UEFA Cup 2008-2009

FC Shakhtar Donetsk, who are up against Tottenham Hotspur FC in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 next month, have recalled three players from loan spells, including Mexican international Nery Alberto Castillo.

As a man who knows one or two things about scoring goals, Oleg Salenko believes his former club FC Dynamo Kyiv have made a shrewd appointment by installing the attack-minded Boris Ignatyev as Yuri Semin's assistant.

Greece midfield player Alexandros Tziolis, 23, has joined Werder Bremen on loan for the season from Panathinaikos FC, two months after helping the Greens to a 3-0 UEFA Champions League victory at the Weserstadion.

ACF Fiorentina have taken up the option to extend the contract of defender Per Krøldrup by a season until June 2010, three years after the Danish international returned to Italy following a brief spell at Everton FC.

Galatasaray AŞ coach Michael Skibbe has backed his current squad to succeed this season by signalling that they will not be making any January signings as they play their first 2009 fixture in the Turkish Cup tonight.

UC Sampdoria have signed 24-year-old left-back Andrea Raggi on loan from Serie A rivals US Città di Palermo until the end of the season.

SC Braga have a habit of finding their best form at the right moment and as they build up for next month's UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie with R. Standard de Liège they are creeping up the Portuguese Liga table in style.

There is talk in Galicia of a return to the halcyon days for RC Deportivo La Coruña under the leadership of Miguel Ángel Lotina, but the 51-year-old himself to quell growing expectations despite their recent upturn in form.

Tottenham Hotspur FC celebrated the return of England striker Jermain Defoe on Tuesday by defeating Burnley FC 4-1 in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final, all the holders' goals coming in the second half.

They may be among the Bundesliga's top scorers but VfL Wolfsburg have further boosted their striking reserves by signing Japanese international Yoshito Okubo from Vissel Kobe for a transfer worth in the region of €2m.

France international midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has been a revelation at FC Girondins de Bordeaux this term, catching the eye during his team's UEFA Champions League campaign following a disappointing spell with AC Milan.

VfB Stuttgart have announced the departure of the experienced Mexican international Pável Pardo with immediate effect after the 32-year-old was offered the chance of returning to his homeland by former side CF América.

UEFA Cup contenders NEC Nijmegen have extended the contracts of forward pair Saidi Ntibazonkiza and Joël Tshibamba with both players signing deals that will keep them at the club until the summer of 2012.

UEFA Cup Round of 32 contenders Manchester City FC have agreed a fee for Chelsea FC left-back Wayne Bridge with manager Mark Hughes saying: "We need to speak to the boy and try to agree personal terms."

R. Standard de Liège have signed Congolese-born Christian Benteke for an undisclosed fee, with the 18-year-old Belgian Under-19 international striker's contract at KRC Genk having been due to expire in the summer.