Football news

Milan have denied reports that the club has reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Galaxy to keep David Beckham for the remainder of the season.

The England midfielder's short-term loan spell comes to an end on March 9, and the Serie A club have been attempting to hold on to the 33-year-old.

"I have read that everything is resolved but that is not the case," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani told the club's website.

"The deal is not complete. We are in fact working on the possibility that he remains on loan until June 30 but no agreement has been reached."

Chelsea set to ring changes

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said there will be big changes at the club next season and announced that as many as up to five players could leave with five new faces possibly coming in.

Buck said that club owner Roman Abramovich will make money available in the summer to sign the right players even though he admitted the London club prefers to raise money for new signings by offloading some players.

"We haven't properly got together to talk about summer transfers yet, but I think that we could expect that several players will leave and that several players will come in," Buck was quoted as saying.

"We'd like to use internally generated cash to buy new players - and by that I mean sell players and buy new players."

Foster targets regular spot

Ben Foster has set his sights on becoming Manchester United's regular goalkeeper amid reports that the club are preparing a new four-year contract for the 25-year-old.

Last Sunday, Foster was Man. United's hero after helping the team to victory in the League Cup final against Tottenham.

"I've got 16 months left and nothing has been said about a new contract, but I'm sure there will be no worries," he said.

"The two years I had on loan at Watford, playing week in, week out, were great. I want that here. I am at the biggest club in the world and I want to stay here for as long as I can."

Campbell calls for tougher bans

Portsmouth captain Sol Campbell has called on the English Premier League to dock points from clubs whose fans are found guilty of indecent and racist chanting.

The England international has been the victim of racist chanting this season after he was subjected to vile abuse by Tottenham Hotspur fans at Fratton Park in September.

"I think that they (the game's authorities) are going to have to do more," said Campbell. "My situation is a small part. You also have racial abuse in the rest of Europe.

"The only way you can stop it from happening is by taking points from clubs. Then it would definitely stop."

Benitez keeping tabs on Albiol

Liverpool are monitoring the progress of Spain international Raul Albiol. The Valencia defender is rated among the best in La Liga, but the Spanish club could be forced to sell due to their ongoing financial troubles.

Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the 24-year-old, who can play in central defence or as a holding midfielder, but Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has advised his scouting team to follow Albiol.

Albiol is contracted to Valencia for another two years and has a huge buy-out clause of nearly £50 million - although reports now suggest they could go for a deal of £13 million.

Lotito given two-year jail sentence

Lazio president Claudio Lotito was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday for stock-market rigging and failing to disclose the extent of his shareholding in the club.

Milan prosecutors had argued that when construction magnate Roberto Mezzaroma bought 14.6 per cent of Lazio shares on June 30, 2005, he was really purchasing on behalf of Lotito.

They said Lotito, who helped save Lazio from financial ruin when he bought the Rome club in 2004, did not disclose that he was behind the additional share purchase because that would have forced him to launch a bid for all the club's shares.

Mezzaroma was given a 20-month jail sentence and fined 55,000 euros ($69,560). Lotito was handed a 65,000-euro fine in addition to the jail sentence.

First jail terms in Italy do not start until an appeals process is exhausted. Judicial sources said Lotito and Mezzaroma were unlikely to serve the jail sentence because of a 2006 pardon by the government.

Ribery hits out at team-mates

France midfielder Franck Ribery has criticised his Bayern Munich team-mates over on-pitch tactics, the German media reported yesterday.

"I complained to the coach (Juergen Klinsmann) about the fact that I never have enough support when I want to attack on the left side," Ribery told Bild. "The coach said I had a point."

Ribery was speaking in reference to Bayern's 0-0 draw against Werder Bremen on Sunday.

His remarks come at a time when speculation about his future is mounting, with his agent having suggested that he could be set for a move to Barcelona.