Sinama-Pongolle: Former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle has agreed to move from struggling Spanish side Atletico Madrid to Sporting Lisbon. According to Diario de Noticias, French international Sinama-Pongolle will cost Sporting around six million euros.
Dainelli: Sampdoria are looking to strengthen their squad in January by luring Fiorentina's Dario Dainelli, 30, to their fold. The central defender was close to making the move in summer but a last-minute hitch stopped the deal from going through. Samp have leaked in 25 goals so far this season.
Petrescu: Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni, who will face Liverpool in the last 32 of the Europa League in February, have parted company with coach Dan Petrescu. The former Chelsea defender guided Unirea to their first-ever Romanian title last season but his surprise exit has left the club looking for a new man to take over the reins. Unirea lie second in the Romanian league, level on points with leaders CFR Cluj after 17 games.
Wilshere: Arsenal's teenage talent Jack Wilshere has played down talk that he could make the England squad for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa. The midfielder, who turns 18 on New Year's Day, said: "I'd rather there wasn't the hype. England talk is nice to hear but it's difficult too. I mean, I can look forward to things but I'm not stupid."
Lazio: Serie A strugglers Lazio are interested in signing Michele Canini, the Cagliari defender. Canini, who has been associated with Lazio on numerous occasions in the past, was close to joining the Sky Blues in the summer. However, that move collapsed as a result of Cagliari's failed bid to wrap up the loan signing of Lorenzo Ariaudo from Juventus.
Neville: Everton midfielder Phil Neville could have his first taste of action since September against Burnley today. The 32-year-old was a surprise inclusion on the bench for Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sunderland after just one day's training on his return from a long-standing knee injury, although he was unused.
Boxing: Terry Lawless, the British boxing manager who took Frank Bruno to a world heavyweight title bout against Mike Tyson in 1989, died in Spain last week at the age of 76. The 'maker of champions' managed more than 50 boxers and guided John H. Stracey, Maurice Hope, Jim Watt and Charlie Magri to various world titles from his Royal Oak gym in east London. He had retired in 1999.
Skiing: Austrian world champion Kathrin Zettel suffered a right knee injury in training on Saturday and is doubtful for the World Cup giant slalom and slalom in Linz today and tomorrow. The 23-year-old, world champion in the combined, damaged ligaments in her knee. Zettel currently leads the giant slalom standings.
Basket, NBA: Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest tripped over a box and fell down a flight of stairs at his home on Christmas night, suffering a concussion and left elbow injury. Hours after being outplayed by Cleveland's LeBron James and fouling out with only 13 points in a 102-87 loss to the Cavaliers on Friday, Artest suffered injuries that required stitches on his elbow and the back of his head.
Free Skating: Former world champion Mao Asada booked a ticket to the Vancouver Olympics as she won a fourth straight Japanese national championship in a comeback from poor form. With a slim, 0.22-point lead from the short programme, she scored her personal best 135.50 points in free skating to win with a total 204.62, in a warning to world champion Kim Yu-Na, of South Korea.