Rami: Valencia are close to an agreement to loan their France defender Adil Rami to Milan after giving him permission to undergo fitness tests in Italy. Valencia opened disciplinary proceedings against Rami last month after the 27-year-old criticised coach Miroslav Djukic in public.
Verratti: The agent of PSG midfielder Marco Verratti has brushed aside reports that his client could join Inter in the near future. Media speculation in Italy claimed the 20-year-old could be the first target of new Inter owner Erick Thohir. “There is no chance of a move,” agent Donato Di Campli said.
Fired: Poland have sacked coach Waldemar Fornalik after their failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil. Poland’s 1-0 defeat in Ukraine last week meant they could not reach the 2014 tournament and they ended the campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Group H winners England at Wembley on Tuesday. Poland finished fourth with 13 points from 10 games. Fornalik, former coach of Polish club Ruch Chorzow, was appointed national team coach in July last year after Franciszek Smuda was sacked.
Reds academy: Liverpool have announced plans to launch an academy in India next year. The Premier League club have partnered with Indian side DSK Shivajians to establish a permanent set-up for young players in Pune. The LFC International Football Academy DSK, which will open in January, will be a purpose-built residential complex.
Gibson: Everton’s Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson is to have surgery after injuring his knee on World Cup qualifying duty. Gibson, 25, was carried off during the first half of Ireland’s 3-1 home win over Kazakhstan in their Group C match on Tuesday. Everton said a scan showed he had damaged his anterior cruciate ligament.
Kovac: Niko Kovac has replaced Igor Stimac as Croatia’s coach, the country’s Football Association (HNS) president Davor Suker said yesterday. Stimac, who offered his resignation after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat by Scotland, was sacked after Croatia scraped into the World Cup play-offs having taken only one point from their last four qualifiers. Kovac was promoted to his new position after excelling with the Under-21 side.