Strootman: Roma have no intention of selling Manchester United’s reported target Kevin Strootman in January, according to general director Mauro Baldissoni. “Our (club) president (James Pallotta) has already spoken about this and he gets angry with the rumours that link him (Kevin) to Manchester United,” Baldissoni said: “Our policy is that of investing in players. Kevin is a young player with experience, and we want to build our future with players like him.”

Neymar: Barcelona forward Neymar has failed to recover from a minor ankle problem and will not be available for today’s King’s Cup last-32, second leg at home to third-tier Huesca. Neymar missed Barca’s 0-0 La Liga draw at Getafe on Saturday and has been joined on the sidelines by Dani Alves, who has a hamstring strain.

Fabregas: Playmaker Cesc Fabregas is available following suspension as Chelsea travel to Derby for their League Cup quarter-final clash tonight. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is unlikely to be risked after missing the Blues’ victory over Hull with a muscular injury, so Petr Cech will continue in goal.

Bans: Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn have been placed under a transfer embargo after breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. All three previous English champions, now playing in the Championship, exceeded losses of eight million pounds during the 2013-14 playing season and have been placed under a transfer embargo from January 1, 2015 until the end of the current campaign.

TV rights: The Football League is set to announce that the BBC has lost the rights to the weekly highlights show to Channel 5. It is understood Channel 5 will show the highlights at 9pm on Saturdays with the prime-time TV slot hugely appealing to the Football League clubs who want to attract younger audiences. The BBC has scheduled its highlights of matches from the Championship, League One and League Two beginning after Match of The Day – usually starting just before midnight and ending after 1am.

Primera Liga: Deportivo vs Elche 2-0.

In Italy: Serie B – Latina vs Va-rese 1-0. Lega Pro, Group A – Cremonese vs Pro Patria 3-1.

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