Manchester United's interest in Gremio's Douglas Costa is cooling after the Brazilian club demanded £20m for the teenage forward.
Full story: The Times

Manchester City have tested Everton's determination to hang on to defender Joleon Lescott by submitting a £15m bid to Goodison Park. (Various)

City will make a £30m move for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan if they fail to agree personal terms with Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor.
Full story: Daily Mail

Real Madrid are confident that an improved bid of around £32m will be enough to prise Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso away from Liverpool.

If Alonso does depart for the Bernabeu, Valencia midfielder David Silva would be top of Reds' boss Rafael Benitez's shopping list. (Daily Mirror)

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has told clubs in pursuit of midfielder Franck Ribery that it is now too close to the start of the season for the France midfielder to leave. (Daily Telegraph)

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has denied that there has been any approach for winger Ashley Young after rumours that Tottenham and Chelsea were mulling over £25m bids.
Full story: The Times

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has entered the £12m race for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch.
Full story: The Sun

Hodgson is also considering a move for Columbia international forward Fredy Montero who plays for Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders. (Daily Star)

Tottenham are poised to add to their forward line with the signing of Real Madrid's Alvaro Negredo.
Full story: The Sun

Spurs are also holding out hope of landing Real Madrid and Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar despite Stuttgart already having had a £17m bid accepted for the player.
Full story: The Times

Sheffield United pair Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker, both right-backs, will move to White Hart Lane in a deal worth a total of £8m after Tottenham stole a march on Everton who were also interested.
Full story: The Independent

Leeds' highly-rated midfielder Fabian Delph has attracted an offer from Tottenham, but is also being chased by Fulham.
Full story: The Times

Arsenal will attempt to lure defender Brede Hangeland from Fulham with the offer of Philippe Senderos as part of a deal worth around £10m. (Daily Star)

Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh has claimed that a move to Arsenal would be "perfect". (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth centre-back Sylvain Distin is ready to take a pay-cut in order to seal a £2m move to Aston Villa.
Full story: The Sun

Chelsea have told Portugal international defender Ricardo Carvalho that he will be staying at Stamford Bridge after a possible move to Inter Milan fell through.
Full story: The Sun

Carvalho could be joined by Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic who is close to tying up a £5m move from MFK Kosice to Chelsea.
Full story: The Sun

Blackburn are ready to splash £2.5m on Rapid Vienna forward Erwin Hoffer as a replacement for Roque Santa Cruz.
Full story: The Sun

Valencia targetman Nikola Zigic is also in Blackburn's sights, but there are 15 clubs in the hunt for the Serbia striker according to his agent.
Full story: The Independent

Wigan Athletic are in negotiations with Crystal Palace over a possible switch for £5m-rated midfielder Victor Moses.
Full story: The Times

Midfielder Dean Whitehead could be on his way from Sunderland to Stoke in a £5m switch. (Daily Star)

Birmingham are keen to sign £5m-rated midfielder Craig Gardner from Aston Villa ahead of their return to the Premier League. (Daily Star)

Hamilton's 18-year-old midfielder James McCarthy is set to sign for Wigan after turning down a move to Wolves.
Full story: The Sun

Sporting Lisbon are back in talks with Manchester City over a possible loan move for striker Felipe Caicedo.
Full story: The Sun

Sheffield Wednesday forward Marcus Tudgay is ready to to submit a transfer request to try and force through a £2m move to Burnley.
Full story: The Times

Sunderland's attempts to sign defender Nathaniel Clyne from Crystal Palace have been frustrated with the Eagles holding out for £5 million. (The Sun)

Out-of-contract winger Jerome Thomas could be thrown a Premier League lifeline by Hull City after an ill-fated spell at Portsmouth. (Daily Mirror)

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes is hopeful of bringing former Millwall colleague Filipe Morais to McDiarmid Park. (Daily Record)

Earlier this week, we reported that Andy Lee was coming in as boss of GAP Connah's Quay at the end of Jim Hackett's second and very short tenure on Deeside. We never want to be caught out by developments but unfortunately, this is the case. Within mere hours of being announced as replacement boss by the Nomads, Lee told the club he couldn't take up the position because of other work commitments.

So, believe it or not, Connah's Quay has installed its fourth manager in a little over eight weeks - this time, it's senior coach Ken Price standing in on a short-term basis, a UEFA 'B' coach in the middle of a course to gain his UEFA 'A' badge. He's only standing in for the moment considering chairman John Gray wants a manager whose earned his 'A' bridge and has experience as a club manager. The club say they can only appoint a new manager if they are 'an outstanding applicant'.

