Soccer Shorts

Gattuso move 'fantasy'AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has branded talk of Gennaro Gattuso joining Manchester United as "pure fantasy".

The Old Trafford side have been woefully lacking in quality midfield players since Roy Keane's Old Trafford contract was terminated in November. And United are believed to have targeted the 28-year-old Gattuso as the perfect man to fill Keane's boots.

But Galliani yesterday laughed off the speculation. "Gattuso at Manchester? It's pure market fantasy."

Gattuso himself has admitted it would be a "dream" to play for United, and was targeted by Ferguson last summer.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has been spotted in Milan several times in recent weeks, increasing the belief that a formal move for the player is now likely.

United are also watching the form of Lyon's Mahamadou Diarra.

Henry's keep Cole plea

Thierry Henry has urged Arsenal's board to keep Ashley Cole and reiterated that he wants to feel sure the club share his ambitions before he signs a new contract.

Cole is expected to leave after this season for Spain, but Henry said it was vital to hold on to him, especially after losing Patrick Vieira to Juventus last summer.

"It's important. The departure of Pat did not make things any easier," Henry said.

The French international striker acknowledged his contract discussions remained at a formative stage.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger last night said he hoped to have a decision on his bid to sign Theo Walcott from Southampton "in the next 24 hours".

The club are understood to have tabled a formal offer for the sought-after striker, in a deal which could be worth £12.5 million.

Bridge joins Fulham

Chelsea full back Wayne Bridge yesterday completed a loan move to Fulham. Bridge, a £7 million signing from Southampton in July 2003, has fallen behind Asier Del Horno and William Gallas in the left back pecking order after eight months out with a broken ankle last year. Portsmouth, however, rejected Fulham's £1.2 million bid for midfielder Matt Taylor.

Xavier to fight ban

Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier has vowed to fight his 18-month drugs ban in court after testing positive for methandienone, an anabolic steroid.

The Portuguese full back (33) is expected to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to contest Uefa's November guilty verdict, upheld on appeal in December.

Xavier told Sky Sports News: "I will appeal. At this moment I have the right to go to a civil court because I just want a fair and commonsense decision."

Wigan gamble on pair

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has taken a double gamble by signing two players with a record of injury problems.

Midfielder David Thompson has signed a short-term deal until the end of the season after being released from a contract at Blackburn that was due to expire in the summer.

And Liverpool striker Neil Mellor has signed on loan for the rest of the campaign, pending the release of his registration from the Reds.

Thompson, though, has been plagued with serious injuries in recent times, spending nine months on the sidelines with a knee ligament problem sustained late in 2003. He also had to have an operation in the summer of 2005 after two bones broken in a foot in August 2004, in a game against Manchester United, had not healed properly.

Mellor's move is a year and a day since his last match for Liverpool, in the FA Cup third-round replay defeat at Burnley.

Surgery on both knees followed to cure tendinitis, with the 23-year-old finally making his comeback in the reserves early last month.

Redknapp 'untapped'

Harry Redknapp has told the Premier League it is wasting its time looking into suggestions that Portsmouth tapped him up before he returned to Fratton Park as manager last month. His denial came before the league decides today whether to charge Portsmouth with making an illegal approach to take him from Southampton.

In brief . . .

Everton yesterday insisted "discussions were continuing" with Fiorentina over the Italians' bid for Danish defender Per Kroldrup. Former Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano was discharged from hospital in Valencia yesterday three weeks after quadruple heart bypass surgery. Coventry have signed midfielder Dennis Wise (39) until the end of the season on a pay-per-play deal.

Eirik Bakke will return to Leeds after Aston Villa failed to agree a permanent deal. Injury-plagued midfielder Matt Piper has left Sunderland after just 29 appearances in almost three and a half years.