SOCCER SHORTS

More soccer news in brief.

Uefa Cup name change considered

UEFA ARE considering changing the name of the Uefa Cup to the Uefa Europa League.

The planned rebranding was revealed by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the acting chairman of the new European Clubs Association, whose organisation was presented with the proposal yesterday.

"The hope is that a refreshment of the name and brand can help achieve better results than we've seen in the Uefa Cup in the past," Rummenigge said at Uefa's Swiss headquarters.

A senior Uefa source confirmed the organisation's executive committee would vote on the name change when it meets in Bordeaux in September. He said the new name was meant to better reflect the new group-stage system being used in the competition from the 2009-10 season.

Kewell defends Galatasaray move

AUSTRALIA MIDFIELDER Harry Kewell issued an open letter to Leeds United supporters yesterday in defence of his decision to join Turkish club Galatasaray. The former Leeds player signed for Galatasaray on Friday after an injury-plagued five-year stay at Anfield.

The 29-year-old was with Leeds when two of the English club's supporters, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were stabbed to death prior to a Uefa Cup semi-final against Galatasaray in Istanbul in April, 2000.

"I chose the number 19 shirt when I signed for Galatasaray as a sign of respect for Leeds because that was the number I got when I first became a regular member of the Leeds United FC starting XI," he wrote. "I felt that it might be a way to demonstrate that I had not forgotten where it all started."

Van der Vaart dismisses Spurs link

NETHERLANDS MIDFIELDER Rafael van der Vaart has rubbished speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham.

The Hamburg playmaker is a reported target for several clubs across Europe after an impressive season in the Bundesliga and at Euro 2008, but insists he is likely to remain at the HSV-Arena.

Van der Vaart told Dutch weekly Sportweek: "The interest has been there for some time already, but they (Tottenham) are not the club I want to go to. Tottenham are not a club I want to swap Hamburg for. The chance that I will stay at HSV is really big."

Spurs continue pursuit of Bentley

TOTTENHAM HAVE made their latest play for David Bentley by offering Blackburn Rovers money and an assortment of players, including the striker Darren Bent and goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Spurs previously approached Rovers with €8.8m plus the winger Aaron Lennon only to be rebuffed and are exploring alternatives involving players who are surplus to the requirements of the coach, Juande Ramos. As well as Bent and Robinson, Tottenham have indicated that Anthony Gardner, the central defender, could be used as a makeweight in any deal for Bentley, should Blackburn wish.

Bentley, who returned to training yesterday, has stated that he wants to leave after three seasons and, despite talks with the new manager, Paul Ince, he remains determined to take up a new challenge.

Zenit reject Arshavin bid

ZENIT ST Petersburg have rejected a €15-million offer from Barcelona for their 27-year-old playmaker Andrei Arshavin, the Russian champions said yesterday.

"Barcelona had failed to improve their original offer of €15 million, thus we decided to end our negotiations with the Spanish club," Zenit said on their website.