BARCELONA vice-president Ferran Soriano would like the club to sign Cristiano Ronaldo but has denied they are set to move for the Manchester United winger.

LOUIS SAHA has admitted the desire to right the wrongs of the past three seasons will burn deep inside Manchester United at the Stade Felix-Bollaert tonight.

ROY KEANE has taken a leaf out of Alex Ferguson’s book by checking his Sunderland players into a hotel hideaway on the eve of every home game.

ALEX FERGUSON has launched a scathing attack on the FA’s academy system, claiming it has totally failed to produce the World Cup-winning talent that was promised.

MANCHESTER UNITED are only now beginning to feel the full benefit of having such a strong squad, according to on-loan striker Henrik Larsson.

TIM HOWARD refuses to look back on his difficult days at Manchester United now he has committed himself to a five-year contract at Everton.

GLASGOW Celtic have posted a profit before taxation of £17.94 million (€26.7m) for the final half of 2006.

NICKY BUTT will complete his Newcastle rehabilitation tonight when he will be captain for the UEFA Cup clash with Zulte Waregem.

CHELSEA star Joe Cole is determined to return from his foot injury to help Chelsea challenge on four fronts this season but is wary of putting a deadline on his recovery.

EVERTON have clinched the signing of goalkeeper Tim Howard on a five-year contract from Manchester United for a fee believed to be in the region of £3 million (€4.4 million).

MICHAEL Carrick insists he is not bothered about being left trailing in the Manchester United goalscoring stakes.

THE small town of Vail, Colorado, is an unlikely place to find one of the key figures in world sport.

UEFA and British police have sent a letter to touts warning they may take action to prevent Champions League final tickets being sold on for high profits.

IT’S the greening of Sunderland in reverse, with Steve Staunton naming four of the Championship-winners in his Irish squad for the friendly games in the USA later this month.

FA disciplinary chiefs will decide today whether Michael Ball should be hit with the charge of serious foul play for his stamp on Cristiano Ronaldo.

REPUBLIC of Ireland boss Steve Staunton will give youth a chance when he today names his squad for a two-match tour of America.

We’re almost in the dog days of the soccer season but our contributors are still enjoying a good snarl.

APART from the weather (wet), this week’s favourite conversational gambit in Italy is: How good are Milan? Or, alternatively: How good are Inter? It all depends on who you support.

JOSE MOURINHO has promised Manchester United a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday – but pledged the new Premiership champions can expect a major battle to retain their crown next season.