%image% Celtic moved to within a point of first-placed Rangers in the Scottish Premier League after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday.It took Neil Lennon’s side until the end of the first half to finally break the deadlock through Scott Brown and winger Kris Commons guaranteed the points in the 68th minute, keeping the pressure on Rangers with two games remaining.

Both sides had early chances but it was Celtic who found the net after 19 minutes when striker Gary Hooper nodded in from close range, only for his goal to be disallowed for offside.

It was one of two times the Hoops were denied by the assistant referee in the first half after the flag was again raised when Commons poked home later.

But Brown eventually gave Celtic a deserved lead on the stroke of half time when he headed home after teenage midfielder James Forrest had squared a cross from Irishman Daryl Murphy with a header of his own.

Commons doubled their advantage in brilliant fashion midway through the second half, controlling a pass from Brown before unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard drive into the top corner.

Celtic finish the league season with a home game against Hearts and a trip to Motherwell, while Rangers host Dundee United and travel to Kilmarnock.

Kilmarnock can finish as low as sixth if Motherwell can recover a three-point deficit in the last two games of the season.

A Europa League final between rivals Porto and Benfica beckons should they hang on to respective first-leg leads over Villarreal and Braga.The Portuguese heavyweights have already met five times this season, but could be set for yet another encounter on the continental stage.

Porto already have one foot in the final at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on May 18, having thumped Villarreal 5-1 in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the Estadio do Dragao last Thursday.

Porto’s treble of league, domestic and continental trophies looked in danger at half-time after Cani’s strike Villarreal, but four second-half goals from in-demand striker Falcao and a headed effort from Colombia team-mate Fredy Guarin turned the tie on its head and in their side’s favour.

Guided by highly rated 33-year-old manager Andres Villas Boas, Porto’s attacking troika of Falcao, Brazilian Hulk and Portugal winger Silvestre Varela troubled Villarreal’s defense with their pace and movement.

Villarreal, however, do possess the talents to arrest the deficit. Former Manchester United forward Guiseppe Rossi rivals Falcao for interest in his signature, while Brazilian strike partner Nilmar can prove a headache for any defender on his day.

But the La Liga outfit will need to score at least four goals to win the tie, all the while keeping Porto’s front line – which troubled Villarreal so much just seven days earlier – starved of opportunities.

Porto sealed their Liga Sagres title on April 3 courtesy of a 2-1 win at last season’s winners Benfica.

Perhaps with one eye already on avenging that defeat, Benfica hold a 2-1 lead going into the second leg of their own semi-final tie with another Portuguese club in Sporting Braga.

Braga have home advantage this time around but have lost all three encounters against the Lisbon side this season, including a 2-1 loss at home on March 3.

Braga defeated some big names long their way to the Europa League semi-final, including five-time European Cup winners Liverpool and Ukraine heavyweights Dynamo Kiev.

They also defeated English Premier League outfit Arsenal before their exit at the group stage of the Champions League.

They possess a squad more effective than star-studded, with the graft of Leandro Salino and Vandinha in Braga’s engine room complemented by the vision of former Newcastle United midfielder Hugo Viana.

Up front, Braga have had to learn quickly to deal with the January transfer of striker Matheus to Ukraine Premier League outfit Dnipro.

Manager Domingos Paciencia opted to start Alan, Lima and Albert Meyong Ze his front third in the first leg, and Benfica would expect him to do the same on Thursday as Braga chase a result.

Benfica’s stars are far more glittering, from towering Paraguay forward Oscar Cardozo to creative Argentine quartet Nicolas Gaitan, Javier Saviola, Franco Jara and Pablo Aimar.

They will fancy their chances of progressing past Braga into another meeting with Porto, giving them a much-cherished chance to rain on their bitter rivals’ parade in Dublin.

Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas does not want the credit should his side make him the youngest coach to win a major European title.Villas-Boas, 33, can create history if Porto wins the all-Portuguese Europa League final against Sporting Braga on Wednesday, which they are strongly favoured to do.

Porto went undefeated on their way to the Liga Sagres title, and can claim a treble if they triumph in the Europa League and the Taca de Portugal final against Vitoria Setubal on Sunday. But speaking on Tuesday, the highly rated manager said the club’s exploits are not about him.

“People focus a lot on the work of the manager and I don’t see it that way,” Villas-Boas said.

“I don’t see myself as a one-man show. Football isn’t won by one person but by collective competence. It is the quality of the players and the structure of the club.”

“I just want to make my players give their most. I give them room to express themselves because that’s how they develop. I promote their talent and let them make their own decisions. There are no dictators.”

“We don’t see the game as a tactical game. If you are a dictator of choices, players won’t be able to explore their possibilities to the full. You have to be able to free them.”

