Andrew Benson
BBC Sport

"Red Bull's pre-season struggles continue as the world champions endure a difficult third day of testing in Jerez. The car broke down on its first lap in Daniel Ricciardo's hands after Sebastian Vettel managed only 11 laps over the first two days.

"Ricciardo had to wait for three hours while problems with the hybrid energy recovery system were fixed. The car then ground to a smoky halt on the Australian's first lap."

Sheffield Wednesday sign Arsenal striker Benik Afobe on loan until the end of the season. Afobe, 20, has yet to make his debut for the Gunners, but has previously appeared for Huddersfield, Reading, Bolton and Millwall during loan spells.

The Owls were looking for a striker to fill the gap left by England Under-21 international Connor Wickham, recalled by Sunderland on Monday.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder George Thorne, 21, signs a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the club, external and then joins Derby County on loan for the rest of the campaign. Thorne has made 10 league appearances for the Baggies and has also had loan spells at Portsmouth, Watford and Peterborough.

Historian Dan Snow has been looking at the role that Great Britain has played in the development of the Winter Olympics for a BBC Two television programme on Thursday at 21:00 GMT.

"What may surprise people is how pivotal Great Britain are to the story of the Winter Olympics," he says in a piece on the BBC Sport website.

Image source, @SAFCofficial

Sunderland announce the signing, external of Argentina international striker Ignacio Scocco on a two-and-a-half-year contract from South American club Internacional for an undisclosed fee.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Aaron Ramsey, who has not featured since 26 December because of a thigh strain has suffered a setback in his attempt to return to action.

Midfielder Ramsey, 23, was expected to be out several weeks, but Wenger tells the club's official website:, external "Ramsey will be out for longer because he had a setback and it doesn't look too good. It is matter of some weeks for him."

On midfielder Jack Wilshere's ankle problem, the Arsenal boss adds: "We have good news. For Sunday he will be short but he has a chance to be available for the week after at Liverpool."

The chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation is standing down after 14 years in the job. New Zealander Mike Hooper has overseen Games in Manchester, Melbourne and Delhi but will leave his position after the Games in Glasgow this year.

The president of the CGF, Prince Tunku Imran, says a worldwide search for his replacement will begin immediately.

Image source, @FulhamFC

Fulham announce the signing, external of central midfielder William Kvist on loan until the end of the season from Stuttgart. The Cottagers have an option to make the transfer permanent in the summer. The 28-year-old Kvist began his career in his native Denmark with FC Copenhagen, where he featured in the Champions League alongside Brede Hangeland.

BBC Sport's Anna Thompson in Sochi: "The first layer of ice has been laid at the Ice Cube Curling Centre today but it needs more preparation before practice can start on Saturday."

The curling competition runs from 10-23 February with two gold medals up for grabs.

Super League side Wakefield say their stadium will have a reduced capacity, external for the start of the 2014 campaign.

The club needs to carry out works following an annual review of the safety certificate for the Rapid Solicitors Stadium and will only be able to have a capacity of 5,333 for the early part of the season, which begins next month.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet will be delighted to finally get his hands on his former Brighton midfield man Liam Bridcutt. I attended a few Poyet news conferences at Brighton and it was never a surprise when he turned the conversation to Bridcutt.

He was always glowing in his assessment and made it very clear this was a player he felt could flourish in the Premier League. Poyet now gets the chance to prove his theory - and will hope his new signing can keep the Black Cats in the top flight for next season.

Norwich are in talks with Turkish side Fenerbahce over a loan deal for defender Joseph Yobo.

The 33-year-old left Everton in August 2012 and played against Arsenal in their Champions League qualifier in August, but now appears set for a return to the Premier League to help boost the Canaries' bid to retain their top-flight status.

Australia have replaced injured batsman Shaun Marsh with Phillip Hughes for the three-Test series against South Africa which starts on 12 February.

Paceman Jackson Bird has also been cleared to play after injuring his back in a Big Bash match last week and he and team-mate Moises Henriques will fly to South Africa on Friday.

Harlequins say that England and London Irish wing Marland Yarde has signed a two-year deal to join them this summer

The 21-year-old is currently out of action after suffering a ruptured tendon in his hip during a game against Leicester on 23 November and is expected to return next month.

Image source, Getty Images

AC Milan say that Adel Taarabt is undergoing a medical at the club with a view to joining the Italian giants on loan for the rest of the season.

The 24-year-old Morocco international joined Fulham on a season-long loan from relegated QPR last summer but has made just 16 appearances in all competitions for the Cottagers.

A statement from AC Milan read: "Adel Taarabt has landed on a private jet to (Milan's) Linate airport. In order for his transfer to the Rossoneri club to be made official, we must wait for the necessary procedures to take place."

Taarabt told the club website:, external "I am honoured to be able to play in the best club in the world. I have spoken to [AC Milan coach Clarence] Seedorf and we are both really happy. I am a striker and I like to play behind the forwards. I don't know personally [Mario] Balotelli but I know very well who he is and it will be great to play with him."

London Broncos continue their recruitment for the new season with the signing of Brisbane Broncos forward Nick Slyney.

The 25-year-old prop or back-rower, whose grandfather was born in London, made his NRL debut for North Queensland Cowboys in 2008 and has been with the Broncos for the last two seasons.

London coach Tony Rea said: "We've been talking with Nick for the last four months. He has shown outstanding character and will prove to be a strong part of the capital's pack."

Southampton defender Danny Fox joins Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season. The 27-year-old former Burnley player will sign for Forest on a permanent basis in the summer, Southampton announce., external Fox made 69 appearances during his two-and-a-half year spell at St Mary's, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League in his first season.

Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday are charged by the Football Association "for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly manner".

An FA statement on their website, external reads: "The charge relates to an incident in or around the 88th minute of their match on Tuesday [28 January 2014]. The clubs have until 18:00 GMT on 3 February 2014 to respond to the charge."

Both teams finished the match with 10 men after Wednesday's Giles Coke and Millwall defender Shane Lowry were both sent off for fighting. The match ended 1-1.

Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is slowly being brought out of an induced coma following last month's skiing accident, his manager has said.

The statement reads: "Michael's sedation is being reduced in order to allow the start of the waking-up process which may take a long time. For the protection of the family, it was originally agreed by the interested parties to communicate this information only once this process was consolidated."

It adds that no further updates will be given.

Today's teaser from @QofS_Official is: Which eight players in England's starting XV to face France in the 6 Nations on Saturday have won less than 20 caps for their country?

We will give you the answer later.