Keane: Former Manchester United and Ireland captain Roy Keane is poised to take over as manager of second division Sunderland. Keane, 35, who ended his 18-year playing career in June after spending six months with Celtic, could take charge of Sunderland in time for Monday's home game against West Bromwich Albion, said the BBC and Sky.
Joaquin: Winger Joaquin will sign for Valencia on a five-year deal from Real Betis for a reported fee of 25 million euros. If the transfer goes through it will make him the second-most expensive Primera Liga signing of the close season behind Mahamadou Diarra who joined Real Madrid.
Thatcher: The FA and Greater Manchester police are investigating Ben Thatcher's elbow-first challenge that hospitalised Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes during Wednesday's Premier League game. Manchester City defender Thatcher was booked after crashing into the Portuguese midfielder early in the second half of the goalless match as both players chased a ball over the touchline. Mendes was knocked unconscious and suffered a seizure. The incident was replayed relentlessly on TV yesterday.
Celtic: Celtic have signed Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on a three-year contract from PSV Eindhoven. The 27-year-old international's move was reported to be worth five million pounds. He passed his medical on Wednesday to join another new signing, Lee Naylor from Wolves. Celtic paraded both players at a press conference which was originally staged to announce the signing of left-back Naylor.
Reyes: Atletico Madrid have made a bid for Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes who only recently was thought to be on the verge of a move to their city rivals Real Madrid. Atletico are reported to have offered Arsenal 12 million euros for the 22-year-old who joined the London side from Sevilla for a club record deal worth up to £17 million in January 2004.
Eto'o returns: African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o will return to the Cameroon squad for next week's African Nations Cup qualifier in Rwanda. The Barcelona striker missed the 1-1 draw with Guinea last week but was named yesterday in an 18-man squad for the match in Kigali on September 3.
Martins: Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins has left Inter for Newcastle for a fee of 15 million euros. Martins signed a five-year contract after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.
Coppa Italia: Second round - Verona vs Cagliari 1-2.
English League Cup: First round - L. Orient vs West Brom 0-3.