Reports in the French media yesterday said Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons, 24, is set to join Napoli for €12 million.
According to RMC Sport radio, the Serie A club are finally close to agreeing terms with the player after several weeks of talks.
The RMC report added agent Frederic Guerra is expected to arrive in Italy this weekend to sort out the final details of the transfer deal.
Gonalons, also linked with Arsenal, has been at Lyon since summer 2009 and is a versatile figure, as he can also play in central defence.
English FA stands by Michael Johnson
The FA is set to retain Michael Johnson on its new Inclusion Advisory Board, despite the emergence of footage of the for-mer player describing homo-sexuality as “detestable”.
Johnson made the comments in 2012 while appearing on a BBC1 series called ‘The Big Questions’ during which he opted not to back the FA anti-homophobia campaign.
In a statement, Johnson ad-mitted he held “deep regret” over his comments, adding that they were beliefs he no longer held.
The 40-year-old was named in a 10-man IAB panel last month, which has been designed to promote equality in the game.
The panel includes former En-gland player Graeme Le Saux.
Arsenal send Napoli report to UEFA
Arsenal have submitted a report to UEFA following an investigation into why hundreds of travelling supporters were delayed in getting to the Champions League Group F tie against Napoli in Italy last month.
The London club had warned their fans to take extra care in and around Naples following previous problems with the Italian side’s hardcore ‘Ultras’.
Although special buses had been laid on to take Gunners supporters out to the Stadio San Paolo, many were delayed in leaving and caught up in traffic.
It resulted in several hundred missing the kick-off.
Traore to Vitesse
Chelsea’s 18-year-old Burkina Faso midfielder Bertrand Traore has joined Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem on loan until the end of the season, the Premier League club said.
Traore, who made his international debut in 2011 aged 15, joined Chelsea on a 4-1/2 year contract from Burkinabe side Association Jeunes Espoirs De Bobo-Dioulasso in October.
The London club said they wanted him to gain experience with Vitesse, who are level on points with leaders Ajax in the Dutch top flight.
Chelsea also announced that they have recalled forward Gael Kakuta and defender Sam Hut-chinson from loan spells at Vitesse.
Abbiati ready to extend his contract
Veteran Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati (picture) wants to prolong his stay at the San Siro club and said he intends to sign a new one-year contract.
The news was confirmed by the 36-year-old’s agent Claudio Vigorelli yesterday.
“If Milan want to renew Christian’s contract for a further season then he would accept because I don’t think he can see himself at another club,” Vigorelli said.
“There are positive signs but first we will have to meet with Adriano Galliani.”
Abbiati joined Milan in 1998 but had loan stints at Juventus, Torino and Atletico Madrid in his career before re-joining the Rossoneri.
Aston Villa’s Kozak out for the season
Aston Villa’s Czech Republic striker Libor Kozak broke his leg in training on Thursday and will miss the rest of the season.
Last season’s Europa League top scorer, who joined the Midlands club on a four-year deal from Lazio in September, had surgery yesterday.
Villa added the 24-year-old “will play no further part this season”.
The 6-foot-4 inch Kozak, who made his debut for the Czechs in 2012, was signed by Paul Lambert to help take the pressure off Christian Benteke, Villa’s only other main target man.
He has scored four goals in 14 league appearances this term for Aston Villa.
Aussie clubs charged after fan fight
A-League sides Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers have been charged with bringing the game into disrepute after a brawl involving their fans last week.
Both clubs were charged by Football Federation Australia not only for the behaviour of their supporters but also for the dispute that erupted afterwards.
Local media reported a fight had broken out between opposing fans outside a bar in central Melbourne before their clash on Dec. 28, which resulted in eight fans needing treatment.
Western Sydney said Victory fans had sparked the fight while the Victory then said that flares had been set off by visiting fans inside the stadium during the match as both sides engaged in a public tit-for-tat blame game.