Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is confident England midfielder James Milner will sign a new contract in the near future.
Pellegrini and Milner recently gave the impression a deal was close but reports claimed talks between the parties had stalled.
Asked if he expected Milner to stay, Pellegrini said: “I think so. There are some differences that can be arranged.
“It is not easy for all the players to sign a new contract. There are a lot of things to talk. I hope James will sign his contract.”
Milner, 28, is in the final season of his current deal.
FIFA to settle 2022 dates in March
The long-running saga over the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be settled in March.
January/February, May and November/December have been put forward as alternatives for the traditional June/July slot, which is considered too hot to stage the tournament even though organisers have pledged to build air-conditioned stadiums.
FIFA said it was closer to narrowing the choices to January/ February or November/December, although May is backed by the powerful European clubs.
The FIFA Exco also confirmed that the 2018 World Cup in Russia would start on June 14 and finish on July 15.
Volos’s struggles
Cash-strapped Super League strugglers Niki Volos could be forced to withdraw from Greece’s top flight after the team was ordered to forfeit their next game against Panaitolikos after failing to pay players.
The Super League announced that due to the “withholding of money from the team”, it had no option but to apply league regulations, cancelling today’s scheduled fixture against Panaitolikos and handing Niki Volos an automatic 3-0 defeat.
Following promotion from the Football League, Greece’s second tier, Volos have struggled with financial problems as well as form on the pitch.
The club from Thessaly are currently bottom of the 16-team Super League.
Shea swaps Stoke for Orlando
Winger Brek Shea has left Stoke and returned to the United States to join Major League Soccer side Orlando City.
The 24-year-old was signed by former Stoke boss Tony Pulis from FC Dallas for £2.5m in January 2013 but made only five appearances for the Potters in nearly two years at the club.
Shea was loaned to Barnsley last season and returned to Stoke earlier this month after another loan spell with Birmingham but has failed to force himself into manager Mark Hughes’s plans.
Shea has 27 caps for the USA but did not make the squad for the World Cup in Brazil.
Sanchez, Suarez are alike – Wenger
Arsene Wenger believes Alexis Sanchez is like Luis Suarez and made for the English game.
Wenger takes his Arsenal side to Liverpool today with Sanchez in his team, rather than among the opposition.
The Frenchman’s pursuit of the Chile forward began at the end of May and he snared his target, signing him from Barcelona, despite Liverpool being linked with Sanchez as a replacement for the Nou Camp-bound Suarez.
Wenger said: “Sanchez has settled very quickly. He has a kind of game that is instinctive and tough.
“They (Sanchez and Suarez) have similarities. They are South Americans, they are provoking players, they go with the ball.”
Lazaar demands strong finish
Palermo defender Achraf Lazaar has demanded a strong finish to the year from his team-mates when they face Atalanta today.
The Sicilians go into the match on the back of a 2-1 triumph over Sassuolo. Last weekend’s outcome lifted Giuseppe Iachini’s side to 10th place, nine points clear of the drop zone.
“We want to end the year in the best possible way,” Lazaar said.
“Another win would be an important result for us. We have done a good job so far and we are optimistic we can do well in the future. However, we must keep our feet on the ground.”
Palermo gained promotion this year after finishing top in Serie B last season. The islanders have won just once the road so far, a 2-0 triumph at Milan on November 2.
Carrick new United vice-captain
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has replaced Darren Fletcher as the club’s vice-captain.
The 33-year-old Carrick, who joined United from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, takes over as Wayne Rooney’s deputy from Fletcher who was handed the role at the start of the season.
Scottish midfielder Fletcher has struggled for first-team opportunities, playing just 49 minutes since the end of August.
“I have three captains,” manager Louis van Gaal said.
“You have a sequence: Wayne Rooney is one, Carrick is two, Fletcher three.
“Carrick brings a lot of experience but also a lot of composure.
“He can transfer my philosophy on to the pitch.”