Chelsea star Frank Lampard could be a step closer to following former team-mates Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka with a move to China, after Guizhou Renhe confirmed they were in talks with him.

The England international midfielder has been linked with a move to the Chinese Super League since March.

But speculation intensified after Renhe chairman Dai Yongge was quoted in the domestic press on Saturday as saying that Lampard had signed.

“Yes, we are in contact with Lampard but so far nothing has been settled,” said deputy board chairman Yang Xiaoyu.

Ref Clattenburg omitted again

Mark Clattenburg will miss another weekend of Premier League matches but the outcome of the investigation into Chelsea’s complaint against the referee could be known by this week.

The Premier League announced yesterday its list of match officials for the latest round of fixtures and for the third successive weekend Clattenburg has been omitted.

The FA are investigating allegations from Chelsea the 37-year-old official used a term understood to have been inter-preted as racist towards John Obi Mikel during the Premier League match against Manchester United on October 28.

Fluminense win Brazilian title

Fred struck two minutes from time to hand Fluminense the Brazilian championship title with three matches to spare after a 3-2 away win over relegation candidates Palmeiras on Sunday.

“Flu” opened an unassailable 10-point lead over Gremio, who climbed to second with a 2-1 home win over Sao Paulo in Porto Alegre.

“It’s a mixture of happiness with emotion. The squad is marvellous, these fans follow us always,” Fred told reporters.

“I thank God, the (club) board, the players, the (coaching) staff, the fans... Only a player’s family knows the effort we all put in.”

Ronaldo to miss Gabon friendly

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will miss tomorrow’s friendly against Gabon in Libreville after he sustained a cut above his left eye in Sunday’s 2-1 La Liga win at Levante, the Portuguese Federation (FPF) said yesterday.

Ronaldo was caught by David Navarro’s elbow in the opening minutes of the match in Valencia and after being patched up on the side of the pitch returned to score Real’s 21st-minute opener.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said after the match Ronaldo’s vision in both eyes was affected by the blow, which left one side of the Portuguese international’s face covered in blood.

Terry out for weeks not months

John Terry has suffered “no significant damage” following a scan on his right knee and will be out for weeks rather than months, Chelsea said.

Injury cut short Terry’s return to action during the Blues’ 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

However, a Chelsea statement said: “Today’s MRI scans on John Terry’s right knee thankfully show no significant damage to the cruciate ligaments.

“Chelsea’s medical team will conduct further tests over the next two or three days once the swelling has subsided to determine how long John will be out, but it will be a matter of weeks not months.”

Popescu sanctioned for match-fixing

Former Romanian great Gheorghe Popescu received a three-year suspended prison sentence yesterday from Romania’s Appeals Court for his part in a corruption scandal that has swept Romanian football.

The 45-year-old former Barcelona captain was one of several high-profile figures to receive what are the heaviest sentences handed down in the country for corruption in football.

Popescu, who was capped 115 times and was a star of the side that reached the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, was found guilty along with his seven co-defendants of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.

Prandelli defends De Rossi omission

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said yesterday that his decision to drop experienced midfielder Daniele De Rossi for tomorrow’s friendly with France for being sent off at the weekend would teach him a lesson.

The Roma star, 29, was punished by Prandelli for punching Lazio captain Stefano Mauri in the face during the Rome derby on Sunday, which Lazio won 3-2.

“This punishment will help him not to repeat such errors at the World Cup,” said Prandelli.

“I have no anxiety regarding De Rossi with regard to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.”

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