Fulham are set to complete the signing of Ghana international Derek Boateng, reports said.
The 30-year-old is a long-standing target of Martin Jol, who has attempted to bring in the Dnipro midfielder on several occasions before.
Boateng’s transfer had to be put on ice previously due to contract disputes with his Ukrainian club, but PA Sport said a deal is now close to being pushed through.
The former Getafe, Cologne and Beitar Jerusalem man will reportedly pen a two-year deal at Craven Cottage.
Rodwell out to prove himself
Jack Rodwell is determined to ensure Manchester City fans see the best of him next season.
The former Everton midfielder is hoping to make a fresh start after having his first year at the Etihad Stadium ruined by injury.
Rodwell did at least finish the campaign strongly and was unexpectedly rewarded with a place in the latest England squad.
“It’s all about the future now,” he said. Obviously a new manager will come in and everyone is intrigued to see who that is going to be. First game of next season everyone will be flying, and we will do our best to prove ourselves to the manager.”
Vilarrubi pleased Mou is going
Barcelona vice-president Carles Vilarrubi has welcomed the news Jose Mourinho is leaving Real Madrid, describing the Portu-guese as a “scourge” on Spanish football.
During his time in Spain, Mourinho has had several run-ins with Barca, including poking Tito Vilanova in the eye during a Supercopa match and claiming UEFA favoured the Catalan club following an ill-tempered Champions League semi-final.
And Vilarrubi is glad to see the back of him. He told Catalunya Radio: “Now I can say it, Mourinho has been a scourge.
“Seeing him leave is positive because he had created a negative atmosphere in Spain.”
Beckham junior joins QPR academy
David Beckham’s eldest son Brooklyn has joined the junior academy of QPR and bookmakers are already offering short odds that the 14-year-old will emulate his father by playing for England.
Beckham senior retired from the game last week after helping PSG to the French league title but now has a home in London.
Bookmakers are offering odds of 12-1 that Brooklyn will play for England but only 9-2 to play in the Premier League.
In other celebrity English soccer news yesterday, Manchester United announced that their unsettled striker Wayne Rooney had become a father for the second time with boy Klay joining brother Kai.
Pizarro ends eight-year exile
Fiorentina midfielder David Pizarro’s long wait for a Chile comeback ended after almost eight years this week when he was picked for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Bolivia.
Pizarro, who last played for Chile against Ecuador in Santiago in October 2005, turned his back on the national team after indiscipline by other team members and then refused several recalls from different coaches.
The 33-year-old, with 36 caps and two goals for his country, accepted the call-up from Chile’s Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli.
De Laurentiis eyes Dzeko deal
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has played down suggestions he wants Rafael Benitez to be the club’s new head coach and claimed the delegation that visited England on Monday was hoping to secure an exchange deal with Manchester City for Edinson Cavani.
De Laurentiis had been linked with Benitez as a replacement for Napoli’s own departing coach Walter Mazzarri, who guided the team to second place in Serie A.
Reports had claimed Benitez would be offered a two-year contract by Napoli, but instead, according to De Laurentiis, the president sent sporting director Riccardo Bigon to negotiate with City over a deal that could see Cavani move to the Etihad Stadium and Edin Dzeko join the Neapolitans.
Champs top table for TV earnings
English champions Manchester United topped the table for Premier League television income in 2012-13, raking in almost £61 million in the final year of the current three-year contract, the League said yesterday.
Relegated Queens Park Ran-gers, owned by Malaysian airline boss Tony Fernandes, received almost £40 million, the lowest figure among the 20 clubs.
Television income will climb further next season after telecoms company BT entered the British market, taking a share of live rights alongside pay TV operator BSkyB. BT has replaced US company ESPN as the second broadcaster in Britain.