Villas-Boas is a former assistant to Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, but said the reason he left his role under his countryman at Inter Milan – after also working with him at Porto and Chelsea – was to further his own managerial ambition.

Villas-Boas joined Liga Sagres side Academica and guided them free of relegation trouble, before his appointment as Jesualdo Ferreira’s replacement at Porto in June 2010.

”The position I had with him was a position he needed some help on. I understood my role from the beginning and tried to fulfil it with maximum professionalism,” Villas-Boas said.

“When I left him, he took on another person who I hope gives him the same level. Regarding why I left Inter, it was because I wanted the extra edge to fulfil my ambitions as a professional coach, so I took the risk to find my own job at Academica.”

Nottingham Forest have appointed former England boss Steve McClaren as their new manager, just a day after sacking Billy Davies.McClaren returns to coach in his native England for the first time since leaving the England post in December 2007, having since managed Dutch club FC Twente and Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg.

The 50-year-old former Manchester United assistant tasted success at Twente by leading them to the Eredivisie title in 2009/10, but lasted just 21 games at Wolfsburg before he was sacked in February.

McClaren had been linked with the vacant Aston Villa post until owner Randy Lerner decided against his appointment, having been warned about a supporter backlash.

Forest – who made the semi-finals of the Championship playoffs and fell to eventual winners Swansea City – had no such qualms, according to chief executive Mark Arthur.

“The club moved quickly to secure his services as it is rare for a manager and coach of his undoubted calibre to be available,” Arthur said.

“Steve has a proven track record of coaching and managing at club level, having played a key role in helping Manchester United secure the Champions League trophy, three Premier League titles and an FA Cup; guided Middlesbrough to the League Cup and also to the final of the UEFA Cup and led FC Twente to their first ever Dutch title.”

“We are delighted to have him on board at The City Ground.”

Despite leading Forest into the playoffs, Davies was sacked on Sunday. It is believed frequent run-ins with the club board – with Forest’s transfer policy reportedly one sticking point – led to the former Derby County manager’s dismissal.

Tottenham have told Luka Modric he will not be leaving White Hart Lane at any cost after showdown talks with Daniel Levy. Other reports suggest that the Croatian is furious at the chairman who he believes is reneging on a verbal agreement that was made when he signed his contract extension that allows him to move to any club that would prove a step up in his career.

Elsewhere in the papers there has been a mixed bag of stories that include Barcelona suggesting they are in no rush over Cesc Fabregas; Kenny Dalglish eyes three new arrivals, while Sunderland looking to complete a treble swoop on Manchester united.

*

Game of three thirds? Fresh farce as Qatar World Cup chief makes extraordinary claim – Daily Mail

Solid evidence against Warner, Bin Hammam – Daily Telegraph

Barca – No rush over Cesc – Sky Sports

Spurs tell Modric: You are not leaving – Guardian

Dalglish wants at least three more signings after Adam – Mirror

United’s opening £20m offer for Nasri is rejected by Arsenal – Guardian

Sergio in talks with Man City – Sun

Tottenham keen on Spanish star Mata – Daily Mail

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Hammer Parker’s future could be decided today – Mirror

Brown and O’Shea to be unveiled at Sunderland with Gibson on the way – Daily Mail

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Transfer rumours are infinite, some of them materialise from thin air and the majority of them disappear before they’ve really had time to grow. A tiny percentage are actually based in truth. Whether they are dismissed out of hand by those alleged to be involved or are just too far-fetched or tenuous to ever really be believed, the survival rate of the football rumour is like that of baby turtles on a beach, few of them are hardy enough to make it. Every summer however, there are those rumours that persist. Like little Rambo turtles, they are unstoppable, gaining momentum all the time.

So, which are the ten likeliest transfers left to take place this summer? The return of the Fabregas to Barcelona story has been a constant and is hotting up nicely. The Nasri to a Manchester club noises are growing ever louder. The Modric to Chelsea grumblings continue and the flight of Carlos Tevez is an absolute mess that could go either way. These stories are much more than just tittle tattle, there is a chance they might actually happen.

Much of the summer’s business has quickly trundled to completion. Connor Wickham, Ashley Young and Charlie Adam are amongst those already settling into their new socks and surroundings, futures certain, ambitions stated. But there is always a late flurry, so what do we still expect to happen? Who are the names on everybody’s lips and where are they heading?

Click on Gary Cahill below to see the 10 likely transfers this summer

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[divider]

Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam has been banned for life by FIFA after being found guilty of corruption allegations.Bin Hammam, the president of the Asian Football Confederation since 2002, had been accused of trying to bribe Caribbean football officials ahead of last month’s FIFA presidential election.

