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Panathinaikos vice-president Dimitris Gontikas has revealed talks are taking place with Lazio for the transfer of Djibril Cisse.

The 29-year-old Frenchman was linked with a move to the Italian capital on Tuesday when reports claimed he was set for Serie A football.

And Gontikas has now confirmed the former Liverpool man may be leaving Athens.

"There are talks with Lazio. We know it will be hard losing Djibril, but Panathinaikos cannot move forward without selling some of their players," he is quoted as saying by Il Corriere dello Sport.

Meanwhile, Lazio president Claudio Lotito has told Juventus it will have to stump up the cash for Stephan Lichtsteiner.

"If Juventus want him then they will have to pay 12 million euros," he told the press.

Reports claim the Turin giants are offering 10 million euros.?

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Labels: Cisse, Djibril, Goalcom, Lazio, Panathinaikos, talks

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)—Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel expects Mexican striker Javier Fernandez to have a major impact in the Champions League final against Barcelona.

Schmeichel says United has learned from its 2-0 defeat to the Spanish side in the 2009 final and will be much improved in Saturday’s showpiece in London.

Schmeichel, speaking to The Associated Press, compares Fernandez to former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He says the Mexican “is an amazing player with an amazing talent and he must have an amazing mind as well.”

Labels: Fernandez, final, impact, Schmeichel, talks

BORDEAUX, France, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Girondins Bordeaux coach Jean Tigana has decided to stay after his resignation was rejected and a meeting with club officials on Monday reassured him about his position and the side’s prospects.

“The doubts have been lifted, it’s all in the past,” Tigana told reporters after leaving the meeting.

The 2009 French champions are mired in midtable and lost 5-1 at FC Lorient on Feb. 19 but had given their under pressure coach a boost by beating Auxerre 3-0 on Saturday.

The former Fulham boss cut an enigmatic figure in the post-match news conference following the Auxerre game however, hinting all was not well.

His assistant coach Michel Pavon also left in mysterious circumstances last week.

Tigana only took over at Bordeaux in the close-season when Laurent Blanc left to coach France and knew his task would be difficult when the club sold top midfielder Yoann Gourcuff to Olympique Lyon in August.

Striker Marouane Chamakh also quit to join Arsenal last year.

(Reporting by Claude Canellas, writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Justin Palmer;

To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: after, Bordeaux, coach, Reuters, stays, talks, Tigana

Birmingham chairman Peter Pannu has warned concerns over attendance levels may lead to a redevelopment of St Andrew's rather than moving to a new stadium.

Initial £20million plans aimed at upgrading the Garrison Lane stand at St Andrew's have been unveiled by the club's parent company, Birmingham International Holdings.

"We haven't categorically ruled out moving stadiums completely but my prime concern is attendances," said Pannu. "Our average attendance does not justify building a stadium of 50,000 to 55,000 at this stage."

City have held talks with Birmingham City Council about the possibility of moving to a new location since Carson Yeung became the club's owner in 2009, but Pannu - Yeung's right-hand man - admits an average attendance of just under 25,00 does not justify moving to a larger complex.

He added: "We have ample support from the local authorities but, with current attendances, it is just not right to do that sort of investment.

"In any case, a lot of our fans want to stay put."

Regarding the plans for the Garrison Lane stand, Pannu said: "There is no timeframe. It could be as soon as two years. It could well be beyond that.

"Of course, if we are in the Premier League, is also one of the considerations.

"This is still at an early stage. This could be self-financed or through naming rights. But it is something exciting."

Labels: Association, Pannu, Press, redevelopment, talks

Labels: aposto, coachapos, despite, Manchester, Metro, Neville, Sports, talks, United