Image source, Rex Features

Arsenal Ladies have signed England international Fara Williams from Liverpool Ladies.

The 31-year-old midfielder is England's most-capped player of all time, having represented her country 148 times. 

Williams was part of the England squad which finished third at the World Cup last summer and was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.

Finally, on the subject of players, Zidane shrugged off talk that Gareth Bale might be sold or leave the club following Benitez’s sacking.

Benitez was a big fan of the Wales international, who Real paid a world record fee of £85.3m for in September 2013.

"I can understand that Bale is annoyed with Benitez's departure, but he is a fundamental part of this team," insisted Zidane.

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Zidane, who succeeds Rafael Benitez, becomes the 11th manager to be appointed by Florentino Perez during his 12 years as club president.

"I'm prepared for the challenge that awaits me and l'll do everything to make sure it goes well,” said Zidane.

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Zidane’s elevation to the first team at Real Madrid has been compared with Pep Guardiola’s rise at Barcelona.

But Zidane was quick to play down suggestions there were any similarities between his career and that of with Guardiola’s.

After playing for Barca, Guardiola achieved unprecedented success as the club’s manager before leaving to join Bayern Munich.

"You shouldn't make comparisons with me and Guardiola,” insisted Zidane. “He has achieved incredible things.”

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Zinedine Zidane's appoinment as Real Madrid manager has meant plenty of interest at his first news conference in his new role.

One journalist wanted to know what his football philosophy would be.

The 43-year-old former French international replied: "I want to play attacking, balanced football and that's all."

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Meanwhile, in Madrid, Zinedine Zidane is now facing the media after his appointment as Real boss...

We'll have the best of that shortly.

Finally, Pellegrini also says that nobody will be leaving the club in the January transfer window.

And as a former Real Madrid manager, he has had his say on Rafael Benitez who was sacked on Monday...

"At least I finished the year! I'm sorry for Rafa Benitez, he's a manager I respect, but I'm not surprised," he said.  

Pellegrini is happy that the first leg of the League Cup semi-final is at Goodison Park with the home leg to come on 27 January.

"It’s always better to play away first so you know what you need in the second leg at home," he said. "Maybe it’s more important in the Champions League trying not to concede in the home games.

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"It’s important when you’re in a competition to try to win it. We’ve won three games and now we’re in the semi-final.  

"We must beat Everton, then we can think about the first title and then we think about the best way to start the FA Cup - we must focus game by game regardless of the competition."

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says striker Wilfried Bony will miss the League Cup semi-final first leg against Everton with a calf injury and insists he is not going to change his style of play because of Everton.

"We will try to play as an offensive team, to create chances and to score the most amount of goals we can," he said

"We don’t think it will be easy because Everton have conceded goals recently Every game is different.

"Everton play offensive football and it’s always more difficult to defend because there is more space. If you play near your box and defend it’s easier."

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The Independent reports, external that Mohamed Elneny's transfer from FC Basel to Arsenal is set to be completed "in the coming days", according to the Swiss club.

A fee of around £7.3m has been agreed for the 23-year-old Egyptian and a medical has been completed but he is awaiting international clearance

In a statement on their website, Basel explained the midfielder's absence from training because "there could be a transfer in the coming days".

Image source, Getty Images

With Pep Guardiola saying he wants to manage in England, one of the men who he has been tipped to replace, Manuel Pellegrini, is just about to start addressing the media ahead of Man City's League Cup match vs Everton on Wednesday night. We'll bring you the latest on what he's had to say...

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Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport at Lakeside

When I arrived at Lakeside just after 11:00 GMT, the practice room was deserted but for one person - Martin "Wolfie" Adams.

The 59-year-old is aiming to win the BDO world title for the fourth time and the number two seed begins his campaign in 2016 with a tough first-round encounter Jeff Smith.

The Canadian got to the semi-finals last year and impressed in his preliminary-round win on Saturday.

Watch it live on BBC Two and online from 13:00 GMT.

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More from Pep: 

"I have an opportunity to work in England. I think I'm at the right age and I feel it is the right move for me."

Wonder where he could be heading. Swansea? Luton Town? 

"I want to experience a new city and I want to work in England. That is the reason I have taken this decision," Pep Guardiola tells a news conference in Germany.

Suddenly Man City, United and Chelsea sit up straight and pay attention. 

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Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says he wants 'to coach in England' 

Image source, Pranav Dhanawade

A bit more on Pranav Dhanawade's record breaking innings. 

A few thoughts on this scorecard below... 

• The other batsmen didn't score anywhere near the rate Pranav did
• What was Shashwat Jagtap playing at? 38 off 69 balls when coming in at 1077-2?!!

On Muhamed Besic, who has played his first two games since injury against Chelsea in September, Martinez is full of praise. 

"I think everyone was delighted to see him back to his full flow. We were so disappointed to see his injury against Chelsea", he said.

"He's a contagious footballer, he leads the game. It's great to see him fully fit. It's been a frustrating start, but it doesn't take away from how important he's going to be for us. 

"He's still a young man, but at his age [23] he's become a really important player for us."

Image source, Getty Images

‘Do you need a lead after the first leg?’ a journalist asks Martinez.

“It’s hard to tell,” says the Everton boss, with spectacular insight.

“There will be two games involving sides that both have the same approach – attacking football and trying to win.

“So I don’t think you can give a definite answer.

“Both teams will fight for 180 minutes, so I’m not sure the first 90 minutes will have a bigger impact than the second.”

Right, that sorts that out.