The ban was announced on Saturday by Petrus Damaseb, deputy chairman of FIFA’s ethics committee, after a two-day hearing in Switzerland.

Damaseb told reporters: “Bin Hammam is hereby banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level for life.”

The 62-year-old Bin Hammam, who did not attend the hearing, has pledged his innocence since being suspended from football-related activities on May 29.

He said through a statement on Friday that he expected a guilty verdict and that he would appeal.

Following the verdict, a spokesman of the Qatari said: “He (Bin Hammam) maintains his innocence. He will continue to fight his case through the legal routes that are open to him.”

Chelsea are lining up a move for Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles, the Daily Mail reports.

The Portuguese international was voted the PFA Fans Player of the Year for his superb debut season at Anfield but isn’t in Kenny Dalglish’s plans.

An influx of midfielders at Anfield has pushed Meireles down the pecking order and now Chelsea could swoop to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to add a creative midfielder to his squad and has now put the 28-year-old alongside Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric as his top targets.

The Chelsea boss knows him well from their time together at Porto and is convinced that a partnering the two in midfield will add an extra dimension to the Blues attack.

He see’s Meireles as the perfect foil for the Croatian international and is prepared to pay £12 million to bring him to West London.

Dalglish needs to sell to balance the books after a £100 million spending spree which has seen Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson brought in at inflated prices.

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News of Chelsea’s interest and potential for Champions League football is sure to sway Meireles who knows he won’t see much game time at Anfield in the new campaign.

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Tottenham travel to the Black Country after defeats in both of their games thus far to face an in-form Wolves side who remain undefeated after picking up two wins and a draw in their opening three games.

Mick McCarthy, who will be delighted with his side’s positive start, named an unchanged team for the recent draw against Aston Villa and there are again only expected to be one or two enforced changes for Saturday. Winger Matt Jarvis is a huge doubt after picking up an ankle injury in training and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake will continue to sit out with a knee injury. The good news for Mick is that Adlene Guedioura could be in line to make his return to the first-team after missing most of pre-season through injury and he is expected to make the bench on Saturday.

Tottenham have a long list of injuries with Aaron Lennon, Ledley King, William Gallas, Niko Kranjcar, Rafael van der Vaart and Steven Pienaar all unavailable for selection for the game at Molineux. However the good news is that new signings Emmanuel Adebayor and Scott Parker are likely to go straight into the first team to make their respective debuts. Spurs fans will also be interested to see how Luca Modric gets on after Levy forced him to stay at the club until at least January.

Wolves look a strong attacking team this season and have a deadly duo up-front in Doyle and Fletcher who can both provide goals but they may miss the productivity of Matt Jarvis. Harry will hope that Spurs can kick on with their season and I think if Adebayor can find some debut form we could be looking at an entertaining score draw similar to last year.

Key Men

Steven Fletcher – The Scottish international has formed a formidable partnership with the excellent Kevin Doyle and the in-form striker will be a real menace to the Tottenham defence again this weekend.

Jermain Defoe – Defoe netted twice at Molineux last season in their exciting 3-3 draw and with Van der Vaart out for a long period of time, he now has the perfect chance to show his worth to Redknapp and guarantee a place in the first eleven, starting on Saturday.

Verdict: 2-2

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To see the Premier League round-up and preview the weekend fixtures – download the excellent ESPN Goals App

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has praised Luka Modric and Emmanuel Adebayor, after the duo starred in the London club’s 4-0 victory over Liverpool at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Modric scored the first goal of the rout, with Adebayor grabbing a brace, in what was Spurs’ first home win of the season.

The Croatian midfielder was the subject of a number of transfer bids from Chelsea over the summer, but Redknapp now believes that his playmaker is back focussing on his football again.

“Luka is fine now, he’s just getting on with it,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think the chairman will sit down with him now and discuss his contract. That’s what I’d like to happen. It was a great strike today. That’s why we were offered £40million because he’s a top player.”

Meanwhile former Arsenal striker Adebayor has had an impressive start to his time at White Hart Lane, scoring three goals in his first two appearances, and Redknapp applauded the African’s qualities.

“I asked William Gallas about him, who came to us from Arsenal, of course, and he told me he was a fantastic player. Gallas won our fans over – he was close to being player of the year last season – and this is a great chance for Adebayor.

“At Wolves last week, he held the ball up, brought people into play, scored, and looked a real handful. He’s got to prove that just because it didn’t work out for him at Manchester City, he’s still a top drawer striker. It’s great chance for him – and a no-brainer for me to take him on loan.

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“He has been flying in training. You think he’s going to run out of petrol but he doesn’t. He trains like someone’s wound him up. He always has a smile on his face. Let’s hope it continues,” he concluded.

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