Football news

Struggling West Ham insisted yesterday they are committed to retaining manager Avram Grant after weeks of speculation over his future at the club.

The Israeli coach appeared on his way out of Upton Park, with reports at the weekend linking former Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill with the post.

However, the club said in a statement they were standing by Grant, despite the club sitting bottom of the Premier League with just four wins from their first 20 matches.

A statement posted on www.whufc.com read: “The club are committed to retaining Avram Grant as manager and have identified potential transfer targets to give us the best possible chance of retaining Premier League status.”

Tiago calls time on Portugal career

Atletico Madrid’s Portuguese midfielder Tiago has announced that he is retiring from international football.

“The time has come to call time on this fantastic experience,” Tiago wrote in a letter made public by the Portuguese football federation.

The 29-year-old said that he was making the decision “for personal reasons” and to allow “new Portuguese footballing values to find their place.”

Tiago, who has 58 caps for the national side, made his international debut against Scotland in 2002 and has scored three goals.

Blanc sees red over new France kit

France coach Laurent Blanc has expressed his dismay that the new multi-million euro France kit unveiled on Monday makes Les Bleus look too much like their Italian rivals.

“I find that the completely blue jersey is beautiful but a bit Italian,” said Blanc after Nike unveiled the new kit in Paris. We know that the French are very attached to the blue-white-red. I made this remark but there’s a clever thing on the sleeve that you can lift up and that’s red inside.

“It will be up to the players to decide if we lift up the sleeves or not.

“In any case when we play in blue we’ll have white shorts and red socks so the blue-white-red will be visible.”

Berbatov aiming for golden double

Dimitar Berbatov is keen to secure the Premier League’s Golden Boot this season – if only because it will give Manchester United a better chance of reclaiming their title.

The Bulgarian stands on 14 for the season – the same number as Manchester City skipper Carlos Tevez – and he admits remaining top of the pile is a personal target.

“I hope I can stay on the top until the end of the season,” he told MUTV.

“Obviously the goals I score help the team to win points, which is the most important thing.

“For now everything is going according to plan but there are other players doing well, and not just Carlos Tevez.”

Strong interest in Van Bommel

The agent of Bayern Munich captain Mark van Bommel claims Liverpool have made an enquiry about the player but better offers have also come in from elsewhere.

The Dutch midfielder is out of contract in the summer and unlikely to sign a new deal with the reigning German champions.

“I know about Liverpool’s interest, but other offers are currently more interesting,” Mino Raiola told Bild.

Bayern’s Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg and Serie A leaders Milan are understood to be keen on the 33-year-old, and Raiola says he is working on placing his client with a new club.

“I have got to find Mark the perfect club and we still have enough time for that,” Raiola said.

Babel set for Hoffenheim move

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has been given permission to join German side Hoffenheim after the Premier League club accepted their bid for the Dutch international.

Babel will now travel to Germany to discuss personal terms with Hoffenheim and could complete his transfer in time to make his debut against St Pauli on Sunday.

The 24-year-old has struggled to make an impact during his three-and-a-half-year spell at Anfield since leaving Ajax.

Hoffenheim, currently ninth in the German Bundesliga, see Babel as the ideal man to replace outgoing Senegalese striker Demba Ba.

Lazio sign Sculli from Genoa

Lazio have signed striker Giuseppe Sculli from Genoa for a fee reported by Ansa to be €3.5 million.

Sculli announced on Monday night that a deal had been agreed between the two clubs and arrived in Rome yesterday to undergo a medical.

And Lazio coach Edy Reja confirmed the 29-year-old could even make his debut in the Italian Cup last 16 clash tonight.

“Sculli has been signed by Lazio and hence is already available for the derby against Roma,” he said.