To get you up to speed with the transfer rumour-mill - CBBC's Ben Shires has composed this poem about the January transfer window...

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Stones Roses frontman Ian Brown once said: "Manchester's got everything except a beach."

That is a fact that the current Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi knows only too well.

His Argentina team-mate and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been trying to sell the city to the Barcelona forward.

"He already knows there's no beach," Aguero told Sky Sports.

"We play every three days so we just eat, rest between games - so the weather is not really that important. 

"So I told him that Manchester is ideal as a city because you stay at home all day, you play every three days, we can eat, we can meet up, drink mate (a traditional Argentine drink) and play football together." 

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Lancashire's cricketers are busy practising their catching skills in pre-season training...

Uefa says it will use goal-line technology at this year's European Championship, and in the Champions League from next season. 

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Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

There will be no presidential election at Uefa until Platini exhausts all appeal possibilities. 

Uefa decided in December to move its annual congress to May (in Budapest). 

This could be the date when a new president is elected but that will now depend on when the Court of Arbitration for Sport hear his case.    

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Uefa will not hold a presidential election until Michel Platini's appeal against his eight-year ban from all football activity is complete, the European governing body has announced.

It's been a busy day for Premier League news conferences, and we asked some of our reporters to sum up the moods of a few managers in one word. Here it is:

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

"A very good question, and one I'm sure Roy Hodgson will be pondering. Maybe if they get a run of 15-20 games before the end of the season but that hardly looks likely, does it?

"Hodgson loves Welbeck so will take the chance to include him if he does prove himself to be fit but I just don't see how he can take Sturridge because when he is not out injured for lengthy spells he breaks down one or two matches into his comeback.

"It's a shame because he is such a great talent but his record of breakdowns and his absences mean his fitness simply cannot be trusted. Not worth the risk at a major tournament."

Tony Pulis has been speaking about the future of West Brom striker Saido Berahino.

Berahino's future has been uncertain since handing in a transfer request at the start of the season amid several rejected offers from Tottenham. 

This week Spurs, along with Chelsea and Newcastle, were reported to have tabled bids.

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Pulis said: "The present situation is the club has not received any offers at all so everything is speculation and you can't stop people talking.

"I'm more disappointed for Saido. I told him at the beginning of the window the circus starts again.

 "If something happens, something happens and he understands that from the last window. Unless he's sold now, tomorrow or the next two days it could go to the deadline - it's a good story."

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England boss Roy Hodgson has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of York to mark his 40-year contribution to football management. 

The 68-year-old was given the honour by the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost Professor Saul Tendler at a graduation ceremony at the university.

Hodgson told the audience of graduands and their families: "If there's one thing I would say to you, and it's something we try to preach to our football players, have no fear. You have got to believe in yourself. 

"Be prepared to take chances because the worst that could happen is you might have to accept that it didn't work out, this challenge you took, and you have to go back to the drawing board and wait for the next chance to come along."

Toulon's France international scrum-half Frederic Michalak has been ruled out of Saturday's European Cup clash at Bath because of a thigh injury. 

The defending three-time champions have a one point lead over Wasps at the top of Pool 5.

The 33-year-old only returned to action last week following a hamstring injury picked up at the World Cup.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been trying his hand at American Football today...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Reuters

"There have certainly been signs of life in the last couple of Premier League games, Colin, which have hinted at slightly brighter days ahead.

"Newcastle showed real character to come back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to earn a very good draw at home to Manchester United then had a fine win against an in-form West Ham United side.

"Really interested to see how Jonjo Shelvey goes. He has definitely got talent but it didn't work out for him at Liverpool and it went sour very quickly in his final months at Swansea City.

"This is a big chance for him at a big club and I hope he knuckles down. If he produces what he is capable of then Newcastle's improvement can continue. Based on ability alone, he is a real asset."

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Bolton Wanderers' coaches are using their own money to help pay administrative staff at the financially troubled club, says boss Neil Lennon. 

Around 300 staff based at Bolton's Macron Stadium and their two training grounds have not been paid this month. 

"I've got staff who are struggling to make ends meet," said 44-year-old former Celtic manager Lennon. 

"That's not a great scenario so some of us are having a whip round for a few of them just to keep them on board."

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Newcastle are one point from safety and beat West Ham 2-1 in their last game.

Manager Steve McClaren: "The mood is good. There's a buoyancy. We've not turned the corner yet, we're not out of the pit but we're climbing our way out.

"We've played Watford a couple of times and in the (FA Cup we were very unlucky. They haven't won for a few games and need a win."

McClaren refused to be drawn on any transfer speculation.

He added: "Every club is busy in January but it would be disrespectful to comment on any player or club."

First some team news from Newcastle manager Steve McClaren.

"We've only got four fit defenders, the majority of them centre-backs. Mbabu, Dummett and Colback are all out

"Emmanuel Riviere will be on the bench (at Watford). There will be no Ivan Toney and no Siem de Jong."

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Stevenage have signed central defender Luke Wilkinson from League Two rivals Luton Town on a permanent contract. 

The 25-year-old has made 72 appearances for the Hatters, including 24 this season, since joining from Dagenham and Redbridge in the summer of 2014.

South Africa's Stephen Cook has reached his century on debut in the fourth Test at Centurion.

Cook is the 100th player to score a 100 on Test debut.

South Africa are 240-3.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty is answering some of your questions this afternoon...

"The latest, as I understand it, is that the process of going through Everton's finances is still ongoing with the US-led consortium headed by former owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team John Jay Moores and fellow entrepeneur Charles Noell.

"As far as I know the takeover is not racing ahead nor is it going backwards. And my information is that it has certainly not been called off.

"It takes time - which is perfectly understandable when a potential £200m takeover is involved. Important both parties get it right."