Football news  

City make £4m bid for Argentina left back

Window watch: Roberto Mancini looks to strengthen his defence with capture of Cristian Ansaldi from Rubin Kazan

• Vieira joins forces again with Mancini

• Club-by-club guide to January transfer window

Rodríguez set for Liverpool in £1.5m deal

Anfield club are expected to conclude a £1.5 million deal for the Atlético Madrid and Argentina winger in the next 24 hours

• Funds-free January on cards for Benitez

• Liverpool facing fight to land Rodríguez

Irvine named Sheffield Wednesday manager

The Scot replaces Brian Laws just ten days after he was controversially sacked by Coca-Cola Championship rivals Preston

• Irvine sacked as manager of Preston

• Laws leaves Wednesday by mutual consent

Portsmouth bullish after paying players

Squad at Fratton Park finally get their December wages and the club insist that there will be no fire sale in January

• Portsmouth fail to pay their players again

• Portsmouth face fight for survival

Cricket news  

Hampshire sign Afridi for Twenty20

Pakistan one-day star and man-of-the-match in world Twenty20 final has joined the county as their second overseas player

• Mike Atherton: England must not get carried away

• Collingwood’s resistance inspires famous rearguard

England to play Pakistan in Dubai

Arab state will host two Twenty20 Internationals in February ahead of Engand's winter tour to Bangladesh

• South Africa call up Parnell and Tahir

• Collingwood’s resistance inspires famous rearguard

South Africa call up Parnell and Tahir

Uncapped pace bowler and leg spinner are included in the 15-man squad for fourth and final Test in Johannesburg

• Strauss hails defiant Onions as ‘a legend'

• England to play Pakistan in Dubai

Collingwood inspires famous escape

South Africa v England: Batsman steers England through a day of tension and courage to secure a thrilling draw

• England to play Pakistan in Dubai

• South Africa call up Parnell and Tahir

Rugby news  

Wilkinson set for second season at Toulon

England fly half, who has been a huge success since joining the Top 14 club last June, ready to take up option of second year

Hot air gives hope to Leicester and Worcester

Premier Rugby officials remain optimistic they will not lose entire programme of Guinness Premiership matches to weather

Clubs switch more big matches to Twickenham

London Irish switch Heineken Cup match to HQ, which will also host Wasps and Bath in the Guinness Premiership

Date fixed for Venter's disrepute hearing

Evidence against Saracens director of rugby centres on radio interview rather than lengthy look at refereeing standards

More sport  

Button confident after first day at McLaren

Most in paddock write off world champion’s chances against Lewis Hamilton but Frome flyer is up for challenge

Pacquiao promoter: Mayweather bout dead

Two days of mediation fail to resolve impasse between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, with the American branded ‘a coward’

Robson told to endure growing pains

Coach Martijn Bok is confident he can deliver having been charged with task of bringing talented teenager’s skills to fruition

Baulch still searching for overdue gold

Member of Britain’s successful 4 x 400 metres relay team in 1997 launches campaign to obtain medals from UK Athletics

Racing and Betting News  

Ceremonial Jade can sparkle

Rob Wright reckons 6-1 chance has solid prospects at Lingfield Park on Saturday and thinks Barry Hills, pictured, will also have a winner

Evans says fast pace would suit Vhujon

Trainer who has nine runners at Lingfield and Kempton on Saturday nominates his best chance of a winner

No light at end of tunnel for jump fans

The cold snap is showing no signs of relenting and that means that National Hunt racing faces another barren week

Derby switch considered for Diamond Jubilee year

Epsom classic could be run on Tuesday, instead of its usual Saturday, in 2012 as part of four-day royal celebrations