Real Madrid: Lucas Silva is unlikely to join Real Madrid in January with the Spanish giants not planning to make any moves in the winter market. The Cruzeiro midfielder has been strongly linked with a transfer to the Bernabeu in recent months. “Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, we will not bring reinforcements in the winter market,” Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said.

Dawson: Struggling Premier League side Hull will be without central defender Michael Dawson for the Christmas period because of a hamstring injury, manager Steve Bruce said. Former England player Dawson, signed from Tottenham Hotspur in the close-season, suffered a grade two tear during Hull’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea last weekend -- a result that left them in the Premier League‘s relegation zone.

Ben Arfa: Hatem Ben Arfa is set for a January move after finding himself unwanted at Newcastle and Hull - and in France a film is being produced about the mercurial winger. The 27-year-old former Marseille player appears set for a January transfer after Newcastle manager Alan Pardew declared he did not want to take Ben Arfa back from his loan spell at Hull, where boss Steve Bruce has written him out of his plans.

Newcastle: Newcastle are facing a goalkeeping crisis and manager Alan Pardew is considering asking the Premier League about the possibility of an emergency loan. Already without Dutch international Tim Krul and Rob Elliott, both injured, Pardew has been relying on 21-year-old third-choice Jak Alnwick. Alnwick has conceded eight goals in his last two games and injured his shoulder in the 4-0 League Cup defeat at Tottenham on Wednesday.

Rostov: Former Rubin Kazan boss Kurban Berdyev took over as coach of bottom of the table Russian Premier League side Rostov yesterday. The 62-year-old signed a contract until the end of the 2014-15 campaign and was handed the task of “finishing the season strongly”.

America: Mexican champions America have announced that Gustavo Matosas is their new coach and will start at the beginning of the Clausura championship in January. Matosas replaces Argentine Antonio Mohamed who steered the Eagles to a record 12th league title in the Apertura last weekend.

King’s Cup: Last 16, second legs – A. Madrid vs L’Hospitalet 2-2 (aggregate: 5-2); Elche vs Valladolid 1-0 (agg: 1-0).

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