COLE: Jose Mourinho believes Ashley Cole, 32, will earn a contract extension at Chelsea despite the England left-back no longer being guaranteed a first-team place. The Blues boss believes Cole’s stock at Chelsea, who he joined in August 2006, remains high. “Naturally he will get his contract because he’s a valuable player for us,” Mourinho said. “Even if you are not a first-choice player, like he was always, I don’t think sometimes it means that you are not deserving a new contract.”
FRENCH CUP: The draw for the last 64 of the Coupe de France produced four all-Ligue 1 ties, highlighted by 10-time champions Marseille taking on Reims. OM, who dispensed with coach Elie Baup last week and have sporting director Jose Anigo in caretaker charge, are currently fifth in Ligue 1. PSG have a tricky draw away to Ligue 2 Brest.
IBARBO: Reports in the media yesterday linked Cagliari forward Victor Ibarbo with a switch to Serie A rivals Inter next month. New Inter owner Erick Thohir intends to bring in new players in the winter transfer window and the Colombia forward seems to be on top of his list along with Pablo Osvaldo and Edin Dzeko.
WARBURTON: Brentford have moved quickly to replace Uwe Rosler by appointing sporting director Mark Warburton as the new manager at Griffin Park. Warburton inherits a squad that are fourth in League One, six points off the automatic promo-tion places.
CAMPBELL: St Mirren are in line to take Newcastle youngster Adam Campbell on loan come January 1, an agent working for both clubs claims. Spencer Downey has already helped to arrange moves for Paul Dummet and Conor Newton to the Paisley club as part of an affiliation agreement with the Geordies and says England U-19 cap Campbell could be next. The 18-year-old was close to agreeing a deal with St Mirren during the past summer but moved to Carlisle instead.
WCUP BASE: Croatia will be based in Praia do Forte during next year’s World Cup in Brazil, a spokesman for the country’s soccer federation said. Praia do Porte is located in the state of Bahia, some 80 kilometres north of the city of Salvador. Croatia are in Group A with Brazil, Cameroon and Mexico.
SCOTTISH CUP: Fourth round replays – St Mirren vs Queen of South 3-0; Stranraer vs Clyde 4-1.