Football news

David Moyes said talk that he has signed a new contract at Everton was mere speculation as he is yet to ink a new deal but added the issue should be resolved soon.

Moyes's future has been the subject of speculation all summer with the Scot yet to sign the new deal on offer to him.

Reports said the former Preston manager has been offered a five-year deal to secure his future at Everton as Moyes has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the manager's job at Newcastle.

"That's not the case," Moyes told reporters regarding rumours that he had signed a new deal.

"The contract is with the club at the moment and hopefully we will get something done shortly."

New Four Nations

Italy, France, Spain and Germany are likely to play in an international tournament following on the footsteps of the British nations, except England, who will play in a new Four Nations Cup in future.

Reports said French Football Association president Jean-Pierre Escalettes is keen to instigate a similar competition for France, Spain, Italy and Germany, starting in 2009.

"We are looking at setting up a tournament at the beginning of June 2009, using the two international dates that we haven't filled yet," Escalettes said.

"We have looked at the possibility of organising a tournament that could bring together big countries.

"This tournament could proceed annually or every two years ."

Smith fractures foot

Newcastle United's woes have continued following the managerless club's announcement that Alan Smith has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot and could be out for up to three months.

The 27-year-old is to have an operation to repair damage to his foot and is unlikely to play again this year. Caretaker boss Chris Hughton said: "Alan Smith will have an operation which could keep him out for about three months."

That will come as a blow to Hughton with the squad currently massively depleted by injury and suspension.

Smith, a £6 million Sam Allardyce signing, struggled to establish himself at St James' Park in his first season and has not figured at all during the current campaign.

Ronaldo in City talks

Brazilian striker Ronaldo is in talks with Manchester City and hopes to return from a career-threatening knee injury in two or three months.

"It's a great possibility," Ronaldo told French sports daily L'Equipe when asked whether he could move to the Premier League.

"Manchester City are putting together an incredible project with great players," he added, referring to the club's new-found wealth, secured by the takeover by an Abu Dhabi-based company.

"It's a long-term project that could have immediate results because City want to shake the hierarchy of world football," said Ronaldo, who ruptured a tendon in February.

"We are talking (with Man. City) at the moment. We shall see."

Beauchamp red card rescinded

Michael Beauchamp, the Aalborg defender, has had his red card overturned after he was incorrectly sent off during the Champions League draw against Celtic on Wednesday at Celtic Park.

Beauchamp was the victim of mistaken identity when he was shown the red card by Italian referee Matteo Trefoloni for a foul on Greek striker Georgios Samaras.

The infringement was committed by Beauchamp's defensive partner Michael Jakobsen with 10 minutes to go.

Jakobsen has been handed a one-match ban instead, meaning he will miss Aalborg's next Champions League match against Manchester United in Denmark on September 30.

Mourinho wants more progress

Inter boss Jose Mourinho said he is not happy despite following up on the Catania win, his first in Serie A, with a 2-0 victory at Panathinaikos in the Champions League.

"I want to improve everything," the Portuguese coach was quoted as saying on the club website.

"We have won a Champions League match and we have four points in the league. I have enough experience not to go crazy with joy.

"I always want to improve our results and our game."

Kroenke accepted in Arsenal board

Stan Kroenke got the go-ahead to join the Arsenal board and become a non-executive director of the Premier League club.

The billionaire US businessman, owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, holds 12.4 per cent of shares in Arsenal Holdings PLC, and his new post was widely interpreted as an attempt to stave off a potential takeover from Uzbek mogul Alisher Usmanov.

In a statement, the Arsenal board, led by club chairman Peter Hill-Wood, claimed Kroenke was fully behind their way of running the club contrary to the owner-funded approach that would come with an Usmanov takeover.

Kroenke has agreed not to increase his stake beyond 29.9 per cent of Arsenal's share capital in the next year unless a takeover bid is launched by Usmanov, in which case he could do so with the consent of the board.