A round-up of today's soccer news

Rovers give Vieri a chance to shine

BLACKBURN hope to have veteran striker Christian Vieri on show when they play in a three-team tournament in Croatia today.

The 36-year-old, released by Atalanta at the end of last season, has spent a week on trial with Sam Allardyce’s squad at their training camp in northern Italy. But Vieri was not involved in Rovers’ 2-2 draw in a friendly against Roma in Bolzano on Thursday, despite being expected to play.

Blackburn have now moved on to Split in Croatia for the second leg of their summer tour.

They will play in a tournament involving Hajduk Split and CD National from Portugal, and Vieri is expected to get a run-out then.

Having sold Roque Santa Cruz to Manchester City, Allardyce is desperate to sign a new striker.

IN the wake of an energetic 45-minute performance from Andy Reid in Sunderland’s first game of their first pre-season under new manager Steve Bruce, the 26-year-old Dubliner received praise from Bruce for his new slimmer physique, writes Michael Walker.

With Reid’s first-team place not assured, the Irishman has obviously shed weight and Bruce said: “Andy Reid has lost eight kilos and worked extremely hard and that can only be fair play to him.

“Nobody on our side has done that for him, he’s done it himself. If he can continue like that he’ll do well. He looked far, far better for that, I think you’ll agree.”

Reid is visibly slimmer than last season and with Bruce determined at Sunderland to replicate the stamina and energy levels for which Wigan became known, Reid’s application will help him secure a place in a large squad. He played on the left and scored a deflected goal and is part of the squad that travels to Portugal today.

Paul McShane has withdrawn from it and Sunderland were awaiting news of the scan on McShane’s injured knee on Thursday.

Everton reject bid for Lescott 

EVERTON said yesterday they had formally rejected a €17.5 million offer from Manchester City for defender Joleon Lescott.

City made contact with the club on Thursday, tabling a bid for the England centre back.

“We have publicly stated – as recently as Wednesday night – that we do not intend selling any players,” Everton chief executive Robert Elstone said.

“David Moyes’s primary focus is on building a squad so that we can continue to compete effectively in what is the most competitive league in world football.”

Tottenham let Gunter depart

NOTTINGHAM Forest have agreed a fee of €2 million with Tottenham for Wales international defender Chris Gunter.

The full back, who will celebrate his 20th birthday next week, failed to make an impact at Tottenham following his arrival from Cardiff in January 2008, making 16 appearances.

Ferguson joins up with McLeish

CONTROVERSIAL Scotland midfielder Barry Ferguson completed a €1.5 million move to Birmingham City from Rangers yesterday.

The 31-year-old signed a three-year contract after completing a medical and joins up again with Alex McLeish, his former manager at Rangers and with Scotland.

Ferguson was in the headlines last season when he was stripped of the club captaincy for a late-night drinking session and subsequent misdemeanours on international duty.

United offload Manucho to Valladolid

MANCHESTER United’s Angola striker Manucho is joining Real Valladolid after the clubs agreed terms. The 26-year-old, who will sign a five-year-contract with the Spanish La Liga side, joined United after a trial in December 2007 but made only three appearances and spent much of his time on loan at Panathinaikos and Hull City.

Meanwhile, United have signed promising striker Mame Biram Diouf from Molde.

United confirmed they had agreed terms with the Norwegian club for the transfer of the 21-year-old Senegal-born player.

The English Premier League champions were yesterday forced to cancel a trip to Indonesia to “safeguard” the team after terrorists targeted the hotel players were to stay in.

At least nine people were killed and 50 injured in the attacks on two luxury hotels in Jakarta.