UEFA ban for Olympiakos Volos

Olympiakos Volos' Europa League adventure has ended prematurely after being expelled from the competition by UEFA.

Governing body UEFA have handed the Greek club a three-year ban from the continental competition after their alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
Olympiakos Volos were originally relegated from the Greek Super League amid the corruption affair, while the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) also handed the club a 10-point deduction for the 2011-12 season.
Their satus in the domestic top-flight has since been reinstated, along with that of another implicated club, Kavala.
UEFA said in a media statement on Thursday: "Olympiakos Volos FC have been excluded from this season's Europa League and given a further three-year ban from UEFA competition, deferred for a probationary period of five seasons, after breaching Article 5 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations."
The club said they will appeal the decision.

Olympiakos Volos were set to play Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain next week in the final play-off round before the Europa League group stage.

Transfer wrap: Reds agree Enrique fee, QPR strengthen defence

Liverpool have agreed to sign Newcastle left-back Jose Enrique for a reported fee of six million pounds.

The Reds pounced on the opportunity to seal the Spaniard's services after the 25-year-old announced he wanted to cut short his contract at St James' Park by a year.
Enrique's impending exit follows the departure of Andy Carroll, who joined Liverpool last season, and Kevin Nolan's sale to West Ham, leaving Newcastle manager Alan Pardew with several gaps to fill in his squad.
A Liverpool statement confirmed Enrique's arrival at Merseyside was imminent.
"The club have now been given permission to discuss personal terms with the player, who will travel to Liverpool to undergo a medical."
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Queens Park Rangers have signed Brazilian defender Bruno Perone on a one-year deal after a month-long trial period with the London club.
Bolton have confirmed they are pursuing out-of-favour Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, while Turkish striker Tuncay Sanli will arrive at the Reebok for a loan spell from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
The 29-year-old Tuncay, who has Premier League experience with Middlesbrough and Stoke City, announced via Twitter that he has passed his medical and signed a contract with Owen Coyle's side.
Australian international Matt McKay has agreed to terms with Scottish Premier League champions Rangers, paving the way for a switch from A-League club Brisbane Roar.
The 28-year-old midfielder featured in Australia's 2-1 win over Wales in their international friendly in Cardiff on Wednesday, and is one step closer to joining Ally McCoist's men at Ibrox.
The only stumbling block in the way of McKay joining the SPL powerhouse is gaining a work permit.
In other transfer news, Inter Milan's Diego Milito has been linked with a move to Russian side Rubin Kazan and Turkish club Galatasaray, as reported by Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Arsenal are preparing to part company with Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively, with the duo's departure expected to be confirmed early next week.
Barcelona's offer of 35.1 million pounds looks to be enough for the London side, while Nasri is headed to City for an estimated 22 million pounds.

It is understood that neither player will be available for the Gunners' clash away at Newcastle on Saturday.

Bolton confirm chase for Wright-Phillips

Owen Coyle has confirmed that Bolton are in talks with Shaun Wright-Phillips about a potential transfer.

Bolton have been chasing the Manchester City winger for a number of weeks but claims the player's wages could make a deal tough to complete.
"Shaun is a tremendous player, he is someone I would love to bring to the club. Whether it is possible, only time will tell," he said.
"There are financial implications involved. Players at Manchester City are on contracts that are more than we could pay. There is a threshold we cannot go beyond."
"But there has been dialogue between our chairman and [City chief executive] Garry Cook. That is where we are at the moment. There is nothing concrete."
Coyle also revealed that a deal for Turkish forward Sanli Tuncay could also be close.
He continued: "We are a good way down the line with that but it is not cut and dried."
"He is a terrific player, who really works his socks off."
One player expected to leave Bolton this summer is Gary Cahill, but despite interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, the defender is still at the club.
"I am surprised there has been no firm offer," said Coyle.
"Teams have had six or seven weeks already."

"I totally understand if they have made offers and talks are progressing, but why leave it until the last minute?"

Yossi for Luka! Chelsea offer Benayoun to Spurs to seal Modric deal

Chelsea are prepared to use Yossi Benayoun as bait in their attempt to prise Luka Modric from Tottenham.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has long been an admirer of Benayoun, and showed interest in the creative midfielder when he left Liverpool last year.
The Israel captain moved to Stamford Bridge instead but failed to make an impression in a season wrecked by a heel injury.
He has been bright during pre-season but it is indicative of Chelsea’s desire to land Modric that Andre Villas-Boas is prepared to sacrifice Benayoun.
Since arriving from Porto in June, Villas-Boas has spoken many times about the importance of players who can operate ‘between the lines’, bringing fluidity and unpredictability to Chelsea’s rigid system.
Benayoun fits into this category, not to mention the fact that he is perhaps the only player to have displayed any chemistry with Fernando Torres.
The pair used to room together when they played for Liverpool and Torres has looked most alive during his eight months at Chelsea when the Israeli has been on the pitch with him.
However, Benayoun is 31 and has two years left on the deal he signed when moving from Anfield for £5.5million last summer.
He has barely played for the Blues, having ruptured an achilles tendon in September and spent seven months recuperating, an absence which limited him to only one start in the Premier League under Carlo Ancelotti.
A move to Tottenham might appeal to Benayoun, who is on international duty with Israel in Geneva, where they play a friendly against the Ivory Coast on Wednesday.
Spurs, who have rejected bids of £22m and £27m, are optimistic that they can fight off Chelsea’s interest and convince Modric, who is in Ireland with Croatia, to commit to at least one more year at White Hart Lane, even though he has already said he wants to leave.
Redknapp’s midfield options have already been depleted by injuries and he learned that Steven Pienaar will miss the first six weeks of the season after groin surgery. Sandro is out with a knee injury sustained training with Brazil at the Copa America last month.

Inter Milan target Tevez loan deal as Eto'o set for exit

Inter Milan have made an offer to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez on a loan basis with a view to a permanent move next summer.

Tevez has made no secret that he wants to leave Manchester City and saw a move to Corinthians fall through during the summer.
Inter Milan are now in pole position to clinch his signature and reports in Italy today suggest they have opened talks over a season-long loan.
Manchester City are determined to do a straight cash deal for the Argentine superstar, but they could change their mind if Inter agree to sell Wesley Sneijder as part of the deal.
Inter are considering an offer from mega-rich Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala for striker Samuel Eto'o and see Tevez as the ideal replacement.