Crespo misses Italy

Soccer Shorts: Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo has indicated he may seek a return to Italy at the end of the season.

The 30-year-old had initially indicated he was not keen to stay at Stamford Bridge, having enjoyed a successful loan stint with AC Milan last season, but the Argentine striker soon settled back into Jose Mourinho's side and has been in top form this season.

While Crespo maintains he is now "delighted with the squad, with Mourinho and with the fans", he admits he "misses everything" about Italian life.

"The sporting aspect is not open to debate," said Crespo, who was signed for £16.3million from Inter Milan in the summer of 2003. "We have already won the Charity Shield, we are 13 points clear in the Premiership, we have the best manager in the world and (club owner Roman) Abramovich worships me.

"However, having said all this, life isn't all just about football and at the end of the year I would like to return. On a personal level, I am suffering.

"I miss everything - my friends, cinema, TV and the theatre."

Benitez still searching

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed his interest in Deportivo La Coruna pair Fabricio Coloccini and Cesar.

A number of players have been linked with Liverpool including Brondby's Daniel Agger and Benitez has now revealed Coloccini and Cesar are on his list of targets.

Benitez is looking to add options to his defence and provide cover for Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia and is considering moves for Coloccini and Cesar.

"We need to fortify the centre of the defence and we are considering four or five options," Benitez said. "We have targeted Coloccini and Cesar of Deportivo La Coruna and we are just about to obtain if they want to sell."

Meanwhile, Liverpool have released Costan Rican midfielder Cristian Bolanos after a short trial spell at the club and have given permission for striker Neil Mellor to speak to Hearts about a move to Scotland.

No joy for Sommeil

Manchester City defender David Sommeil has been suspended for three matches after being found guilty of violent conduct, the English FA said yesterday.

The charge relates to the Frenchman's studs-up challenge on Lee Young-pyo during the 2-0 Premiership defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at the City of Manchester Stadium on January 4th.

Germans under fire

Germany's World Cup stadiums have serious safety problems as lessons from past disasters seem to have been ignored, a German consumer protection group has said.

Stiftung Warentest, respected throughout Germany for its rating of consumer products and services, said safety in general had improved since 1980s multiple fatalities at the Heysel, Bradford and Hillsborough soccer stadiums, but deficiencies persisted.Franz Beckenbauer, head of Germany's World Cup organising committee, has rejected the group's criticism.

The consumer group found that three World Cup stadiums in particular -- Gelsenkirchen, Leipzig and final venue Berlin - were not prepared for a mass evacuation.

The stadium in Kaiserslautern, where cracks were discovered in a stand last month, was a fire hazard, Stiftung Warentest concluded.

Overall, the group rated four stadiums, including Munich's stunning new arena that will host the opening match on June 9th, as having a few shortcomings, four more as having clear failings and the final four, including Berlin, as having grave deficits.

Ipswich swoop for Lee

Ipswich are poised to sign Republic of Ireland striker Alan Lee from Cardiff. The 27-year-old, set to cost £100,000, has agreed terms on a two-and-a-half-year deal and completed a medical at Portman Road yesterday.

Ipswich boss Joe Royle said: "We've been after bringing in a striker for a while, and Alan will provide us with a physical presence."

Gravesen gives up

Former Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen is ready to leave Real Madrid in search of first team football. The 29-year-old Dane, reported to be a target for Manchester United, has made only five La Liga starts this season.

"My clear ambition is to play every game so naturally I am not satisfied," Gravesen said. "For me this can't go on, so my agent and I will have to take a look at the situation while the transfer window is still open."

Meanwhile, Jonathan Woodgate has suffered a fresh injury setback. The Real Madrid centre back had played for the full 90 minutes against Villarreal on Sunday, but since the game he has been troubled by a muscle strain in his left leg and has not trained with his team-mates.

In Brief . . .

Southampton yesterday failed to sign Robert Earnshaw after West Brom demanded David Prutton, Nigel Quashie and a transfer fee for the Wales striker . . . Goalkeeper Antti Niemi (33) has completed his transfer from Southampton to Fulham for £1million . . . Dundee United have sacked manager Gordon Chisholm after only 10 months in charge . . . Birmingham City are closing in on the Charlton midfielder Jason Euell (28) in a deal worth £1.5 million . . . Chelsea midfielder Jiri Jarosik, currently on loan at Birmingham, has turned down the chance to join Russian club Zenit St Petersburg . . . Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown may be out for two weeks after slipping a disc in his back, intensifying his club's interest in Mark Schwarzer of Middlesbrough. . . former Tottenham striker Steffen Iversen (29) is training with Portsmouth . . . Cardiff have signed Rangers striker Steven Thompson.