Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty is on his way out of Palermo after being labelled by club president Maurizio Zamparini as ‘an out-of-control womaniser’.
“Lafferty will probably join Norwich City this summer,” Zamparini said.
“He is an out-of-control womaniser, an Irishman without rules. He is someone who disappears for a week and goes on the hunt for women in Milan.
“He has two families with six children, he never trains, he’s completely off the rails.”
Lafferty played an important role at Palermo last season as the Sicilian side won promotion to the Serie A with weeks to spare.
Coleman extends Everton contract
Fast-improving Ireland right-back Seamus Coleman agreed a new five-year deal that will keep him at Everton until 2019.
“With how much I love playing at Everton, I was delighted to get the chance to sign another contract,” Coleman told reporters.
“I’ve been at Everton five years now and I love everything around the place. It was a very happy decision to make.”
The 25-year-old Coleman, who joined from Sligo Rovers in 2009, was voted Everton’s player of the season in 2013-14.
Cambiasso hopes to remain in Europe
Reported Tottenham target Esteban Cambiasso has revealed he is considering offers from top European clubs.
The former Argentina international becomes a free agent in July after Inter did not offer him a contract extension after 10 years at the San Siro.
Tottenham are keen to reinforce their midfield line and new coach Mauricio Pochettino has set his eyes on fellow Argentinian Cambiasso.
“My career for the time being is still in Europe,” Cambiasso said.
“I have several proposals from big clubs but as a sign of respect for them I will not reveal the negotiations that my father and my brother are undertaking.”
Suarez pokered
Poker brand 888 has cancelled its sponsorship deal with Luis Suarez after the Uruguay striker was banned from all soccer-related activity for four months for biting an opponent.
Suarez lit up the English Premier League last season with Liverpool and became one of the online gambling company’s brand ambassadors only last month.
“888poker signed Luis Suarez following a fantastic season for which his achievements were widely recognised,” it said in a statement, yesterday.
“Regrettably, following his actions at the World Cup on Tuesday, 888poker has decided to terminate its relationship with Luis Suarez with immediate effect.”
Argentina keep believing in Aguero
Argentina have not ruled out Sergio Aguero for the remainder of the World Cup.
The Manchester City striker will, however, miss Tuesday’s round of 16 match against Switzerland with a muscular injury in his left leg.
Aguero was substituted after 37 minutes during Wednesday’s 3-2 triumph over Nigeria. Tests done on Thursday revealed the 26-year-old’s problem.
“It’s a first-degree muscle strain in his femoral biceps,” Argentina team doctor Daniel Martinez said.
“It’s a degree lower within the muscular injuries. He will try to recover as soon as possible.”
Chileans are short, Fred tells Brazil
Brazil aim to make their height advantage count against Chile when the teams meet in a Round of 16 World Cup match today, striker Fred said.
“I’ve talked to our full-backs, our wingers: They (the Chileans) are short,” Fred said.
Fred, who scored with a header in Brazil’s 4-1 victory against Cameroon on Monday, measures 1.86 metres. That gives him a sizeable advantage over the three defenders Chile used in its last two games – Francisco Silva (1.78m), Gonzalo Jara (1.77m) and Gary Medel (1.71m).
Not everyone on the Brazilian side is a giant by comparison – Neymar, for example, measures 1.75m.
But Brazil do have several tall players including defenders David Luiz (1.89m) and Thiago Silva (1.82m), both of whom have a strong record of heading in goals.
Lallana set for Liverpool move
England World Cup midfielder Adam Lallana is expected to leave Southampton for Premier League rivals Liverpool today, according to his agent.
“We are getting closer,” David Manasseh told Sky Sports television yesterday.
“We are nearly there on the personal terms and he is doing a medical at the moment. Hopefully, we’ll have good news for Liverpool fans probably tomorrow morning.”
Media reports estimate the fee will be worth £25 million.
Lallana, 26, made 235 league appearances for Southampton, scoring 48 goals.