Wigan have signed Scotland defender Gary Caldwell from Celtic on a four-and-a-half year deal, the Premier League club announced.

Caldwell, 27, had been expected to be reunited with former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan at Championship (second division) club Middlesbrough after falling out with the Glasgow club over the terms of a new contract.

But he has opted instead for Wigan s offer of Premier League football and a long-term contract that will reportedly double the salary he was on at the Scottish giants.

Caldwell, who can also operate as a defensive midfielder, is Wigan manager Roberto Martinez s third signing this month, following the capture of former Ivory Coast international Steven Gohouri and Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

Gary is a lea…

Sunderland are set to complete the capture of Italian defender Paolo De Ceglie from Juventus, .

The Bianconeri have given the player permission to speak to the Premier League side after reaching an agreement over the transfer fee.

And with the negotiations over the defender s personal terms going according to plan, everything suggests the transfer will be made official in the next couple of days.

Paolo De Ceglie arrives at the Stadium of Light as a replacement for Danny Rose, who has returned to Tottenham after his loan spell ended.

The 26-year-old already has plenty of top flight experience, having featured in 115 Serie A matches for the Bianconeri, while making another 16 appearances in European competitions.

Meanwhile, that Inter Milan midfie…

Lukas Podolski is to leave Galatasaray for a new challenge in Japan with Vissel Kobe at the end of the season.

The former Germany forward will swap the Turkish Super Lig for the J.League after an initial fee of €2.6million, which could rise to €2.8m, was agreed between the teams.

Podolski, who has represented the likes of Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Inter during his career, was linked with a move during the January transfer window, but a move did not materialise.

However, Podolski who has 129 caps for his country will now make the switch at the end of the current campaign.

I can confirm that at the end of this season I will join Vissel Kobe from the J-League in Japan, Podolski wrote on his official Instagram account.

It is not a decision agai…

Paul Pogba is delighted Antoine Griezmann s achievements in 2016 have been recognised after revealing he provided support for his fellow Frenchman during his early struggles at Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann has been shortlisted in the final three of FIFA s newly created The Best award alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi after a wonderful 12 months in which he starred for club and country.

Having scored 32 goals for Atletico over the course of the 2015-16 campaign, he netted another six to land the Golden Boot at Euro 2016 as hosts France reached the final.

It has not always been plain sailing for the 25-year-old, though, with Pogba revealing his international team-mate confided in him shortly after joining Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014.

Pogb…

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Desperate to secure back-to-back La Liga victories on Thursday night, Athletic Bilbao will travel to El Sadar when they meet Osasuna.

Osasuna

Starting with the hosts, while Osasuna might have claimed an action-packed 3-1 victory against Almeria earlier in the month, Los Rojillos came crashing back down to earth last weekend. Eventually getting hit with a routine 3-0 drumming away at Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Jagoba Arrasate’s side are enduring a rather public wobble. While the Navarre-based outfit might still find themselves dreaming of the chance to claim a top-half finish, the Reds have now lost four of their last five meeting against La Liga opposition. However, despite suffering Copa del Rey final heartbreak at the hands o…

The Women’s Super League draws to a close on Saturday with the title race going down to the wire between Manchester United and Chelsea.

Here the PA news agency takes a look at the best XI from this season’s action.

Mary Earps (Manchester United)

Another strong season for the United and England goalkeeper who picked up the FIFA Best award for women’s goalkeeper. The 30-year-old has been another crucial cog for Marc Skinner’s side in their quest for the WSL title and Champions League football, keeping 13 clean sheets so far this season.

Niamh Charles (Chelsea)

Slotting into full-back and able to play further up the pitch if needed, Charles has been important for Chelsea’s success particularly in the second half of the season. Her defensive work has seen…

Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete is hoping Cesare Prandelli remains as national coach beyond the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Prandelli, 56, took on the role in 2010 and guided Italy to the UEFA Euro 2012 final, where they were beaten 4-0 by Spain.

However, the Italians bounced back to qualify for next year s tournament in Brazil, with Prandelli leading them through the campaign unbeaten to finish six points clear of second-placed Denmark.

The former Fiorentina boss has recently been linked with a return to club management following the tournament, with reports suggesting Roberto Mancini or Massimiliano Allegri could be in line for the national hot seat.

I like a lot of coaches,” Abete told Sky Sport Italia. However, I like Prandelli more than any…

There was only one name on the lips of the thousands of Dutch supporters here Friday and that was Wesley Sneijder after the Inter Milan star fired Holland into the World Cup semi-finals.

Sneijder s second half header in the Netherlands 2-1 win over Brazil took the playmaker s tally in South Africa to three, after his goals against Slovakia in the last 16 and Japan in the closing group game.

The man of the match, reflecting on his crucial header, said: This was my first header here, I don t think it will happen again, but it was great. The ball slipped on my bald head and went into the net, a great feeling.

The 26-year-old added: If you can eliminate Brazil, one of the best teams in this championship the first feeling is relief, we always believed in it.