Zaragoza: Real Zaragoza have agreed a deal with Lazio to take the Serie A side's Portuguese midfielder Eliseu on loan until the end of the season. Zaragoza have an option to buy the 26-year-old player, who spent two seasons at their La Liga rivals Malaga before moving to the Rome club at the end of last term.
Pepe: Real Madrid central defender Pepe is recovering well after surgery on the damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his knee that has put his participation in this year's World Cup in doubt. "Little by little I am gaining strength and we hope that in a week or two I can stop using the crutches," the Portuguese international said. "The doctor says I am in good shape and that I am recovering according to plan."
Giggs: Manchester United star Ryan Giggs was honoured with the freedom of the city of Salford yesterday. The winger, who is the current PFA Player of the Year and BBC Sports Personality of the Year, received the honour at a ceremony in his adopted home town.
Wigan: Wigan Athletic have completed the loan signing of Sporting Lisbon's Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic to the end of the Premier League season. The two clubs reached an initial agreement last week but Wigan had to wait for the 26-year-old's visa and work permit to come through.
Okaka: Stefano Okaka's agent believes the Roma striker could be on his way to Fulham by the end of this week. Roma are willing to loan out the 20-year-old following the arrival of Italy striker Luca Toni from Bayern Munich. Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has long been an admirer of Okaka and the Cottagers need for a striker has increased following Bobby Zamora's injury.
King's Cup: Last 16, first legs - Rayo Vallecano vs Real Mallorca 2-1; Hercules vs Osasuna 2-1. Played on Wednesday - Recreativo Huelva vs Atletico Madrid 3-0.
Athletics: Great Britain's 1997 World Championship 4x400 metres relay team are to receive the gold medal after finishing second behind a quartet featuring US dope cheat Antonio Pettigrew, the BBC reported yesterday. Pettigrew ran the anchor leg for the United States team that won gold in Athens 13 years ago but subsequently admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Cycling: German dairy company Milram said it is unlikely to renew its sponsorship of its top cycling team after their mutual contract expires at the end of this year. The image of cycling in Germany has suffered badly from doping controversies, souring the media's, and public's, appetite for the sport in recent years. If Milram walks away from the sport, there will be no German teams in cycling's professional elite.
Formula One: Lotus are expecting to unveil their Formula One car for the first time in mid-February. Chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne has confirmed the team are a week ahead of schedule in preparation for their return to the sport. It means the car, to be driven by Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli, will now likely debut in the third of the pre-season tests in Jerez from February 17.