Manchester United is to unveil a record gross turnover of 245 million pounds (328 million euros, 483 million dollars), a report said Monday, establishing it as one of the world’s richest football clubs.

The Financial Times said the English Premier League champions will on Friday show a 21 percent rise in gross turnover in its financial results to June 30, 2007, up from 202 million pounds in the previous 12 months.

Revenues from its deal with US sportswear firm Nike and income from its broadcasting arm MUTV are included in the figure, but not from merchandising, which is recorded under a wholly-owned subsidiary, it added.

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson set his sights on FA Cup glory after watching his team grind out a third round goalless draw at West Ham.

City will be favourites to progress in the replay later this month as they have won ten and lost only one of their 13 games at home this season.

Some Premier League managers, such as Reading’s Steve Coppell, have made it clear that they care little for the FA Cup, but Eriksson does not share that mentality.

Coventry City manager Iain Dowie challenged his players to transfer their outstanding cup exploits into their league form after the Championship side’s thrilling 4-1 FA Cup third round win away to Blackburn Rovers.

For the second time this season Dowie’s team overcame Premier League opposition, after September’s surprise League Cup win against Manchester United at Old Trafford, with a convincing rout of Mark Hughes’s men.

The two clubs were separated by 28 league places with Dowie’s side languishing five points above the second-tier relegation zone.

Japanese international striker Naohiro Takahara has agreed to leave Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt to return to Japan and play for Urawa Red Diamonds, the German club said Friday.

The 28-year-old Takahara, who was under contract until June 2009, will cost Urawa one million euros, according to German press reports.

Takahara arrived in Germany in 2002 and played at SV Hamburg before leaving for Frankfurt in 2006.

In all, he played 135 matches and scored 25 goals.

This season his opportunities have been limited with just eight games and one goal to his name.

Source:Soccer News

Rock-bottom Premiership club Derby County on Friday finalised the two million pound (2.671 million euro) signing of Argentinian striker Emanuel Villa.

The 25-year-old, who has signed from Mexican side UAG Tecos, put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half year contract.

Rams boss Paul Jewell, who earlier in the day signed veteran Manchester City right-back Danny Mills on loan until the end of the season, said he was confident Villa will make an impact in the top flight.

“This is a very exciting capture for us,” Jewell told the club’s official website. “I believe Emanuel is a striker of the highest quality.

In an interview set to appear here on Monday in German magazine Kicker, the 31-year-old says he wants to make amends for his eight-month break, after an ankle injury, with plenty of silverware.

“I hope 2008 will be a year of titles for me: the Champions League and the European Championships,” the midfielder told Kicker.

Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ice-cool temperament after the Portuguese winger’s nerveless late penalty winner against Everton kept Manchester United’s title challenge on track.

Ronaldo sealed the 2-1 victory with a spot-kick three minutes from the final whistle after his first half goal had been cancelled out by Tim Cahill’s equaliser.

The double took his goal-haul to 16 for the season and United manager Ferguson admitted Ronaldo’s contribution was crucial to keeping his side within one point of leaders Arsenal after the opening round of the four-game holiday programme.