Kerr: Brian Kerr has applied for the vacant post as coach of South Africa. The 52-year-old former Ireland coach has recently been linked with roles at Hearts and Portsmouth. But Kerr's agent has confirmed that he favours a return to international football and is one of a reported 43 applicants for the South Africa job. Kerr's contract as Ireland coach was not renewed after they failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in October.

Fiorentina: Serie A club Fiorentina will not protest to FIFA about Nemanja Vidic's proposed move to Manchester United. This week Spartak Moscow have agreed to sell the defender to United. Fiorentina were also in the running for Vidic's signature and claimed they also had a deal in place for the Serbia international. However, they have now decided against pursuing the matter and have confirmed they are closing the Vidic chapter.

Rangers: Argentine striker Federico Nieto has been released by Rangers after six months in Glasgow, the Scottish champions said yesterday. They said Nieto was returning to his former club, Argentine second division Almagro, in Buenos Aires.

Manduca: Brazilian winger Gustavo Manduca has joined Benfica from Maritimo on a four-and-a-half-year contract, the Portuguese champions said yesterday. No financial details of the deal were given but Portuguese media reported that Benfica would pay around half a million euros to the Madeira Island club. The 25-year-old Manduca, who joins a large Brazilian contingent at Benfica, strengthens coach Ronald Koeman's squad before the Champions League knockout round tie against Liverpool.

Cicinho: Brazil defender Cicinho, Real Madrid's new signing, passed a medical after arriving in the Spanish capital yesterday. Real Madrid signed Cicinho on a five-year deal from Sao Paulo in an effort to strengthen the squad after a disappointing run of results. Spanish media reported that the defender, part of the Brazil side that crushed Argentina 4-1 to win the Confederations Cup in June, had signed for a fee of around 4 million euros.

Bowyer: Newcastle will attempt to have Lee Bowyer's red card at Anfield on Boxing Day overturned. The midfielder was given his marching orders for a late lunge on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. Manager Graeme Souness indicated after the match that Bowyer deserved a red card, although he suggested Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard should have followed him down the tunnel for their reactions.

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