North America

+ Despite suffering cramps in both calves during last Saturday’s loss to the Galaxy the Red Bulls’ Thierry Henry returned to practice yesterday and is expected to play in Saturday’s big Eastern Conference tilt at Toronto.

+ Red Nation: For Thierry Henry, winning is everything.

+ Red Bulls midfielder Rafa Marquez has acknowledged that MLS is far more physical than he expected.

+ Seattle Sounders lost 2-1 at Marathon in Concacaf Champions League play.

+ The Crew could be without forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Andy Iro for a game at Santos Laguna next week because a quirk of the United States immigration system that prevents green card applicants who are in the final stages of the process from leaving the country.

+ Updated MLS salaries can be found here.

England

+ Harry Redknapp has confirmed that William Gallas is on the brink of joining Tottenham on a free transfer

+ Sir Alex Ferguson expects Rio Ferdinand to be back in action by the end of September.

+ Rodrigo Possebon has left Old Trafford for a return to Brazil with Santos.

+ Former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has emerged as a key player in Kenneth Huang’s proposed takeover of Liverpool.

+ West Ham co-owner David Gold has revealed he would be prepared to sell Matthew Upson if a club matched its £6m valuation for the England defender.

+ When Saturday Comes: Stephen Ireland moved to Aston Villa as part of the Milner deal. But who decided he was the right player?

+ Birmingham are ready to step up their interest in Wolfsburg striker Grafite if he can gain a work permit.

+ Chelsea’s England Under 19 defender Sam Hutchinson has retired through injury at the age of 21.

+ Stoke striker Dave Kitson has dished out a piece of advice to any manager wanting to build team spirit — ban iPods. He blamed the gadget for making players ‘miserable’.

+ Leicester are in line to make a sensational move for former club hero Emile Heskey.

Italy

+ Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has agreed to join Juventus on loan, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

+ Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt will be reunited with Inter boss Rafa Benitez next week, according to Der Telegraaf.

+ Milos Krasic has arrived in Turin for a medical with Juventus, which should complete his much-anticipated move from CSKA Moscow.

+ Milan have turned down an offer from Bologna for Holland international striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

+ Hernanes is ready to play for Lazio even on the back of his recent efforts with Sao Paulo in the Copa Libertadores.

Spain

+ Real Madrid will trim some members of their squad, after a summer of more new arrivals at the Berbabeu.

+ Olympique Lyonnais’ Brazilian international Michel Bastos could be the subject of a €12 million approach by Real Madrid, who are also willing to give les Gones Royston Drenthe in return for the Brazil international.

+ The father and agent of Valencia forward Juan Mata says the club must decide whether to renew the player’s contract or allow the Spain star to leave before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

Germany

+ Werder Bremen will reportedly make a formal, €6m offer to Marseille for Hatem Ben Arfa today.

+ Bayern Munich have been linked with a move fo
r promising Chelsea forward Gael Kakuta.

+ Mainz 05 have agreed terms with Glasgow Celtic to sign up striker Morten Rasmussen on an initial one-year loan deal.

France

+ Lyon are ready to enter the race for Manchester City misfit Robinho.

+ Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier has accused Newcastle of arrogance in their pursuit of midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa.

+ Arles Avignon have offered to take French defender Jonathan Zebina off Juventus’ hands

+ Amy Lawrence: Nicolas Anelka finds his voice but his France ban is no joke.

Turkey

+ Robinho is close to joining Besiktas after the club made a formal offer of £16m, plus a further £10m in potential add-ons.

Scotland

+ Celtic have confirmed that defender Andreas Hinkel has been ruled out for nine months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

+ Celtic are interested in signing Everton defender Joseph Yobo on a season-long loan deal.

+ Rapid Vienna launched a verbal assault on Nikica Jelavic last night after reluctantly agreeing to sell their star striker to Rangers.

+ Roddy Forsyth: As Terry Butcher said to Gazza — don’t knock Scottish football till you’ve tried it.

Brazil

+ Santos have tied down Neymar to a new five-year contract following interest in the striker from clubs in Europe.

The Game

+ Harry Pearson: Ageing football players and the ancient art of pointing — Pointing to where team-mates must stand or where the ball should go is essential for fading names desperate to carry on. (Gold! — JR)