Poland international Artur Sobiech has committed his long-term future to Hannover by signing a new four-year deal.
The striker’s contract was due to expire in the summer of 2014, but he has now penned a fresh deal until 2017 with the Bun-desliga club.
“I feel settled in Hanover and at this club. My next aim it to be a regular starter in the team,” Sobiech said.
“It’s important for my deve-lopment that I get more game time so I can also push for more international call-ups.”
Londoners could face play-off
Premier League chiefs are crossing their fingers that they are not presented with a major headache if Arsenal and Chelsea finish the season level on points, goal difference and goals scored.
That scenario could happen if the Gunners win 2-1 at Newcastle and Chelsea draw 0-0 at home to Everton on Sunday.
That would make the clubs joint third and Arsenal and Chelsea would have to face a play-off for the automatic Cham-pions League qualification spot.
The problem would be when to play such a match – Chelsea have an end-of-season tour to the US next week and then there are England friendlies on May 29 against Ireland and then in Brazil on June 2.
Le Saux hoping Lampard stays
Graeme Le Saux is crossing his fingers talk of Frank Lampard being offered a contract extension by Chelsea proves to be correct.
It has been suggested Lam-pard has agreed a new one-year deal to remain with the Stamford Bridge outfit.
“I hope they do come to an agreement,” said Le Saux, a former Chelsea full-back.
“Professional football now is a business and it was up to Chelsea and Frank to come to an agree-ment. That is what we have been waiting to see happen.
“What Frank has achieved should never be overlooked. It is incredible.”
Inler-Guarin swap
Reports in Italy suggested that Napoli are engaged in talks with Serie A rivals Inter over a player-exchange deal involving Gok-han Inler and Fredy Guarin.
Il Corriere dello Sport reported that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has already proposed the idea to Inter chief Massimo Moratti but the latter has so far declined.
Guarin, a Colombian interna-tional, has been one of the few Nerazzurri players who have made a positive impression during a largely disappointing 2012-13 season, scoring 10 goals in 46 matches.
Inler, meanwhile, is a 28-year-old midfielder who has also been linked with a possible move to Milan at the end of the season.
Werder part ways with coach Schaaf
Werder Bremen parted ways with coach Thomas Schaaf after 14 years in charge yesterday, bringing an end to a relationship spanning four decades.
Schaff, who was the longest-serving active coach in the league, will not be in charge for the last game of the season against Nuremberg on Saturday.
The 52-year-old led Werder to the 2004 German league and cup double and two more German Cup wins but the club struggled this season.
“In the past few days we sat down and analysed our sporting situation and came to the conclusion that we needed to dare and make a new start,” Werder sports director Thomas Eichin said.
“After securing our Bundesliga spot we jointly agreed that parting ways was the best thing for a new start.”
Rooney ‘not on the Bayern agenda’
Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer insisted his club have no interest in signing Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.
Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson confirmed over the weekend that Rooney had made a transfer request, heightening speculation over the England international’s future.
“I don’t know what Rooney would bring to the Bundesliga,” Sammer is quoted by the Daily Telegraph as having said at the pre-Champions League final media day.
“I can’t answer that.
“I can answer that we have great respect for Wayne Rooney, but there has been no contact with him. He’s not on the agenda.
No, no. Absolutely not.”
Amoruso takes on Palermo role
Former Serie A striker Nicola Amoruso has been named sporting director of relegated Palermo.
The 38-year-old, who has reportedly agreed a one-year contract following talks with club president Maurizio Zamparini, will work alongside Giorgio Perinetti as Palermo bid to make an immediate return to the top flight.
Since September 2011, Amo-ruso has been working in the youth sector of Reggina.
Amoruso turned out for no fewer than 14 clubs during his career but is mostly remembered for his spells with Juventus and Napoli.