Lua Lua: Lomana Lua Lua has returned to Olympiakos on a six-month loan deal. The 29-year-old Congolese former Newcastle and Portsmouth forward, who spent the 2007/08 season with Olympiakos, signed an agreement with the option of a two-year contract should he impress at the Piraeus club.
Lansbury: Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury has agreed a new long-term deal, the London club announced. The Gunners have also confirmed the 19-year-old has extended his loan spell with Watford until the end of the season. Lansbury joined the Emirates club as a scholar in 2007, signing professional terms in summer 2008. Lansbury has made 20 appearances and scored twice since joining Watford on loan in the summer.
Levy: Israeli Ronny Levy has been appointed coach of Romanian side Unirea Urziceni following the departure of Dan Petrescu. Levy, 43, is a former Israeli midfielder and manager of Maccabi Haifa. Former Chelsea defender Petrescu quit to take over as coach of Russian second division side Kuban Krasnodar.
Modesto: Napoli are close to signing Genoa midfielder Francesco Modesto. "I can confirm that a deal is practically done already," director of sport Riccardo Bigon said. Modesto, 27, is a former U-21 international who has been at Genoa since 2008. Current Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri and Modesto were both at Reggina from 2005 to 2007.
Miller: Rangers striker Kenny Miller will miss tomorrow's Old Firm derby after losing his appeal against his red card in the midweek Premier League game against Dundee United. Miller was sent off for kicking out at United defender Darren Dods during his side's 7-1 victory at Ibrox.
West Brom: West Brom have agreed a deal to sign centre-back Gabriel Tamas on loan from Auxerre until the end of the season. Tamas has long been on Roberto Di Matteo's radar and his switch to The Hawthorns, pending a work permit and international clearance, should go through today when the international transfer window re-opens.
Wigan: Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt is on stand-by to replace Chris Kirkland for the FA Cup third round visit of Hull today. Kirkland was replaced at half-time of the 5-0 thrashing by Manchester United having complained of being unwell prior to the match. Although manager Roberto Martinez expects his first-choice keeper to have recovered, he may decide against risking him.
Skating: Germany's Aljona Savchenko, a hot favourite for the Olympic pairs title in Vancouver next month with skating partner Robin Szolkowy, is suffering from glandular fever. Savchenko, 25, has cut down on her training and might not compete in the European Championships in Estonia from January 18-24, sources said.
Squash: Egyptian Ramy Ashour became the youngest world no.1 since Pakistani legends Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan in the 1980s. The 22-year-old is the third Egyptian to top the rankings this season and the 15th ever world number one since the rankings were first introduced in the mid-1970s. After becoming the youngest ever world junior champion in 2004, 'Cairo King' went on to become the first to win it a second time two years later in New Zealand.
Winter sport: Austria's 2002 Olympic 30 kilometres cross country skiing champion Christian Hoffmann was suspended with immediate effect by the Austrian Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) over suspicions he is involved in a blood-doping ring. The 35-year-old - who will miss the Olympics in February - will undergo a hearing with NADA on January 29. However, even were he to be cleared he would not have enough points to qualify for the Games.
Basket, NBA: Aaron Brooks scored 30 points, including six three-pointers, to lead the Houston Rockets to a 97-94 win over the Dallas Mavericks yesterday. The Texas rivals were tied at 89-89 with 2:11 left on the clock when Shane Battier drained a three-pointer to give the Rockets the lead. Brooks added another three on the next scoring shot to widen the gap.
Rugby Union: Stephen Jones gave Wales an injury scare just over a month before they begin their Six Nations campaign against England as the Scarlets beat Newport-Gwent Dragons 14-9 in the Celtic League. The 32-year-old fly-half had to come off 54 minutes into his side's away win on Thursday with an injured shoulder after a heavy tackle. Wales begin their 2010 Six Nations campaign away to England at Twickenham on February 6.