Sporting briefs

Hearts: Scottish Premier League club Hearts have sacked manager Jim Jefferies and his assistant Billy Brown. Jefferies is believed to have left Tynecastle after being told he was to be moved into a director of football role to allow a new boss to be brought in.

Nagatomo: Japan full-back Yuto Nagatomo is heading home to see a specialist before Inter decide whether or not he needs a shoulder operation. Nagatomo dislocated his shoulder in a friendly in Dublin against Celtic at the weekend.

Torino: Serie B hopefuls Torino are close to signing midfielder Luca Cigarini from Napoli. Cigarini was on loan at Sevilla last season. “Even though we probably need a holding midfielder more than a playmaker, he is a player that we like,” Urbano Cairo, the Torino president, said.

Valencia: Antonio Valencia signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United yesterday. Valencia has emerged as a key figure in Alex Ferguson’s team since his move from Wigan in 2009 and the winger has been rewarded with an extended deal. The 25-year-old missed six months of last season with a broken ankle.

Barton: Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has been told he can leave the Premier League team on a free transfer after his stormy relationship with the club finally reached breaking point. Barton was already unhappy with Newcastle’s decision to allow captain Kevin Nolan to join West Ham and his mood wasn’t improved by the recent breakdown of talks over a new contract.

Spanish rule: Spain won the European Under-19 football title in Romania, last night, beating the Czech Republic 3-2 after extra-time to become the first country to hold both this crown and the Under-21 title in the same year. The Spanish – who are European and world cham-pions at senior level – beat Switzerland 2-0 in the Under-21 final on June 25.

German Cup: First round – Braunschweig vs B. Munich 0-3.