Football news

Sevilla's Luis Fabiano has said he does not want to leave the club but that the company who own 65 per cent of his rights were looking to cash in on a tempting offer from Manchester City.

"I have never said I want to leave. I don't want to go in the middle of the season," the Brazil striker said. "It can't be ruled out because the group want to sell their part."

Luis Fabiano, who has scored 13 league goals this season, said contract renewal negotiations were on hold with Sevilla.

"I am waiting to see what Sevilla are going to do to help me. The offer from Manchester City is €12 million."

Almiron joins Monaco on loan

Juventus's Argentine midfielder Sergio Almiron has joined Monaco on loan until the end of the season, the Ligue 1 club said .

The 27-year-old moved to Juve in the close season after helping Empoli to a seventh place finish in Serie A last term, but he has failed to repeat the form he showed for the Tuscan minnows in Turin.

Roma's Faty opts for Nantes

Roma midfielder Ricardo Faty turned down a move to Everton before joining Nantes on loan. The 21-year-old failed to settle in the Serie A after his move from Strasbourg in 2006. Now, he has returned to France on loan until the end of the season.

Faty said he spurned a move to Everton as well as interest from Italy and Germany, where he spent the first half of this season on loan with Bayer Leverkusen.

He said: "In England, Everton were very interested in taking me and proposed a 15-day trial. But I did not want to take the risk as it could not have ended in a contract."

Derby to land 'keeper Carroll

Derby County expect to complete the loan signing of Northern Ireland goalkeeper Roy Carroll from Rangers, the Premier League club said on their website.

Carroll, 30, has been a target of Derby manager Paul Jewell for several weeks and has played only once for Scottish club Rangers since his transfer from West Ham United last July.

LMA appointment for Capello

Fabio Capello has been named the new president of the League Managers' Association (LMA), as is customary for the national coach.

"I'm aware of the importance of the LMA and the work it does. It's an honour to accept the invitation," said Capello.

LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson said: "Since the LMA's inception in 1992, the England boss has always been president.

"We now look forward to Fabio building a strong relationship with the game and other managers in England."

Juve-Lyon agree on Boumsong

France defender Jean-Alain Boumsong is joining Olympique Lyon after the six-times French champions reached an agreement with Juventus, Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said.

Lyon need a defender with Brazilian Cleber Anderson out for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

The Cameroon-born Boumsong, 28, joined Juventus from Newcastle United in 2006. He has 22 caps for France.

Pogatetz ends Austria exile

Austria defender Emanuel Pogatetz has been named in their squad to face Germany in a Euro 2008 warm-up next month ending 17 months of international exile.

The Middlesbrough player was called up to an 18-man squad yesterday after patching up his differences with coach Josef Hickersberger at the end of last year.

Pogatetz was axed from the Austria set-up in September 2006 after publicly criticising Hickersberger.

Walcott to go on loan?

Reports in the UK this week suggested Arsenal are set to send Theo Walcott out on loan. Walcott joined the Gunners from Southampton in 2006 in a deal that could cost up to £12 million. However, Arsene Wenger has used the 18-year-old sparingly, handing him just nine Premier League starts since his switch.

Speculation suggests Wenger could be set to loan Walcott out to a club that guarantees he will play regular first-team football.

"There is a gap here between playing in the reserves and our first team," Wenger said.

Celtic bid for Durica fails

Celtic, keen to strengthen their left-sided wing, have failed with a bid to sign Slovak defender Jan Durica. Celtic lodged a £3 million bid for the 26-year-old but his Russian club Saturn rejected the offer.

"About three days ago Celtic representatives contacted us and said that they would like to sign Jan Durica," agent Karel Csonto said.

"I personally discussed the transfer with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell.

"But, the Scottish side have offered Saturn a £3 million bid, which was not an adequate offer."