Barcelona, Real Madrid tie 1-1 in Copa semifinal

MADRID (AP) -- Raphael Varane scored in the 81st minute, givingReal Madrid a 1-1 tie against Barcelona on Wednesday night in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal.

With Barcelona enjoying the majority of the possession, Cesc Fabregas put the defending champions ahead in the 50th minute off a pass from Lionel Messi, who intercepted a clearance. Messi's streak of scoring in 16 straight starts ended.

Varane's goal was his first since Dec. 20, 2011.

''It's like a dream come true, incredible to score a goal like that against Barcelona at just 19,'' Varane said.

With goalkeeper Iker Casillas sidelined by a broken hand, Diego Lopez was in goal for Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo served as captain.

The second leg of the total-goals series will be in Barcelona on Feb. 27. Atletico Madrid hosts Sevilla on Thursday in the first leg of the other semifinal.

''This is obviously a good result; we are in the Bernabeu, a very tough field, and we will have our own fans behind us for the return leg of the draw,'' Fabregas said.

The 19-year-old Raphael Varane sealed an excellent match, heading an equalizer in the 81st having saved three clear Barcelona chances earlier.

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LONDON (AP) - Wayne Rooney scored twice to lead Manchester United over Southampton 2-1 and open a seven-point lead over second-place Manchester City in the English Premier League.

After Jay Rodriguez put the visitors ahead, Rooney scored in the eighth and 27th minutes to give him nine goals in his last nine games. United has won nine Premier Leagues matches in which it has trailed this season.

United (19-3-2) has 59 points, while City (15-2-7) has 52.

Third-place Chelsea (13-4-7) dropped 13 points off the lead when it wasted a late two-goal lead at Reading in a 2-2 tie. After goals by Juan Mata in first-half injury time and Frank Lampard in the 66th, the European champions conceded goals to Adam Le Fondre in the 87th minute and in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Fourth-place Tottenham (12-6-6) remained four points back of Chelsea with a 1-1 tie at Norwich. Wesley Hoolahan's 32nd-minute goal was offset when Gareth Bale scored on a solo run in the 80th.

Arsenal rallied for a 2-2 tie at home against Liverpool, which opened a two-goal lead when Luis Suarez scored in the fifth minute and Jordan Henderson in the 60th. The Gunners came back on goals by Olivier Giroud in the 64th and Theo Walcott in the 67th.

Everton (9-3-12) moved into fifth place, one point behind Spurs and three ahead of Arsenal, with a 2-1 win against West Bromwich Albion on goals by Leighton Baines in the 29th and first-half injury time, the latter a penalty kick. Shane Long scored in the 65th for the visitors.

Dimitar Berbatov scored on his 32nd birthday to lead Fulham over West Ham 3-1. Hugo Rodallega and Joey O'Brien added goals for the Cottagers.

Redknapp rues 'gang warfare' transfer tactics in chase for Odemwingie

QPR boss Harry Redknapp has described the current transfer climate as "gang warfare" as he attempts to lure Peter Odemwingiefrom West Brom.

The 65-year-old admitted on Monday that he was unsure of his side's ability to secure the forward's signature and has now claimed that clubs and agents "fighting for big money" is not helping matters.

"This transfer window, I have never seen anything like it," Redknapp told reporters. "Every agent seems to be trying to screw each other. It's a bit like ice-cream sellers. Someone has nicked their pitch in Glasgow! Someone's going to shoot them or something.

"It's like gang warfare out there - it's scary. If you're trying to get a player another agent will try to scupper that deal if he's not involved in it to try to get you to have one of his.

"It's unreal, unbelievable. They're all fighting for big money - that's the problem."

Odemwingie handed in a transfer request on Friday to try to secure a move away from the Hawthorns, only for West Brom to reject QPR's latest bid of 2 million pounds.

