Fulham are set to take their legal action against Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards to the Court of Appeal.
The Cottagers have alleged Richards scuppered their bid to sign England striker Peter Crouch back in July 2009.
The High Court on Wednesday issued a ruling stopping Fulham’s legal action against Richards and the Premier League, urging them to pursue private arbitration in a bid to resolve the matter. But Fulham were also given leave to appeal against the verdict.
It is alleged Richards intervened in the Crouch transfer because Spurs were prepared to offer Portsmouth a lump-sum at a time when the then financially stricken club risked going out of business, whereas Fulham were planning to pay in instalments.
Gunners handed Ipswich tie
Arsenal have a golden chance of reaching another final in their bid for their first trophy since 2005 after they were drawn to face Championship side Ipswich in the semi-final of the League Cup.
The Gunners reached the last four with a 2-0 victory over Wigan on Tuesday and now they must travel to Portman Road in the week commencing January 10 before the home leg two weeks later.
Ipswich advanced to the semi-finals after beating West Brom 1-0.
Birmingham’s reward for beating Aston Villa is a trip to West Ham, with the return leg at St Andrew’s.
West Ham thrashed holders Manchester United 4-0 on Tuesday.
No regrets for Wolfsburg’s Diego
Brazilian playmaker Diego insisted he has no regrets about choosing Bundesliga strugglers Wolfsburg to relaunch his career, despite Wolves’ poor form this season.
Diego quit Juventus at the start of the season after failing to make an impact in Italy and hoped a return to Germany, having already played for Bremen, would boost his career.
“If I had to do things all over again, I would opt to join Wolfsburg every single time,” the 25-year-old midfielder said.
“We have a really good team with big personalities and we should not be 13th. We just lack balance and concentration.”
Argentina-Portugal friendly in London
Argentina will meet Portugal in a friendly in London early next year.
The match will take place at the Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal, on February 9.
The last time the two countries played each other was back in 1972 when Portugal beat Argentina 3-1 in Rio de Janeiro.
Since the World Cup, both nations have recorded big friendly wins over world champions Spain, with Argentina beating Vicente del Bosque’s men 4-1 in Buenos Aires in September while Portugal were 4-0 victors in Lisbon last month.
The AFA also confirmed away friendlies in March against the US and Costa Rica.
Ibra left Inter too early – Moratti
Inter chairman Massimo Moratti reflected that former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic “left Inter the wrong year” as the club completed a rare treble under Jose Mourinho while the player struggled to impress after joining Barcelona.
“I think he left to win the Champions League but he got the wrong year and the great satisfaction of his former team-mates is to have won it in that way (without their former forward),” Moratti said.
“I find Ibrahimovic a nice guy – I’m not going to criticise him,” he added.
Swede Ibrahimovic is now plying his trade across the city at Milan after saying prior to his move to Spain that he believed he had progressed as far as he could at Inter.
Stoke trailing young Swede
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has confirmed the club hope to tie up a deal for Swedish youngster Smajl Suljevic.
Reports emerged this week suggesting that Dalkurd midfielder Suljevic had agreed a two-year contract at the Britannia Stadium following a successful trial.
“It has not been signed yet, but hopefully it will be done,” Pulis said.
“I’ve left it to the academy lads – they think he is a good player with a great chance and we have just backed him really.
“It’s not just him, we’ve had quite a number of players over the past three or four months who have come in for trials, just to see what their standard is like and how they react to English football.”
City scorers urged to work hard
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson both have bright futures at the club – as long as they are prepared to put in a shift.
Balotelli, a £24 million summer signing from Inter, scored twice in the 3-0 victory against Salzburg in the Europa League, while Johnson was also on target.
The convincing victory means City have secured a place in the round of the last 32 with a game to spare.
On Balotelli and Johnson, Mancini said: “They could become among the best players in the world, strong players.
“They need to work hard all the time. They both scored fine goals but they must carry on.”