Defender Jelle van Damme is returning to Belgium to join Standard Liege after an unhappy few months with the Midlands club.
The 27-year-old, who has agreed a four-year contract with Liege, moved to Molineux from Anderlecht in the summer for £2.5 million.
Van Damme has not had any senior action since being substituted at half-time against Chelsea in October.
Club Brugge were also believed to be interested in signing Van Damme before he opted to join Liege.
Higuain may need surgery – reports
Real Madrid’s Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain may be suffering from more than just a simple back muscle injury and may need to undergo surgery, Spanish media reported yesterday.
The 22-year-old has not played since he picked up the injury during Real’s 5-1 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on November 20.
“Club doctors fear that it is more than simple lower back pain,” Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo reported.
“Higuain may be operated on,” added Madrid-based sports daily Marca.
The reports said the player may be suffering from a herniated disc.
Carragher out for three months
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is likely to be out for three months after being told he requires surgery on his dislocated shoulder.
The 32-year-old suffered the injury in Sunday’s Premier League defeat at Tottenham.
Carragher underwent a thorough examination at the club’s training ground on Monday but medical staff were unable to make a full assessment until yesterday.
“I’ll be having surgery at the end of the week,” Carragher told the club’s website.
“The average is about 12 weeks. I’d like to come back before that but I’ve got to make sure it’s right.”
Mourinho banned, players fined
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was yesterday banned for one game with one game suspended by UEFA after two of his players received suspicious red cards in a Champions League game with Ajax.
“The Spanish club’s coach Jose Mourinho has been suspended from coaching activities for two UEFA club competition matches, of which the second is deferred for a probationary period of three years. He was also fined 40,000 euros,” a statement said.
UEFA specified that the punishments were for “improper conduct”.
Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos were both sent off at the end of Real’s 4-0 win in Amsterdam last week after receiving their second yellow cards for acts of time-wasting.
Alonso and Ramos were both fined by UEFA, while goalkeeper Iker Casillas and reserve keeper Jerzy Dudek were also fined after being captured on TV passing messages to them from the dugout.
Ribery pleads for more game time
France midfielder Franck Ribery yesterday issued a plea to Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal to give him more 90-minute spells of football as the Frenchman returns to full fitness.
Ribery played his first 90 minutes in the Bundesliga since suffering an ankle injury in September during Bayern’s 4-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday and the 27-year-old winger wants more time on the pitch.
“Now I must continue to play 90 minutes,” Ribery told Bild with Bayern set to face Schalke on Saturday evening.
“I need some more match practice and playing rhythm.
“Then I will feel better from game to game and my goal is to get back to top form.”
McDonald let down by system – Regan
Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan has expressed sympathy for Dougie McDonald, who has retired as a category one referee.
McDonald’s decision to rescind a penalty he had awarded to Celtic last month, and subsequent admission that he had misled his supervisor and Celtic manager Neil Lennon over the circumstances, sparked the escalation of events leading to last weekend’s referees’ strike action.
Regan, who had rebuked McDonald for his “white lie” at Tannadice, told Sky Sports News: “I feel sorry for him. The system has let him down. He was clearly in the wrong, he admitted that and was punished.
“We need to put processes in place to protect these guys, give them the backing they need.”
Juventus to offer Del Piero new deal
Juventus are poised to reward Alessandro Del Piero with a new contract, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.
The 36-year-old’s current deal is due to expire, sparking speculation about his future. The Juve captain has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season, breaking Giampiero Boniperti’s club goalscoring record.
Il Corriere reported that Del Piero’s brother Stefano, who also acts as his agent, is now working on arranging an appointment to begin contract talks.
Del Piero has stated his desire to finish his career at Juventus, preferably in the club’s new stadium, which is under construction.