SCREAMER LIVE: Adriano snubs Hammers - plus more from football world

23 December 2009 18:15
Keep up to date with the stories breaking across the football world with Screamer Live - Sportsmail Online's regularly updated round-up. Check back throughout the day, with the latest news appearing at the top of the page.[LNB] Please stay: Adriano (left) with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva[LNB]Brazil striker Adriano has snubbed a move to West Ham United by accepting an improved deal to stay at Flamengo for the next six months.[LNB]The 27-year-old has been handed a 40 per cent pay rise after the Brazilian champions landed a new sponsorship deal, but the deal is still less than half of what was on offer if he had returned to Europe.[LNB]AC Milan, Roma and the Hammers all approached the former Inter Milan player, but he was reluctant to leave before next summer's World Cup.[LNB] Alberto Aquilani is in contention to make his Barclays Premier League full debut when Liverpool host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.[LNB]The £20million Italy midfielder has been dogged by an ankle injury since signing from Roma in the summer.[LNB]A calf strain kept him out of the weekend defeat at Portsmouth and plans to see Serb placenta doctor Marijana Kovacevic were scuppered by bad weather.[LNB]Boss Rafa Benitez said: 'He is getting better but we will have to see how he progresses. He is certainly in contention to play against Wolves.'[LNB]Meanwhile, Benitez has again insisted that Fernando Torres will not need surgery on his groin injury.[LNB] Former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga looks set to beat Tony Adams to the post of manager of the New York Red Bulls.[LNB]Arsenal legend Adams, out of work since being sacked by Portsmouth last season, had been linked with the post, but former Palermo boss Zenga now looks the favourite.[LNB]Barcelona forward Thierry Henry is expected to sign for the Major League Soccer side later this year.[LNB] Niko Kranjcar has backed his fellow Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon to star for England at next summer's World Cup finals.[LNB]The Croatia international said: 'Should Capello pick him? Oh yes. I hope he will and I believe he will. At the moment, he is probably the best player in the Premier League in a one-on-one situation. Once he is isolated on the right flank, he will beat his marker for sure.'[LNB] Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric is to be charged next month over a tax issue, Revenue and Customs has confirmed.[LNB]He will face a charge alongside Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, relating to when they were both at Portsmouth.[LNB]Mandaric is accused of what tax officials have described as 'cheating the public revenue' and will be charged during the week commencing  January 11.[LNB]Mandaric said: 'This is not a football matter, it is a private matter between me and Harry Redknapp. I've done nothing wrong and have instructed my legal team.'[LNB] Jose Mourinho continues to cast admiring glances towards the Barclays Premier League by revealing he misses the busy Christmas fixture programme enjoyed in England.[LNB]The Portuguese, who joined Inter Milan after leaving Chelsea in September 2007, is stuck in the middle of Italy's winter break and does not have another game to prepare for till January 6.[LNB]'For me, it was absolutely great to play all those games, with stadiums full of children, families,' said the self-styled Special One (right). 'I miss football, even for a short time.'[LNB]Mourinho is understood to have rebuffed interest in him from Manchester City before they turned to Roberto Mancini, but he is expected to one day return to England and has been linked with Manchester United and Liverpool.[LNB] Birmingham City central defender Scott Dann believes he is finally approaching full match fitness after undergoing groin surgery in the summer.[LNB]Dann had to wait until late September to make his debut against Hull City following his summer move from Coventry City.[LNB]The 22-year-old said: 'I'm fit - but not as fit as I can be - but I am getting there. I've played a lot of games recently and I'm getting fitter with each game.'[LNB] Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Barcelona can repeat their unprecedented feat of winning six trophies in a year.[LNB]The Sweden striker joined from Inter Milan in the summer, midway through the team winning everything they entered in 2009: La Liga, Champions League, Spanish Cup, European Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and  Club World Cup.[LNB]'Before this season nobody would have said that a team could be capable of winning it all,' he said. 'It's something incredible and it would have been hard to think about it before it happened, but I think we can repeat it.'[LNB] Clean sweep: Dani Alves celebrates winning the Club World Cup with Barcelona in Abu Dhabi last week[LNB] Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has signed a two-year contract extension through to Euro 2012, regardless of how his team fare at the World Cup next summer.[LNB]Del Bosque, who turned 59 today, took over the reigns of La Roja after they won Euro 2008 and has a stunning record in charge, having won 21 of his 22 matches.[LNB] FC Moscow president Igor Dmitriev expects clubs from England to enter the race for the club's 25-year-old Argentine ace Maxi Lopez.[LNB]The striker is wanted by Lazio and Gremio, the Brazilian club where he is currently on loan, but Dmitriev said: 'Clubs from England and Italy are showing interest and he wants to play football in Europe. We don't object and are ready to negotiate.'[LNB] TRANSFER WINDOW GUIDE: The lowdown on every club as Manchester United throw the January window open with £9m bid for star Benfica winger Angel Di Maria A trophy for Wenger, a fit player for Moyes, waterwings for Martinez, no Man Ure for Rafa and beach balls for Bruce - the Premier League Christmas wishlistThe top five moments from a glorious decade of sport: From Redgrave's heroics to 'lightning' Bolt - via Jonny's boot[LNB] 

Source: Daily_Mail