Verona joined the chase for Juventus outcast Reto Ziegler as reports in Italy yesterday said the Serie A newcomers are interested in signing the Switzerland inter-national.
Ziegler spent the last two years on loan at Fenerbahce and Lokomotiv Moscow but Verona, along with Torino and Sassuolo, are ready to offer the left-back a way back into the Serie A.
Juventus signed Ziegler from Sampdoria but he never com-manded a regular place in Turin.
Sky Sport Italia is now saying that Verona have already made contact with Juventus to enquire about the transfer fee.
At present, Ziegler is on a salary of €1.5 million a season.
Lafferty ruled out
Northern Ireland have been dealt a huge blow ahead of tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Russia after striker Kyle Lafferty was ruled out of the match with an Achilles injury.
The 25-year-old is central to manager Michael O’Neill’s strategy and would have been a first-choice selection had he been fit.
But he suffered an injury playing for his new club Palermo in a Coppa Italia match against Cre-monese on Sunday and has not travelled to Belfast, leaving O’Neill with a selection headache.
Canaries given Hooper boost
Norwich received a boost yesterday after striker Gary Hooper was cleared of serious injury after being taken off during the club’s final pre-season fixture.
The summer signing from Celtic required scans on his knee and shin after being carried off on a stretcher during Saturday’s defeat of Panathinaikos.
Manager Chris Hughton said: “Both the X-ray and the scan are fine and confirm there is no fracture or any other problem which might indicate a long-term injury.
“There is still some bruising Gary suffered from the knock and he will continue to be monitored and assessed over the days ahead.”
The Canaries begin the Premier League season at home to Everton on Saturday.
Beckenbauer demands GLT
Bayern Munich’s honorary president Franz Beckenbauer has called for goal-line technology (GLT) to be introduced in the Bundesliga immediately.
A valid goal from Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland was not given during a 2-2 draw with Nuremberg at the weekend as referee Torsten Kinhofer and his assistant both adjudged the ball had not crossed the line.
“We can fly to the moon and do amazing technological things so surely a camera or something can be installed which shows precisely whether the ball has crossed the line,” Beckenbauer said.
“We are living in an age of technological development and that really belongs to it.”
West Brom sign Vydra on loan
West Bromwich Albion have signed Czech striker Matej Vydra on a season-long loan from Udinese, the Premier League club announced yester-day.
Vydra spent last season on loan at Watford, where he scored 22 goals and was named Championship Player of the Year.
“He had a really good year with Watford and we believe he’s got the qualities to score goals at a higher level. Hopefully, he’ll show that this year with us,” West Bromwich manager Steve Clarke said.
The 21-year-old has played seven times for the Czech Republic, having played for Vysocina Jihlava and Banik Ostrava in his homeland before moving to Udinese in 2010.
De Jong suffers collapsed lung
Ajax Amsterdam forward Siem de Jong will miss at least six weeks after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
According to the club’s website, the 24-year-old had been suffering from persistent tightness and coughing and investigations determined the diagnosis to his right lung.
The player will remain in hospital, where his lung is being drained, for the coming days and will be ruled out of the Eredivisie champions’ opening Champions League group stage match next month.
Monaco have penalty dropped
An appeal commission has cancelled the two-point penalty handed to Ligue 1 newcomers Monaco for violent incidents by fans during last season’s second-division title celebrations, the French Federation (FFF) said yesterday.
Fireworks were set off during Monaco’s last home game against Le Mans in May before fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle.
In the melee, a referee was struck by a fan, according to the match official’s report.
Monaco were also told to play one match behind closed doors, a sanction the FFF commission upheld.