Claudio Ranieri has issued Esteban Cambiasso an ultimatum.
The new Foxes boss has held talks with the midfielder but he is yet to commit his future to the club after his contract expired last month.
Ranieri managed Cambiasso at Inter between 2011 and 2012 but needs an answer from the former Argentina midfielder.
“I’ve had a conversation with him. I know him from Inter, I coached him there. I said to him ‘I need you, everybody loves you in Leicester, please come back’,” said Ranieri.
“He told me he wants to wait and look at all the opportunities offered to him.”
Pep Guardiola for independence
Catalonia’s revived independence campaign gained its highest-profile supporter yesterday, when Barcelona icon Pep Guardiola became a candidate for the two main parties supporting a split from Spain.
Guardiola, a former Barcelona captain, who led the Catalans to Champions League glory as manager in 2009, will be the last name on the parties’ joint candidate list for regional elections in September.
Placing Guardiola, who now manages Bayern Munich, last on the list means that, barring an unprecedented landslide, he has no chance of being elected.
Juventus to make offer for Sandro
Reports yesterday said Juventus will submit an offer for Porto left-back Alex Sandro, 24, by the end of the month.
The Serie A champions are in the market for a wing-back to provide cover for veteran Patrice Evra, the only natural flank player on the left side at present in the Juve squad.
Gazzetta dello Sport said Juve officials will fly to Portugal this week for talks as Sandro’s release clause is set at €50m.
However, with only a year remaining on his contract, it is believed the offer will be less than half what Porto expect.
Newcastle closing in on Mitrovic
Newcastle are expected to make Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic their next signing.
Following the deal to bring Georginio Wijnaldum from PSV Eindhoven, manager Steve McClaren has turned to 20-year-old Serb Mitrovic to strengthen his attack.
McClaren said: “There is a lot of speculation. But certainly from the feedback back home they are working very hard to bring one or two players back in.”
On Saturday, Mitrovic wrote on his Facebook page: “It’s over! Again in black and white... thank you RSC Anderlecht ! Thank you for everything!”
The reference to black and white reflects the colours of Partizan Belgrade, his former club, and Newcastle.
Theo Walcott keen to stay at Arsenal
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott is keen to extend his stay with the Gunners.
Walcott, who joined the north London club in 2006 when he was 16, believes Arsene Wenger’s side could be on the verge of something special after his goal helped them secure back-to-back FA Cup triumphs in May.
The 26-year-old, who last penned a three-and-a-half-year deal 18 months ago, is planning to just focus on his football and getting a full pre-season under his belt.
“My agent has talked to the club, I enjoy playing for Arsenal so I am just letting them crack on with things and I’ll continue playing football,” Walcott said.
“We’ll just play the waiting game and see what happens but I’m sure it won’t be long.”
Britain probe
British MPs are to launch an investigation into the FIFA scandal in which the FA will have to explain why they did not do more to expose corruption at the core of the sport’s world governing body.
Jesse Norman, the new Sport select committee chairman, declared that “Britain must play its part” in the global drive to clamp down on corruption.
He has ordered an investigation into FIFA reform, due to begin in September, saying that “more can be done”.
FIFA has come under pressure following a series of arrests which came as part of an FBI investigation into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Panama and Mexico reach semi-finals
Panama and Mexico advanced to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup after their matches were forced into extra-time and ultimately decided from the penalty spot.
Mexico, the champions in 2009 and 2011, advanced to the last four following a controversial 124th minute penalty converted by captain Andres Guardado after Oribe Peralta was bundled over in the box by Costa Rica’s Roy Miller.
Television replays, however, showed minimal contact bet-ween the pair.
Guardado then slotted the penalty to set up a semi-final against Panama.
Panama reached the last four after keeper Jaime Penedo made the clinching save that allowed the team to outlast Trinidad 6-5 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw.