Soccer Shorts

A roundup of today's other soccer news in brief

Assou-Ekotto earns his spurs

TOTTENHAM left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been rewarded with a new four-year contract following his progress under boss Harry Redknapp.

Assou-Ekotto (25) was tipped to leave White Hart Lane last year but has established himself in Redknapp’s team and is ahead of Gareth Bale in the pecking order at Spurs. On Sunday he scored the spectacular opener in the victory against Liverpool, his first for the club more than three years after being scouted by Damien Comolli at Lens.

Redknapp is still in the market for a midfielder such as Moussa Sissoko or Scott Brown. Aston Villa’s Ashley Young is also on his radar but the Spurs manager does not feel Martin O’Neill wants to sell.

Salgado signs

SPANISH full-back Michel Salgado joined Blackburn on a two-year deal yesterday. Capped 53 times, Salgado had his Real Madrid contract cancelled by mutual consent. During his time at the Bernabeu the 33-year-old helped the club to two European Cup triumphs and four league titles. Madrid have arranged a match in his honour against Rosenborg next Monday.

Moyes drops Lescott as transfer saga drags on

DAVID MOYES has told Manchester City he will not reduce Joleon Lescott’s price tag despite dropping the Everton defender from tonight’s home Europa League qualifier with a scathing condemnation of the player’s “poor attitude”.

The Everton manager appeared to call time on the 27-year-old’s career at Goodison Park yesterday when he ordered the England international to train alone and dropped him from the first leg against Sigma Olomouc.

Moyes insists, however, that the punishment is purely a response to Lescott’s behaviour in training following Saturday’s 6-1 humbling by Arsenal and that the centre-half will remain an Everton player unless City increase their offer closer to the €34 million he is demanding. The incentive of a World Cup place in South Africa next summer will, the Scot hopes, refocus Lescott’s mind on Everton should the transfer deadline close on September 1st without a deal in place.

Fresh twist in Portsmouth takeover plan

THE protracted takeover of Portsmouth by Sulaiman al-Fahim took a fresh twist yesterday when the club announced that a new consortium – headed by the chief executive Peter Storrie – is holding talks with the owner Alexandre Gaydamak.

A statement on Portsmouth’s website yesterday evening said: “A new consortium led by chief executive officer Peter Storrie is in negotiations with the owner of Portsmouth FC to buy the Premier League club. The group is very positive about the talks and are confident that the deal can be completed.

“Sulaiman al-Fahim may partner the new consortium through Al Fahim Asia Associates. The necessary Premier League regulations and requirements regarding beneficial ownership will be complied with. No further comment will be made by the club until any purchase is complete.”