Kalas: Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas is targeting automatic promotion to the Premier League after securing a season-long loan move to Middlesbrough. The 22-year-old Czech, who spent the second half of last season at the Riverside Stadium, was given special permission by the Blues to join the Teessiders on their pre-season training trip to Marbella. “This is a new challenge and hopefully we can get promoted without the play-offs,” Kalas said.
Gomez: Teenager Joe Gomez will have a chance to make his mark at Liverpool next season after Brendan Rodgers confirmed the defender will not be loaned out. The 18-year-old is one of six signings Rodgers has so far brought to Anfield this summer, moving from Charlton. Gomez only made his senior Addicks debut last August but impressed on the Reds’ pre-season tour of Australia. “He’s staying,” Rodgers said after a 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar.
Halliday: Rangers are closing in on the signing of Andy Halliday. The former Livingston, Middlesbrough and Bradford winger has been on trial with Rangers and is in advanced talks over a contract. The 23-year-old scored 15 goals for Livingston before moving to Boro in 2010, where he made 44 first-team appearances.
For sale: The owner of Beitar Jerusalem said he was putting the Israeli Premier League club up for sale because he felt ashamed of supporters who threw smoke bombs, flares and firecrackers at a Europa League qualifying round match in Belgium. Nine-man Beitar were thrashed 5-1 at Charleroi in the first leg tie on Thursday. The match was held up at the start when fans threw incendiary devices on the pitch, enve-loping it in smoke.
US lawsuit: A US judge has dismissed much of a lawsuit by players and parents seeking to force FIFA to change the sport’s rules to limit the risk of concussions and other head injuries. In a decision, Chief Judge Phyllis Hamilton, of the federal court in Oakland, California, dismissed FIFA as a defendant, saying she lacked jurisdiction over the sport’s governing body. The judge also said the plaintiffs could not pursue any claim that seeks to change FIFA’s “laws of the game.”
Troyes: Troyes will play in Ligue 1 next season after their promotion was finally ratified upon appeal. The Ligue 2 champions were last month blocked from taking up their top-flight place by French football’s financial arbitrator the DNCG after being unable to provide assurances over their funding. The sale of forward Corentin Jean to Monaco and the delayed receipt of the fee which took midfielder Granddi Ngoyi to Palermo in 2013 helped bridge the gap. Jean has since been loaned back to the club.