Soccer digest

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

Carroll 'not struggling'

LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish insists record signing Andy Carroll is not struggling to deal with the pressure of being at a big club.

The Scot believes claims that the striker’s lifestyle is incompatible with a top-flight career are based on nothing more than the “furtive imagination” of the media.

The 22-year-old is a month away from marking his first anniversary at Anfield having moved at the end of the January transfer window for €40 million.

This season he has made 19 appearances, seven of which have been as substitute, and scored three goals to take his overall Liverpool record to five goals in 28 games.

“He is adapting well to the change and we will keep working with him and, fortunately for Andy, we have much greater belief in him than a lot of people have who write about him,” said Dalglish. “He is not struggling to deal with anything.”

Ancelotti to take over as PSG boss

CARLO ANCELOTTI is on the verge of returning to football at Paris Saint-Germain. The Ligue 1 leaders are expected to confirm today that he has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract which will establish him as the highest paid manager in the French league.

Ancelotti, who will replace Antoine Kombouare, spent Tuesday night in Paris before arriving at Parc des Princes yesterday alongside the French club’s sporting director, Leonardo.

The former Chelsea manager, who was sacked at Stamford Bridge last May despite winning a league and cup double in his first season in the Premier League and finishing as league runners-up in his second, will earn a net annual salary of around €6 million.

He has reached agreement over compensation for the final year of his contract in London and is free to join another club. Chelsea player Florent Malouda has been linked with a move to PSG.

Pavlyuchenko may go to Anzhi

ROMAN PAVLYUCHENKO’S agent claims the Tottenham Hotspur striker is prepared to join Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala unless he receives a better offer in January.

The Russia international boasts an impressive strike rate for Spurs, but has made just four substitute appearances in the Premier League this season.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp recently admitted that he did not want to lose the 30-year-old after Pavlyuchenko came off the bench to score the winner against Sunderland.

However, the forward is unhappy with his lack of playing time and has been linked with a return to former club Spartak Moscow, along with rivals Lokomotiv Moscow and Queens Park Rangers.

Ambitious Anzhi are also keen on Pavlyuchenko and have reportedly offered a three-year contract in a bid to tempt him to Makhachkala.

Warnock looking to buy ‘three or four’

QPR manager Neil Warnock is prepared to make “three or four additions” to his team during the January transfer window. On the face of it there would not appear to be a great deal for Warnock to be enthused about with his side languishing just above the relegation zone having managed just one home win so far this season.

Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with fellow promoted side Swansea saw the Rs produce a performance that arguably merited all three points, with the influential midfield triumvirate of Adel Taarabt, Alejandro Faurlin and skipper Joey Barton taking the game to a Liberty Stadium side who have become used to having things their own way on home turf. He said: “I will be looking to bring in at least three or four players. We are working hard, and I am having many conference calls with the chairman over who we may be able to bring in.”

Redknapp insists Bale is not for sale

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR manager Harry Redknapp thinks only Manchester City, Barcelona or Real Madrid could afford to buy Gareth Bale, but he has warned any interested party that the Wales star is not for sale after watching him tear Norwich apart on Tuesday night.

Bale scored both goals at Carrow Road as Spurs moved to within seven points of the Premier League summit with an easy 2-0 win over Paul Lambert’s team.

Barcelona have watched the 22-year-old this season and the player himself has admitted that he would be interested in a move to the Continent in the future.

“It would only be a Barcelona, a Man City or Real Madrid who would be able to pay for him,” Redknapp said.

“They are the only ones who could afford to pay the transfer fee and his wages, but he isn’t for sale. The chairman has said he isn’t for sale.”

O’Neill aims to restore pride in Northern Ireland

MICHAEL O’NEILL intends to “restore a sense of belief and pride” in the Northern Ireland national side after being appointed on a two-year contract by the Irish Football Association.

The former Shamrock Rovers manager has been chosen ahead of Jim Magilton and Iain Dowie to replace the departed Nigel Worthington and will begin work on February 1st.

He inherits a side who failed to live up to modest expectations in their last campaign – which saw them finish fifth in their Euro 2012 qualifying group, ahead of only the Faroe Islands – and must also confront pressing issues of player availability and eligibility which caused problems for Worthington.

“I am honoured to be chosen to manage my country,” said O’Neill. “I am a proud Northern Irishman who was fortunate enough to win 33 senior caps and it was always an ambition to manage my country.”

O’Neill’s reign will get under way with a Windsor Park friendly against Norway on February 29th.

Leverkusen eye Berbatov return

MANCHESTER UNITED striker Dimitar Berbatov’s representatives have confirmed there has been contact with Bayer Leverkusen regarding a potential return to the Bundesliga club.

Berbatov spent five years with Leverkusen before moving to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur in 2006 and on to United two years later.

However, his future at Old Trafford is uncertain as he has started only two Premier League games this season after being the division’s joint top scorer last term.

His contract expires at the end of the season, although United do have an option of a further 12 months and Alex Ferguson recently admitted the club were likely to exercise that deal.

The rumours concerning a January exit, though, have not gone away and the Bulgarian’s representatives are waiting for United to make a decision regarding Berbatov’s contract.