Other soccer stories in brief
Andrews follows Ince to Blackburn
DUBLINER Keith Andrews, who began his English career 10 years ago with Wolves, where Robbie Keane was a team-mate in the youth set-up, signed a three year contract with Blackburn Rovers yesterday following his transfer from MK Dons for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old midfielder follows Blackburn manager Paul Ince to Ewood Park, having captained the League One side last season under Ince's guidance.
Meanwhile, Alan Lee, capped eight times by the Republic of Ireland, was in talks yesterday with Crystal Palace after they had a bid of €750,000 accepted by Ipswich Town for the forward.
"We are a bit apart with regards to personal terms," said Palace manager Neil Warnock, "but he is having a medical and we are still hoping to agree a deal."
Larsson in demand
HELSINGBORG'S Sweden striker Henrik Larsson is reported to be weighing up offers from three unnamed Premier League clubs.
Larsson, who scored 242 goals in 315 appearances for Celtic, had a three-month loan spell with Manchester United.
Three top-flight clubs have made offers for the 36-year-old who has been called up for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Hungary.
Real Madrid hold out on Robinho
REAL Madrid president Ramon Calderon insists Robinho will not be sold unless the club land a replacement. Reports had suggested that the Brazil international was close to agreeing a move to Chelsea, with a deal set to be struck before the weekend.
The players agent Wagner Ribeiro had confirmed that a switch to England appeared imminent and that his client would be leaving the Bernabeu before the end of the transfer window.
However, with Real's top target, Valenica striker David Villa, remaining at Los Che, Robinho may be forced to stay in the Spanish capital.
Calderon certainly believes that is the case, stating once again that the player is going nowhere while he remains an integral part of the first-team fold.
Such is Chelsea's confidence in getting Robinho they have risked angering Real Madrid by advertising replica Robinho shirts for sale before the transfer for the Brazil forward has been completed.
Everton may turn to Topal
EVERTON are to rekindle their interest in the Galatasaray midfielder Mehmet Topal should Sporting Lisbon continue to resist attempts to make Joao Moutinho the club's record signing before the transfer window closes.
Moutinho, a Portugal international, has been a prime target all summer of Everton's manager, David Moyes, but Sporting's €24 million valuation of the 21-year-old, and also the structure of the transfer, has thwarted a deal so far.
Everton, however, remain in negotiations with the Portuguese club over their prized midfielder.
Everton have got some players in with Danish right back Lars Jacobsen signed on a free transfer and loan deals agreed for Red Star Belgrade's Ecuadorean midfielder Segundo Castillo and Internazionale's Nigerian winger, Victor Obinna. Obinnaonly signed for Jose Mourinho's Inter on Monday from Chievo but was then sent on loan with a view to a permanent move to Everton next summer.
Wright-Phillips rejoins Manchester City
MANCHESTER City have completed the signing of Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, for an undisclosed fee. The 26-year-old, who had a seven-year spell with City from 1998 until 2005, has signed a four-year contract after completing a medical yesterday.
Wright-Phillips told City's official website, told mcfc.co.uk: "Obviously I'm delighted to come back to City and I just can't wait to get started again."
Wright-Phillips left City for Stamford Bridge in July 2005, for a fee of €26 million.
However, he started only 43 matches for the Blues and became frustrated at a lack of first-team action.
City boss Mark Hughes said: "I've always admired him and he's certainly been a target of mine since I came to the football club.
"To actually secure the deal and bring Shaun back home is a fantastic coup for us and I'm sure the supporters will be just as excited as we are to have him back at Manchester City."
City and Villa go through
MANCHESTER City had goalkeeper Joe Hart to thank as they fortuitously progressed to the Uefa Cup first round with a penalty shoot-out victory over FC Midtjylland.
Having lost 1-0 in the first leg at Eastlands earlier this month, City, knew the size of the task ahead in their second qualifying round return leg at the SAS Arena in Herning. But after an abject display in normal time it was only an own goal by defender Danny Califf in the 89th minute which forced extra-time. And when Hart saved two penalties in the shoot-out, it was left to Vedran Corluka to stroke home the kick to spare City's blushes.
Aston Villa also progressed after drawing 1-1 with Iceland's FH Hafnarfjordur but had a comfortable lead from the first leg and went through 5-2 on aggregate.
