Football news

Valenciennes chairman Francis Decourricre expects Paris St Germain to firm up their interest in defender Milan Bisevac.

The Serb has been at Valenciennes since 2008 when he moved from Lens after starting his career at BASK.

Paris St Germain finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season and a move would represent a step up for the 27-year-old.

Decourricre said: “I know their interest in the player, but the phase of negotiations has not yet begun. Perhaps they will start this week.”

West Brom’s Tamas ‘talking’ to Lazio

West Bromwich Albion defender Gabriel Tamas is engaged in transfer talks with Lazio despite also been linked with Cesena and Novara.

Reports in Italy say that the Romania international is available for around €2m and is ready to sign a contract worth €750,000 per season.

“We are in negotiations with Lazio,” agent Ivan Reggiani said.

“I would like to point out that we have never had contact with Cesena or Novara. The only Italian club he’ll accept, apart from Milan, Inter and Juventus, is Lazio.

“He is fascinated by the chance to play alongside fellow countryman, Stefan Radu. Lazio remain our priority and we’ve been in talks with them for over a month.”

Charity calls for Thomson dismissal

The chief executive of a children’s charity has called on Hearts to sack Craig Thomson after the defender pleaded guilty to indecent behaviour towards two under-age girls.

The 20-year-old was fined £4,000 and placed on the sex offenders register for five years as Hearts confirmed last week that they would allow Thomson to resume his career at the club.

But Anne Houston, of Children 1st, said that the club’s decision not to take action against the Scotland U-21 player was “unacceptable”.

She said: “There is no place in our society for role models who have been convicted of sexual offences, no matter what talents they might have.

“We would hope that everyone in football would agree.”

Celtic hopeful of keeping key duo

Celtic manager Neil Lennon will aim to convince sought-after duo Emilio Izaguirre and Beram Kayal to sign new deals during the upcoming tour of Australia.

Izaguirre claimed last week that Manchester United had made an approach for him while Kayal has been linked with Liverpool and Valencia.

“We’ve opened preliminary talks with Kayal’s people,” Lennon said.

“He knows I want to keep him and he’s making the right noises about staying. That’s great news. It’s the same for Izaguirre.

“Going to Australia on tour this week will give me the chance to sit down with both players.”

Spurs must keep Modric, warns Jol

Fulham manager Martin Jol feels his old club Tottenham must hold on to Luka Modric if they want to challenge for a place back in the top four of the Premier League.

Jol was in charge at White Hart Lane when midfielder Michael Carrick was sold to Manchester United, and, shortly before his own departure, claimed he would “rather die” when it was suggested that striker Dimitar Berbatov would also go the same way.

“People always say if you sell Carrick or Berbatov, then you are a selling club. In Holland, it is a complement but in England it is not,” Jol said.

“If Spurs can keep Modric, it would be a big difference and give a good start if they want to be champions or in the top four.”

Cannavaro linked with QPR move

Former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro is mulling a move to the English Premiership after being released from his contract with Dubai club Al Ahli earlier this month.

Cannavaro, 37, has not yet decided to hang up his boots but he will have to lift his game by several notches after a rather low-key 12-month stay at Al Ahli.

“I have not yet decided when I will retire,” Cannavaro told reporters, dropping a clear hint that the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year intends to prolong his career elsewhere.

The former Juventus centre-back has been linked with Queens Park Rangers who have also shown interest in veterans Nicola Legrottaglie, Marco Materazzi, Fabio Grosso and Vincenzo Iaquinta.

Goalkeeper woes can’t derail Galaxy

Major League Soccer Western Conference leaders Los Angeles Galaxy survived the loss of two goalkeepers before half-time to escape with a goalless draw away to the San Jose Earthquakes late Saturday.

Donovan Ricketts was taken off injured in the 24th minute and replacement Josh Saunders was dismissed two minutes before half-time after he responded to Steven Lenhart cheekily heading the ball out of his grasp by angrily elbowing the forward in the face.

But the visitors, with forward Mike Magee pressed into emergency service between the posts, clung on for a valuable point.