Veteran US keeper Brad Friedel, 43, is among a list of possible replacements for Petr Cech at Chelsea next season along with the likes of QPR’s Robert Green, Celtic’s Craig Gordon, Aston Villa’s Shay Given and John Ruddy, of Norwich City.
Reports yesterday said that 32-year-old Cech, who played for Chelsea against Tottenham on Sunday in the League Cup final, is likely to leave Stamford Bridge with Thibaut Courtois now established as Blues’ no.1 keeper.
Arsenal and Roma are closely monitoring Cech’s situation.
Chelsea will attempt to persuade the Czech to stay at the club at the end of the season, but realise Cech could ask for a move for regular first-team football.
Striker Icardi not for sale by Inter
Inter have no intention of selling star striker Mauro Icardi.
Reports in Italy claimed Inter could put the Argentina international on the market at the end of the season if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio denied those rumours.
“What would happen if they offered me €40 million this summer for Icardi? We have no intention of negotiating,” he said.
“Our intentions are clear, we are building a team that will last for a long time, with young valuable players.”
Johnson bailed
Sunderland midfielder Adam Johnson has been released on bail after he was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16.
The England international was questioned by police on Monday following the allegation involving a girl who is believed to be 15 years old. He has been suspended by the club, pending the outcome of the police investigation.
Johnson, who has 12 senior England caps – the last of them in a friendly victory over Italy in August 2012 – has struggled to reproduce his best form on a sustained basis on Wearside.
Discrimination cases on the rise
The number of reported incidents of discrimination since the start of the football season has increased, the English FA and anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said.
Reports to the latter have risen by more than a third, while English football’s governing body has seen an increase of 70 per cent.
FA head of judicial services Mark Ives said that the rise is more to do with people being confident enough to report the abuse, rather than an increase in incidents.
He said: “It may seem strange to say that it is good to see cases increase from 477 last year at grassroots level to probably 800 this year, but we believe anecdotally the problem itself is not increasing, and that this represents people feeling more confident about reporting abuse.”
Violent conduct charge for Jedinak
Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak has been charged with violent conduct for elbowing West Ham’s Diafra Sakho, the FA has announced.
Jedinak struck Sakho in the face as the pair jumped for a header towards the end of Palace’s 3-1 win at Upton Park on Saturday but referee Mike Dean took no action.
The incident was not seen by the match officials but it was caught on video, allowing the FA to take retrospective action.
The punishment for violent conduct is a three-match ban but Jedinak’s red card against Sunderland in November means his suspension would be lengthened to four.
It means the Eagles captain is set to miss league fixtures against Southampton, QPR, Stoke and Manchester City.
Mowbray given Coventry City job
Tony Mowbray has been appointed Coventry City’s new manager.
The former Celtic boss replaces Steven Pressley and has signed a contract at the Ricoh Arena until the end of the current season.
Mowbray has been out of work since leaving Middlesbrough in October 2013 and had been keen to return to management.
Pressley was sacked last week after the Sky Blues slipped into the League One relegation zone following a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United.
Mowbray, 51, has worked in the Midlands before during a three-year spell at West Brom, where he guided the Baggies to the Premier League in 2008.
Tottenham great Mackay dies aged 80
Dave Mackay, described by Tottenham Hotspur as one of their greatest ever players and the heartbeat of their Double-winning team of 1961, has died aged 80, the club has announced.
The barrel-chested midfielder won 22 caps for Scotland and was a Footballer of the Year at home and in England, winning 10 major honours including three FA Cups with Spurs.
He had a glittering playing career at Spurs, Hearts, where he won every domestic Scottish honour, and Derby County, where he later returned as manager and took them to the English League title in 1975.
He also had stints managing Swindon Town, Walsall, Doncaster Rovers and Birmingham City as well as managing sides in Kuwait, Dubai and Egypt.