Football in Brief: Given cleared to sign for £3.5m; Ferguson: Forget about Sneijder; Greening back with McClaren

Shay Given is expected to become an Aston Villa player today after passing a medical. The club will pay Manchester City £3.5m for the Republic of Ireland keeper, the subject of protracted talks . Villa's defender Richard Dunne, looking forward to playing alongside his former team-mate, said: "It's a good opportunity for Shay to get back to playing football and I think it's one he's really looking forward to." Villa have had a £10m bid for Charles N'Zogbia turned down, with Wigan looking for a higher fee and the winger himself thought to be unimpressed with Villa's offer of £50,000 a week.

Ferguson: Forget about Sneijder

Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated that he will not be signing Internazionale's Wesley Sneijder despite speculation about a deal, including a claim that the shirt manufacturers Nike may get involved to push it through.

The Dutchman looked the most obvious replacement for Paul Scholes but, when asked about Sneijder in Seattle yesterday, Ferguson's response was blunt. "Forget it," he said. "We are looking at some things but I am not so sure Sneijder will be easy to get."

Inter to keep 2006 Scudetto after all

The saga over the 2006 Italian title seems over after the country's football federation decided it did not have the authority to take the Scudetto from Internazionale.

Inter, who won the 2006 title after leaders Juventus were demoted and second-placed Milan docked points for influencing the selection of referees, had been under investigation since last year after new evidence emerged over match-fixing. Inter have denied any wrongdoing.

Greening back with McClaren

Nottingham Forest have signed Jonathan Greening from Fulham for an undisclosed fee. The former Manchester United midfielder has signed a three-year contract at the City Ground where he is reunited with manager Steve McClaren, who he played under at Middlesbrough. Greening, 32, becomes McClaren's second signing after Andy Reid returned to the club.