Le Saux: ‘Avram should be given another go’

Former Chelsea and England defender Graeme Le Saux believes Avram Grant would be right to consider a return to the Premiership after leading Chelsea to the brink of Premiership and Champions League glory during his one season in charge.

Le Saux, who made 140 appearances for the West London club and represented his country 36 times, sympathised with Grant but feels he will benefit from the experience of coping with the harsh treatment of the English media.

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Ben Haim happy to become a City boy

Tal Ben Haim completed his move from Chelsea to Manchester City on Wednesday.

As revealed in June, the Israeli defender was tracked by the Eastlands club and finally signed a £5 million four-year contract worth more than £60,000-a-week, subject to securing a work permit.

Ben Haim becomes the second Israeli player to join the club following in the footsteps of the now-retired Eyal Berkovic.

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Ben Haim’s City deal is delayed by wage dispute

Ben Haim's agent, Pini Zahavi, wants a five-year contract worth £65,000-a-week, matching the player's wages at Stamford Bridge. The Eastlands' outfit have tabled a four-year deal believed to offer £5,000-a-week less.

Portsmouth and Spurs are waiting in the wings if the proposed deal collapses but new City boss Mark Hughes will be reluctant to give up on the 26-year-old as he seeks to strengthen his defence.

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Chelsea kid to stay on

Avram Grant has left Chelsea, Ben Sahar has moved on loan to Portsmouth and Tal Ben Haim is on the verge of leaving. But one Jewish player who is definitely staying is 11-year-old Sam Monjack.

The central midfielder has been retained as a contracted player for a fourth season and will represent the club's under-12s.

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City trader

Britain’s highest paid Israeli player is set for a £13.5m move to Manchester

Tal Ben Haim is expected to move to Manchester City on a four-year deal worth £13.5 million.

Chelsea’s Israeli defender prefers City over Portsmouth because they agreed to match his current £65,000 weekly salary and pay  around £5 million for him.

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Wigan move puts De Ridder back with Bruce

Dutch midfielder Daniel De Ridder has made a swift return to the Barclays Premier League, after leaving relegated Birmingham City to join his former boss Steve Bruce at Wigan Athletic on a free transfer.

After signing a three-year deal with the club, he said he had made up his mind “seconds” after picking up the phone to Bruce.

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Sahar to play up Pompey

Ben Sahar and his club Chelsea have agreed a six-month loan deal with FA Cup winners Portsmouth. Currently on holiday in Israel, the former Hapoel Tel Aviv striker will earn £15,000 a week with Pompey and will fly back to England next week to begin training at Fratton Park.

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Benayoun: I’ll be a Red till I’m dead

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun says they will not win the Premiership any time soon — but insists he wants to play out his career there.

The Reds last won the top prize in 1990 when Ronnie Rosenthal, played for them, but Benayoun believes the fans must be patient.

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Fans flock to Tel Aviv — but where in the world is Wayne?

Dozens of paparazzi, reporters and soccer fans waited for several hours at Ben-Gurion Airport on Monday night to welcome Wayne Rooney and his new wife Coleen.

The couple, who were married last week in Portofino, Italy, were said to have been flying to Israel for a post-wedding stag night for Rooney at the Apartment 98 Club in Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Street.

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Schoolgirl goes from park to Premiership

She was spotted having a kickabout in the park and now plays for a Premier League club: that is the story of 13-year-old King Solomon student Shoshana Field who is now celebrating winning league titles and cups at Tottenham Hotspur.

Field “never would have thought” she would play for a top club but that all changed when she was spotted by a Spurs scout whilst playing in Valentines Park in Gants Hill, Essex.

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