Given how things have played out since last May, things can't get that more difficult - can they?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jul/16/the-ashes-shane-warne-sky-debut

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jul/16/ashes-second-test-paul-hayward-day-one

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8154798.stm

http://www.ashescricket.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes

http://www.ecb.co.uk/

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has asked for more time before he makes a final decision on a transfer to Manchester City - the Togo international is possibly holding out for AC Milan to make a last-minute move.
Full story: The Sun

Adebayor was also offered to Manchester United, among other leading European teams, as his agents tried to drum up interest from other clubs to guarantee the player a bumper pay deal.
Full story: Daily Mail

The Gunners have had a £7m bid for Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh rejected, with the French club asking for defender Mikael Silvestre to be added to the offer.
Full story: The Sun

Manchester City have made a surprise move for Tottenham winger David Bentley, who is valued at about £12m by the north London club.
Full story: Daily Mirror

West Ham have been told by Barcelona it will cost them £5m to sign striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Full story: Daily Star

Tottenham could beat Stuttgart to the signing of Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who is stalling on a £15.5m move to Germany in the hope of joining the Premier League side.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Or, Spurs want Huntelaar's Real Madrid team-mate Alvaro Negredo. The striker, who was on loan at Almeria last season, is valued at £15m.(The Independent)

And Arjen Robben could be a third Real Madrid player to be courted by Tottenham. The former Chelsea winger claims the White Hart Lane side have made inquiries about him. (Daily Telegraph)

Everton are vying with Real Mallorca and Real Zaragoza for Espanyol defender Marc Torrejon.
Full story: The Sun

Blackburn are ready to bid £6m for Serbian striker Nikola Zigic, who they see as a replacement for Roque Santa Cruz.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Bolton are on the verge of signing South Korea winger Lee Chung-yong in a deal worth in excess of £2m.
Full story: The Sun

Liverpool have expressed an interest in Albacete's Belgian midfielder Ritchie Kitoko. (The Times)

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena will not be joining Italian side Napoli as his agent has said "it was all a misunderstanding".(Daily Telegraph)

West Brom will miss out on a permanent deal for Juan Carlos Menseguez as the Argentine winger, who was on loan at the Hawthorns from San Lorenzo, wants to join Celtic.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Stoke are in talks to sign Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead. (The Times)

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will spend £3m on Derby striker Rob Hulse. (The Sun)

Nancy midfielder Landry N'Guemo has stalled on agreeing a year-long loan from Nancy after Hull, Stoke and West Ham expressed an interest. (Daily Record)

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray will hold further talks today with Nancy midfielder Landry N'Guemo. (The Herald)

Celtic have finalised Landy N'Guemo's loan deal from Nancy after the midfielder underwent a medical. (Daily Express)

Celtic have entered talks about signing £1m-rated striker Amadou Alassane from Le Havre but face competition from Hull and Stoke. (The Sun)

Spanish winger Fernando Marques has been offered a trial by Celtic after having his contract torn up by Greek club Iraklis. (Daily Express)

Spanish left-back Xabi Castillo is poised to agree a transfer to Real Sociedad or Atletico Bilbao instead of Celtic. (Daily Express)

Sheffield United have offered a trial to Poland international goalkeeper Sebastian Przyrowski. (Daily Star)

Norwich are giving a trial to defender Jens Berthel-Askou, who has been released by Turkish side Kasimpasa. (Daily Star)

Former Rangers defender Marvin Andrews has told Raith Rovers he will not be re-signing for them as he has an offer from a Scottish Premier League club. (Daily Express)

Stage 12 result:

1. Nicki Sorensen (Den/Team Saxo Bank) 4 hours 52 minutes 54 seconds
2. Laurent Lefevre (Fra/Bouygues Telecom) + 48 seconds
3. Franco Pellizotti (Ita/Liquigas) "
4. Markus Fothen (Ger/Team Milram) "
5. Egoi Martinez (Spa/Euskaltel) "
6. Sylvain Calzati (Fra/Agritubel) "
7. Remi Pauriol (Fra/Confidis) +1 minute 33 seconds
8. Mark Cavendish (Gbr/Columbia) +5 minutes 58 seconds
9. Thor Hushvod (Nor/Cervelo Test) "
10. Marco Bandiera (Ita/Lampre) "

Selected others:

16. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) "
17. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) "
21. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) "
48. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita/AG2R) "
153. David Millar (Gbr/Garmin)
158 Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence) + 34 seconds

Overall standings:

1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita/AG2R) 48 hours 27 minutes 21 seconds
2. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) + 06secs
3. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) + 08
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) + 39
5. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) + 46

Selected others:

16. Carlos Sastre (Spa/Cervelo) + 2minutes 52secs
65. David Millar (GB/Garmin) + 28mins 18 secs
81. Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence) + 36mins 14secs
132. Mark Cavendish (GB/Team Columbia) + 1hour 13mins 54 secs

Jiminez takes a one shot lead with a 65 foot putt at the last to lead the British Open at Turnberry

FC HONKA 2-0 BANGOR CITY

By Gareth Joy

Another disappointing night in Europe for Welsh Premier clubs on the face of it but Bangor held on to its chance (albeit, slim) of remaining in the Europa League. Midfielder Joel Perouvo struck on the quarter hour for the Finns while Rasmus Schuller hit home on the 74th minute - the fact Honka didn't score their second for another hour was decent testament to brave defence from the Citizens.

Honka looked the part to fire in the goals and Paul Smith was on the recieving end of constant shots from Perouvo and winger Demba Savage but Nev Powell's side come away from Espoo credibly.

But still, a difficult task awaits for the return leg at Wrexham's Racecourse next Thursday night.

Yellow Cards:
Bangor - Peter Hoy (34'), Jamie Brewerton (71'), Paul Smith (76')
Honka - Demba Savage (45' + 1)
Substitutes:
Bangor - Sion Edwards on for Mark Smyth (77'), Martin Beattie on for Chris Limbert (87')
Honka - Jussi Vasara on for Jaakko Lepora (46'), Jami Puustinen on for Aleksandr Kokko (77'), Nicholas Otaru on for Demba Savage (89')