Manchester City 2 Celtic 1

Middlesbrough’s hopes of escaping relegation were dealt a blow today when it was confirmed record signing Afonso Alves will not play again this season.

West Brom 1 Peterborough 1

Wigan will have to wait until next week to complete the signing of Middlesbrough youngster Lee Cattermole – but are unlikely to face any problems sealing the deal.

Middlesbrough have advised AZ Alkmaar to direct their claim for compensation over their failed bid to land Afonso Alves to Heerenveen.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate admitted his side had “rattled” Manchester United after they drew 2-2 with Premier League leaders at the Riverside.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp could barely contain his excitement tonight as he edged closer to bringing Jermain Defoe to Fratton Park.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish will decide over the weekend whether to step up his bid to sign Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has insisted he will not just be bringing in Scottish players during the January transfer window.

PSV Eindhoven capitalised on Feyenoord’s slip-up at Heerenveen to claim top spot heading into the Eredivisie’s winter break.

England lost another semi-final on penalties tonight, this time in the European U-21 Championship in Heerenveen.

UNSETTLED striker David Trezeguet seems set to leave newly-promoted Juventus after revealing his contract negotiations are at a standstill.

Man City 2 Everton 1

Liverpool brought in Danish defender Daniel Agger and midfielder Luis Garcia in place of Sami Hyypia and Mark Gonzalez from the side that won 3-0 at Charlton last weekend.

THE cheers in the Santiago Bernabeu that greeted Real Madrid’s 5-1 Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev in midweek turned to jeers yesterday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by local rivals Atletico Madrid.

Georgios Samaras has hit back at suggestions all is not well inside the Manchester City dressing room.

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has warned want-away midfielder Joey Barton there will be no more money on the table in any fresh contract negotiations.

Manchester City remain hopeful they can persuade Joey Barton to sign a new contract after wrapping up the £6m (€8.8m) signing of Georgios Samaras from Heerenveen.

Manchester City will intensify their efforts to land Georgios Samaras from Heerenveen following the shock departure of Robbie Fowler.

Tottenham have completed the signings of England midfielder Jermaine Jenas from Newcastle and South Korean full-back Lee Young-Pyo from PSV Eindhoven.

Lee Bowyer has vowed to help keep Newcastle’s European dream alive to ensure he has something to play for this season.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has admitted he has used emotional blackmail in an attempt to persuade skipper Alan Shearer not to retire.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insisted the quadruple in England is possible after seeing his side’s hopes of achieving it this season ended at Newcastle.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho went through with his promise to rest key players for this afternoon’s FA Cup fifth round trip to Newcastle.

Newcastle full-back Celestine Babayaro is battling against a knee injury ahead of the FA Cup fifth round clash with his former club Chelsea on Sunday.

NEWCASTLE defender Andy O’Brien is determined to erase the memory of a costly slip as he prepares for another European date in Heerenveen tonight.

John O’Flynn came through last night’s training with Cork CIty and will now definitely be fit to take his place in Cork City’s Intertoto Cup second leg clash with Dutch side NEC Nijmegen tomorrow night.

Graham Taylor has admitted he is planning for the new Premiership season on the basis that unsettled midfielder George Boateng will have left the club.

Aston Villa 3 FC Zurich 0

Graham Taylor has admitted he bought Marcus Allback because he expected unsettled club record signing Juan Pablo Angel to quit Aston Villa.