Football news

Barcelona have begun talks with Argentine Lionel Messi to improve his contract.

"Relations between the two sides are very good," president Joan Laporta said.

"Messi's entourage knows that Barca wants the player to feel good here... we are proud to have him in the team because he is the best player in the world. Negotiations are continuing at a good pace."

The 22-year-old is under contract with Barca until 2010. His salary is estimated at eight million euros per year.

Coach Pep Guardiola said that the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic will help keep Messi on his toes, and that's what he needs.

"If Leo isn't under pressure, he gets bored," he said.

Bundesliga to see fall in revenues - poll

A majority of Bundesliga club managers believe revenues will drop in 2009 for the first time in five years as the credit crisis cuts into German football, according to a poll.

Some 56 per cent of the top two division club bosses said clubs should expect a drop in sponsorship and broadcasting revenues for the season starting on Friday, the poll conducted by Ernst & Young said.

Only 12 per cent said they were optimistic of an increase in revenues.

The managers polled believe the credit crunch will hurt top European leagues far more, with 73 per cent convinced the English Premier League will be hardest hit.

Everton in negotiations to buy Senderos

Everton are talking to Premier League rivals Arsenal about signing Swiss defender Philippe Senderos.

"We have been negotiating with Arsenal for the transfer of Philippe," Everton chairman Bill Kenwright told reporters.

"Nothing has been concluded yet but talks are ongoing."

The 24-year-old Swiss international joined Arsenal in 2003, making over 100 appearances for the club, but spent last season on loan at Italian side Milan. The Gunners are believed to be asking £6 million for the transfer of Senderors.

Pompey may have to sell more stars

Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie fears the Premier League club may have to sell more stars as Sulaiman Al Fahim's proposed takeover drags on.

Al Fahim looked set to complete his buy-out of Pompey owner Alexandre Gaydamak after passing the Premier League's 'fit and proper person' test.

But the deal has still not been completed and Portsmouth were forced to sell striker Peter Crouch to Tottenham last week to avoid slipping further into financial difficulties.

Storrie said: "Until this takeover happens, neither the old nor the new owner is placing any money into the business.

"The business has debts to pay and the banks are not releasing funds, so this leaves the club with no option but to sell to keep going."

Sneijder not joining Inter

Wesley Sneijder (picture) is not close to joining Inter in the Serie A, Real Madrid Director of Sport Jorge Valdano told reporters yesterday.

Inter want to add a playmaker to their squad ahead of the new season and following the failures to land Deco and Aleksandr Hleb, the Italian champions shifted focus on Sneijder.

Valdano said: "Until proven otherwise Sneijder is a Real Madrid player. His coach has a lot of faith in his abilities."

Sneijder's agent also took the opportunity to echo Valdano's statement.

"Not one representative of the club has informed Wesley of the possibility of a change of jersey," Soren Lerby said.

Albanian bid for Bologna hits snag

Albanian oil businessman Rezart Taci's bid to take over Bologna has broken down shortly before the deal was set to be completed.

"Taci has requested not to proceed with the completion of the deal," read a statement by Aktiva Spa, the company through which the family of president Francesca Menarini control the club.

Last month, the club announced they had reached an agreement to sell a controlling stake to Taci. However, Italian media speculated the Albanian might be trying to knock down the price.

A bid by an American consortium to buy the seven-times Italian champions, who scraped to safety in May on their return to the top flight, broke down a year ago.

Blackburn sign Argentinian striker

Argentinian striker Franco Di Santo signed for Blackburn Rovers on loan from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The 20-year-old has signed initially till January although Blackburn have first option on extending it, should Chelsea be willing to, till the end of the season.

He became Rovers' second signing this week - Croatian international striker Nikola Kalinic having joined for €7.5 million from Hajduk Split - as manager Sam Allardyce moved to bolster his front line having lost Roque Santa Cruz to Manchester City.

Di Santo, who has rarely featured for Chelsea since joining from Chilean outfit Audax Italiano in January 2008, could make his debut in today's home friendly against Hibernian.