Injury doubt for Patrice Evra

United full-back Patrice Evra has been declared unfit for France's friendly against Chile on Wednesday night.

Evra's withdrawal from international duty comes after he suffered a knee injury in the Community Shield match against Manchester City on Sunday.

The 30-year-old took a blow on his left knee in the match at Wembley and did not take part in Les Bleus' Monday training session.

National team medical staffs have now ruled that he cannot play against Chile, so Manchester City new boy Gael Clichy has been called into the squad by manager Laurent Blanc.

Clichy has won ten senior caps for his country and last featured in the friendly against Croatia in March.

His absence from Wednesday's match against Chile has now cast doubt over his participation in United's opening Premier League match of the season on Sunday away to West Bromwich.

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Spurs lose Pienaar for six weeks

Tottenham winger Steven Pienaar has been ruled out for up to six weeks after undergoing groin surgery.

South Africa captain was forced to go under the knife after injuring himself in Spurs' final pre-season friendly against Spanish side Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

The north London club said in a statement on their official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "Following scans and consultation with an independent groin specialist, Steven Pienaar underwent groin surgery this morning [Tuesday].

"The South Africa international was forced off with the injury in the first half of Saturday's pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao and is expected to be sidelined with the injury for up to six weeks."

That would rule Pienaar out for up to eight games for the White hart lane Club, starting with Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener against his former side Everton.

He would also sit out crunch match with Champions Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool, as well as this month's Europa League play-off tie against Hearts and Tottenham's opening group match should they qualify.

Spurs are well equipped in midfield and should be able to cope with the absence of a player who has faced a battle to dislodge Gareth Bale on the left wing ever since his January move from Everton.

Tottenham are also on the lookout for players in the middle of the park, although they appear set to fail in their latest bid to sign Real Madrid's Lassana Diarra.

Boss Harry Redknapp signed Diarra for his former club Portsmouth in January 2008 and has made previous efforts to bring him to White Hart Lane.

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Alejandro Alfaro joins Mallorca

Sevilla forward Alejandro Alfaro has agreed a five-year deal to join Mallorca for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old became the club's sixth signing ahead of the 2011-12 campaign and was presented at the Iberostar Stadium today.

Alfaro came up through the youth system at Sevilla before spending two seasons on loan at Tenerife from 2008.

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Chelsea interested in Ghana defender

Chelsea scouting chief Michael Emenalo is closely monitoring the development of Ghana defender Samuel Inkoom, according to reports.

Inkoom is in the Ghana side to face Nigeria at Watford's Vicarage Road ground and the Daily Mirror claims Emenalo is a big fan of the defender.

The newspaper reports that Ukrainian team Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk have made the 22-year-old available for transfer for around £6million.

Inkoom is a new arrival at the Ukrainian club following his move from Swiss Super League side FC Basel in January this year.

English sides Fulham and Aston Villa have been mentioned as other potential destinations for the talented full-back.

Meanwhile,the Stamford Bridge Club are set to announce the capture of Belgian sensation Romelu Lukaku after a fee with Anderlecht had been agreed.

The 18-year-old striker has undergone a medical at the Blues' training ground in Cobham after Anderlecht accepted a fee, thought to be between £15million and £20million.

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