Bernard Hopkins, right, dominated from start to finish against Kelly Pavlik. Photograph: Tim Larsen/AP
The 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins ended the unbeaten reign of Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City last night, claiming a unanimous points decision in the light heavyweight bout over the man 17 years his junior. Hopkins dominated his 26-year-old opponent from start to finish [...]

Mark Hughes being Mark Hughes. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images
As anyone who’s stood next to the Mill in the fifth floor toilets will tell you, this substandard gossip column is the very definition of the little guy. So it’s good to see one of our own [LEGAL NOTE: in the metaphorical, not the physical sense] getting [...]

Kaka says he won’t be leaving Milan any time soon. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian
Kaká has poured cold water on speculation that he could join Brazil team-mate Robinho at Manchester City by pledging his future to Milan.
Kaká, the reigning World Player of the Year, was linked with a move away from the San Siro this summer [...]

Mark Hughes is happy with a ‘very satisfactory week’. Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images
Manchester City have completed the signing of the Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta from Espanyol for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year deal at Eastlands, and will further strengthen Mark Hughes’s squad following the acquisition of Shaun Wright-Phillips from Chelsea on [...]

Georgios Samaras spent four months of last season on loan at Celtic. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images
Georgios Samaras has signed a three-year contract at Celtic after impressing while on loan from Manchester City last season. The Greek striker cost City £6m when he joined from Heerenveen in January 2006 but he failed to find a regular [...]

“Have you seen Mark Hughes’ hair?”. Photograph: Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images)
Je m’appelle Le Mill, j’ai onze ans, j’habite a La Rochelle, j’ai deux soeurs et un chat, j’écoute les disques de Johnny Hallyday et j’aime le tennis, le foot et, bien sur, les rumours.
That, there, is some French for you. Pourquoi? Well, mes amis, it’s Bastille [...]

Chelsea’s Tal Ben-Haim could be heading to Manchester City. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Action Images
Manchester City hope to end Tal Ben-Haim’s short and unsuccessful spell at Chelsea after instigating formal talks to make him their second signing of the summer.
Ben-Haim is keen to leave Stamford Bridge only 13 months after signing a four-year contract and the Israeli [...]

Paul Ince during MK Dons’ promotion-winning season in 2007-8. Photograph: Paul Currie/Action Images
Leicester City have failed in an attempt to recruit Paul Ince as their new manager. The Leicester chairman, Milan Mandaric, made an official approach to the MK Dons owner, Pete Winkelman, last week but the move was decisively rejected by the newly-promoted League [...]

Mark Hughes has left Blackburn Rovers and has taken the reins at Manchester City. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images
Mark Hughes has today been appointed as the new manager of Manchester City.
City parted company with Sven-Goran Eriksson on Monday and were immediately given permission to talk to Blackburn manager Hughes, 44, with a compensation package agreed yesterday.
Hughes [...]

Eriksson is out of a job again after a season at Eastlands. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images
Manchester City have confirmed Sven-Goran Eriksson has left his post as the Premier League club’s manager. The Swede’s departure, by mutual consent, brings to an end weeks of speculation over his future. City’s owner Thaksin Shinawatra was unhappy with the [...]