Football news

Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez is preparing to fire the team to the top of the Bundesliga for the first time in nearly 18 months when the league campaign resumes on January 15.

Bayern begin the second half of their season against Hoffenheim a week tomorrow, and a win would take them to the summit.

Gomez said: "We haven't been first for a long time, but we are not far away now. I want to win titles, which is why I came to Munich."

Gomez struggled to find form after arriving at Munich from Stuttgart in the summer, but when he began to improve so too did Bayern to surge from eighth in the table to their current third position.

Ze Roberto explains delayed return

Hamburg winger Ze Roberto has finally made contact with coach Bruno Labbadia to explain why he has not returned to Germany after the Christmas break.

However, the veteran Brazilian, who is in his homeland, has given no precise indication of when he expects to be back with the Bundesliga club. The 35-year-old surprised Labbadia and team-mates by not reporting for training as planned last Sunday.

"I am sorry that I did not come to the training camp and to have informed HSV so late about my reasons," Ze Roberto said.

"I have a serious family problem."

Fulham fear lengthy Zamora lay-off

Fulham were yesterday sweating on the results of a scan on Bobby Zamora, who is facing a lay-off of at least several weeks after suffering a serious-looking injury in the 3-2 defeat at Stoke.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is resigned to being without his leading striker for some time after he suffered what was initially thought to be a dislocation of either the collar bone or his shoulder.

"Either way it is a bad injury," said Hodgson.

"It was a very expensive day for us. We were forced to replace Brede Hangeland at half-time with a recurrence of his knee injury and we lost Zamora early in the second half and we have also lost the game."

Sporting interested in Mendes

Sporting Lisbon have expressed an interest in Pedro Mendes amid reports Rangers are considering selling the midfielder to finance a new contract for Kris Boyd.

Sporting boss Carlos Carvalhal has revealed former Portsmouth star Mendes, who moved to Ibrox in the summer of 2008, is on his radar.

The 30-year-old Portuguese has been out for two months with a knee injury, but he trained at Murray Park on Tuesday.

Sporting coach Carlos Carvalhal said in the Scottish Sun: "It is normal that we look at a player of this quality. But the matter does not just depend on me.

"A lot will depend on my directors and what they want to do."

Veron turns down Mancini offer

Argentina's Juan Sebastian Veron turned down a personal offer from Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini to join the Premier League club, the midfielder said.

The 34-year-old Estudiantes captain told the radio station La Red that he was phoned by Mancini, a former team-mate of his in Italy and his coach at Inter, to make the offer.

"I presented the offer to the directors of the club (Estudiantes) so they could consider it, maybe it appeals to them. For my part there isn't much thinking to do, my (negative) answer was instantaneous," Veron said.

"It's not possible at the moment and it's not a question of money... my family and my affections are involved," he said.

Podolski will go to World Cup - Loew

Germany coach Joachim Loew is set to make an exception to his policy of only choosing players who are in form and playing regularly for their club by naming Lukas Podolski in his World Cup squad.

Podolski has so far failed to live up to his own glittering reputation since rejoining Cologne last summer but Loew has dismissed the notion of him losing his place in the Germany set-up should he fail to up the ante in 2010.

"There are no doubts at all about his status as a national team player," he added in Cologne's Express newspaper.

"His goalscoring record with us is noteworthy. He is cheeky and is not afraid. In the national team, he nearly always plays well."

Birmingham make bid for Babel

Ryan Babel's agent has confirmed Birmingham have made a bid for the Liverpool winger.

Liverpool are believed to be ready to let Babel go as Rafael Benitez looks to generate funds for his own signings in this month's transfer window.

Babel's representative, Winnie Haatrecht, said the Dutch international would consider a move to St Andrews if the two clubs agree a transfer fee.

"We know that Liverpool seriously thinks about the offer from Birmingham, we would consider a deal if both clubs come to an agreement," Haatrecht told De Telegraaf.