Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has played down speculation linking the club with a move for in-form Leeds striker Luciano Becchio.
Martinez is also bemused by reports the Argentinian, who is reportedly valued at £4 million after scoring 19 goals for the Championship side this season, watched the Latics’ FA Cup third-round replay win at Bourne-mouth on Tuesday.
Those rumours circulated as Becchio, 29, missed Leeds’ match at Birmingham on the same night through illness. When asked about those suggestions, Martinez said: “I don’t think so. If he was I didn’t know about it.”
CSKA and Litex discuss merger
Top Bulgarian clubs CSKA Sofia and Litex Lovech have discussed a possible merger in an attempt to save costs, CSKA president Dimitar Borisov said.
“Negotiations with (Litex Lovech owner) Grisha Ganchev continue,” Borisov said.
“Merger of two clubs is not so easy but it is likely to happen.”
CSKA are struggling financially and have just escaped a three-year European ban by UEFA over debts last year.
Litex, coached by Hristo Stoichkov, are based in Lovech, 150km north-east from Sofia.
Ganchev was on the verge of purchasing CSKA several times in recent years.
Belgium to use extra linesmen
Belgium is to start using additional linesmen on the goal line in the second half of this season in a boost for UEFA which favours the system over goal line technology.
The additional linesmen will be used during the six-team play-off which decides the Belgian league title and from the semi-finals onwards in the Belgian Cup, UEFA said.
The system was developed by UEFA and is used in the Champions League, Europa League and the European Championship.
It was officially approved by soccer’s law-making organisation last year and is also being used in Italy’s Serie A and the Brazilian championship.
Saha set to leave
Striker Louis Saha has been told he is free to leave Sunderland.
The 34-year-old Frenchman arrived on a one-year deal in the summer after being released by Tottenham but has failed to make an impact at the Stadium of Light.
Manager Martin O’Neill said: “We have told Louis he is free to speak to other clubs and to leave if he can fix himself up somewhere.
“We have come to an agreement whereby we will cancel the remainder of his contract, shake hands and go our separate ways.”
Keane agrees new deal with Galaxy
Ireland striker Robbie Keane has signed a new “multi-year” deal with Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy, the league champions said on Wednesday.
Keane has been a part of the Galaxy’s title wins in the past two seasons and was heading into the final year of his contract with the US club.
The former Wolves, Inter, Liverpool and Tottenham forward recently indicated he was due to sign a two-year extension which would keep him with the Galaxy until 2015.
The 32-year-old scored 16 goals in 28 regular season games last year and was on target in the 3-1 MLS Cup win over the Houston Dynamo.
Ferguson lauds ‘incredible’ Giggs
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson backed Ryan Giggs to continue playing for the club for another year after the veteran midfielder’s performance in Wednesday night’s 1-0 FA Cup third-round replay victory over West Ham.
Giggs, captain for the evening, delivered a virtuoso display in the contest at Old Trafford as United set up a fourth-round home clash with Fulham.
And referring to the 39-year-old after the game, Ferguson said: “He will play for another year. There are no signs of tiredness in his game, his quality is still there.
“Ryan Giggs is just an incredible human being.”
Rivaldo signs for new Brazilian club
Former Brazil midfielder and 1999 World Player of the Year Rivaldo announced he had signed to play for Sao Caetano at the age of 40 until the end of the year.
“I will dedicate myself fully to do the best possible on the field, as I’ve done until now,” Rivaldo said about returning to a Brazilian team after playing for Kabuscorp in Angola.
“To my critics, I would like to say that this is the result of my dedication,” he added of offers he had received from several other clubs before signing with Sao Caetano.
Sao Caetano will play in the Sao Paulo state championships and the second division of the Brazilian Championship.