Rafael Nadal will meet Roger Federer in the Australian Open final after battling past fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Bolton midfielder Kevin Nolan joins Newcastle United for £4m on a four-and-a-half year contract.

Striker El-Hadji Diouf joins Blackburn from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.

England take on West Indies A in St Kitts in their final warm-up match ahead of the Test series.

Britain’s Laura Robson remains on track for her second junior Grand Slam title after beating Noppawan Lertcheewakarn to reach the Australian Open final.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes reveals the club have had a new bid for Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz turned down.

Derby County midfielder Giles Barnes is set to join Fulham on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move.

Newcastle grant permission for goalkeeper Shay Given to start talks with Manchester City.

Sir Alex Ferguson says Owen Hargreaves will be fit for the start of next season after undergoing surgery on both knees.

Sir Alex Ferguson says he would not be interested in taking charge of a possible British Olympic football team in 2012.