Image source, Reuters

German prosecutors say they would accept an offer of $100m (£60m) from Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone (pictured above right with his lawyers) to end his trial on bribery charges.

A Munich court is expected to rule on the offer later today.

The 83-year-old billionaire went on trial in April, charged with bribery and incitement to breach of trust. He is accused of paying a German banker 33m euros (£26m; $44m) to ensure that a company he favoured could buy a stake in F1. He denies wrongdoing.

Image source, Getty Images

Fraser:, external Demarai Gray at Birmingham City has been quality.

Mr Acougueiro:, external Emre Can (pictured) has made a big impression. Pace, power, composure and aggression. Very astute signing by Brendan Rodgers.

Tariq Kareemulla:, external Ander Herrera, the kid will go ahead and become the next Xavi, his vision and passing are simply brilliant!

England and Toronto striker Jermain Defoe is to miss two to three weeks of the Major League Soccer season with a groin injury.

Scans have revealed that Defoe has a strain, thought to have been suffered against DC United last week.

Defoe, who has 11 goals this season, is out of Wednesday's MLS All-Star game, having already missed Toronto's 2-0 victory over Montreal on Saturday.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hopes Philippe Coutinho will sign a new contract soon.

The Brazilian midfielder moved to Anfield from Inter Milan in an £8.5m transfer 18 months ago.

"I am not sure when it will be done. I haven't spoken to any of the directors in the last few days, so I am not sure where we are on that, but obviously he is someone we want to tie up for a period of time," Rodgers says.

'What do Formula 1 drivers get up to during the summer break?' I hear you ask. Well I'll tell you. McLaren driver Jenson Button has been in the Philippines, taking part in an Ironman competition...

Image source, @JensonButton

... and Button's fellow Brit and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has been over to America to visit the White House, where he met President Obama...

Image source, lewishamilton/instagram

Patrick Beaumont:, external Manchester City's Stevan Jovetic has really impressed me this summer, five goals in three games in that pre-season tournament, hopefully he'll keep injury free.

SK7:, external Shaw, Zaha, and Young all look like living up to the price-tag next year.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce says defender Jamaal Lascelles and goalkeeper Karl Darlow were sold to Newcastle United against his wishes.

While the Premier League club have not announced the deals, Pearce confirmed on BBC Radio Nottingham that they have signed for Newcastle and immediately been loaned back.

"The players were sold without my sanction," says Pearce. "I can't defend the decision to sell them because it wasn't my decision."

Sunderland are ready to move for former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, 33, who is a free agent after being released by Chelsea, according to Talksport., external

Eto'o took part in his fourth World Cup in Brazil this summer.

You can never read too much into pre-season results, but individual performances can offer that bit more encouragement.

Promising for Manchester United fans are the performances of Ashley Young so far. It is fair to say the wide man has not showcased his talent on a consistent basis at Old Trafford, but his displays against Real Madrid and Liverpool in the US suggest he could well deliver under new boss Louis van Gaal.

With that in mind, which players have caught your eye in pre-season and why? Let us know via #bbcsportsday,, external text us on 81111 or pop along to our Facebook, external and Google+, external pages to have your say.

Image source, @ASRoma

Poor Ashley Cole. The former Chelsea left-back is only months into his time as an AS Roma player, but his first team photo has seen him develop into something of an internet phenomenon. He was snapped a little further away from his new team-mates looking slightly forlorn.

There have been plenty of memes created as a result, with a lurking Cole superimposed on to various famous photographs throughout history. Now, his own team-mates have got in on the act. Here is Francesco Totti producing his version of the Ashley Cole lurk...

Image source, @JamesHorncastle

The start of the new season is fast approaching for teams across Europe and consequently the wheels of the transfer window rumour mill are grinding away. The latest rumours are in our gossip column, but here are three snippets to whet the appetite:

Atletico Madrid are ready to make a £25m bid to sign Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, 26, and Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa, 25, from Manchester United. (Guardian)

United boss Louis van Gaal is set to tell executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward that Hernandez and Kagawa can be sold, along with midfielders Marouane Fellaini and Anderson, both 26, winger Nani, 27, and possibly 21-year-old forward Wilfried Zaha. (Daily Mail)

The Red Devils are looking to do a swap deal with Atletico Madrid by offering Kagawa for 27-year-old midfielder Arda Turan. Mundodeportivo (in Spanish)

Corinne Diacre saw her Clermont Foot side lose 2-1 away to Brest in her first game in charge.

The Ligue 2 fixture marked the first time that a woman had taken charge of a professional men's team in the top two tiers of a European league.

Diacre's spell got off to the ideal start as Souleymane Sawadogo gave Clermont an early lead, but her side lost to two second-half goals.

England flanker Maggie Alphonsi says the "pain" of three final defeats in a row will help drive them to World Cup glory in France.

England have lifted the trophy once, in 1994, but have lost the past three finals to New Zealand. They have made 12 changes for their second Pool A match, against Spain (14:45 BST) on Tuesday.

Alphonsi says morale was high, telling BBC Sport: "I'm very confident that we are ready to win the World Cup."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United ended their US pre-season tour unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Premier League rivals Liverpool...

Image source, Getty Images

...a Steven Gerrard penalty gave Liverpool the lead, but Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard replied for United...

Image source, Getty Images

...more than 50,000 fans were at the Sun Life Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, to see the International Champions Cup final.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday's Sportsday Live.

Louis van Gaal has claimed his first piece of silverware as Manchester United boss after the Red Devils beat Liverpool 3-1 in Miami on Monday. It may only be the International Champions Cup, but United fans may be forgiven for feeling that little bit more optimistic about the season ahead after the disappointment of the previous campaign.

Ashley Young is one of a number of players who appears to be enjoying a new lease of life under Van Gaal and we will be asking you this morning which players have impressed in pre-season so far.

We will also bring you all the latest transfer news and gossip, as well as the latest from the Women's Rugby World Cup with Wales, England and Ireland all in action. First, the top three stories on our website today...