James: Bournemouth have signed former England goalkeeper David James until the end of the season. The 42-year-old former Portsmouth keeper had been without a club after being released by Bristol City in the summer. In a 20-year career, James has also played for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham and Man. City and earned 53 England caps.

Cassano: Inter forward Antonio Cassano is to become a father again, his wife Carolina Marcialis revealed. The couple already have a son, born in April last year. Marcialis broke the news by posting a photograph on the web of a pregnant stomach wrapped in a pink and blue bow. “I hope it’ll be a girl, otherwise with three male Cassanos in the house I’ll go mad,” Marcialis said.

Blackburn: Tim Sherwood has been installed as the favourite to be the next Blackburn boss after Steve Kean’s resignation. Sky Bet made former Rovers captain Sherwood, who is currently assistant first-team coach at Tottenham, the favourite to take the reins at Ewood Park, with club legend Alan Shearer the 6/1 second favourite.

Basta: Arsenal are showing strong interest in Udinese’s Dusan Basta and reports are saying the Londoners are preparing to make an offer to sign the 28-year-old right-sided midfielder in January. Basta is seen as an ideal replacement for Bacary Sagna if the latter decides to move in the winter transfer window.

Vukcevic: Hoffenheim played Augsburg yesterday only after being urged to take to the pitch by the parents of their team-mate Boris Vukcevic, who is fighting for his life after a car crash on Friday. “We could have cancelled the game but the team were determined to play following the appeal,” Hoffenheim sporting director Andreas Mueller said. Vukcevic was placed in an artifical coma after surgery for serious injuries he received in the accident.