Soccer Shorts

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Blues change tune

Chelsea intend to spend less on transfers and more on home-grown players in future, chief executive Peter Kenyon said yesterday. Kenyon told BBC radio the club's Russian owner Roman Abramovich was not concerned at a record loss of £140 million announced last week.

"What matters is that there is a point in time where Chelsea are self-sufficient," he said. "One of the key aspects of our future business is to spend less on transfers and grow more of our home-grown talent."

Abramovich has invested about £440 pounds in Chelsea, mostly buying in players, since taking over in July 2003.

Kenyon also stated that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will not take the post of England coach under any circumstances.

No text for Freddy

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd says he did not send Sven-Goran Eriksson a text message about him replacing manager Graeme Souness in the summer. Eriksson will stand down as England boss after the World Cup and the News of the World claimed his agent Athole Still had been contacted by Shepherd. Shepherd told the club's website: "I must have amnesia as I can't remember sending a text message to Mr Eriksson. I don't even have his number so I'd love to see this message."

Hedging your bets

Coventry's Gary McSheffrey has issued a "come-and-get-me" plea to the Republic of Ireland and Scotland as a potential battle threatens to be waged for his services. McSheffrey, who once represented England at under-18 level, has now written off his chances of a senior breakthrough.

Although the 23-year-old striker was called up for the under-21s at one time, McSheffrey never played, leaving him eligible for another country to come calling. As his father and three grandparents are Irish, McSheffrey is available for Ireland who would appear favourites due to the fact he knows new manager Steve Staunton following his time at Coventry.

Ireland would appear to be McSheffrey's preferred choice, with Staunton understood to be keeping tabs on the player. Understandable after McSheffrey yesterday produced a sparkling performance as City held Middlesbrough to a 1-1 draw in the third round of the FA Cup at the Ricoh Arena.

"If Stan invited me to play, then I would be honoured because first and foremost he is a great man, and I get on well with him. With my dad and his family from Donegal, and three of my grandparents Irish, it would be good to play for Ireland. But I'm not ruling out Scotland either because my nan was Scottish."

United's failed bid

AC Milan general manager Ariedo Braida claims Manchester United tried to sign midfielder Johann Vogel. A series of injuries has left United manager Alex Ferguson short of options in midfield.

With Paul Scholes out for the season with eye trouble, John O'Shea missing for six weeks with fractured ribs and Ryan Giggs facing 10 days on the sidelines after picking up a slight hamstring strain last Wednesdayagainst Blackburn, Ferguson launched a hunt for reinforcements.

Milan claim Swiss 28-year-old Vogel, who has 78 caps, was a target but the Italian giants do not want to sell. "It is true United want to take him in the winter transfer window but we are not planning to sell at this time," said Braida.

Two for Sociedad

Liverpool's Mark Gonzalez and Portsmouth's John Viafara will join Real Sociedad on loan until the end of the season, the Primera Liga club said last night.

Gonzalez (21) is a South-African born Chilean international winger signed by Rafael Benitez from Albacete in October. The 27-year-old Viafara is a Colombian international midfielder.

The deal is subject to both players passing medicals today. Sociedad, who lost 3-1 at Alaves yesterday are struggling in 15th place in the Primera Liga.