Anelka: Premier League side Bolton Wanderers are close to signing France striker Nicolas Anelka from Fenerbahce, manager Sam Allardyce said yesterday. The former Arsenal, Liverpool and Man. City forward has said he wanted to move to Bolton but he is still under contract in Turkey and Fenerbahce must ratify the deal. "It's no secret that we are trying to sign him but we are in the hands of Fenerbahce," Allardyce said.
Boulahrouz: Chelsea have completed the signing of Dutch international defender Khalid Boulahrouz from Hamburg SV. The 24-year-old passed a medical and agreed personal terms at Stamford Bridge over the weekend and watched Chelsea begin the defence of their Premier League title with a 3-0 win over Man. City. He has signed for an undisclosed fee.
Le Tallec: French striker Anthony Le Tallec has joined Sochaux on loan from Liverpool, the Ligue 1 club said yesterday. The under-21 international was loaned to Sochaux for a year, after which the French side will have an option to buy him.
Ireland: Ireland captain Robbie Keane and first-choice goalkeeper Shay Given were among six players welcomed back by manager Steve Staunton when he named his 23-man squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Germany on Sept. 2. Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland also return along with midfielder Damien Duff for Ireland's opening Group D qualifier in Stuttgart after missing last week's 4-0 friendly defeat to the Netherlands.
Lagerback: Calls for the resignation of Sweden's national coach Lars Lagerback struck close to home yesterday when a group of men nailed a banner outside his house to drive home the message. Police said the group hung a white sheet bearing the message "Resign Lars!" at Lagerback's home north of Stockholm in the early hours of yesterday morning. Calls for Lagerback to step down after six years as the national team's coach grew in volume after Sweden's lacklustre performance in the World Cup.
Baraja: Valencia's Spanish international midfielder Ruben Baraja will be out of action for around two and a half months after tearing a muscle in his right leg yesterday. The Primera Liga side said that the 31-year-old had felt a sharp pain in the rear part of his leg during training and that subsequent tests revealed that he had torn the muscle.
Pires: French midfielder Robert Pires will miss most of his first season at new club Villarreal after tearing the cruciate ligament in his left knee. The former Arsenal player sustained the injury during his side's game against Cadiz in the pre-season Ramon de Carranza trophy on Friday.
In England: League Cup first round - Accrington vs Nottm Forest 1-0.
Tennis: WTA Montreal Cup final - Ivanovic bt Hingis 6-2 6-3.