Spal: Spal have gained promotion into Serie B after a 23-year absence. The club, based in Ferrara, were able to top the table in Lega Pro with a draw against Arezzo, yesterday. First founded in 1907, Spal went bankrupt in 2005 and again in 2012. The club had 21 different spells in Serie A but haven’t been in the top flight since 1968.

Okore: The fall-out from Aston Villa’s Premier League relegation continued when caretaker manager Eric Black revealed that defender Jores Okore is refusing to play for club. The 23-year-old Dane turned down the chance to be on the substitutes’ bench for the home match against Bournemouth two weeks ago and is now training with the U-21 squad. “After that game, he said that he didn’t want to be considered for any of the games going forward,” Black said.

Afellay: Stoke City midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has sustained cruciate ligament damage and will be out for the long term, the Premier League club announced. The 30-year-old, who has been capped 52 times by Holland, suffered what the club have called a “serious knee injury” in Friday’s training session and was not in the squad for the Potters’ clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.

Falcao: Roma are reportedly in talks for striker Radamel Falcao who is owned by Ligue 1 club Monaco. According to reports yesterday, Edin Dzeko will be sold at the end of the season and the Giallorossi identified his replacement as Falcao. The 30-year-old failed to live up to expectations in loan spells at Manchester United and Chelsea and he is expected to be back in France this summer.

Youth Cup: Chelsea will fancy their chances of winning the FA Youth Cup for a third successive year after earning a 1-1 draw at Manchester City in the first leg of the final. In what is a repeat of last year’s showpiece – which Chelsea won 5-2 on aggregate – the visitors took the lead at Manchester City Academy Stadium through Mason Mount before Aaron Nemane netted a fine equaliser. The second leg will be played on Wednesday.