Sir Alex Ferguson's preference is for Fabio da Silva to be sent on loan to a Premier League club, enabling him to monitor the progress of a player he feels will benefit from a time of independent development away from his twin brother, Rafael.

The Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan and Uefa president Michel Platini discussed a match-fixing investigation which has overshadowed Turkish football in talks ahead of Uefa meetings in the country this week.

Jermaine Pennant has denied reports he has been punished by Stoke for breaches of discipline and has again insisted he has not fallen out with boss Tony Pulis.

Jermaine Pennant has played down reports of a rift between himself and Stoke boss Tony Pulis.

Besiktas 3 Stoke City 1

Stoke will take to the field for their final Europa League Group E match against Besiktas less than 22 hours after touching down in Istanbul following a nightmare journey yesterday.

A Turkish court freed eight suspects in a major match-fixing case yesterday, including the coach and an executive of leading club Besiktas, giving a boost to football club shares which have been hit hard by the investigation.

A Turkish court accepted an indictment yesterday charging 93 officials and players with match-fixing.

Manchester United winger Bebe could be sidelined for up to six months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Portugal Under-21s in Slovakia on Tuesday night.

Murder most foul on the Bosphorus

Manchester United winger Bebe will spend next season on loan at Turkish club Besiktas, the Premier League champions said today.

Manchester United's attempts to sign Blackburn Rovers' defender Phil Jones have been held up the concerns of the selling club's Indian owners that he is being sold too cheaply.

During the international break The South American Football Show in association with The Independent took a trip to the old continent to talk to Hugo Almeida. Portugal’s powerhouse striker told us about playing against Chile's La Roja, playing for the Special One and playing amongst Turkish Delight...

Shay Given was last night contemplating having to cede his Europa League place to Joe Hart, but remains no less positive towards the Englishman who, despite his indifferent form, has left him without a look-in at Manchester City.