Football news

Striker Andy Carroll has pulled out of England’s friendly inter-nationals against Ireland and Brazil through injury.

The 24-year-old has been struggling with a heel injury after he was named in Roy Hodgson’s squad to face Ireland at Wembley on May 29 and for the prestigious game in Brazil on June 2 at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

Carroll joins Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere in missing the two matches which are warm-ups for September’s World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.

Fiorentina sign striker Yakovenko

Fiorentina have signed Ukrainian forward Oleksandr Yakovenko from Anderlecht.

“Fiorentina communicate that they have signed the footballer Oleksandr Yakovenko... he has signed a contract that will keep him at the club until June 2016,” Fiorentina said.

The 25-year-old Yakovenko played 30 times for Anderlecht last season, scoring seven goals.

Earlier this week, Fiorentina director Daniele Prade told reporters the club had no contact with Arsenal or Juventus over the transfer of forward Stevan Jovetic.

Badstuber facing 10-month lay-off

Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber faces up to 10 months on the sidelines but should play again after undergoing surgery on a serious knee injury for the second time in six months, the Champions League finalists said.

The Germany international tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee last week as he was rehabilitating from an identical injury he suffered in early December.

The latest setback means the 24-year-old faces a race against time to be fit for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with Germany well on course to qualify.

“Holger Badstuber underwent surgery on Monday (in the United States),” the club said.

“Doctors estimate he will be out for 10 months. His professional career is not in danger.”

Suarez not for sale says Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers fully expects star striker Luis Suarez to be at the club next season.

When he arrived at Anfield last summer, one of Rodgers’s most important tasks was keeping the Uruguayan at the club.

And Rodgers expects to succeed this year, just as he did last.

“Listen, every player has his price but there’s certainly no pressure for the club to sell him. We’re trying to build that bit of quality so Luis Suarez is not for sale,” he explained.

“I don’t have any doubts there will be interest in him this sum-mer, because he’s up there.”

Moyes targets Ranocchia – report

Manchester United are being strongly linked with a move for Inter and Italy centre-back Andrea Ranocchia.

Injury problems have dogged the 25-year-old’s season while Inter also had a dismal year, finishing a disappointing ninth in the Serie A.

According to TalkSport, new Manchester United manager David Moyes is keen to sign Ranocchia to reinforce his defence.

Juventus are also expected to make an approach for Ranoc-chia, who will miss out on Europe if he remains at San Siro.

The defender has been at Inter since 2011 when he completed a £16m move from Genoa.

Benitez stint a success – Lampard

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believes Rafa Benitez did all that could be expected of him during his difficult period in charge of the club.

The former Liverpool boss confounded his critics by taking the Stamford Bridge club to Europa League glory and guiding them to third place in the Premier League.

Lampard said: “He’s a professional bloke. He prepared very well for games. And it was a difficult situation for him as well.

“As interim manager it was always going to be quite difficult because we all knew it was only to the end of the season.

“There was no planning, no long-term relationships were going to be built. So, in that respect, Rafa Benitez did a good job because we got the end result – success.”

Milan offer roles to Seedorf, Maldini

Milan are set to appoint Clarence Seedorf as their new coach as well as offering a role to Paolo Maldini, Il Corriere dello Sport has reported.

The Dutch midfielder, currently playing for Brazilian side Botafogo, is negotiating a three-year contract with Milan to replace Massimiliano Allegri.

Seedorf only left the Rossoneri last summer after spending a decade with the Rossoneri.

The report also claims that Maldini, another club legend, will also form part of the new set-up at Milan.

The 44-year-old spent over 20 seasons with Milan before calling time on his glittering career in 2009.