■ENGLAND
Pennant reluctant to move
Liverpool have accepted an undisclosed bid for out-of-favor Jermaine Pennant from Portsmouth, but the former Arsenal and Birmingham City winger is reluctant to move to the south coast. Pennant, who cost Liverpool £6.7 million (US$9.9 million) when he joined them from Birmingham in 2006, has also attracted interest from Real Madrid and AC Milan. But he insists that he wants to stay at Liverpool. “My preference is to stay at Liverpool and I am still hoping to do so,” Pennant said. “There has been a lot of speculation about my future, but I have always maintained my position of wanting to stay at the club. I am happy to compete for my place and hope I am given the chance to do so.”
■GERMANY
City make offer for de Jong
Manchester City have made a bid to buy Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong from Hamburg SV, the German club said on Friday. It did not provide any details of the offer, which German media have estimated at around 15 million euros (US$20 million). “City have had contact with us, they have expressed an interest and have submitted an offer,” Hamburg’s sports chief Dietmar Beiersdorfer told reporters at the team’s training camp in Spain’s La Manga. De Jong, whose contract with Hamburg expires next year, confirmed he had received an offer and said he still had two weeks to decide before the transfer window closes. “I have to see what’s best for me,” said De Jong, who joined the Bundesliga club in 2006 from Dutch side Ajax.
■PORTUGAL
Makukula loaned to Bolton
Portugal international Aziza Makukula of Benfica has been loaned to Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season, the top Portuguese club said on Friday, after a move to West Bromwich Albion fell through. The Benfica club added, in a statement on Portuguese financial site CMVM, that there would also be an option to buy the 27-year-old striker for 5 million euros (US$6.6 million). Benfica said: “An agreement has been agreed with Bolton for the loan of Aziza Makukula until the end of the season, an agreement which also has an option to buy for 5 million euros.” The West Brom deal did not succeed because Makukula did not want to join a club that was bottom of the Premier League.
■ENGLAND
Manucho joins the Tigers
Manchester United striker Manucho is joining Hull City on loan for the rest of the season. The 25-year-old Angola international, who spent part of last season on loan at Panathinaikos, has made one Premier League appearance for United. Hull, who have scored just three goals in their last six matches, secured a work permit for Manucho and put him in their squad for yesterday’s Premier League match against Arsenal. The Tigers also remain hopeful of completing the signing of former Liverpool right-back Steve Finnan from Espanyol.
■ENGLAND
Stanley keeper arrested
Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin has been arrested, police said on Friday, in connection with the bar brawl allegedly involving England international Steven Gerrard. Gerrard is accused of assaulting DJ Marcus McGee, who then claimed people accompanying Gerrard hit him while he was on the ground. Liverpool midfielder Gerrard is on bail having being charged with assault in a Southport bar on Dec. 29. He appears in court on Friday. Gerrard could technically face up to five years in jail for the offense.
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu of China yesterday won the women’s doubles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, while Naomi Osaka retired from the women’s singles final with an abdominal injury. Second seeds Wu and Jiang defeated Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US 6-3, 6-4 on ASB Tennis Centre’s Stadium Court in 1 hour, 5 minutes. The WTA 250 victory was 25-year-old Wu’s second WTA Tour title, after winning the 2023 Hua Hin Championships in Thailand with Taiwanese partner Chan Hao-ching. Later that year, Wu and Taiwan’s Hsu Yu-hsiou won the mixed doubles gold at the World
The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play on Wednesday night at the Kings’ downtown arena. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets in the same arena last night. “Our hearts are with our entire Los Angeles community,” the Kings said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard working first responders who are diligently working to contain the fire and protect our community. We appreciate the league’s support in keeping our
EL CLASSICO: La Liga champions Real Madrid would face Barcelona in the Super Cup final tomorrow. Barca secured their final spot after a 2-0 win over Bilbao on Wednesday Real Madrid would chase a record-equaling 14th Spanish Super Cup title in the final against Barcelona after second-half goals by Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo helped them to a 3-0 win over Mallorca in the semi-finals on Thursday. England midfielder Bellingham broke the deadlock after the hour mark with a low shot into the middle of the goal before Mallorca defender Martin Valjent’s own goal doubled the lead in stoppage time followed by a Rodrygo strike from close range. Spanish champions Real are to play Barcelona for the trophy tomorrow after goals by Gavi and Lamine Yamal earned Barca a 2-0 win over
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said an unnamed Everton player “had a pop” at him after he denied Tyler Young the opportunity to come on as a substitute against his father Ashley in Thursday’s English FA Cup third round match. While former England international Ashley came off the bench in the second half for Everton, Tyler was an unused sub in the game at Goodison Park. Everton won 2-0 against the third-division team. “I’ve got to do what’s best for my team and we’re not a charity case,” Ferguson said. “As much as I wanted Tyler to go on with his dad, one
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