Aston Villa are hoping to sign Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker on loan for the remainder of the season. Villa boss Gerard Houllier is understood to be close to agreeing a temporary deal to sign Walker.
The 20-year-old has spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Championship leaders QPR.
He impressed for Sheffield United before making the move to White Hart Lane but the form of Alan Hutton has restricted his first-team chances.
Villa’s first-choice right-back Luke Young has been troubled by a knee problem.
McLeish buoyed by Blues character
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish praised his players’ mental fortitude after they emerged triumphant from a pulsating encounter with Blackpool to haul themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone on Tuesday.
The visitors sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory right at the end of a chaotic match in which the woodwork had been struck three times.
“We showed the character right to the end,” said McLeish.
“It is a great lift. The players themselves know they played extremely well in the first half and that they didn’t do so well in the second half, but there is obviously a big psychological effect when you find yourself at the bottom of the table.”
Mutu faces Fiorentina axe
Adrian Mutu’s Fiorentina future was in doubt yesterday after the 31-year-old stormed out of training in an act of rebellion condemned by the club as insubordination.
The club responded by dropping him from the squad to face Bologna today and by issuing a statement attacking the former Chelsea forward.
Mutu is no stranger to controversy having been banned for seven months in 2004 for taking cocaine while a player with Chelsea.
They sacked him and sued him for breach of contract, with Mutu later ordered to pay the English side £17 million in compensation.
Toure plays down Adebayor bust-up
Emmanuel Adebayor has dismissed his training ground bust-up with Manchester City team-mate Kolo Toure after the former Arsenal players had to be pulled apart during training.
Photographs published in several British newspapers yesterday showed the duo clashing on Tuesday.
The Times reported that the bust-up between Ivory Coast international Toure and Togo forward Adebayor stemmed from an “over-zealous tackle”.
But Toure said such disputes had been common when the duo were at Arsenal, the club both players left 18 months ago, telling the Sun: “We both lost it but it calmed down quickly. Other players and the manager came to separate us. It’s already forgotten.”
Napoli to improve Cavani’s contract
Edinson Cavani’s prolific form this season may well earn him a pay rise as Napoli are reportedly prepared to improve the Uruguayan’s contract. The 23-year-old has already scored 15 goals since joining Napoli from Palermo in summer.
Cavani signed a five-year deal worth €1.8m a season but Napoli recognise the need to improve the terms of that arrangement amid interest from Manchester City, Juventus and Inter.
Gazzetta dello Sport reports that club president Aurelio de Laurentiis is to offer the Uruguay international a one-year extension on his current deal with a buy-out clause worth €35m.
Newcastle seal Ben Arfa deal
Hatem Ben Arfa became Newcastle boss Alan Pardew’s first signing after his season-long loan move became permanent.
The 23-year-old Frenchman has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal after the Magpies agreed an undisclosed fee with Marseille.
Ben Arfa has been out of action since suffering a double leg fracture in a challenge with Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong in October, but showed enough in his four appearances for the club before that to persuade them of his ability.
“I am absolutely delighted to be signing for Newcastle on a permanent basis,” Ben Arfa said.
“During my short time at the club, I thoroughly enjoyed playing for the team and for the supporters too. This is a great club and I am very happy to be committing my future to them.”
Inter consider Viviano option
Inter are looking at the possibility of signing Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano immediately after Julio Cesar suffered another injury setback this week.
The Italian champions brought in stand-in goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi during the summer but, according to reports in the Italian media, they are concerned about Cesar’s injuries and ready to consider alternative arrangements.
Viviano, who has become Italy’s first-choice in Gianliuigi Buffon’s absence, is already co-owned by Inter. But it seems the 25-year-old wants to stay at Bologna for the remainder of the season as a run of first-team matches would boost his chances of keeping the no.1 shirt with the national team.