Liverpool: Liverpool will not be standing still in the transfer market even though they have already made the high-profile signings of Dutch winger Ryan Babel, Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun and Spain striker Fernando Torres. "There's still a long way to go before the end of the transfer window. If a player is available and he's right for this club then we will be interested," Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said.
Riquelme: Villarreal appear to have softened their stance on outcast Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who spent the second half of last season on loan with Boca Juniors. "He is a Villarreal player, has a squad number, and a contract for two years which if he wants to complete, he will complete," Villarreal president Fernando Roig was quoted as saying.
Inter: Inter have presented their centenary home shirt on computer simulation world Second Life at a launch in London. The Italians champions, whose away kit this season is also modelled on the city of Milan's St George cross flag, say they are the world's first professional club to have a dedicated "island" on Second Life.
Castillo: Olympiakos Piraeus striker Nery Castillo is set to sign a lucrative deal with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, according to reports in the Greek media. Olympiakos officials admitted yesterday that nothing had been signed but they had had an offer from Shakhtar and an official statement is expected today. Sources close to the forward suggested that Shakhtar have agreed to pay Olympiakos around 15 million euros ($20.5 million).
Hamburg: Hamburg SV signed Dutch midfielder Romeo Castelen to a four-year contract from Feyenoord Rotterdam for a transfer fee of 3 million euros ($4.10 million), the Bundesliga club said yesterday. Castelen is the fourth Dutch player on the Hamburg squad after captain Rafael van der Vaart, Joris Mathijsen and Nigel de Jong.
Belarus: German Bernd Stange was appointed coach of the Belarus national team yesterday. Stange, who signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Belarus FA, takes over from Yuri Puntus, who resigned last month following a string of poor results. Belarus are in fifth place in Euro 2008 qualifying Group G with seven points from seven matches.
Referees suspended: Four match officials have been suspended for poor performances during the Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced. The AFC banned one referee for a month and suspended another referee and two assistants until further assessment, following a meeting of the referees appointment sub-committee. The Asian Cup has been marred by several controversial refereeing decision but AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam said he was pleased with the overall standard.
Wolfsburg: German club VfL Wolfsburg have signed 23-year-old Senegal striker Mame Niang from South African club Moroka Swallows on a three-year deal, the Johannesburg club confirmed.
Shakthar Donetsk: Shakhtar Donetsk have signed Brazilian defender Ilsinho from Sao Paolo on a four-year, 10 million euro contract with an option that it could be extended for one more year.
Arveladze: Levante new recruit Shota Arveladze is set to miss the start of the season after sustaining a knee injury, the Primera Liga club said. The Georgia striker will undergo surgery in Amsterdam and is expected to be out for up to a month.