Former Argentina international Javier Saviola is expected to ask for a move in January after making only three showings for Serie A club Verona this season.
Saviola, 33, joined Verona on the last day of the summer transfer deadline and was considered a major coup for the modest club after arriving as a free agent.
However, reports said Saviola will insist for a move in the next transfer window as he only managed 95 minutes of football this season over three matches.
His contract runs until June next year.
Voeller backs Poldi to bounce back
Former Germany manager Rudi Voeller has backed Lukas Podolski to rediscover his best form once he has sorted out his club future.
Podolski has struggled to get a game at Arsenal and Germany coach Joachim Loew has admitted the situation is jeopardising his place in the national team.
The former Bayern Munich forward is to thrash out his future with the Gunners this winter with a move away from London looking increasingly likely.
“You must not write Poldi off,” Voeller said.
“He’s not very old yet, at 29. Lukas is a very good player who always faces up to the challenge.
“Competition is fierce but it says a lot that he is still always involved (for Germany).”
O’Neill releases Keane and Gibson
Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has released skipper Robbie Keane and midfielder Darron Gibson from his squad ahead of to-morrow’s friendly against the United States.
Keane, who was used only as a substitute in Friday night’s 1-0 Euro 2016 defeat in Scotland, has been allowed to return to the LA Galaxy, who face Seattle Sounders in the MLS play-offs next Sunday.
Everton midfielder Gibson, who only returned to action from a 10-month injury lay-off in September, is heading back to Merseyside with a minor knee problem.
Blades ‘appalled’
Sheffield United have released a statement saying they are “appalled” at the abuse levelled at those who have spoken out about the club’s decision to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to train with the club.
Last week, Jessica Ennis-Hill said she would want her name removed from a stand named after her by the club if they re-sign the convicted rapist.
Later that day a tweet was sent saying: “I hope he (Evans) rapes her”.
Sheffield United did not say whether they intend to offer Evans a contract but said they will ban those who send abusive messages.
Heptathlete Ennis-Hill, a Blades fan, had a side of the Bramall Lane stadium named in her honour after her triumph at the London 2012 Games.
Hart released from England squad
Roy Hodgson has announced Joe Hart will not travel with the England squad to Scotland – opening the door for either Fraser Forster or Ben Foster to stake their claim to become first-choice goalkeeper.
Hart retained his place for the 3-1 European Championship qualifying win over Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday but the Manchester City man will now be allowed additional time off instead of making the short journey to Glasgow.
Hodgson was full of praise for both Southampton’s Forster and West Brom’s Foster ahead of the Slovenia game, stating his belief that the duo have gone from un-derstudies to competition for Hart’s number-one spot.
Del Bosque blasts Spain players
Young gun Isco scored the pick of the goals as holders Spain strolled to a 3-0 home victory over Belarus that still left them chasing leaders Slovakia in Euro 2016 Group C late Saturday.
Isco fired the hosts ahead early on, the 22-year midfielder’s debut goal for his country. Sergio Busquets cracked in a second on 20 minutes and Pedro made it 3-0 in the second half.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said it had been a “reasonable” performance but criticised his players for being over-elaborate.
“We were able to go 2-0 ahead with some ease but then got too carried away,” he said.
“Isco played a good match but, like everyone else, he got a bit lost in this way of playing which is too virtuoso.”
Greece name interim coach
Greece named youth coach Kostas Tsanas as interim coach of the senior national team yesterday but there was no official confirmation yet of the sacking of Italian Claudio Ranieri.
The country’s football federation (EPO) has effectively suspended Ranieri for the time being as both sides work out the financial settlement surrounding his €1.6m contract.
Ranieri, 63, was expected to stay on for Greece’s friendly with Serbia in Crete tomorrow but that is no longer the case. Greek media termed the national team’s shock 1-0 home defeat by Faroe Islands on Friday as a “black night” for football in the country.
The media linked two Greeks – Giorgos Donis and Angelos Ana-stasiadis – with the post.