Kyle Lafferty is ready to leave Norwich to stay sharp for Euro 2016.
The striker has been unable to win over Canaries boss Alex Neil despite shooting Northern Ireland to their first major tournament in 30 years.
The 28-year-old is desperate to prove himself in the top flight but Neil has consistently been deaf to his claims.
“I’m going to have to sit down with the manager in January and have a discussion with him,” said Lafferty.
“I know that I will need to play football in the new year and going into the European Championship.”
Barca chasing Celta striker Nolito
Barcelona have set their sights on trying to sign Celta Vigo forward Nolito during the winter transfer window.
Nolito remains Barca’s top target, with the Blaugrana keen to strengthen their attacking line-up. The Spain international has been in scintillating form, scoring seven goals and setting up four more in 11 La Liga start for Celta this season.
When asked about Barca’s potential move for Nolito, the Catalans’ technical director Robert Fernandez said: “There is a real possibility.
“Nolito is a good player, he is going through a good spell and he is in the national team, which is an important factor.”
Miura, 48, signs new Yokohama deal
Forty-eight-year-old former Japan international Kazuyoshi Miura has renewed his contract at Yokohama for 2016 to play his 12th season at the club.
Just 15 months short of his 50th birthday, Miura has extended his stay at the J.League Division Two outfit for next term after continuing to impress, scoring three goals in 16 games so far this season as Yokohama sit safe in mid-table with two matches remaining.
Yokohama announced the news of Miura’s new deal at 11:11 yesterday (November 11) in a tribute to the player who wears the number 11 shirt.
Mueller not taking pity on Dutch failure
Germany’s Thomas Mueller is taking great pleasure in ribbing Bayern Munich team-mate Arjen Robben following the Netherlands’ failure to qualify for the Euro Championship finals.
As he prepares for a friendly match against France and then Robben’s Dutch in the coming week, Mueller is not taking any pity on his club colleague.
“If I can’t do it now, then when can I?” Muller said at a press conference yesterday, when asked if he was joking about the Dutch’s dismal moment.
“You never know in football how things will look in the near future.”
United’s Valencia has foot operation
Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia has undergone an operation on a foot injury he suffered in last month’s derby, the club have confirmed.
On Tuesday, the 30-year-old posted a picture on social media from his hospital bed to say the surgery had gone well and he will now begin a rehabilitation process.
Valencia was kicked on the foot during the first half of United’s goalless draw against Manchester City on October 25 but played on until late in the game before being replaced by Matteo Darmian.
The Ecuador international had just ousted Darmian as first-choice right-back at Old Trafford but now faces an unspecified time on the sidelines having gone under the knife.
Referee stripped of international status
Referee Diego Ceballos, provisionally suspended last week after his errors in the Copa Argentina final, has been stripped of his international status.
Ceballos, who officiated in Boca Juniors’ 2-0 win over Rosario Central in the final of the knockout competition, wrongly awarded Boca a penalty for a foul outside the area and gave a goal that was scored from an offside position.
“By decision of (AFA) president, Mr Luis Segura, Mr Diego Ceballos has been withdrawn from the International Referees Register,” the AFA said.
“This measure will immediately be communicated to FIFA.”
Injured Tevez out of WCup qualifiers
Argentina striker Carlos Tevez has pulled out of their squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Brazil tonight and Colombia next Tuesday.
Tevez, who helped Boca Juniors win the Argentine first division championship and Copa Argentina knockout competition this month, joins Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Ezequiel Garay on coach Gerardo Martino’s injury list.
“The national team suffers another withdrawal: now it is Carlos Tevez. The forward has muscle fatigue and a twisted left knee and so won’t be able to play in the next two qualifiers,” the Argentina FA said.