Saha: Manchester United's injury-plagued striker Louis Saha has undergone knee surgery in the United States and is hoping to be fit for the start of next season. A statement issued by his Stellar management group yesterday contradicted earlier claims the Frenchman would be out until November or December.
Sanli: Middlesbrough have agreed terms with striker Tuncay Sanli, who is a free agent after helping Fenerbahce regain the Turkish league title last season. "Tuncay will travel to Teesside next week to take a medical," Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb said. "The deal is a free transfer." Turkey's first-choice striker, the 25-year-old Tuncay has scored 13 goals in 43 internationals.
Martins: Recreativo Huelva have signed Portuguese midfielder Carlos Martins from Sporting Lisbon on a four-year contract. The 25-year-old has two international caps.
Sacked for swearing: S-League striker Kim Grant has lodged a complaint with FIFA and the Singapore FA after being sacked by his club for swearing. The former Charlton Athletic front man was shown the door by Geylang United for indiscipline. "Grant breached the rules when he used the language at the office in front of a few other players as well as other staff," Geylang general manager Ong Yeok Phee said. "The vulgarity was targeted at the club... we felt it was unacceptable." Englishman Grant said he had lost his temper following a spat over his home leave entitlement.
Arrested for sex offence: Japanese police have arrested J-League club Jubilo Iwata midfielder Naoya Kikuchi on suspicion of having sex with a 15-year-old girl, in violation of a local law that prohibits sex with those below 18. The 22-year-old Kikuchi has admitted to having sex with the high school student in a car in late May. The arrest came after the girl reported the case to the police with a wallet containing Kikuchi's driver's licence. Kikuchi, who was a member of Japan's 2004 Athens Olympics squad, tried to hand her 10,000 yen ($82) in cash, but forgot his wallet in the basket of her bicycle, according to the police.
Gudjohnsen: Barcelona's Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has been ruled out of the potential league-title decider away to Gimnastic Tarragona on Sunday with an inflamed cartilage in his right knee. He will be out for a week, the Primera Liga club said.
Camoranesi: Mauro Camoranesi's salary demands remain an obstacle in contract talks with Juventus, his agent said yesterday. "There is no way Mauro can stay at Juventus under these conditions," agent Sergio Fortunato told reporters. Camoranesi currently earns £1.7m a year and is asking for a £400,000 increase in an effort to move him in line with some of the club's top players.
UEFA U-21 finals: Played yesterday - Israel vs Belgium 0-1; Holland vs Portugal 2-1. Playing today - 6.15 p.m. Czech Republic vs Serbia; 8.45 p.m. England vs Italy.