Manchester City manager Robert Mancini says the door remains open for Emmanuel Adebayor to return to the club. Adebayor has signed a loan deal with Real Madrid until the end of the season after a frustrating time at Eastlands.
The striker was involved in a training ground bust-up with Kolo Toure earlier in the season but Mancini insists that was not the reason he allowed the player to leave at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Mancini said: “These things happen in every club. Will he come back? Why not?
“This situation is good for him because he has a chance to play in the Champions League. At the end of the season we will see.”
Friedel undecided over future
Brad Friedel will become the oldest player to ever represent Aston Villa next week but will decide nearer the end of the season whether he wants to extend his career past the age of 40.
Friedel will surpass the record of 39 years and 257 days set by Ernie Callaghan in 1947 if he plays against Manchester United on Tuesday. He is out of contract in the summer.
Friedel said: “I don’t know if it will be a good thing to be the oldest player ever to play for the club.
“If the time comes when I don’t feel good, and I’m not able to play, I will start looking to do something else. As long as I feel good, I will carry on. I will know closer to the end of the season than right now.”
FA seek mandatory player release
Clubs could be forced to release players for England duty at all age levels under a new plan aimed at ensuring there is no repeat of the country’s World Cup humiliation.
The FA unveiled details of their Young Player Development Review, which was commissioned in the wake of England’s abject defeat to Germany last summer.
It recommends a mandatory player release for all representative teams and has been approved at board and council level.
Should it be ratified by the Professional Game Board in April, it could see clubs being unable to stop their youngsters being called up for international duty at U-16 to U-21 level.
West Ham sign Ba from Hoffenheim
West Ham have signed Senegalese striker Demba Ba from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim. A statement on West Ham’s official website said the 25-year-old forward had signed a three-and-a-half year deal which would run up to June 2014.
The transfer fee and terms of the deal were not disclosed but West Ham said the final figures would be “heavily dependent on appearances.”
Ba, who has scored nine goals this season in the Bundesliga, said he was relieved to have finally signed for the Hammers.
“It was a long story but now I’m happy because it had a really good end and I am glad to be here,” Ba said.
Massey taken off weekend game
Sian Massey, the match official at the centre of a sexism storm this week, will not take charge of her planned match this weekend due to the intense media attention.
Massey, who was the target of sexist remarks by Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray last week, had been due to referee Corby Town versus Eastwood in the Blue Square Bet North league.
The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) organisation took the decision after consulting with Massey, 25, after Corby reported a huge demand for access by television crews.
A PGMO spokesman said: “The focus needs to be on the football match not the officials. It would be unfair on the clubs involved.”
Wilshere is future says Capello
Fabio Capello believes Jack Wilshere can end England’s search for a holding midfield player and plans to hand the Arsenal youngster a starting role in next month’s friendly against Denmark.
Capello said he is likely to deploy the talented 19-year-old in front of England’s defence in the February 9 match in Copenhagen, allowing Steven Gerrard the freedom to push forward.
“Wilshere is the best young player. He now plays all the time with Arsenal. If you play with Arsenal, you are a really good player because Arsene Wenger likes good players. I think he’s mature enough to play this role,” Capello said.
“He’s a really interesting player.”
Liverpool close in on Suarez
Liverpool’s long pursuit of Ajax forward Luis Suarez is finally over after they agreed a deal worth up to £22.8m with the Dutch club.
The 24-year-old has yet to pass a medical and agree personal terms but those two issues are unlikely to be stumbling blocks.
Having argued over Suarez’s value for some time Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group have sanctioned their first major signing since buying the club in October.
The deal is a real statement of intent from the Americans that they are serious about restoring Liverpool to Europe’s elite.
The club yesterday revealed they had turned down a bid of £35m for Fernando Torres from Chelsea and had no intention of selling their striker.