Owen: Newcastle are emerging as dark horses to sign Michael Owen if he makes his expected Premiership return after being frozen out at Real Madrid, BBC reported yesterday. Arsenal and Liverpool have ruled out a deal, leaving Newcastle as the only club who want Owen and could pay £11m. Newcastle's Graeme Souness wants to sign four more players and a new striker is his number one priority.
Davids: Tottenham are hoping to unveil Edgar Davids at White Hart Lane today. A club source said the Holland midfielder spent another day locked in talks with Spurs over a one-year deal but the North London club are convinced they can finalise personal terms with the 32-year-old. Meanwhile, Spurs midfielder Dean Marney has joined Norwich in a season-long loan deal.
Roberto Carlos: Real Madrid's Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos was granted Spanish citizenship yesterday, freeing up one of the club's three non-European Union places for new signing Robinho. "After so many years in Spain I feel proud to have gained dual nationality," said the 32-year-old international after swearing an oath to the Spanish constitution in Madrid. "It is a very important thing for me."
Kosowski: Polish midfielder Kamil Kosowski wants a move to Serie A side Lazio. Kosowski, who spent last season on loan at German side Kaiserslautern, is available for transfer from Wisla Krakow and has caught the eye of Lazio. "Lazio and the Italian league are my dream," Kosowski, 28, said. "I am aware of their interest and they are negotiating... I want to progress and want to play in Italy for Lazio."
Zagallo: Mario Zagallo declared he had lost 10 kilos but none of his energy as he resumed his role as Brazil's technical advisor following a stomach operation in May. Zagallo, who played for Brazil at two World Cups and coached them at a further three, spent more than a month in hospital after an operation to unblock his duodenum. "I'm still getting over it, I lost 10 kilos. It was a hell of a blow and it could have been a lot worse," the 73-year-old told reporters.
Coco: Francesco Coco has hit out at Inter after failing to complete a move to Ajax who were keen on the defender, but opted against handing him a deal after doubts were raised over his fitness. Injury-prone Coco said Inter failed to hand him a suitable rehabilitation programme. "It's Inter's fault that in Europe it is believed I am not fully fit," he said. "Inter completely failed in the way they aided my recovery from injury."
Intertoto Cup: Today's semi-finals (second legs) - Newcastle vs Deportivo (1-2); Lens vs Wolfsburg (0-0); Marseille vs Lazio (1-1); Cluj vs Zalgiris (2-1); Roda vs Valencia (0-4); Hamburg vs S. Olomouc (1-0).
German League Cup Final: Schalke 04 vs Stuttgart 1-0.
¤ Athens was awarded the 2006 World Cup intercontinental team competition by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Stuttgart will stage the annual world athletics final from 2006-8. On Monday, the council held a one-day meeting in advance of their two-day biennial congress starting today.