Tottenham's Bale to Miss Milan Game With Injury, Guardian Says: Roundup

The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers, with clickable links to the Web.

Bale Out

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale may miss next week’s Champions League match with AC Milan in Italy after pushing himself to get back in shape from a back injury, the Guardian said.

Bale’s injury returned last month, when he was removed from a game at Newcastle after just 11 minutes, and he’s missed the last three matches. While the club sent him to a chiropractor, the Welsh national team player had a setback in training, the newspaper said.

Hughton’s Return?

Former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton may replace the fired Roberto di Matteo as West Brom’s coach, the Mirror said.

The 52-year-old, who was fired in December, led Newcastle back to the Premier League after winning the second-tier Championship last season. He’s had interviews at Ipswich and Crystal Palace, the newspaper said. West Brom may offer him a 1 million-pound ($1.6 million) annual salary, and wants to make the appointment in the next two days, the Mirror said.

Reina’s Price

Manchester United and Arsenal will have to spend 20 million pounds, a British record price for a goalkeeper, to sign Liverpool’s Pepe Reina, the Mail said.

The 28-year-old wants to play in the Champions League, and last year signed a six-year contract extension, which has the 20 million-pound escape clause, the newspaper said.

City Loses

Manchester City lost 10 million pounds to get rid of striker Emmanuel Adebayor, the Daily Star said.

The player joined Real Madrid on loan last month, and the Spanish team will pay 15 million pounds to sign him after the season, the newspaper said. City paid Arsenal 25 million pounds for Adebayor, who’s already scored twice for his new club.

Rio Injury

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will miss three weeks with a leg injury, the Mirror said.

That puts the player out for this weekend’s game with City, and he’ll likely miss United’s next matches in the F.A. Cup and the Champions League, the newspaper said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net.