Football news

Newcastle United are confident they will sign Argentine defender Fabricio Coloccini.

Reports in Spain claimed the English club had already agreed a deal to recruit the Deportivo La Coruna defender and while that is premature, a club spokesman says talks are progressing.

Coloccini is looking to leave Depor and had threatened to invoke Article 17 in FIFA's regulations in order to walk out on the Galician club.

There's one deal which is ongoing at the moment," Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan said yesterday. "Hopefully we'll have something to tell you over the weekend."

Family the key for Lampard

Chelsea's Frank Lampard decided not to join Inter to remain near his father, Inter president Massimo Moratti said yesterday.

Lampard's father, a former England defender, was widowed when his wife Pat died in April.

"He wanted to come, I know that for certain, but he was doing it with a great deal of anxiety and he stopped for family reasons, for his father, whom he is very close to," Moratti told Sky television.

Smith keen on Davis return

Walter Smith has expressed his interest in bringing back Steven Davis to Rangers but admitted it will all depend on the player's wages demands.

Davis spent the second half of last season on loan at Ibrox and Smith has been keen on forcing a permanent deal.

The Rangers boss says there are currently no talks taking place with Fulham but confirmed he still has money to spend in the transfer market. However, he warned he has no intention of breaking the club's wage structure to sign a player.

"There's no dialogue between Rangers and Fulham at the moment, but there is money left over to buy players," said Smith in the Daily Record.

"What you're looking for is good value in terms of transfer fee and wages. You don't want to break into squad wage levels

Roma lining up Benayoun deal

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is reportedly about to launch a bid to sign Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun. The Israel international is said to be the kind of player being sought by the Serie A club.

"We are looking for someone very physical who can play as a wide striker," the Roma coach said.

"Everyone likes David Silva, but he is too expensive. Lukas Podolski is an excellent player, but would not fit into our style of play."

Sky Sports claim that Roma are looking at Benayoun and the Italian club are set to table an offer.

Liverpool seem to be ready to part way with Benayoun as manager Rafael Benitzel tries to collect more cash in his bid to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.

Moyes vows to stay at Everton

David Moyes has no intention of leaving Everton despite persistent reports in the British media said that he was set to stand down.

British media said that the Scottish coach was ready to quit the Goodison Park club following the club's lack of transfer activity during the summer. But the former Preston coach, who has been in charge for the past six seasons, is determined to fulfil his ambitions.

"I am not going anywhere," Moyes told the club's official website. "I am here and intend to see the job through. We have great expectations and I hope that I am able to fulfil them.

"At the moment my energies are focused on bringing in new players. We have a certain amount of money to improve what we already have got here."

Juve could be back in the market

Alessio Secco yesterday refused to rule out the possibility that Juventus will bring in more new players before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

"As our president said, Juve's transfer activity is pretty much closed, but we are leaving the door open just in case there is the chance of another addition," he told Tuttosport.

"At times there can be strange situations, unexpected events that give you the opportunity to make a swoop at the last moment."

Rumours are rife in Italy that Juventus are pondering to bring in Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic in a straight swap deal with Portuguese Tiago Mendes who would move in the other direction.

Genoa snap up Papastathopoulos

Genoa have announced that they completed the signing of Greek defender Socratis Papastathopoulos from AEK Athens.

The Italian club had been linked with the 20-year-old talent for several weeks, but the confirmation of a £3 million deal only arrived on Friday night.

Papastathopoulos was the youngest player ever to captain AEK Athens, but was contro-versially excluded from Greece's Euro 2008 squad by coach Otto Rehhagel.