Japan's Yokohama F-Marinos have refused to rule out a bold swoop for Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura in January's transfer window.
The J-League side's hopes of signing Nakamura had looked to be dashed with the club's owners Nissan Motor Co. feeling the pinch of the global economic crisis.
However, F-Marinos officials told Reuters they were still hopeful of signing the 30-year-old, whose contract with Celtic runs out next June.
"His agent came back from Scotland yesterday and we're discussing the possibility still," Yokohama's Masanori Hakamada said.
"There has been no firm decision yet but obviously we need to reach a decision by the end of the year."
Real Madrid eye second signing
Real Madrid hope to strengthen their squad with a second signing for the January transfer window, after agreeing a deal with Ajax for Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
"We have been following Huntelaar for two years, he is a great goalscorer," sports director Predrag Mijatovic told Spanish state radio.
"We've opened one Christmas present, now we'll have to see if we can open another by the end of the year."
Huntelaar, who will be available for Real in January providing he successfully recovers from an ankle injury is set to become the eighth Dutchman to make the move to the Bernabeu, of which five will be his team-mates later this season.
San Lorenzo win 74-minute game
San Lorenzo stayed in the Argentine title hunt by beating Huracan 4-1 on Tuesday as they played the remaining 74 minutes of a game that had been suspended on Saturday by a torrential downpour.
Tuesday's match was divided into two halves of 37 minutes and Huracan took the field leading 1-0 from Saturday's 16 minutes play but with only 10 men as Javier Pastore was sent off before the interruption.
Although the red card and the scoreline stood, the teams were allowed to make changes from their original line-ups.
The win took San Lorenzo into second place in the Apertura championship with 33 points from 17 games, two behind leaders Boca Juniors and ahead of Tigre on goal difference with two matches each to play.
Scotland confirm Euro 2016 interest
The Scottish FA have held ''tentative'' talks with Wales and Northern Ireland over co-hosting the 2016 European Championships.
Scotland's ambition of organising the tournament in eight years' time appeared to have ended in September when UEFA announced they were increasing the number of finalists from 16 to 24.
The country lacks the infrastructure to host an expanded tournament but the SFA are looking to link up with one of their near neighbours in the hope a joint bid will be successful.
Ribery bemused by lowly ranking
Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery has admitted his disappointment about finishing way down the list in the polling for the 2008 Ballon d'Or.
Cristiano Ronaldo was named as the winner of the award in the early hours of Tuesday morning after polling 446 votes, with Ribery ending up 16th with just seven votes to his name.
"Frankly, I am disappointed by my ranking. I deserve better," he told L'Equipe.
"Last year, I finished seventh having played six months for Marseille and six months at Bayern. Here, I am 16th in the list at the end of a massive season with Bayern."
Ribery conceded Manchester United winger Ronaldo was a worthy winner, though, adding: "Personally, I would have voted for him."
Ronaldinho says was close to City move
Milan forward Ronaldinho has revealed he came tantalisingly close to joining Manchester City last summer.
The Brazilian was strongly tipped to join the Blues in the pre-season but he opted to sign for Milan after falling out of favour at his former club Barcelona. Ronaldinho has admitted that a move to England did appeal to him.
"My brother spoke to Manchester City many times," the 28-year-old told FourFourTwo magazine.
"Their project is the kind that would interest any player - they could soon be among the best sides in England.
"But Silvio Berlusconi (Milan owner) had been saying for years that he would like to sign me and I felt in the end that it was the right time to say yes."
Zenga gets touchline ban
Catania coach Walter Zenga will have to watch his team's Serie A match against Milan on Sunday from the San Siro stands after being handed a one-match touchline ban.
The former Inter goalkeeper has been punished for the insults he passed at the referee and linesmen during Catania's 1-1 draw with Lecce last Saturday.
Catania director Antonio Varsallona has been suspended for three games for showing an aggressive attitude towards an opposing player in the tunnel at half-time.