Football news

Wigan Athletic have signed Egypt striker Mido on loan from English Premier League rivals Middlesbrough until the end of the season.

"He is still a relatively young man with potentially his best years ahead of him and hopefully he can produce a bit of magic for us," manager Steve Bruce told his club's website (www.wiganlatics. co.uk).

The 25-year-old Mido played for a host of clubs including Ajax, Olympique Marseille, Roma and Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Middlesbrough for six million pounds ($8.27 million) in 2007.

Mourinho hints at Drogba, Jenas bids

Inter coach Jose Mourinho has revealed he could yet make bids to sign Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas before the transfer window closes.

"Jermaine Jenas and Didier Drogba - these are both players that I like," Mourinho wrote in The Daily Telegraph.

"Drogba is a very special player for me, there is no doubt about it. We had a great relationship at Chelsea and he was an important player for me.

"Will something happen? I don't know."

Mourinho also admitted he rates Jenas very highly. "I never worked with him (Jenas) but he is a player I have followed," the Portuguese said.

O'Neill ponders Owen move

Martin O'Neill is not ruling out a summer approach for Newcastle striker Michael Owen whose existing contract runs out at the end of this season.

Aston Villa have just signed the 29-year-old's former Liverpool strike partner Emile Heskey from Wigan for £3.5 million and O'Neill is said to be tempted by the idea of reuniting the two forwards once more at Villa Park.

"I'm not saying that I will move for Owen in the summer - I've not looked at anything at that remote a distance," the Irishman said.

"But that's not to say Michael Owen is not a terrific player. Anything is possible. Kaka is a possibility!"

Fowler poised for A-League switch

Out-of-contract Robbie Fowler is considering an offer to join A-League side North Queensland Fury after meeting with club officials in Australia.

Fury coach, the former Scotland and Rangers midfielder Ian Ferguson, said Fowler, whose three-month deal with Blackburn was not renewed last month, had been impressed by the club's facilities.

"He just came over for five days. He wanted to see lifestyle and I think he liked it," Ferguson said.

"It's down to if he wants to move and live this lifestyle. On the football side of things he is reasonably happy, he likes what we have to offer."

Kuyt agent denies Juve link

Dirk Kuyt's agent has moved to dismiss speculation linking Liverpool's Dutch striker with a move to Juventus.

According to reports in Italy, the Serie A giants want to sign Kuyt as a long-term replacement for 36-year-old Czech star Pavel Nedved who may hang up his boots next summer.

"Kuyt is happy at Liverpool and until he actually receives an offer, does not think of going elsewhere," Karel Jansen, Kuyt's agent, said.

"I do not know anything of this story. At the moment I have not received any phone call, not from Juventus or anybody. We are talking to Liverpool to try and renew his contract."

Unhappy Saviola wants to quit Real

Javier Saviola wants Real Madrid to decide whether to play him or let him leave.

"It's a difficult situation. You have to be very strong mentally because as each game goes by without playing, you are des-troyed a little more psycholo-gically," the 27-year-old told Marca.

"I spoke to (coach) Juande (Ramos) to find out where I stood. I told him I needed to play and if I wasn't in his plans to notify the management to allow me to go during the January transfer window because this situation is intolerable."

Saviola, who left Real's arch-rivals Barcelona in 2007 after falling out of favour with then-coach Frank Rijkaard, has been linked with a move to Portsmouth.

No takeover bid for Roma

Roma have issued a statement to deny speculation they have received an offer to buy out the club.

According to a report in yesterday's La Repubblica newspaper, there are two conglomerates interested in buying the Serie A club.

As the Sensi family business, Italpetroli, has a debt of £360m with Unicredit bank, there have been suggestions that a lucrative offer may tempt club chief Rosella Sensi to sell Roma.

However, the club yesterday denied such reports, saying: "The allegations in the newspapers are unfounded. Both Roma and Ital-petroli confirm they have not received, directly or indirectly, any offers or statements of interest."