Football news

Stoke striker Peter Crouch has told Michael Owen he should join the Potters if he wants to enjoy playing regular football again. The 31-year-old feels Owen would enjoy a new lease of life if he signed up to manager Tony Pulis’s squad this summer.

“I know Michael has a big decision to make after leaving a club the size of Manchester United, but I had a similar decision to make last summer,” Crouch said.

“At Tottenham we were challenging for a Champions League place every season. We’re not doing that at Stoke, but we are building something worthwhile here.”

Liverpool confirm Bellamy talks

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed the club are in talks with Cardiff to let Craig Bellamy return to south Wales.

The 33-year-old has just completed his Olympic Games duty with Great Britain but is now keen to return home for the final years of his career.

Rodgers said: “I had a really good meeting with Craig before I moved up here. He is a big Liverpool supporter but I also understand his thinking.

“He is 33 and has travelled around all his life, so there are compassionate reasons. We will look at it but we will wish him all the best and move forward.”

Laudrup silent on Obertan link

Michael Laudrup was coy over speculation linking him with a move for Newcastle winger Gabriel Obertan but the Swansea boss revealed he is closing in on another couple of additions to his squad.

As well as Obertan, Valencia’s Pablo Hernandez and Hannover’s Didier Ya Konan have also been mentioned as targets for Laudrup.

But when Obertan’s name was put to him, Laudrup said: “I can only say this... speculation about players coming in, I don’t want to comment on that. It is better for me to say I don’t comment on rumours. When a deal is near you can ask me all you want.”

Inter set to swoop for Brazilian Nene

Inter’s search for an attacking midfielder could see them bid for Paris St Germain’s Nene, French daily Le Parisien re-ported yesterday.

The Nerazzurri were trying to sign Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura but they have reportedly pulled out of the race and have now set their sights on his compatriot Nene.

The French side this summer strengthened their forward line with the arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi and Nene could be seen as surplus to requirements for coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Rubin Kazan are thought to be leading the race for the 30-year-old Nene, with a €4m bid.

Llorente wants to leave Ath. Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has reportedly told the club he wants to leave to play Champions League football, with Juventus mentioned among the interested parties.

According to reports, Llorente, 27, has made up his mind to reject a new contract offer and move on.

“Fernando wants to leave and he communicated that decision to the club. The player says sporting reasons are behind his decision,” one report said.

Marca claimed that Juventus would bid €20 million for Llorente, who has just 12 months remaining on his existing deal and is refusing to sign an extension worth €4.5 million a year.

1958 final stars in Stockholm return

The Swedish FA announced that Pele and other members of Brazil’s 1958 World Cup-winning team would be invited to Stockholm to commemorate their victory against the hosts.

Pele, along with Mario Zagallo, Zito, Pepe and Dino Sani are all expected to attend Sweden’s friendly meeting with Brazil at the Rasunda Stadium on August 15 as well as a charity dinner the evening before.

The match will be the last to be staged at the venue before it is demolished, to be replaced by a new 50,000-seat stadium nearby.

The Rasunda Stadium was the centrepiece of the 1958 World Cup finals, and hosted the final, which Brazil won 5-2.

Stoke City’s Huth has meningitis

Stoke City defender Robert Huth has suspected meningitis and is awaiting the outcome of hospital checks, the Premier League club said yesterday.

“The German international is due to undergo further tests to determine the strain of meningitis and the prognosis in terms of his recovery,” the club said.

Stoke start the new season with a league game at promoted Reading on August 18 but manager Tony Pulis said that was of secondary concern.

“It’s a massive, massive worry for us but the most important thing right now is Robert’s health and we are keeping our fingers crossed he’ll be okay,” said Pulis.