Football news

Former England and Liverpool international Steve McMahon will be returning to Anfield to take over the Reds' reserves team after leaving his coaching role at Shrewsbury.

McMahon spent six years at Liverpool during his playing days. He joined Shrewsbury from Tranmere in 2005, but admits the lure of a return to Merseyside was too great.

"If any Premier League club comes knocking at your door it is something that you have to consider and with it being Liverpool it was a job that I couldn't refuse," he told the club's website.

"To work with a manager of the quality of Rafa Benitez and an assistant manager like Sammy Lee is brilliant and it's a place where I can continue to learn and develop as a coach."

Real boss Perez targets Ribery

Real Madrid want to sign Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich during the close season, according to Real president Florentino Perez.

"It would be a huge satisfaction to have Ribery with us as soon as next season," Perez told French daily L'Equipe in an interview.

"But we first have to talk to his club Bayern Munich. I will get in touch with my friends Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness to ask them what they want to do.

"I'll tell them this player is one of our targets and that I want to discuss his possible move to Real."

Perez also said he was "very optimistic" about signing Kaka from Milan after he held talks with the player's father last week.

Notts Co. interest from ME group

Notts County, the world's oldest football league club, said a Middle East consortium was taking them over in a multi-million pound deal.

Formed in 1862 but languishing in the lower reaches of the English League for many years, Notts County said that Munto Finance Limited, owned by several Middle-East based businessmen, had agreed to buy the club.

Notts County finished the recently ended season 19th in League Two.

Despite being founder-members of the Football League in 1888, the club have had very little success. They last played in the top division in 1984.

Dossena keen to leave Anfield

Italian defender Andrea Dossena wants to return home after a season at Liverpool during which he has struggled to make an impact.

The 27-year-old left-back, who joined for 7.0 million pounds from Udinese last July, started only 12 Premier League matches in his debut season.

He was quoted as saying by Tuttosport he hoped to start a "new life" at Juventus next season.

"I have spoken with Rafael Benitez. He is a wonderful person and has understood my problem," Dossena said.

"He told me that if they receive an offer that satisfies both the club and me, he will facilitate my transfer. I would run to Juve."

Brighi asks for better terms

Matteo Brighi expects an increase in wages or else he will consider a move away from Roma, the midfielder's agent Vanni Puzzolo said.

Brighi, 27, has become one of Roma's key midfielders. His current deal expires in 2012 and at present he is earning €1.3 million per season. Team-mate Jeremy Menez, who hardly ever started a match for Roma last season, earns €2.3m and Daniele De Rossi has €7.2m.

"We are waiting for Roma to keep their word given to us at the start of the season," Puzzolo said.

"After this year in which Matteo gave his best, he ought to be rewarded. He is one of the lowest-earning Roma players even though he played regularly and got more games than anyone last season."

Larsson not returning to Celtic

Celtic fans' favourite Henrik Larsson will not be returning to Parkhead next season to form part of the Scottish giant club's technical staff. Rob Jansen, Larsson's agent, told reporters the news was all speculation.

"These rumours are not true at all," Jansen said.

"Henrik is still playing for Helsinborg and it's impossible for him to break his contract right now."

Rumours had swept Scotland on Friday night that the former Hoops striker was being lined up as assistant manager to Mark McGhee.

West Ham still mulling on Kovac

Czech international Radoslav Kovac could prolong his stay at West Ham by making his move permanent.

Kovac joined the Londoners on loan from Spartak Moscow in January and played regularly for Gianfranco Zola's team towards the end of the 2008/09 season.

However, it seems Spartak's asking price, valued at around four million euros, is pushing away the Hammers.

"It is still open with West Ham," agent Pavel Zika said.

"If there's no agreement, he will start pre-season training with Spartak Moscow on July 1.

"We have also received approaches from England, Germany and Turkey."