Sabella: Former Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella has turned down a lucrative offer to take charge of three-times Asian champions Saudi Arabia. Sabella, 60, has been out of work since stepping down as boss of Argentina after leading them to the final of last year’s World Cup and has long been linked with the role. Reports said Sabella’s agent had said the coach had not wanted to work in the Middle East.

Thauvin: Newcastle are close to complete the signing of Florian Thauvin from Marseille. The Magpies have been pursuing the 22-year-old winger all summer and his desire to move to England has kept their hopes alive. Newcastle are offering around £12m for Thauvin and are confident a deal can be completed this week.

Verdi: Young striker Simone Verdi will be playing for Eibar in the Spanish Liga this season after a loan move from Milan was completed yesterday. The 23-year-old played for Empoli last season. A statement on Eibar’s official site said: “New Eibar player Simone Verdi joined the training grounds of the Armero club. He trained with his new team-mates and tomorrow (today) he will be presented in Ipurua, together with Adrian Gonzalez.”

De Gea: Goalkeeper David de Gea was back for training with Manchester United’s first-team squad on Saturday despite being left out of Friday’s 1-0 win at Aston Villa. The Spaniard worked out with fellow keepers Anders Lindegaard, Sam Johnstone and Sergio Romero. De Gea is frustrated by his lack of action and looks likely to miss United’s UEFA Champions League qualifier against Club Bruges tomorrow.

Wolves: Allan McGregor’s how-ler gifted Wolves a point against Hull as the Tigers rode their luck at Molineux, yesterday. The goalkeeper inexplicably let Nouha Dicko’s cross through his hands to present James Henry with a simple header to clinch a 1-1 Championship draw. It cancelled out Nikica Jelavic’s first-half penalty as wasteful Wolves were left to rue several missed chances.

Football results

Coppa Italia – Third round
Udinese vs Novara 3-1; Frosinone vs Spezia 0-0 (5-6 pens); Trapani vs Cagliari 1-1 (2-4 pens).

Playing today: 19.00 Chievo vs Salernitana. 21.00 Milan vs Perugia.

Thursday: 20.30 Catania vs Cesena.

Bundesliga
Wolfsburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1; Stuttgart vs FC Cologne 1-3.

Ligue 1
Reims vs Marseille 1-0; FC Lorient vs Bastia 1-1; Paris SG vs Ajaccio 2-0.

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