Portsmouth manager Paul Hart is hopeful of signing Australia striker Mark Viduka on a free transfer before the start of the Premier League season.
Viduka, who left Newcastle in June, is Portsmouth's top target to replace Peter Crouch after the England forward joined Tottenham.
"We'll be trying hard with getting players in over the next few days," Hart said.
"Mark has not come back from holiday. I'm not sure how much work he has done, but we can't wait until November to get him fit. We made him a good offer which has been accepted, so I'm just waiting to see what happens with him."
Fowler scores on A-League debut
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler scored on his Australian A-League debut but it wasn't enough to prevent North Queensland Fury from losing their opening home game of the season yesterday.
The former England international equalised with his 60th-minute penalty but Fury went down 3-2 to Sydney FC.
"We put ourselves on the back foot, but all credit to the lads to get it back to 2-2," Fowler said.
Fowler has been handed the captaincy of the Townsville-based Fury, who have entered the expanded 10-team A-League competition this year along with Gold Coast United.
Real to sign Ribery in 2010 - report
Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Franck Ribery's agent to sign the Bayern Munich star in 2010, AS reported yesterday.
AS suggests a five-year deal has been reached between the player's agent, Alain Migliaccio, with Zinedine Zidane, who acts as an adviser to the club and who is also close to Ribery, playing a central role in the negotiations.
The report, without naming sources, claims the deal is similar to the one set in place for Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2008, with the Manchester United winger finally moving to Real this summer for a record €94 million.
Keane backs himself for promotion
Roy Keane, once the heartbeat of Manchester United, begins his new life in the English Championship today with his Ipswich Town side taking on Coventry City.
And the colourful and controversial Irishman is in no doubt that his team have the players and the ability to climb into the Premier League.
"I believe we have a very good chance of promotion and I want to be looking ahead to the Premier League this time next year," said Keane.
But before a ball is kicked, he knows where Ipswich need to improve. "We need to show a lot more energy and pace. Ipswich were too predictable last season," Keane said.
Milan have ambition - Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo believes his decision to snub Chelsea proves that Milan are a team with ambition and he has vowed to make critics eat their words.
"If I thought Milan's aim was a good place in the standings I'd be at Chelsea now," Pirlo told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I want to win. You'll see what the historic group can do. We'll make everyone rethink and eat their own criticism."
New coach Leonardo's insistence on keeping Pirlo, Milan's main creative force after the sale of Brazil playmaker Kaka to Real Madrid, was fundamental, he added.
"Ancelotti didn't take it so well," Pirlo said. "I spoke to him and he understood. I told him Leonardo had dug his heels in and this is a source of pride for me."
Former City defender Mills retires
Former Manchester City and England right-back Danny Mills retired from football yesterday after admitting defeat in his battle to recover from a serious knee injury.
Mills suffered the problem over a year ago and has been told it will not recover sufficiently to allow him to resume his career.
The 32-year-old, who also played for Norwich, Charlton and Leeds, won 19 caps for England and played at the 2002 World Cup.
"Unfortunately I have now got to the situation where I can no longer continue to play," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "So, really as from today, I'll be retiring from the professional game and looking to do other things."
Drubbing may serve Juve well - Ferrara
Juventus's 4-1 drubbing by Villarreal in a friendly on Friday could serve them well when there is more than pride at stake in the coming season, coach Ciro Ferrara said.
The Spaniards outplayed Juve in the southern Italian city of Salerno and romped home with a superb first-half strike from Santi Cazorla followed, after the break, by a Nilmar header and a Robert Pires double.
Amauri scored the Turin side's only goal when they had already conceded three.
"Maybe it's better to get a big slap now after having received so much praise," Ferrara, whose team have beaten Real Madrid and Sevilla in friendlies, told reporters.