Former England footballer turned pundit Ray Wilkins is being treated at a rehabilitation centre for alcoholism, a court has heard.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United star was due to face magistrates on Monday accused of drink-driving.
But after the 59-year-old failed to appear, his barrister said he could not attend because he was on a 28-day residential rehabilitation course at the Priory Hospital in Woking, Surrey.
The case was adjourned for a week. Barrister Sarah-Kate McIntyre indicated to the court that Wilkins would enter a guilty plea to the charge.
Holding close to Arsenal switch
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of England Under-21 international defender Rob Holding from Bolton.
Reports yesterday said the 20-year-old travelled down to the capital on Monday night for a medical and to finalise personal terms with the Gunners after a bid in the region of £2 million was accepted by Wanderers.
Holding has been with Bolton since the age of seven and made his senior bow for his boyhood club in a League Cup tie with Burton last August.
Le Guen named Nigeria manager
Frenchman Paul Le Guen has been appointed to lead Nigeria in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Le Guen, who has the official title of technical advisor, will be assisted by Nigerian Salisu Yusuf as chief coach.
The much-travelled 52-year-old Le Guen, who played for Brest, Nantes and Paris Saint Germain and won 17 caps for France, led Cameroon to the 2010 World Cup finals.
He has coached club sides Stade Rennes, Lyon, PSG and Scottish club Rangers as well as Oman’s national team.
Dortmund in talks over Goetze return
Borussia Dortmund have started transfer talks with Bayern Munich over attacking midfielder Mario Goetze’s possible return to Westfalenstadion.
Goetze won two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund before joining Bayern in 2013 but failed to secure a starting place in three seasons under coach Pep Guar-diola, who has since joined Manchester City.
The 24-year-old has also been linked in British media with a move to former Dortmund boss Juergen Klopp at Liverpool.
“I can confirm that talks with Borussia have taken place,” Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Sport1.
“There have also been talks with his agent, but the deal is not done just yet. Both clubs will have to reach an agreement over a transfer fee first.”
Torino sign striker Ljajic from Roma
Torino have signed striker Adem Ljajic from Roma for €8.5 million and brought his team-mate Iago Falque in on loan, the Serie A club said.
The Serbia international joined the Rome-based club in 2013 but had a one-year loan spell at Inter last season, during which he scored three goals.
Spaniard Falque joined Roma in 2015 after a one-year stint at Genoa. He scored twice in 22 appearances last season.
“After discussions with our coach we spared no effort to buy Ljajic from Roma,” Torino president Urbano Cairo said.
“He was one of our first objectives this summer.”
Hull’s Odubajo faces six months out
Hull City midfielder Moses Odubajo has been ruled out for up to six months after he sustained a knee ligament injury during a friendly against lower division side Grimsby Town.
The 22-year-old, who made 42 league appearances last season as the club returned to the Premier League, ruptured his medial patellofemoral ligament in his side’s 0-0 draw on Friday.
“It’s disappointing news for Moses. He was exceptional for us last season as we won promotion back to the Premier League,” manager Steve Bruce said.
Hull begin their 2016-17 season at home against England’s top flight champions Leicester City on August 13.
Chilean footballers vote to strike
Chile’s footballers have voted to go on strike, forcing the start of the season to be postponed.
The players’ union Sifup is unhappy at a decision to reduce promotion and relegation in the new season, a move which it says has cost 120 players their jobs in the top two divisions.
It has also complained about unpaid wages at some clubs.
The Chilean FA has ruled that only one team will be relegated and one team promoted between the top tier and second tier at the end of the 2016/17 season.
Sifup said the decision had “reduced the competitiveness of the domestic tournaments, where the clubs, who do not see themselves as threatened in case of a poor campaign, have drastically cut the costs of their squads.”