A round-up of other soccer stories in brief

Liverpool complete Poulsen signing

LIVERPOOL have prepared for the anticipated loss of Javier Mascherano by signing Christian Poulsen for an initial €5.5 million from Juventus. The Denmark international was yesterday unveiled as the club’s fifth signing of the summer having agreed a three-year contract and passed a medical on Merseyside.

The price of the 30-year-old will rise by a further €1million depending on achievements, and the deal reunites the central midfielder with his former manager at FC Copenhagen, Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson turned to Poulsen, who joins Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson as Liverpool’s additions this summer, once it was clear that Mascherano is desperate to leave before the close of the transfer window.

Coppell quits

STEVE COPPELL (55) yesterday resigned from Bristol City after two matches. He also said he has retired from management. City were beaten 3-0 at home by newly promoted Millwall on the opening day of the season and knocked out of the League Cup in the first round by League Two club Southend on Tuesday.

“It is with the deepest regret that I can confirm my departure from Bristol City. I am retiring from football management but still feel I have a contribution to make to the game in the future.”

Bohemians appeal for funds

BOHEMIANS have appealed to its members to come up with the funds required to get the club through to the end of the season after telling players last week that it was no longer in a position to guarantee their wages.

The club is estimated to be around €6 million in debt but is currently in the process of finalising a deal with the property developer Pascal Conroy to move out of Dalymount Park in exchange for a new stadium and substantial additional funds.

The club is said to have run into major cash flow problems.

The hope now is that some players can be sold in order to address the situation with Killian Brennan apparently interesting Celtic, Aaron Greene a possible target for Preston and Paddy Madden set to attract bids from Celtic, Derby and Birmingham amongst others.

“We are keeping an eye on him and will watch him again,” said Derby County manager Nigel Clough after seeing Madden in action against Shamrock Rovers last Sunday.

City in talks over Robinho move

MANCHESTER City have entered into negotiations with two unnamed clubs about a €20 million-plus deal for Robinho, with Roberto Mancini still keen to wash his hands of Britain’s most expensive footballer and no sign of a thaw in relations between player and manager.

After spending the past six months on loan at Santos, Robinho flew back into England on Wednesday but his position has not changed, namely that he wants to leave City and is effectively in Manchester against his will, and City’s stance also remains the same, willing to sell him to any club who meet their asking price.

They have now received what is being described as “firm interest”, with a strong possibility of a deal happening before the end of the transfer window.