A round-up of today's other stories in brief
AC Milan snap up Taiwo and Mexes
NEW Serie A champions AC Milan will sign defenders Taye Taiwo from Marseille and Philippe Mexes from AS Roma on free transfers, coach Massimiliano Allegri said yesterday.
“In defence, Milan are sorted. We have taken Mexes and Taiwo,” Allegri said on the eve of tonight’s Italian Cup semi-final second leg at Palermo (7.45pm, live on ESPN). The first leg in Milan finished 2-2. Inter Milan have a 1-0 lead as they host AS Roma in the second semi-final tomorrow (7.45pm, live on ESPN).
Juventus drew 2-2 draw with Chievo Verona last night in Serie A, Alessandro Del Piero (from a penalty) and Alessandro Matri scoring for the home side. However, Chievo hit back with goals from Colombian Fernando Uribe and Gennaro Sardo.
Everton and Ipswich eye Westwood
SHAY Given’s prospects of finding a new employer over the summer may ultimately prove to be of more immediate interest to the Ireland management team but the race to sign Giovanni Trapattoni’s second-choice goalkeeper appeared to be picking up a little as Ipswich and Everton reportedly expressed an interest in Keiren Westwood, writes Emmet Malone.
The 26-year-old is a free agent after seeing out his contract at Coventry City, and Leicester City have repeatedly been linked with a move for the Ireland international over the last few weeks.
Roy Keane’s former club are reported to have made an enquiry about the player over the weekend, and Everton, who had been linked with him in January along with the likes of Wigan and Celtic, are also said to be interested.
Colin Healy, meanwhile, has agreed a new deal with Ipswich, while a number of other Irish players have expressed a desire to stay put at a time when many clubs are under financial pressure.
“I’d like to stay,” said James O’Connor, who is out of contract at Sheffield Wednesday. “We’ll wait and see what happens. It’s out of my hands, but I think it’s a great club.”
Similarly, Liam Miller says he would like to extend his stay at Hibernian. “I spoke to the manager two weeks ago and hopefully I will be speaking to him over the next week or so and see what happens from there.”
Kevin Doyle has confirmed he is on course to play again for Wolves before the end of the season and, therefore, likely to be available for Ireland’s international games including, most crucially, the European Championship qualifier against Macedonia on June 4th.
Rangers ready to take another step
RANGERS boss Walter Smith handed out a reminder to Neil Lennon that Dundee United have already won at Ibrox this season, after the Celtic boss urged United to “compete” tonight.
Rangers will be aiming to take another step towards retaining the Scottish Premier League title when they play host to United, having notched up 5-0 and 4-0 wins over Motherwell and Hearts respectively.
Speaking after Celtic reduced the deficit to one point with a win at Kilmarnock on Sunday, Lennon said he wanted to see someone give Rangers a game.
When quizzed about those remarks, Smith said: “I’ve got no comment to make on that at all. The games that we’ve had have been difficult enough games for us and that’s all I want to say at the present moment. Dundee United have won here at Ibrox this season so that’s how difficult a game we will face.”
High-flying Derry at full strength
STILL without a win in the league, Drogheda United will scarcely be inspired by heading to the Brandywell this evening with Derry City set to be virtually back to full strength after beating UCD by seven there on Friday night while missing four players, writes Emmet Malone.
Stephen Kenny was without Eddie McCallion, Emmet Friars and Kevin Deery for the rout of the students, but now just long-term absentee Barry Molloy remains out.
The visitors arrive without the suspended Mark O’Brien and Mick Cook will look to much the same team to spring a surprise.
Sligo Rovers will try to bounce back from their tame loss in Tallaght by beating Bray. The hosts have Gavin Peers back from suspension, giving manager Paul Cook an almost full squad to choose from, while Bray will be without Chris Shields and Adam Mitchell and a handful of long-term absentees.
Tonight’s Betting
Derry City v Drogheda United
Home: 1/4, Draw: 4/11, Away: 11/1.
Sligo Rovers v Bray Wanderers
Home: 8/13, Draw: 12/5, Away: 5/1.
Barcelona set to retain their title
WITH Barcelona poised to clinch a third straight La Liga title and already through to the final of the Champions League, comparisons with Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team” of the early 1990s are inevitable.
The Dutchman’s side, which included current coach Pep Guardiola in midfield, won four domestic league titles in a row between 1991 and 1994.
They also claimed the Catalan club’s first European Cup triumph, in 1992 at Wembley Stadium – the same venue where Barca will meet Manchester United on May 28th.
When Barca play at mid-table Levante in La Liga tomorrow they could already have secured the title if Real Madrid fail to beat neighbours Getafe at the Bernabeu tonight.
Victory at home to Tenerife tomorrow will secure promotion and a return to the top flight for for Seville-based Real Betis.
