Football news

Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez has voiced his disappointment over rumours suggesting that he had turned down a new contract to stay at the club.

The Argentine striker, who was given a week off by Sir Alex Ferguson over the New Year, has reiterated his desire to stay at Old Trafford.

"We have not started talks with United yet, though I am keen to stay," declared Tevez.

"Sir Alex Ferguson has told me he wants me to remain a United player and that is certainly my desire too.

"My contract ends in the summer and we have agreed to sit down at the end of the season and discuss a new contract, nothing I have heard from the club suggests it will be otherwise.

Spurs target Downing to request transfer

Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing will hand in a written transfer request today, reports in England claimed yesterday.

The 24-year-old wants to leave his hometown club following strong interest from Tottenham. Boro chief executive Keith Lamb has already rejected a 'derisory' bid from the White Hart Lane outfit while manager Gareth Southgate has repeatedly insisted the England international is simply not for sale.

However, Downing's decision to officially express his wish to leave could force Middlesbrough's hand with Southgate admitting when striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu made it clear he wanted to quit the Riverside Stadium, that there was no point in hanging on to players who were unhappy at the club.

Hughes eyes five more signings

Manchester City need to sign five more players this month to ensure they remain competitive in the Premier League, under-fire manager Mark Hughes said in the wake of his side's 3-0 shock defeat to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.

Hughes has already brought in left-back Wayne Bridge from Chelsea for a fee believed to be around £10 million.

"We need more players," he said. "We have brought Bridge to the club but maybe we need five more to complement the ones we have.

"Bringing players in during January is not easy but it is evident to everybody that number is probably the minimum we need."

Liverpool wait on Alonso injury

Liverpool are waiting for news on the extent of Xabi Alonso's injury. The Spanish midfielder needed seven stitches in his foot during Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup victory against Preston and was taken off at the end of the first half.

"We do not know the full extent of the injury, apart from the fact he will be very sore," Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee said.

"Hopefully there will be no damage but we won't know for 24 to 48 hours."

Alonso, 27, was hurt when his shot was blocked by the Preston defence after Robbie Keane laid the ball to him on the edge of the box.

Big-money moves baffle O'Neill

Martin O'Neill is baffled how big-money transfers continue to infiltrate football, claiming that player valuations are now unrealistic.

The Aston Villa manager admits that even he was forced to break his own rigid transfer policies when his club forked out £9 million for the raw talents of Ashley Young two years ago, but accepts that sometimes risks have to be taken when purchasing potential.

"If I thought eventually a player was going to be worth it then I might pay over the odds," he told the News of the World.

"But I would have preferred to pay £5m for Ashley at the time ... the fact that he's worth 15 times that now is immaterial."

Capello criticises Gerrard's behaviour

Fabio Capello has reportedly criticised Steven Gerrard's lack of discipline when giving advice to Fiorentina's Riccardo Montolivo.

The Liverpool captain was recently charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray after an alleged nightclub brawl.

Gerrard has often been touted as a positive example for young Italian players to follow, while Montolivo has singled him out as an idol.

"Let's hope he doesn't want to imitate Gerrard in every way, especially with regards to recent behaviour," England manager Capello said.

Capello was speaking to Montolivo when he visited Fiorentina's winter training camp in Marbella on Saturday afternoon.

Adriano angry at huge Inter fine

Inter are unsure how to punish Adriano for his tardiness after the Brazilian put the blame for his late arrival on them.

The striker returned to Italy late from his Christmas break in Brazil and didn't attend Friday's first training session of 2009.

His spokesman claimed the fault lay with the club, who had not booked the flight back from Rio, so he "had to pay out of his own pocket" when reorganising another ticket.

According to newspapers Tuttosport and La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter are demanding the maximum fine of €150,000 from the Lega Calcio Disciplinary Commission.