Wigan Athletic have taken Sporting's Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic on loan to provide cover until the end of the season.
The 26-year-old, who helped Serbia reach next year's World Cup finals, will offer back-up for Chris Kirkland. Wigan have lost second-choice Richard Kingson to next month's Africa Cup with Ghana.
Stojkovic, who has 29 caps for Serbia, joined Sporting from Nantes in July 2007 but failed to make the first team and dropped to third-choice under coach Paulo Bento.
Boro boss Strachan in Bent talks
Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan has confirmed he remains in talks with striker Marcus Bent over a second spell at the Riverside Stadium.
The Birmingham frontman has returned to the Midlands after his loan spell came to an end, but with Dave Kitson now back at Stoke and Leroy Lita suspended for Saturday's FA Cup third round clash with Manchester City, Strachan's need is great.
He said: "Dave was only going to be here for six weeks and I am still speaking to Marcus right now.
"Jeremie (Aliadiere) is injured, Leroy - you know about Leroy - and that's it. The strikers have gone from the equation at the moment."
Portsmouth face winding up order
Portsmouth have been issued with a winding up petition by HM Revenue and Customs, according to a BBC report. The petition is believed to have been presented to Portsmouth on December 23 but a full court hearing will not take place until February.
Bottom of the table Portsmouth are currently operating under a transfer embargo due to their financial problems and have twice failed to pay players' wages on time this season.
If the club, 90 per cent owned by Saudi property tycoon Ali al-Faraj, are unable to improve their situation, they could be made bankrupt.
Portsmouth have been told that the embargo will remain in place until they can find at least £10 million to satisfy the demands of their list of creditors, which is believed to include Chelsea, Tottenham and Watford.
Blow for Poland's 2012 preparations
Joint hosts Poland's Euro 2012 preparations suffered a blow yesterday when one of the venue cities scrapped a deal with a company building a tournament stadium.
Wroclaw, one of four Polish cities hosting the finals, decided to end its agreement with Mostostal Warszawa because of construction delays.
"I have came to the conclusion Mostostal is not able to finalise the construction in the agreed time," mayor Rafal Dutkiewicz said.
Mostostal said it was still looking to rescue the 730 million zlotys ($253 million) deal. However, sources said a consortium of Poland's Budimex and Germany's Max Boegl was likely to be named as Mostostal successor.
Suazo set for Genoa move
Inter have given Honduras forward David Suazo the green light to have a medical and train at Genoa with a view to a move, the Serie A leaders said.
Italian media reported Genoa will agree a loan deal for the 30-year-old, who helped Honduras reach the World Cup for only the second time this year but has hardly featured at Inter since returning from a loan stint at Benfica in the close season.
"There's an agreement with Inter for Suazo's transfer," Genoa president Enrico Preziosi told Sky television.
"I don't think there will be problems now and we'll be able to make the move official when the transfer market reopens."
Beckham is fit, says Milan doctor
David Beckham has recovered from a bruised right ankle bone and is in fine fettle, an Milan doctor said.
"I found David Beckham really well," doctor Massimo Manara told the club's in-house television channel.
"Even though a year has passed, he looked to be at the same level as a year ago to me. The problem he had with his right foot in previous weeks is resolved."
Beckham has returned to Milan on loan from the LA Galaxy to boost his chances of making England's World Cup squad after a successful stint at the Italian club last season.
He had trouble with his ankle in the run-up to the Major League Soccer Cup final, which the Galaxy lost to Real Salt Lake on penalties in November.
Germany try to convince Matip
Germany are trying to convince Schalke defender Joel Matip to commit his international future to them rather than Cameroon.
The 18-year-old has been named in the Cameroon squad for the African Nations Cup next month, but Germany's technical director Matthias Sammer wants him to know of the interest from the country of his birth.
"We are already dealing with the issue and we ideally want to convince every good player to play for Germany," he told Bild.
Matip was born in Bochum, but his father is from Cameroon, making him eligible for both nations.