Today's other stories in brief
Price isn't right
Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce has virtually given up hope of Shaun-Wright Phillips returning to the club on a short-term basis. Pearce claims Chelsea were looking for hard cash instead of a loan deal.
"We have been quoted a price that is a million miles away from our budget," said Pearce. "That is the end of it really. The message I have received from Chelsea is they do not want to loan the likes of Shaun, and I am sure the rest of their players as well. If there were any deals to be done then it comes down to straight finance, if they want to sell the boy."
Manchester City striker Paul Dickov has been ruled out for up to eight weeks because of a broken toe. The 34-year-old has suffered discomfort since before Christmas and underwent an X-ray 11 days ago. Dickov is to have surgery this evening. It means the Scot is sidelined for the FA Cup replay against Sheffield Wednesday tonight.
Cech to wear helmet
Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Cech has revealed how he will have to wear a special helmet when he returns to action. The Czech has been sidelined since fracturing his skull in October, but is expected to return for Saturday's visit to Liverpool. "The specialists have allowed me to train 100 per cent and, unless something unexpected happens at the check-up, I should receive official permission to play matches," said Cech.
Byrne latest to jump
Jason Byrne is set to complete his move from Shelbourne to Cardiff City this afternoon with the 28-year-old due to undergo a medical with the championship outfit after the clubs agreed on a €150,000 fee, writes Emmet Malone.
The player, capped twice for Ireland and the league's leading scorer here in each of the last four seasons, has been on trial with the Welsh club for the last week and quickly impressed manager Dave Jones. The deal, however, was held up over the schedule of payments to be made to the Dublin club.
He will be available for the weekend's visit to Wolves, but misses tomorrow night's FA Cup replay against Tottenham - when he might have come up against his cousin Robbie Keane.
Byrne is just the latest in a long line of players to leave Tolka Park and he could be followed by a number of other prominent members of last season's championship-winning side if Shelbourne lose appeals, to be heard today, against attempts by Owen Heary and Greg O'Halloran to declare themselves free agents on the basis of the club's failure to honour guarantees made in relation to the payment of wages last year.
Rangers get their man Andy Webster has been given the go-ahead to join Rangers by the Scottish FA. The 24-year-old defender agreed a loan move to the Ibrox club from English club Wigan earlier this month. However, the switch was thrown into doubt when it emerged his former club Hearts were still in possession of the player's registration.
Rangers striker Dado Prso has been ruled out for a month. The 32-year suffered a recurrence of a hamstring strain during their 5-0 league win over Dundee United.
Crisis-hit Paris St Germain have appointed former Rangers manager Paul Le Guen as coach after sacking Bernard Lacombe.
Ronaldo for sale
Brazilian striker Ronaldo is surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, club president Ramon Calderon said yesterday.
"The situation with Ronaldo is different from that of David Beckham as he still has another year left after this one," Calderon said. "But he is going to be inactive because the coach has made it clear he doesn't count on him, and it would surely be better for the club and him if he went if there are offers.
"If not, he will stay with us. We have to find an exit that's good for him."
In brief . . .
Portsmouth look to have missed out on Charlton centre half Souleymane Diawara because of a Fifa rule banning players turning out for more than two clubs in a year. Ashley Young is believed to have rejected the chance to join West Ham after Watford accepted an offer worth up to £9.65 million for their star forward. Sheffield United have confirmed the signing of Jamaica striker Luton Shelton from Helsingborg for a fee in the region of £2 million. Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is trying to tie up a deal to bring South Korean international striker Lee Dong-Gook from the Pohang Steelers to the English Premiership. Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is close to signing Polish international striker Radoslaw Matusiak for £2.3 million from GKS Belchatow. And, finally, former Scotland manager Berti Vogts looks set to become the new coach of Nigeria.
