Germans two peas in a pod

Werder Bremen's Sebastian Boenisch has urged his club to use family ties to sign Euro 2008 star Lukas Podolski from Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.

"My mother played handball with his mother in the first division, and our fathers played second-division football together," said Boenisch. "My brother Adrian was even together in the sandpit with Lukas."

Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs added: "It seems to be that Poldi wants out of Munich. I am continuing to keep in contact with his agent. He knows what our attitude is. I don't have to now show new interest."

Another striker set for new pastures is Barcelona's Ronaldinho, with the Brazilian courting attention from AC Milan. The Italian giants had previously earmarked Emmanuel Adebayor as their sole target, but chief executive Adriano Galliani admiited: "[Carlos] Ancelotti [Milan's coach] is ready to build a Milan with Ronaldinho and without Adebayor.

"But we will not pay the 35million euros (Dh202.5m) wanted by Barcelona. This sum must fall."

Meanwhile, Manchester United forward Luis Saha has played down reports linking him with Roma and Bolton. "I am under contract at Manchester until 2010. Moreover, the coach didn't say anything to me yet, neither about a transfer or a loan. I have to play before thinking about anything else," said the Frenchman.

Heurelho Gomes, one of the Premier League's newest recruits after he signed for Tottenham, will be sorely missed at PSV Eindhoven, according to director Jan Reker.

"He is an excellent goalie and he has grown to become one of the best PSV players ever. We would have liked to keep him until the end of his contract but he was clear that his future was not in Eindhoven."