Pierpaolo Marino, the Napoli Sporting Director, said reports that Marek Hamsik will be joining Juventus were mere speculation. The Slovak midfielder has reportedly caught Juve's eye with his performances since joining Napoli from Brescia in pre-season.
Tuttosport reported that Juve were ready to table a part exchange deal involving Marcelo Zalayeta to try and lure Hamsik, but Marino is adamant that no talks are scheduled.
"Nobody is touching Hamsik," he stated. "I have an excellent relationship with my Juve counterpart Alessio Secco, but everything that has been written in the newspapers is without grounds."
Wenger blasts fourth official
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger strongly criticised the fourth official at Tuesday's Champions League match in Seville after being sent off 10 minutes from time for complaining about what he felt was time wasting by Sevilla captain Daniel Alves.
"The fourth official was very busy. I've been involved in over 100 games in the Champions League and his behaviour was absolutely shocking," Wenger told reporters after the 3-1 defeat to the Spaniards.
"Alves was down wasting time and when the guy (team physio) came on the pitch he stood up and two minutes later he was sprinting."
1,000 police for Sofia clash
More than 1,000 police will be on duty for Sunday's Bulgarian league clash between champions Levski and their bitter local foes CSKA.
"Some 1,025 policemen will be employed in order to prevent public order offences before, during and after the match," Sofia riot police's deputy chief Nikolay Ognyanov said.
Matches between the two most popular clubs in the Balkan country have been highly charged affairs in recent years with a 30-year-old man killed by a bomb after the game in 2000. CSKA top the standings with 35 points from 13 matches. Levski lie third with 28 points.
Portsmouth's Redknapp arrested
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and chief executive Peter Storrie were among five people arrested yesterday by police investigating corruption in football.
Redknapp has been widely tipped in the media to be among the front-runners to replace sacked England manager Steve McClaren.
Earlier yesterday, City of London police said they had arrested four men in locations "across the country", later increasing that number to five. No other details about the arrests were given other than the ages of those detained - 69, 60, 55, 48 and 30.
Ronaldo... no regrets
Man. United match-winner Cristiano Ronaldo had no apologies this time as his stunning goal beat former club Sporting and secured top spot in Group F of the Champions League on Tuesday. Ronaldo's injury-time free-kick, his fifth goal of the qualifying phase, gave United a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
The Portugal international had also scored the decisive goal in Lisbon last month but while he was muted in his celebrations in front of his former supporters, there was no hint of regret on this occasion.
"This was different. I have a lot of respect for them (Sporting). But they understand. This is my job and Manchester United is my club. It was a fabulous goal and I was pleased with it," Ronaldo told reporters.
Mourinho talks of England job
Former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has invited the FA to approach him about the vacant England manager's job. The Portuguese parted company with Chelsea in September after three successful years.
"You will have to speak to the FA to see if they are interested in offering me the job," Mourinho was quoted as saying. "I cannot say what I think until they say they are interested. Tell the FA to come and get me. We will have to wait and see, but I rule nothing out."
Mourinho won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup after joining Chelsea in 2004.
Frey could leave Fiorentina
Sebastien Frey has hinted that he may leave Fiorentina due to his wage demands. The Frenchman has been nominated for the Best Goalkeeper Award at this year's Calcio Oscars.
Frey has been at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since 2005 when he arrived from Parma .
"The wage limit at Fiorentina could be a problem," he told reporters.
"We aren't scudetto challengers yet - we would need to add a couple of champions to get to that point and in the meantime big sides will be waiting with big money."
Scots in no hurry for new coach
Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith said he is in no hurry to find a replacement for departed manager Alex McLeish.
"There have been loads of names put about but we'll be taking our time over it," Smith said. "There's no time-frame on it at all either."
Smith said he would prefer McLeish to be succeeded by a Scotsman.
"Hopefully, it will be a Scottish person because I think that is important," Smith said.
Graeme Souness, Gary McAllister, John Collins, Mark McGhee and Craig Levein are among those already linked with the vacancy.
Allardyce seeks no assurances
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce is refusing to allow the pressure of a fans' revolt to get to him as he attempts to dig his club out of a hole.
Asked if he had sought assurances over his future, Allardyce replied: "No, no, not at all, no. Why should I do that?
"Just because somebody writes it in the papers, I should not be ringing or chasing the chairman to seek assurances over my position.
"My position is safe if I get results. I would not have lasted eight years at Bolton if I did not get results."