No more Meriem for Monaco

AS Monaco FC playmaker Camel Meriem will not play again this season after twisting his knee in training and being diagnosed with a cruciate ligament injury. The French international is Monaco's most-used player of the Ligue 1 campaign, having appeared 30 times for the Principality side.

Also facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines is RSC Anderlecht goalkeeper Silvio Proto, who suffered a knee injury in training on Wednesday. Early indications are that the Belgian international goalkeeper has damaged his cruciate knee ligaments and the club's initial diagnosis is that he will be out of action for between four and six months. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Argentinian midfielder Christian Leiva has agreed a three-year contract with the option for a further season with Anderlecht, who he joins from CA Banfield in his homeland.

SL Benfica's Portuguese international midfielder Petit will miss Sunday's Liga trip to CD Nacional after taking a heavy blow to his head in a training-ground collision with team-mate Simão. The 29-year-old FIFA World Cup hopeful should be back in action next week.

AC Milan

Rangers FC captain Barry Ferguson is an injury doubt for Sunday's final Old Firm derby of the season away to new Scottish Premier League champions Celtic FC. The 28-year-old midfielder has been unable to train and is due to have ankle surgery once the campaign ends.

Former Dutch international Jan Wouters, who will leave his post as Rangers FC first-team coach at the end of the Scottish season, is poised to join the coaching staff at his former club, PSV Eindhoven. The 45-year-old played for the new Eredivisie champions from 1993-96. PSV have yet to announce details of Wouters' contract while the identity of head coach Guus Hiddink's successor remains unknown.

Athletic Club Bilbao midfielder Carlos Gurpegi is to undergo major surgery to cure a long-standing groin injury. The 25-year-old is already out of action for the Spanish club as he recovers from an operation for a broken cheekbone sustained against RCD Mallorca on 9 April.

Silkeborg IF

RC Celta de Vigo

Scottish Premier League side Motherwell FC have signed Brian McLean from Rangers FC for an undisclosed fee. The 21-year-old centre-back has agreed a three-year-deal after a successful season-long loan. Former Celtic FC midfielder Phil O'Donnell has also agreed a one-year contract extension while goalkeeper Colin Meldrum has signed on for another two years.

Polish strugglers Górnik Zabrze have parted company with coach Ryszard Komornicki. The 46-year-old becomes the club's third coaching casualty of the season, which started with Marek Wleciałowski at the helm. He was replaced by former KSP Polonia Warszawa boss Marek Motyka after four straight defeats before Komornicki was handed the reins. Motyka and goalkeeping coach Przemysław Cecherz are the favourites for the vacant role.

Netherlands coach Marco van Basten has included five players who may feature in this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship in his provisional 33-man squad for the FIFA World Cup finals. AFC Ajax defender Urby Emanuelson, midfielder Nigel de Jong of Hamburger SV and forwards Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) and Robin van Persie (Arsenal FC) are all named in the party, which will be reduced to 23 players by 15 May. The U21 finals take place in Portugal from 23 May to 4 June.