Football news: Luis Suarez appeal hearing set for next week

Arsene Wenger hints that Thomas Vermaelen may be on his way to Manchester United; Drogba raring to go says Mourinho

Uruguay's forward Luis Suarez. AFP

BARCELONA

Luis Suarez will have his appeal against a four-month ban for biting heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport next week.

It has been reported that the former Liverpool striker’s appeal will be heard on Friday, August 8, in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a decision expected the following week.

The Barcelona striker was banned from all football-related activity for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 World Cup win on June 24.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has agreed to deal with his appeal as an “express hearing” so that a decision is reached before the start of the Spanish season.

Barcelona are also asking CAS to allow Suarez to train with his team-mates for the duration of any ban - under the FIFA ban he is not permitted even to enter a training ground.

The sanction imposed by Fifa on Suarez also includes a nine-month international ban from playing for Uruguay.

ARSENAL

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hinted that defender Thomas Vermaelen could leave the English Premier League club before the end of the transfer window. The Belgian, 28, has been linked with a move to Manchester United.

“At the moment Thomas Vermaelen is here. He is injured at the moment with a short-term injury. It could happen, yes it’s a possibility that he goes. If he goes we have to replace him because he’s an important player in our squad,” Wenger said. “I expect him to stay but he, of course, did not play enough games last year. For me he’s a very important player but I couldn’t guarantee him the games he wanted last year.”

Wenger also denied reports that he was trying to sign Porto playmaker Juan Fernando Quintero but said additional moves in the transfer market were possible. “I think 15-30 August will be busy again,” he said.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Jonny Evans thinks Louis van Gaal has installed a far more impressive and detailed system of analysing his players since he took over as Manchester United manager.

Van Gaal has implemented a host of new rules and initiatives since succeeding David Moyes as United boss.

The former Holland coach has ordered his players to speak English to each other, rectangular tables have been replaced by circular ones at meal times to encourage conversation and the 62-year-old has implemented double training sessions to make sure the players are in shape for the start of the season.

New pitches and state of the art cameras have been installed at the club’s training ground in Carrington and video analysis has been a key part of the summer tour, which has seen the team win all three of their matches.

United only won two of their pre-season games last year under Moyes, so it looks like Van Gaal’s extensive preparation is already paying off.

“I think it is a lot more detailed at the training ground (now),” United defender Evans told a press conference in the US.

“They have spent thousands on it and a few of the lads have seen HD cameras around the pitch.

“We have this system at the minute where he can watch us on the pitch.

“I think a lot of teams use it but we are looking into it in quite a lot of detail.

MALAGA

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who was one of the outstanding performers at the World Cup in Brazil, has completed a move to Spanish top-flight side Malaga.

A statement on Malaga’s website on Friday read: “Malaga Club de Futbol has reached an agreement to sign one of the best goalkeepers of the recent World Cup in Brazil, Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaña.”

The 29-year-old keeper has agreed a three-year deal at La Rosaleda and was due to be officially unveiled later on Friday.

Ochoa was a free agent after his contract with French side AC Ajaccio, who were relegated from Ligue 1 last season, expired.

Ochoa had spent three seasons with Ajaccio before surprisingly being chosen as Mexico’s first-choice ‘keeper at the World Cup.

He helped Miguel Herrera’s side reach the last 16, and was outstanding in helping his team hold hosts Brazil to a 0-0 draw during the group stage.

CHELSEA

Veteran striker Didier Drogba will still strike fear into defenders when he begins his second spell at Chelsea, manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday.

“The killer instinct is still there,” Mourinho, in an interview with Sky Sports, said of the 36-year-old Ivorian who signed a 12-month contract last month after spells in China and at Turkish club Galatasaray since leaving Stamford Bridge following the Champion League final victory in 2012.

Drogba will give Mourinho a tried and tested formula in attack, where he will be vying for a place with Spanish duo Fernando Torres and new signing Diego Costa.

“He still has the technique to score goals and the physical strength and presence is still the same,” Mourinho, who signed Drogba from Marseilles in 2004, said.

“Mentally he is the same. Every training exercise, his desire to compete and to win is always there.

“He will be an important player for us.”

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT

Eintracht Frankfurt says it has signed Switzerland World Cup striker Haris Seferovic on a three-year contract from Real Sociedad.

Seferovic follows Paraguary striker Nelson Valdez, signed for two years this week, and Brazilian midfielder Lucas Piazon, on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Crystal Palace have announced the signing of former Fulham captain Brede Hangeland on a one-year contract. The 33-year-old Norway international’s six-and-a-half year stay at Craven Cottage came to an end after the Whites decided not to offer the defender a new deal following their relegation from the Premier League. Hangeland, who claims to have been informed of his release by e-mail, played over 200 league games for Fulham and will provide stiff competition to the likes of Scott Dann, Paddy McCarthy and Damien Delaney for a place in the heart of Tony Pulis’ defence.

He becomes the third new arrival at Selhurst Park following deals for Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Kettings and striker Fraizer Campbell from Cardiff.

Pulis, who took over at Palace in November, guided the Eagles to 11th place and became the first manager to keep the south London club in the Premier League beyond a single campaign.

THE NETHERLANDS

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been named as one of Holland’s assistant coaches.

A tweet from the Dutch football association, the KNVB, announced that Van Nistelrooy, now 38, will work under new coach Guus Hiddink and alongside Danny Blind, who is due to take over from Hiddink in 2018.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker scored 35 goals in a 70-match international career which started in 1998 and finished in 2011.

Former internationals Pierre van Hooijdonk, Aron Winter, Sonny Silooy and Michael Reiziger have also been given various roles with Holland’s junior teams.