A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Premier cash splash
Premier League clubs last month outstripped any of the previous three January transfer windows - even with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich keeping his wallet in his pocket.
The top-flight clubs splashed out £70million in the transfer window compared to £50million in the previous two years and £35million in January 2003, according to sports business analysts Deloitte.
Overall, the Premiership clubs have spent around £300million in 2005/'06 - slightly up on spending of around £265million in each of 2003/'04 and 2004/'05.
Murphy's rethink
Danny Murphy talked yesterday of his excitement at joining Tottenham and how he could not turn down the chance to leave Charlton for a "bigger and better club", it was as if the words he uttered when he moved to The Valley 18 months ago had never existed.
When Murphy went to Charlton, having rejected Spurs, he claimed his new employers were "on a level if not overtaking Tottenham".
"Hindsight is a wonderful thing in life, isn't it," he said. "I think Tottenham in the foreseeable future have great ambitions to win trophies and fight for the Champions League spots."
Wales go for youth
John Toshack plans to accelerate his youth policy as he prepares Wales for the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Toshack intends to throw in more teenagers - many of whom he accepts are not ready for international football - to give them experience before they meet Ireland, Germany, and the Czech Republic in Wales' group.
Wales have three fixtures this season - against Paraguay, a Basque selection and Trinidad and Tobago. When the squad to face Paraguay is announced it's expected Derby's 17-year-old Lewin Nyatanga will be called up to become Wales' youngest ever international.
"They (young players) will have to come in, and it is important that when they do they realise they haven't 'made it'," said Toshack.
"Some of them will not be ready. But they must realise they have the chance of a lifetime and run harder than ever and not think they have made it at 19 years of age. Their enthusiasm and work rate will be needed as never before."
Germans hockeyed
World Cup hosts Germany are in talks with hockey coach Bernhard Peters over the newly created post of technical director and Juergen Klinsmann says he is in favour of the appointment.
Klinsmann had originally wanted Berti Vogts to take the job but the former coach ruled himself out in May last year.
Peters has been coach of the German men's hockey team since 2001. He led them to victory at the World Cup in 2002 and to the bronze medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
In Brief . . .
Celtic have confirmed that Didier Agathe (30) has left the club by mutual consent . . . Petr Cech (23) has signed a two-year contract extension to stay at Chelsea until 2010 . . . Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has been voted by the fans as England's Player of the Year for the second successive year . . . Southampton have confirmed in a statement to the Stock Exchange that they have not received a takeover approach from a consortium headed by a New Forest businessman, Andrew Strode-Gibbons, or any other party . . . Trevor Molloy (28) has re-signed for St Patrick's Athletic after leaving Shamrock Rovers.
