Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley has played down speculation linking him with a return to Cardiff.
Reports this week suggested the Bluebirds could be set to make a £3 million bid to bring the Wales international back to the club he quit for the Hoops in 2010.
Ledley admits the prospect of playing in the Premier League is a big attraction for some players but insists his focus is on the Scottish champions.
He said: “It’s just rumours... nothing official. A lot of players want to play in the Premier League but at the moment I’m with Celtic and I’m just concentrating on my club.”
Harper’s night
Steve Harper will celebrate his 20 years as a Newcastle player when a team of former Magpies superstars play against a Milan Legends side.
Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Rob Lee and Faustino Asprilla will pull on the black and white stripes once again for a charity game at St James’ Park on September 11.
They will be in good company too with the Milan Glorie squad featuring Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Andriy Shevchenko.
Harper, who made 199 appearances for Newcastle, said: “This match is a massive honour for me... my opportunity to say thank you to a region which has given me so much support.”
Van Aanholt eyes World Cup spot
Patrick van Aanholt believes playing in the Eredivisie again this season will enhance his chances of making the Holland squad for the 2014 World Cup.
Van Aanholt has agreed another loan deal with Vitesse Arnhem, where he spent last season, after finding opportunities at Chelsea hard to come by.
The 22-year-old left-back is hoping playing closer to home will keep him in the thoughts of Oranje coach Louis van Gaal.
“I want to go to the World Cup, that’s why I did not consider going to England,” he said.
“At Vitesse it will be better for my image with the coach (Van Gaal).”
Bale is in Europe elite says Casillas
Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has described Gareth Bale as one of the top players in Europe as the Spanish giants continue their pursuit of the Tottenham winger.
Real have earmarked the 24-year-old Wales international as their major summer target although they have so far not persuaded Spurs to sell.
Madrid-based newspaper Marca’s front page yesterday suggested Spurs were holding out for a fee of €145 million (£126m).
Casillas said: “We are talking about one of the top three players in Europe and it’s normal that his name is being discussed because he has all the qualities a footballer needs.”
Ivica Olic outlines his future plans
Ivica Olic has signalled his intention to leave the Bundesliga at the end of the season to finish his career in another league.
The 33-year-old Croat still has a year left to run on his contract with Wolfsburg, but he does not expect to extend that deal or move to another side in Germany.
“This is probably my last year in the Bundesliga,” he said.
“If my body allows it and I am still fit, then maybe I will play on for a year in the USA or in Dubai after my Bundesliga career.”
Olic won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 2010, but was twice on the losing side in a Champions League final for the Bavaria Reds.
Gago returns to his roots at Boca
Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago completed his transfer back to Boca Juniors from Valencia by passing a medical and signing a three-year contract.
Gago had already spent the first six months of the year in Buenos Aires on loan from Valencia to Velez Sarsfield but Boca stepped in to bring the player back to the club where he made his first division debut in 2004.
“It’s a nice feeling coming back to the club where I grew up as a person and now I want to enjoy this stage at Boca,” the 27-year-old said.
Gago joined Real Madrid in 2007 and helped them win two La Liga crowns before moving to Valencia last year after a season’s loan at Roma in 2011/12.
Vidic returns for Man United victory
Nemanja Vidic played for an hour as a second-string Manchester United side won 2-0 at Crewe on Monday.
The Serbian defender missed United’s tour of Australia and the Far East with a back complaint but came through 62 minutes untroubled at Gresty Road.
There were also run-outs for Nani and Antonio Valencia who both missed the trip, with Nani scoring both goals.
The Portugal international, who has been suffering with a broken nose, slotted in a first-half free-kick and then tucked away a second goal after the break.