Palermo go for Guardalben

US Città di Palermo

FC Girondins de Bordeaux expect to be without Albert Riera for at least three weeks after the Spanish midfield player dislocated his elbow during Saturday's goalless draw with Lille OSC. Riera landed awkwardly on his elbow after contesting a high ball with LOSC's Mathieu Chalmé and further scans this week will reveal the full extent of the problem.

Levante UD midfield player Vicente Blanco 'Tito' faces an uncertain future after he was omitted from the club's squad list for the coming season amid worries over his fitness. The 33-year-old has been struggling with a groin injury and must now undergo surgery, which will sideline him for at least two months.

Turkey midfield player Yildiray Bastürk could have to wait until mid-September to make his Bundesliga debut for Hertha BSC Berlin. Bastürk suffered a calf injury during pre-season training in mid-July but was believed to be on course for a first appearance for his new club against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. However, given he has only just returned to full training, manager Dieter Hoeness said a more realistic target for Bastürk was the home match against VfB Stuttgart on 18 September.

Another player eyeing a mid-September return to action is Arsenal FC's England defender Sol Campbell. An achilles problem has caused him to miss the start of the Premiership season and will rule him out of England's FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Austria and Poland at the beginning of September. However, he was due back in training today and could be ready for the English champions' first UEFA Champions League group game on 14 or 15 September.

Maltese champions Sliema Wanderers FC have signed Miguel Mifsud from Hibernians FC. The 25-year-old defender, who made 83 league appearances for Hibernians over four seasons, has three international caps to his name and joins on a three-year contract.

Elsewhere in Malta, Msida St. Joseph FC have signed Daniel Theuma from Valletta FC. The 33-year-old former Malta international defender has agreed a two-year contract with Msida and represented his new club for the first time on Monday in a pre-season tournament. Msida, meanwhile, have also signed Maltese Under-21 international Josef Mifsud on a four-year deal from Sliema after he spent the 2003/04 campaign with Msida.