Football news

Tony Pulis said it was important Stoke waited “until the last minute” before completing the signing of Jermaine Pennant.

Pennant put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year contract with Stoke, just as his loan from Spanish side Real Zaragoza was coming to an end. It is believed that Zaragoza had initially been asking for around £6 million for the winger, but Pulis secured Pennant’s services for a fee of £1.725 million – which could eventually rise to £2.8 million.

“The biggest thing with Jermaine’s deal for me was always going to be how late we could leave it to do it,” Pulis said.

“I think if we had signed him straight away it would have cost us a lot more money.”

Pardew wants to keep Ben Arfa

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is hoping to make his first signing next week by completing a permanent deal for French winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

The 23-year-old, who signed on a season-long loan deal from Marseille during the summer, has been out of action since October 3 when he suffered a double leg fracture in a challenge with Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong.

He had played only four games for the Magpies when misfortune struck, but showed enough to persuade them to attempt to take up an option on a permanent deal.

Ben Arfa is understood to have travelled to Tyneside to meet Pardew and Newcastle will seek to wrap up the move early in the transfer window.

Puyol suffers groin injury

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol is set to be sidelined for up to 10 days with a groin injury.

The centre-back noticed the problem while representing Catalonia against Honduras on Tuesday and tests have confirmed the extent of the injury, which, according to the Barcelona website, will keep the Spain World Cup winner out for “between seven to 10 days”.

Barca, who are two points clear at the top of the Primera Division table, are due to play Levante and Deportivo in the league next week as well as the second leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie with Athletic Bilbao, with the first leg at the Nou Camp having finished goalless.

West Brom hit by suspensions

West Brom will be without two key defenders through suspension for the home league clash with leaders Manchester United tomorrow.

Central defender Gabriel Tamas will start a three-game ban after his red card against Blackburn at the Hawthorns on Tuesday.

In addition, right-back Gonzalo Jara will have to serve a one-match suspension. He collected his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Rovers.

With Jonas Olsson (Achilles) still sidelined, Baggies coach Roberto Di Matteo has been forced to recall Gianni Zuiverloon from his loan spell at Ipswich.

Roma in Mexes contract talks

Roma are in talks with defender Philippe Mexes over a contract extension.

The French defender, whose existing deal runs out at the end of the season, is attracting strong interest across Europe, especially from Serie A leaders Milan, on the back of his commanding performances in the heart of Roma’s defence this season.

But Roma president Rosella Sensi is adamant that Mexes will extend his stay in the capital.

“We are negotiating a renewal,” Sensi said. “Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is a friend, but we have never spoken about Mexes.

“He is a player who I care a lot about. I have not said that we have renewed (his contract), but we are continuing to talk. I am tired of reading false stories about Roma.”

Fabregas calls for ref consistency

Cesc Fabregas has criticised referees for inconsistency, claiming Arsenal were denied a last-minute penalty at Wigan for exactly the same offence as he was penalised for against Tottenham.

Fabregas was suspended for Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Wigan, but referee Lee Probert incurred the Gunners skipper’s wrath for refusing to penalise James McArthur when Samir Nasri’s free-kick clearly hit his hands in the last minute of the match.

The Spanish midfielder said on his Twitter account: “What’s the difference between this handball and my one versus Spurs? Referees don’t want us to complain about them but they make life difficult for themselves.

“I’m not complaining at all, I’m just saying why on the same thing some refs say it’s a penalty and some not. Is it a rule or just what they feel?”

Napoli, Juventus chasing Britos

Napoli and Juventus are believed to be chasing the signature of Bologna defender Miguel Angel Britos.

Reports suggest that the two Serie A clubs are pushing to sign Britos during the January transfer window after the 25-year-old Uruguayan left a very positive impression in the Serie A.

The transfer fee for Britos is thought to be around €5m but his suitors are taking different approaches. According to Il Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport, Napoli have offered €4m cash for Britos while Juventus want to include Albin Ekdal, who is already co-owned by Bologna, in the deal.