transfer window closes.

Keane, who played alongside Cole at Manchester United, said: "Coley has obviously left Portsmouth and that is something I am looking at.

"There will probably be news on one or two players who will be coming in."

Eriksson praises Elano

Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson is tipping Elano to get even better following his impressive Premier League debut. The Brazil international set up City's opener in their 2-0 win at West Ham before dropping off the pace in the second half.

"I think he's a fantastic player, I had seen him before the Copa America but in those games he was absolutely incredible," Eriksson said.

"If you are a great player on that stage, you can play anywhere in the world. Physically, he's very strong... he can cope with the Premier League, I'm sure of it."

Skipper snub surprises Gilberto

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva was surprised to learn that he would not succeed Thierry Henry as the Gunners' captain.

The Brazilian said he was shocked when he found out Wenger had opted to give the armband to defender William Gallas - via the internet.

"I was surprised the manager didn't speak to me about his decision," Gilberto said.

"He had the time to do it because I was at the training ground before it was made public. I just found out about it that evening when I saw it on the Arsenal website."

Milan still pushing for Ronaldinho

Milan are waiting "with arms wide open" for the arrival of Ronaldinho at the San Siro, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Speculation that the European champions are closing in on their long-term target increased this week with newspaper reports of a £43 million bid.

"Let's wait. We're here with arms wide open," Ancelotti told reporters on Monday.

Milan have also been linked with two midfielders currently plying their trade in La Liga - Real Madrid's Emerson and Barca's Thiago Motta. But Ancelotti said a move for either is unlikely.

Kanoute extends Sevilla contract

Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has extended his contract with Sevilla for an extra year until 2010. The 29-year-old, who joined Sevilla from Tottenham in 2005, has played a key role in the Andalucians' success in the last two seasons.

He scored in Sevilla's triumphs in successive UEFA Cup finals in 2006 and 2007 and grabbed the winner in their victory over Getafe in the King's Cup in June.

He was the club's top scorer with 21 goals in the league last season.

Atletico renew Recoba interest

Atletico Madrid have revived their interest in Inter midfielder Alvaro Recoba, who is also a transfer target for Napoli and Torino.

Recoba is widely expected to quit the Italian champions in search of more regular football.

Recoba, who has a deal until 2008, had been linked with a move to Atletico earlier this summer but despite the Madrid outfit's willingness to meet the player's salary demands, the Uruguayan recently said that he would prefer to stay in Italy.

Thaksin faces arrest warrant

Thailand's Supreme Court issued arrest warrants for exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on corruption charges yesterday.

The nine-judge panel ordered him to appear in court by Sept. 25, the starting date of the trial of Thaksin and his wife, following his failure to meet the deadline for a voluntary appearance.

Extradition proceedings would be considered if Thaksin, who has kept a high profile by buying English Premier League club Manchester City from his exile home in London, did not appear by the new deadline.