Stoke chairman Peter Coates has confirmed the Potters remain keen to sign Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The prolific 33-year-old former Manchester United frontman will be out of contract at the Bernabeu in summer and has been linked with a mid-season move away from the Spanish capital.
Coates said: "We're at the very early stage of this. Whether something will come of it we don't know. We're interested in pursuing it. We'll see where we can get with it.
"It may be a loan deal but the key thing is whether Ruud himself would be keen to come."
Jefferies's long reign ends at Kilmarnock
Jim Jefferies's title as the longest-serving Scottish Premier League manager currently in charge ended this week as he saw his eight-year stint come to an end after Kilmarnock announced he and assistant Billy Brown were leaving by "mutual consent".
Rugby Park had been plunged into turmoil in recent days with Killie chairman Michael Johnston denying allegations he had tried to discuss the 59-year-old Jefferies's tactics with captain Kevin Kyle.
Kilmarnock are one place off the bottom of the table, having won just one of their last nine games.
Jefferies took charge at Killie in February 2002.
Michel joins Yeung generation
Miguel Marcos Michel has become the first major signing of Carson Yeung's reign as Birmingham owner after the Blues announced on Monday they'd signed him from Spanish side Sporting Gijon.
The 24-year-old has joined in a deal worth three million pounds.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish almost signed the midfielder in August but the clubs were unable to agree on the structure of payments for the player. Hong Kong tycoon Yeung, who took over Birmingham in October, has promised to back McLeish in the transfer market.
"Michel is in a great age group and has got good legs and a lovely touch on the ball as you would imagine from a Spanish player," McLeish told the club's website.
Jacob tells fans to lay-off Al-Faraj
Portsmouth's executive director, Mark Jacob, has called on the south coast side's fans to stop giving owner Ali Al-Faraj a hard time.
Saudi businessman Al-Faraj has been nicknamed 'Al-Mirage', having yet to visit Fratton Park since taking over in October.
There are fresh protests planned against Al-Faraj for Saturday but Jacob said fans should stop venting their anger at the owner.
"At the Arsenal game, there were chants which left Ahmed Al-Faraj (the brother of Ali Al-Faraj) - who watched the game on the Internet - most upset," Jacob said.
"Mr Al-Faraj feels supporters do not see what has happened since October and it was like a pressure cooker that had suddenly exploded."
Inzaghi delays new contract decision
Veteran Milan striker Pippo Inzaghi has decided to weigh his options first before deciding to sign a new contract with Milan that would keep him at the San Siro for the rest of his career.
The 36-year-old's existing deal is due to expire at the end of the season. Inzaghi, who won the Champions Cup twice, is seeking more regular football, something that coach Leonardo cannot guarantee.
Inzaghi has attracted interest from former club Parma and it now appears he is prepared to wait and consider his options.
Reports said supremo Adriano Galliani has already drawn up a contract that would see Inzaghi take a significant pay cut in line with his efforts to trim the club's wage bill.
Boyd out with groin injury
In-form Rangers striker Kris Boyd is facing a lengthy lay-off after sustaining a groin injury in the cup match against Hamilton, manager Walter Smith said.
The 26-year-old Boyd is to see a specialist and could undergo a hernia operation that would keep him out for up to six weeks.
Smith told the Scottish Daily Express: "Boyd will undergo an operation as soon as possible.
"He will be out for up to six weeks and we will just have to cope accordingly."
The striker, who has been in top goal-scoring form of late, now faces a race to be fit for the Old Firm clash against Celtic at Ibrox on February 28.
Wigan's Whelan fears season extension
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan believes the season may have to be extended following the recent spate of postponements due to bad weather.
Whelan's club were forced to call off their home fixture against Aston Villa at the last minute on Saturday after a problem developed with the undersoil heating. Fixture congestion in the weeks to come looks set to be an inevitable consequence of the many postponements.
"What I think will happen is the Premier League will extend the season for an extra week or so," Whelan said.
"I think it is an absolute must, because games are piling up for everybody at the moment. Some of these teams are also still in the cups and Europe and it's going to be a nightmare for them if they don't look to extend the season a little bit longer."