Newcastle have reached an agreement in principle to sign striker Loic Remy from Marseille.

West Ham have completed the signing of Modibo Maiga from Sochaux on a long-term deal.

Maurice Edu has hinted he will seek a way out of the Rangers turmoil as he wants to test himself at the highest level.

In Poland, football fans have an apt expression for their national side’s early exits from recent major football tournaments: Firstly, there is the opening match, secondly is the match for everything, and thirdly, the match for honour.

Yoann Gourcuff and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa have been left out of France’s squad for Euro 2012 after it was named today.

Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul will miss out on a place in France’s Euro 2012 squad due to injury, coach Laurent Blanc has revealed.

Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano was today handed his first call-up to the France squad for Wednesday’s international friendly against Germany.

NEWCASTLE manager Alan Pardew is backing Andy Carroll to lead the line for England once he finds his feet at Liverpool.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has revealed the club will not attempt to sign a striker in January after confirming the collapse of Modibo Maiga’s proposed move to Tyneside.

ALAN PARDEW has challenged his Newcastle players to keep punching above their weight to maintain contact with the Premier League’s big boys.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew refused to be downhearted after seeing his side held to a 0-0 draw by Swansea.

French club Sochaux have asked FIFA to intervene after claiming Newcastle made an illegal approach to striker Modibo Maiga.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has warned derby rivals Sunderland not to be taken in by the furore surrounding controversial midfielder Joey Barton.

Eric Abidal’s remarkable return to fitness following surgery on a liver tumour was today rewarded with a recall to the France national side.

JOSE MOURINHO was unable to shed any light on whether Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo would be fit for Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Lyon tonight when he briefed the media yesterday.

Nice beat Lyon 1-0 after extra-time in the only all-Ligue 1 tie of today’s Coupe de France last-32 action.

OLYMPIACOS striker Jaouad Zairi is adamant Bordeaux will put their recent struggles behind them and pose a significant threat in tonight’s Champions League encounter.

West Ham beat the transfer deadline to sign Middlesbrough striker Mido and free agent Brazilian forward Ilan until the end of the season.

STEVEN DAVIS has urged Rangers to do all they can to ensure Kris Boyd remains at Ibrox beyond the January transfer window.

Le Mans scored twice in the dying minutes to steal a 2-1 win and leave Le Havre rooted to the foot of the Ligue 1 table.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has continued his summer spending spree by completing the signing of Bolton forward El-Hadji Diouf for an undisclosed fee.

Liverpool have confirmed they have completed the sale of midfielder Anthony Le Tallec to Le Mans.

LIKE a good thriller, the battle for the title in Italy has produced half a dozen twists with one episode left. Those left dangling over the cliff edge after yesterday’s games include both Milan clubs, after Inter could only draw 2-2 at home to Siena and Milan suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Napoli.

Lyon 1 Manchester United 1

LYON COACH Alain Perrin believes the open style of football practised by English clubs gives his side a great chance of causing an upset against Manchester United in the Champions League last 16.

French champions Lyon take a four-point lead into the Christmas break after they were held to a 1-1 draw by closest challengers Nancy.

Chelsea’s Jon Obi Mikel, Everton’s Joseph Yobo, Portsmouth duo Kanu and John Utaka, Newcastle’s Obafemi Martins and Sunderland’s Dickson Etuhu have been named in Nigeria’s squad for this month’s international friendly meeting with Australia at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.

Nigeria coach Berti Vogts has named eight English-based players in his squad to face Australia in an international friendly at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on November 17.

Lyon moved clear at the top of Ligue 1 today following a 3-1 win against Monaco.

Lyon may join Liverpool in the race to sign Gabriel Heinze as they try to come to terms with the loss of captain Cris for six months.

Toulouse warmed up for their Champions League qualifier against Liverpool on Wednesday by beating reigning league champions Lyon tonight.

Liverpool misfit Anthony Le Tallec could be heading back to France on a permanent basis after it was made clear he has no future at Anfield.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas admits he is unlikely to secure the signature of Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan insists he could spend again this summer despite already investing heavily in new players.

Portsmouth have completed the signing of Ghana international midfielder Sulley Muntari from Udinese.

Marseille president Pape Diouf has declared his intention to keep Djibril Cisse at the Stade Velodrome next season.

Paris St Germain climbed out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone as goals by Amara Diane and Sylvain Armand helped see off second-placed Lens today.

Lens consolidated second spot in Ligue 1 with a smash-and-grab victory over Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

RONALDINHO shrugged off claims about his weight as he helped Barcelona shrug off their mini-crisis and go two points clear in La Liga with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao last night. An own goal by Amorebieta, a fine volley by Xavi and a cool finish from the recalled Eto’o in a brilliant first half display saw Barca home.

REAL Madrid coach Fabio Capello praised David Beckham after the former England captain marked his return with a goal in a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad.

REAL MADRID failed to take advantage of slip-ups from La Liga’s frontrunners with a woeful display at the Riazor as they went down to Deportivo last night.

ROBERTO MANCINI etched his name into Inter Milan’s history books yesterday with a record-breaking ninth successive league victory, beating Messina 2-0.

RONALDINHO grabbed his 11th league goal of the season as Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga to two points after a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp on Saturday, while Sevilla moved into second spot after a 2-1 comeback win at home to Real Madrid.

RONALDINHO scored a sensational overhead kick as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-0 at the Nou Camp to stay at the top of La Liga.