Football news

Inter look to have given up their pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard after signing Sulley Muntari from Portsmouth yesterday.

The Ghana midfielder, 23, has penned a four-year deal with the Italian champions but the transfer fee has not been disclosed. Media reports have put the figure at around €16 million.

Muntari, who played at Serie A's Udinese between 2002 and 2007, spent just one season in England and is new coach Jose Mourinho's second major signing at Inter after Brazilian winger Mancini moved from Roma.

"Muntari is the last buy," Inter director Gabriele Oriali told reporters. "Now we will work on trimming the squad because Mourinho wants 22 players and three goalkeepers. There will be some painful goodbyes."

Coloccini offered Newcastle move

Deportivo La Coruna defender Fabricio Coloccini is a target for Newcastle United, his agent has said.

Manager Kevin Keegan is known to be looking for defensive reinforcements, having at the weekend spoken of a need to add cover in both full-back positions.

Argentine international Coloccini prefers to operate as a central defender but according to his agent, Macelo Lombilla, Keegan is still keen to take him on board.

"The only offer that I have received is from Newcastle, which I communicated to Deportivo," Coloccini told AS.

Totti on Mutu saga

Roma captain Francesco Totti is disappointed that Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu's move to the capital has fallen through.

Mutu had agreed to leave Florence to join Roma but Fiorentina turned down a bid of nearly £18 million, ending any hope for a transfer.

"Did I expect the Mutu situation to end like this? No, it really seemed like a done deal," Totti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We could already sense his arrival, but fate wanted things to go this way and it certainly isn't the club's fault.

"Cristian Chivu told me that Mutu was what was needed to be a squad capable of being Scudetto winners, but now we must look elsewhere."

United's Ferdinand in fitness race

Rio Ferdinand is confident of regaining full fitness in time for Manchester United's Premier League season opener against Newcastle United on August 17.

The England defender is said to be behind many of his team-mates in terms of fitness after missing much of United's pre-season.

"I don't see it as a problem," said Ferdinand on his lack of pre-season action. "There's enough games to get under my belt before the start of the season.

"Fingers crossed I'll be fit for those. I did ground work before going out to South Africa and I'll do a lot of work in training back at home."

Fabregas in no rush to join Real

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has not ruled out the possibility of joining Real Madrid in the future but dismissed the idea he could move to the Bernabeu this summer.

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, resigned to missing out on Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, is putting together a big-money offer for Fabregas.

"I didn't tell Ramon Calderon no," he told Spanish sports daily Marca.

"I told him that now wasn't the time to go to Madrid.

"That you are wanted by Real Madrid, one of the biggest teams in history, is important."

Redknapp upbeat about Kanu

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is hopeful that Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu will accept the club's offer of a one-year deal.

Redknapp told the club website, www.portsmouthfc.co.uk: "Kanu hasn't got a bigger fan in the world than me.

"But, like anybody, he's not getting any younger. Every year he's signed a one-year deal and if he plays a certain amount of games, he gets another year.

"Hopefully the deal will be sorted because I want to keep him at Portsmouth."

Scolari targets four titles

Chelsea can win the four competitions they will be taking part in next season, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said.

Scolari believes the London club have the players to win the Premier League, two domestic cups and UEFA Champions League.

"We are in four competitions this season and I will try to win all four and the players will do the same," Scolari said.

"It's very difficult but you know we have the team to do this. Chelsea have given me everything that I want."

Captain John Terry, with Scolari on the Premier League club's tour of Asia, said he had put his dramatic Champions League final penalty miss behind him.

"There's no point in dwelling on it anymore," Terry said of the failed spot-kick which allowed Manchester United to beat Chelsea in the final in Moscow and deny them their first European Cup.

"It's down to me to drive this team forward again and push to get back to where we were."