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Southgate to decide on City slickers

Manchester City's Treble winners are available for England's Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta, Gareth Southgate has confirmed.

Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips joined up with the Three Lions squad on Tuesday after City's Champions League final win on Saturday.

With the celebrations carrying on until Monday evening, Southgate said he is yet to decide whether it would be a good idea field the quintet at the Ta' Qali Stadium tonight.

The England manager said: "We are going to have to take it bit by bit and see how they are.

"I spoke to them when they arrived, firstly to say what an incredible achievement.

"We said we are heading into the unknown, there is no way of knowing individually how they are going to react and respond to what they've been through."

Next up for England is a home clash with North Macedonia at Wembley on Monday.

Villa sign new stopper

Aston Villa have agreed to sign Netherlands international Daphne van Domselaar from FC Twente, subject to international clearance and FA approval.

The Dutch goalkeeper will join the Villans when her deal with Twente expires later this month.

Van Domselaar, who has 13 international caps, is poised to replace Hannah Hampton between the sticks after the England stopper's departure was confirmed yesterday.

Manager Carla Ward said: "Daphne is someone we've tracked for some time.

"We knew we had real competition from some of Europe's biggest clubs so we're delighted she's chosen to continue her development with us.

"She's a player who comes with great pedigree and potential to be one of the world's best. We’re delighted to have her and we very much look forward to working with her."

Silva lining

Chelsea stalwart Thiago Silva will go down as one of football's greatest ever defenders — but he could have forged a career as a midfielder had a former manager had his way.

The veteran Brazilian, 38, has enjoyed a glittering trophy-laden career with AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and the Blues.

But the Champions League winner has now revealed he was deployed further forward during the early stages of his journey in football.

Silva told Chelsea's official site: "I had a coach. He wanted me to play in midfield. Midfield? Me?! No, surely not! It wasn't for me, I knew this very quickly.

"I had other coaches and they saw something different in me. I became a centre-back, I've gone on to have excellent career, played at the top level, won trophies and captained my country.

"Imagine if I'd listened to that first coach! I got the nickname 'Monster' for playing in defence. 

"Not because I'm hideous like a monster before anyone says that! It's because I'm good at what I do, even now I have the nickname. It's been with me throughout my whole career."

Sir Les steps down

Les Ferdinand has left QPR after more than eight years as director of football.

Ex-Hoops striker Ferdinand, 56, initially returned to Loftus Road as head of football operations in October 2014 before moving into his current role in February 2015.

Ferdinand said: "This has not been an easy decision. My life is football, I love football and I want to stay in football but I do feel this is the right time for me to step down from my position here.

"Everyone knows how special QPR is to me and it has been a privilege to be back at the club.

"There have been challenging times and I have had to make some very difficult decisions but every decision I have made has been with the best interests of the club at heart.

"I would like to thank the owners whose commitment to this club is incredible. They have such a strong desire to give QPR fans the club they deserve and I will be their biggest supporter as they look to achieve it.

"This is the club that gave me my chance in football. It will always mean so much to me and I wish the Rs every success in the future."

Smaldini signs on

Chris Smalling has signed a new two-year contract with Roma.

The former Manchester United defender's future in the Italian capital had been uncertain following months of negotiations ahead of his previous deal's expiry at the end of June.

Having agreed to extend his three-year stay with Jose Mourinho's men for another two seasons, the centre-back is determined to reach new heights in the Eternal City.

Smalling, 33, said on Twitter: "It's an honour for me to renew my contract with this special club. I want to achieve a lot more and I want it to be with this team. 

"I'm excited to start this new chapter with you all, and together, let's make history! Thank you."

Sporting director Tiago Pinto added: "We are delighted to be able to count on both his defensive prowess and his leadership skills. 

"He is a key dressing-room figure and a role model for the younger lads in our squad."

Grim Reading

Reading have been charged with failing to pay their players on time and in full on three separate occasions last season by the EFL.

The charges relate to October, November and April's wage bills.

Royals owner Yongge Dai has been charged with causing the club to be in breach of EFL regulations.

The Berkshire outfit were relegated to League One for the first time in 21 years following a disappointing 22nd-place finish in 2022-23.

Over to Ru

Serie A champions Napoli have appointed former Roma boss Rudi Garcia as their new manager.

Garcia, 59, replaces Luciano Spalletti, who has left the Naples outfit to take a break from football after delivering their first Scudetto success in 33 years.

Announcing the successor, a club statement said: "Aurelio De Laurentiis is pleased to announce that Rudi Garcia will be the new coach of Napoli.

"To him the most sincere welcome and a good luck wish."

The Italian coach left Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in April, having also spent time in charge of French clubs Lille, Marseille and Lyon.

What the Heck

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom says his side are unable to compete financially with their new Premier League rivals.

The Blades secured promotion back to the top flight after finishing second in the Championship in 2022-23.

After returning from two seasons in the second tier, Heckingbottom said his side will have to be shrewd with their transfer activity.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield: "We're not going to be able to bring in Premier League players, we just won't.

"We have to go and find ones that people have never heard of, the ones with potential, the ones that we think fit our profile.

"What we have got as a group of staff is real clarity on, 'This is the role they're going to have to perform, this is the make-up of the player we want' and we have to try and identify that.

"We can't be competing with the other boys on wages but we can be competing in terms of how we identify players. It's not what other people think of that player, it's what we think of them.

"Loans and free transfers are going to be so big so we're going to have to be as creative as we can be to give ourselves the best chance."