Janmaat: Newcastle are stepping up their efforts to find a replacement for Mathieu Debuchy after opening negotiations for Holland international Daryl Janmaat. Reports yesterday suggested the Magpies have seen an initial bid for the Feyenoord full-back rejected, although talks are at an early stage. It is understood that Debuchy has agreed personal terms with Arsenal and undergone a medical, but that the Gunners are yet to reach agreement with Newcastle.
Gers draw: Rangers have been handed a Glasgow derby against Queen’s Park in the first round of the Scottish League Cup. Ally McCoist’s men face a trip to Airdrie to play the amateurs, whose Hampden home is being used for the Commonwealth Games. The date is yet to be fixed as Rangers organised a friendly in Derby on the August 2 first-round date because of the Glasgow 2014 Games. Hearts and Hibs enter the League Cup in the second round.
Jussie: Bordeaux forward Jussie looks set for a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in pre-season training. The Brazilian collapsed in pain during a game with team-mates and Les Girondins have now confirmed he has suffered a “serious knee sprain”. The 30-year-old joined Bordeaux from Lens in 2007.
Green: Goalkeeper Rob Green has extended his stay at QPR by signing a new two-year deal with the Premier League club. The 34-year-old England international replaced big-money signing Julio Cesar as Harry Redknapp’s number one goalkeeper last season and featured in 48 games as the Rs secured a top-flight return through the play-offs.
Fugitive: Police in Rio de Janeiro have declared Ray Whelan, the English director of FIFA’s ticket and hospitality partners MATCH, to be “a fugitive” after they attempted to re-arrest him as part of an investigation into ticket touting. Officers arrived at the Copacabana Palace hotel with an arrest warrant, but Whelan was not there and police said they had CCTV footage of him leaving through a service door. MATCH has stuck by Whelan and insisted he has played no part in any wrongdoing.
Richardson: Aston Villa have signed left back Kieran Richardson from relegated Fulham on a two-year deal. The 29-year-old, who spent the early part of his career as a winger, has eight caps for England and will link up with Villa’s assistant boss Roy Keane, who signed him for Sunderland when he was manager at the north east club.