Football news

German international goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said he would consider a transfer to a Bundesliga team this winter if it would help secure his place at the Euro 2008 finals.

The 38-year-old has been second choice to Spaniard Manuel Almunia at Arsenal in recent weeks, but told yesterday's edition of Kicker magazine he thought he would regain his first-team place at the London club soon.

"The Bundesliga is always attractive and an option, maybe even the second division," Lehmann said in an interview. "At any rate I want to go to Euro 2008. Playing there was always my goal."

Chelsea's Carvalho faces scan

Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho is to have a back scan after he became the latest player to join the club's injury list.

The Portuguese international came off during the first half of Chelsea's 1-1 Premier League draw with Everton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, adding to manager Avram Grant's injury woes.

The Israeli is already without first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech and defenders John Terry, Ashley Cole and Paulo Ferreira.

However, Grant said that Cole was fit to return and would be made available for England this week, although he has not played since the middle of October when he picked up an ankle injury on international duty.

Mutu ruled out for four weeks

Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu has suffered a thigh injury and will be out of action for the next four weeks.

The Romanian forward sustained the first-degree strain in his thigh during Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to Udinese at the Artemio Franchi stadium.

Coach Cesare Prandelli will have to do without the Romanian marksman for the Serie A trip to Reggina and the UEFA Cup test against AEK Athens.

The ex-Juventus forward faces a race against time to recover full fitness for the crunch league match against Inter on December 2.

Positive news for Di Michele

Torino forward David Di Michele has breathed a sigh of relief as tests have revealed that he hasn't broken his tibia.

The former Italy striker has just returned from a gambling ban that saw him suspended until November. However, he limped off injured after only 30 minutes of Sunday's 1-1 Serie A draw against Catania.

Di Michele was rushed to hospital in Turin as the team's medical staff feared that he had a tibia fracture that could have ruled him out of action for months. However, that prognosis has been dismissed.

Seedorf explains armband snub

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has defended his decision not to wear a black armband during Milan's abandoned match against Atalanta on Sunday.

Every other player on the pitch in Bergamo chose to wear an armband as a mark of respect for Lazio fan Gabriele Sandri, who was killed by a policeman in Arezzo on Sunday.

"I didn't know who the armband was for," the Dutchman told Sky Sport Italia. "I didn't know the person or the facts.

"I also thought of past situations like when Kakha Kaladze's brother was kidnapped and killed but the FIGC and Lega Calcio did nothing."

Officers hurt in football trouble

More than 20 police officers were injured in violence following the Birmingham derby last weekend.

Police said some of their officers suffered minor injuries in scuffles after the Birmingham City and Aston Villa match at St Andrew's on Sunday. Aston Villa won 2-1.

Trouble flared outside the ground after the game and violence spread to near the Bullring shopping mall in the city centre.

A police spokesman said 17 men were arrested and later released on bail.

Hands off Jarque, Spurs warned

Espanyol have warned Tottenham against making a move for highly-rated defender Dani Jarque.

Reports over the weekend suggested new Spurs boss Juande Ramos was lining up a bid for the 24-year-old central defender.

The Tottenham manager is thought to have made defensive reinforcements his top priority in the January transfer window and Jarque is rumoured to be among his top targets.

"We have not received any offers for Jarque, but it is certain that we know of interest from some clubs in the player," Espanyol said.

"Now he is an important member of our team and we are not interested in his sale."

Eremenko assaulted in Moscow

Finland striker Alexei Eremenko will miss his team's final two Euro 2008 qualifiers later this month after suffering a broken jaw in an assault in Moscow.

"Eremenko was beaten up in Moscow on Sunday and a broken jaw will keep him on the sidelines for three to four weeks," the Finnish FA said in a statement.

"A couple of guys encountered him on the street and hit him in the face without a reason," the player's father, Alexei Eremenko Sr, said in the same statement.

Eremenko, who has dual Russian and Finnish citizenship, has scored 12 goals in 32 international appearances for Finland.

Roma aware of US interest

The controlling shareholder of Italian soccer club AS Roma said yesterday it had been informed by a third party of possible interest from an unnamed US investor.

Shareholder Italpetroli said it had not been contacted directly or indirectly by the potential investor.