Football news

Paul Duffen, the Hull City chairman, revealed his club would be interested in signing Michael Owen, the Newcastle striker whose contract expires at the end of the month.

Everton have already been linked with a move for the former Liverpool player, but Hull seem to be keen to lure Owen to their fold.

Duffen is optimistic that he can persuade Owen to join the Tigers providing the 'right deal' can be agreed.

"We're interested in Owen on the right terms," Duffen said.

"He's had a few injury problems, but if the right deal can be done then we would definitely be keen to sign him. We are an ambitious football club and we want to show that."

Fiorentina set to sign Drenthe

Royston Drenthe, the Real Madrid wing-back, is on the verge of signing a contract with Fiorentina.

Reports in the media said Fiorentina had reached an agreement for Drenthe to join them for next season with an option to buy next year.

Drenthe currently earns €1.5m a year in Spain and Fiorentina will pay around 75 per cent of those wages over the next year.

His arrival puts the futures of Manuel Pasqual and Massimo Gobbi in doubt. Pasqual is out of contract and has been linked with a move to Juventus. But, the more likely to leave Florence appears to be Gobbi, who is 28.

Milutinovic back on the market

Bora Milutinovic, 64, might well return to the World Cup in South Africa next year even though Iraq, who he has coached at the Confederations Cup, have been eliminated from the qualifiers and will not be back.

Milutinovic, the only man to have coached five teams at the World Cup finals, was not ruling out a sixth after the end of his short-term contract with Iraq.

Asked if he would accept the invitation from Iraq's FA to remain as coach, Milutinovic replied: "As far as my future is concerned, I am a coach and it depends if there are any offers for me.

"We will see but you cannot rule anything out."

Man. City, Chelsea lead Tevez chase

Manchester City and Chelsea are leading the race to snap up Carlos Tevez.

On Saturday, United offered Tevez a new five-year deal but, after consultation with his advisor Kia Joorabchian, he turned it down.

Joorabchian said they had decided against a possible move to Liverpool "out of respect" for United, who are the Reds' biggest northern rivals.

Joorabchian said: "We ruled Liverpool out because of the competitive nature of United and Liverpool. City and Chelsea probably would be the two clubs that are on the table.

"City have been in contact with us. I've spoken to (City executive chairman) Garry (Cook) and to (manager) Mark (Hughes) on several occasions."

Transfer hard to handle says Villa

Real Madrid target David Villa says the past week has been unbearable with his future up in the air.

The striker was believed to be heading to Madrid after Real president Florentino Perez declared the move was only "a matter of time".

But on Friday new Valencia chief Manuel Llorente said the club had decided not to sell the 27-year-old unless they received a "scandalously" high offer.

"I don't believe that my future will be settled quickly," Villa said.

"The past week hasn't been easy, nobody can imagine what I've been through. It has been a really bad time. I must just put it out of my mind."

Worried Japan want private base

Japan are demanding a private hotel as a base at next year's World Cup finals to soothe fears over security in South Africa.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada has flown to South Africa to inspect three potential venues and will insist on a hotel closed to the public.

"The most important thing is that the players don't feel stressed," Okada told reporters.

"We want to create an environment in which the players can relax."

Japan's concerns over South Africa's high crime rate were heightened after several Egyptian players had their hotel rooms burgled at the Confederations Cup.

Ronaldo wanted to leave Man. United a year ago

Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid in a world record transfer, said he wanted to quit the Old Trafford club 12 months ago.

"After we won the European Cup (in 2008) I thought there is no more I can achieve here," Ronaldo said in an interview.

"When you have done all you can, you know it is time for a new challenge.

"I stayed one more season and it was nice to make it three (Premier League) titles in a row but it was my dream to play for Real Madrid... if you go down as the greatest at Madrid it means you are one of the greatest of all time."