Ambitious Cluj thinking huge After their multinational side ended the autumn fourth in the Romanian table, CFR Ecomax Cluj-Napoca are going all-out for a UEFA Champions League place. At the moment, Cluj have more foreigners than any other side in Divizia A, with five Portuguese players, one Frenchman, a Moldovan, a Bolivian, a Paraguayan, a Brazilian and two Serbs on their books. That 12-man foreign legion, they hope, will be on the march into Europe next season.

Stanković honoured in Serbia

Dejan Stanković has been named as Serbia’s inaugural Player of the Year since the split with Montenegro while the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has also unveiled a new logo. FC Internazionale Milano star and national team captain Stanković came top of a poll among the 82 members of the FSS.

Petrov honoured in Bulgaria

Club Atlético de Madrid winger Martin Petrov has been named as Bulgaria’s Player of the Year ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Dimitar Berbatov and Aston Villa FC’s Stilian Petrov. The 27-year-old came out on top in a poll of 161 Bulgarian journalists to take the award for the first time in his career.

Steaua sign new goalkeeper

Last season’s UEFA Cup semi-finalists FC Steaua Bucuresti have signed 23-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper Andrey Nazário Afonso from Figueirense FC. The 23-year-old will replace Portuguese goalkeeper Carlos Alberto Fernandes who has returned to his home country after some high-profile mistakes led to him losing the confidence of the Steaua coaching staff.

Bayern hand Hummels contract

FC Bayern München have secured promising 18-year-old defender Mats Hummels on a contract until summer 2009. The defender has been with the club since 1995 and made his first-team debut at the age of 17 in the German League Cup semi-final against FC Schalke 04 this summer, as Bayern won on penalties after a goalless draw.

Eriksson close to taking new job

Sven-Goran Eriksson is involved in talks with three clubs and expects to sign a deal with one of them early in the new year, his agent says. The three clubs involved are reported to be Marseille, Paris St Germain and a team from Qatar. Still refused to confirm or deny the identities of the clubs.

Zaugg named as new Liechtenstein coach

Liechtenstein have named former Switzerland coach Hans-Peter ‘Bidu’ Zaugg as the new manager of the tiny principality’s national team. The Liechtenstein FA announced on Monday that it had agreed a three-year deal with Zaugg, running to the end of the qualifying period for the 2010 World Cup.

Sporting’s Nani showing promise

Nani is one of the most promising prospects in Portuguese football. In only his second full season at Sporting Clube de Portugal the 20-year-old has become a regular in the side, made his international debut and attracted the interest of several European clubs.

Saha extends Manchester United deal

Louis Saha has signed an extension to his contract which will keep him at Manchester United until 2010, the English Premiership leaders’ website announced. Although the France forward’s previous contract was not due to expire for another two full seasons after the present campaign, this new deal confirms his increasing importance to Old Trafford manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Saha has helped fill the gap left by the pre-season departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy and so far this season the 28-year-old has scored 12 goals.

Newcastle United confirms Polygon consortium bid approach

Newcastle United said on Wednesday that St James’ Park Group Ltd., a consortium backed by Polygon Global Opportunities Master Fund, is one of the groups that has made an approach to the company.