Soccer Shorts

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

Given refuses to rule out Celtic move

MANCHESTER City goalkeeper Shay Given has refused to rule out a move to Celtic after insisting a switch to the Scottish Premier League would not be a step down for him. The 35-year-old has spent most of the season warming the bench as second choice behind Joe Hart at Eastlands.

Given said: "Fraser Forster had a very good season up there and there has been talk of him moving on a permanent basis so we would have to wait and see."

SUNDERLAND are set to open talks with the Coventry City's Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Keiren Westwood before the weekend.

Westwood is available on a free transfer and, with knee trouble likely to sideline Craig Gordon until late autumn, Steve Bruce is keen to sign Westwood as competition for his young Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Bruce has said he hopes to make "eight or nine" new signings this summer.

Chelsea 'sound out' Pellegrini

MALAGA coach Manuel Pellegrini's agent has hinted Chelsea have made an initial approach for the Chilean. Chelsea are again in the market for a new manager - their fifth in the past three years - after Carlo Ancelotti paid the price for a trophyless campaign just 12 months after guiding his team to an historic double.

While Guus Hiddink is said to be Roman Abramovich's first choice Chelsea may look look at other targets, such as Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas.Jesus Martinez told a Chilean radio station: "It is normal for clubs without a coach, such as Chelsea through intermediaries, to start asking Pellegrini, but he is very comfortable at Malaga and has a contract there."

Macedonia name squad to face Ireland

MACEDONIA manager Mirsad Jonuz has named a squad of 18 for Saturday's week's European Championship qualifying game against Ireland in Skopje with two players, forwards Aco Stojkov and Bajram Fetai returning to the squad, reports Emmet Malone.

The manager is reported to see the pair's pace as addressing one of the team's major failings in Dublin where Giovanni Trapattoni's side battled to a 2-1 win. Perhaps the most welcome news from an Irish perspective is the inclusion of the same two goalkeepers from the March game. Edin Nuredinoski, who struggled in the first meeting between the two teams, and Martin Bogatinov have been named again.

MACEDONIA SQUAD: Nuredinoski (Ethnikos Achnas, Cyprus) Bogatinov (Karpaty, Ukraine); Grncarov (APOEL, Cyprus), Mojsov (Vojvodina, Serbia), Noveski (Minz 05, Germany), Sikov (Ethnikos Achnas, Cyprus), Lazevski (Partizan, Serbia), Popov (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine), Sumulikoski (Sibir, Russia), Despotovski (Inter Baku, Azerbaijan), Demiri (Thun, Switzerland), Gjurovski (Metalurg Donetsk, Ukraine), Hasani (Shkendija, Macedonia); Pandeva (Inter, Italy), Trickovski (APOEL, Cyprus), Naumoski (Mattersburg, Austria), Fetai (Lyngby, Denmark), Stojkov (Aarau, Switzerland).

Bin Hammam to face Fifa ethics investigation

MOHAMED bin Hammam will face an ethics investigation just days before he is due to challenge Sepp Blatter for the Fifa presidency after a report from within the organisation's executive committee alleged possible bribery. Fifa said yesterday it had begun ethical proceedings against Bin Hammam, the Qatari head of the Asian Football Confederation, along with Concacaf president Jack Warner and two other officials. All four have been summoned to appear before Fifa's ethics committee on Sunday, three days before the vote for the most powerful job in world soccer, in response to a report from Chuck Blazer, Concacaf's general secretary, and another executive committee member.

Bin Hammam and Warner issued statements denying any wrongdoing.

Fifa said Blazer's report, which included "bribery allegations", referred to a Caribbean Football Union meeting attended by Warner and Bin Hammam on May 10th/11th and was linked to the election campaign.

Benzema agent denies Arsenal talks

KARIM Benzema's agent has denied travelling to London last week to discuss a potential €25 million transfer to Arsenal.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has admitted his interest in the Real Madrid striker as he bids to find the solution to six years without a trophy. Real are reported to want to raise money for the permanent signing of Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City and Benzema's representative, Karim Djaziri, was said to have travelled to England last week for talks with Arsenal.

Djaziri insists that did not happen, but he has not ruled out the possibility after intimating that his client is unhappy at his limited opportunities at Real. "I went to London for personal business, not to discuss any transfer," said Djaziri.

"Karim Benzema has a contract with Real Madrid so let's wait and see. He loves Madrid and wants to play every time."

Newcastle say no to Barton

JOEY Barton's agent has revealed his client will not be offered a new contract by Newcastle when it expires next year. But Barton's agent Willie McKay said: "I had a meeting with Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias and club secretary Lee Charnley and they have indicated Joey will not be offered a new contract."

That leaves the 28-year-old planning to see out the final year of his existing deal before leaving the club on a free.