West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green has been ruled out of England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia on Friday due to injury, causing a selection headache for national team coach Fabio Capello.
Green reported for duty late Monday, but it was clear he would be unable to take part in the Group G encounter having earlier picked up a knock.
Derby’s Frankie Fielding has been called up as a replacement.
However, as on-loan Ipswich keeper David Stockdale, who conceded seven at Peterborough last week, was the back-up anyway, it places more emphasis on the fitness of Manchester City’s Joe Hart.
Villa’s Makoun makes Greek move
Midfielder Jean Makoun has left Aston Villa to join Olympiacos on a season-long loan deal.
The 28-year-old Cameroon international joined Aston Villa from Lyon for a fee in the region of £6m in January but has failed to establish himself so far.
Makoun made just seven ap-pearances during the second half of last season, with a red card at Blackpool his most notable impact, while his only game to date this season came in the League Cup win over Hereford last week.
Makoun, who has made 54 appearances for his country, is contracted to Aston Villa until the summer of 2014.
Agent plays down Ballack link
Wolfsburg are unlikely to make Michael Ballack their 12th signing of the summer. The former Chelsea midfielder is struggling to win a regular place in the Bayer Leverkusen team and has been linked with Wolfsburg.
But Ballack’s agent Michael Becker said: “Nobody from Wolfsburg has made contact with me, nor have they had any contact with Michael.”
The 34-year-old, who has retired from the German national team, has started just one match for Leverkusen so far this season and is expected to be given permission to leave.
No date set for Sion UEFA hearing
A date is still to be determined for the hearing into whether FC Sion breached a transfer embargo, UEFA said yesterday.
The Swiss side could be sanctioned for fielding players in the Europa League signed while the club were under a transfer embargo. Celtic could be reinsta-ted if Sion are expelled.
Celtic suffered a 3-1 aggregate loss to FC Sion, who have five players in their squad who are, in the eyes of FIFA, ineligible to play in the competition.
Sion’s Euro squad was approved by the Swiss FA who, along with the club, have reportedly been warned by UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino about possible sanctions.
Zarate move unlikely – agent
Mauro Zarate is unlikely to leave Lazio this summer, according to the player’s agent.
Zarate has been strongly linked with a move away from the Biancocelesti following a rift with coach Edy Reja, with Inter and Arsenal reportedly interested in acquiring the Argentina striker on loan for the season.
“There was minor interest from Inter but the loan option did not satisfy (Lazio president Claudio) Lotito,” said Zarate’s agent Giuseppe Bozzo.
“There are not many clubs willing to spend €21m for Mauro and there is a 99% chance that he will remain at Lazio.”
City wanted me says Van Bommel
Mark van Bommel claims Manchester City attempted to prise him away from Milan last week.
But the 34-year-old, who said City first made contact last season before returning in the past few days, has rejected their advances after insisting he is happy at the San Siro.
“City were one of the clubs that wanted me in the winter so it’s not as though their interest has come from nowhere, but Milan have a clear position and I can live with that,” he said.
“I feel good as a footballer and I am appreciated here. And my family feels at home here.”
The former Bayern Munich midfielder’s agent Mino Raiola believes City wanted to sign him as cover for when the African Nations Cup gets under way in January.
Yeung granted trip to UK
Birmingham majority shareholder Carson Yeung has been granted the right to make a one-off trip to the UK next month, his lawyer has confirmed.
Yeung, who is facing charges of money laundering in Hong Kong, was forced to surrender his travel documents as part of the condi-tions of the bail that was granted at the end of June, but had hoped to be allowed to visit the UK with the end of the transfer window approaching.
His lawyer Clive Grossman confirmed that Yeung was yesterday given permission to make an exceptional visit to the UK to deal with his business affairs from September 15 to 19.
Yeung faces five counts of money-laundering amounting to around £59 million.