Celtic full-back Lee Naylor could be in line for a call-up to the England squad for their friendly against Spain in February. England manager Steve McClaren was impressed by Naylor’s performance against Manchester United in midweek and needs an understudy for first-choice left-back Ashley Cole. Wigan are considering a move for Shaun Maloney in the January transfer window. The Scotland international has called off contract talks with Celtic and the Premiership club could offer him an £18,000-a-week contract.
Sunday Mail
Bookies Paddy Power are offering nostalgic odds of 67/1 against Celtic lifting the European Cup exactly 40 years on from their triumph in Lisbon. A spokesman for the Irish firm said: “With all the euphoria and talk of Celtic’s win in 1967 we thought it would be appropriate to make them 67/1. We anticipate plenty of people taking advantage of these odds.” Meanwhile Celtic are on the trail of two young English strikers — Scunthorpe United’s Billy Sharp and Will Hoskins of Rotherham. Both players are valued at around £600,000 and manager Gordon Strachan will have some money to spend in January after reaching the last 16 of the Champions League.
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Chelsea have entered the race for Blackburn defender Lucas Neill, who is also a target for Liverpool. Barcelona’s Ronaldinho says he will never sign for Chelsea, while Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney says he does not like Chelsea’s safety-first style of play
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The FA could rescue the National Football Centre. Members of the FA council have told the board to reconsider their decision to kill off the training centre at Burton, says the Mail on Sunday