Jermain Defoe is committed to Toronto, but the boss of the Major League Soccer franchise refused to rule out the prospect of a January move for the former England striker.
Tim Leiweke, president and chief executive of Maple Leaf Sports, Toronto’s parent company, said: “Jermain Defoe is focused on the remaining four games (of the regular season).
“There is no deal, no conversation, not even a thought right now.
“Making the play-offs would be a huge step for Toronto. As to what happens during the next transfer window, we’ve all agreed we’ll put it on hold and talk in December.”
Borini happy at Anfield – agent
Fabio Borini’s agent claims the Liverpool striker is not looking to find another club.
The Italian turned down moves to Sunderland and QPR despite being told his first-team chances with the Reds would be limited.
Borini has made just one start and two substitute appearances but his agent Marco de Marchi said there were no plans to look at moving him on.
“I am certainly not going to look for another club,” he said.
“Fabio has managed to find some space playing in the Champions League and starting in the Premier League. Things are progressing as expected.”
Vieira nearly joined Spurs – Redknapp
Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has revealed how close he came to signing Patrick Vieira during his reign at White Hart Lane.
The current QPR manager said in his new book, A Man Walks On To a Pitch, that he met the former Arsenal enforcer at his home before Vieira ultimately decided to remain at Inter in 2009.
Despite his strong connections with Spurs’ north London rivals, Redknapp felt Vieira was unfazed by the negative attention the move would inevitably attract.
“He had no fear about what people would think or what reception he would get,” he said.
In the end though, Vieira decided to stay put before he moved to Man. City in 2010.
Sir Alex backs LVG
Alex Ferguson has broken his silence over Louis van Gaal’s appointment as Manchester United manager to give his backing to the Dutchman’s Old Trafford revolution.
Van Gaal was the biggest spender in the summer transfer window bringing in over £150 million worth of new talent while he also offloaded 14 players.
Ferguson said: “Louis van Gaal has made a lot of changes and, thinking about that, actually maybe he’s doing the right thing, to clear the decks and build his own team because he’s got the experience and coaching ability to do that.”
Ferguson retired in May 2013.
United warned off Roma’s Strootman
Manchester United can give up hope of signing Roma’s Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman (picture) in the next transfer window, the Italian club’s owner said.
United have been strongly linked with the player who is still recuperating after suffering a serious knee injury in March.
“It is just not happening. They should stop wasting paper. We don’t have any interest in selling Kevin,” James Pallotta said.
“When people call us and say ‘we want your player’ you are going to listen to them. That does not mean you are going to make a decision that £75m, bang you hit the bid. That is not the way it is going to work, it is not the way it does work with us.”
Bale remains hopeful
Gareth Bale believes qualifying for Euro 2016 with Wales would rank alongside the achievement of winning the Champions League with Real Madrid last season.
Wales have not reached a major tournament since they qualified for the World Cup finals in 1958 but the expansion of the European Championship to 24 teams has given Bale and an ever-improving Wales side perhaps their best opportunity to compete among Europe’s elite.
“It would be right up there with it (Champions League),” Bale said.
“It’s the ultimate honour for me to play for Wales. For me I want to try my best. I want to try and make history with the team and qualify for a major tournament and that’s something we are all aiming for.”
Watzke: We’re still chasing second
Borussia Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke does not see his club’s targets for the season in jeopardy, despite their worst start since Jurgen Klopp took charge.
With just seven points from seven matches, Dortmund are already 10 points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Only six points separate them from second-place Hoffenheim, though.
“We declared a clear objective before the start of the season and I cannot see any reason to revise this,” Watzke said.
“We want to qualify for the Champions League and I’m convinced that we will succeed.”
Dortmund’s next game after the international break is in Cologne while they then host Hanover before travelling to Bayern on November 1.