However, Redknapp has underlined his stance of refusing to pay more than 3 million for the Nigeria international, with the transfer window set to close on Thursday

"As much as the boy wants to come or doesn't, I wouldn't be paying [more than he is worth]. There is a value I think he is worth and I would be saying don't pay any more for him," the Rs boss added.

"I have not spoken to anybody, I've left it to the chairman. We made an offer, two offers. If they don't accept them, what can you do? It's end of story."

Another player who Redknapp is reportedly chasing is Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue, after previous target Moussa Sissoko opted to join Newcastle instead, but the Englishman fears that a move could prove too costly for the relegation-threatened side.

"He's expensive. Maybe too expensive for us," Redknapp conceded. "But I like him, I watched him against last week. The money they are asking is quite expensive for us so it would be a problem."

Brek Shea transfer potentially back on as he heads to Europe

The Brek Shea transfer saga took another turn Monday night, as FC Dallas released a statment confirming the 22-year-old was traveling to Europe, but didn't specify where he was going.

"We have received interest from a number of European clubs regarding Brek Shea," the statement read. "Brek is traveling there this evening and, as a result, he will not be in attendance at training tomorrow. Currently, there is no deal in place with any club and we have no further details at this time."

Shea had been subject of a bid from Premier League side Stoke last week, but with MLS reportedly killing the deal after FCD and Stoke agreed upon a fee, it appeared that Shea would stay in MLS for the time being.

With the new development, it would appear that either Stoke has come back with an improved offer, or there is a mystery team that has swooped in. There will surely be more to come on this story in the coming days.

Newcastle is the ideal club for me, says Moussa Sissoko

Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko has described Newcastle United as his "ideal club" ahead of his proposed move to St James’ Park.

The Ligue 1 side confirmed on Thursday that the midfielder is to travel to England to complete a medical ahead of penning a five-and-a-half year deal, with a fee of 1.8 million pounds believed to have been agreed for a player with just six months left on his contract

The player will become Alan Pardew's fifth Frenchman to join during the January transfer window after Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara and Yoan Gouffran, and the 10th on the club's books.

"Newcastle are a very good club, despite the fact that they are fairly low down in the standings at the moment. They have quality players and had a brilliant season last year. That is what motivated me to go to this club,” Sissoko told the club’s official website.

"I will get game time at Newcastle, and it is important for me as a player to play as much football as possible. I think Newcastle is the ideal club."

The 22-year-old has reportedly had many suitors in France ahead of the expiration of his current contract, but chose to come to the Premier League as it "suited his style of play".

Sissoko says will leave Toulouse with a heavy heart and thanked the club and the fans for their support during his five-year spell at Stadium Municipal.

He added: "I arrived here at Toulouse at a very young age. They have taught me all sorts of things on many different levels. I want to thank everyone, from the youth coaches right to the top.

"They taught me all I know and now I hope it will help when I go over there. This club will forever have a place in my heart’.

"I thank all the Toulouse fans for supporting me in the good and bad times during my time here."

Eden Hazard retracts his apology to Swansea ball boy

OK, that's it. I apologized yesterday because everyone was freaking out and making me wonder if I really did kick you, but now I'm taking it back.First of all, I did actually kick the ball a.k.a. the inanimate object you developed an emotional attachment to and then tried to hump. So that bit where you held your ribs and winced and called for the ref to alert him to your internal bleeding and death throes after I popped it out from your perverse assault looked about as stupid as your face.

Secondly, let's clear up a matter of semantics. Everyone keeps calling you a ball "boy," yet you're 17. I have brothers younger than you. And I promise you I have done far, far worse things to them without our parents even looking up from their waffles (which we eat all the time because we're Belgian). So, you're not a boy -- when I was 17, I was playing first-team football in Ligue 1 -- but you're obviously not an adult either. Let's just call you a "ball bag," since you clearly wanted that ball inside you, and leave it at that.

Third, I saw your Twitter account. Yes, the one featuring a picture of you drinking Strongbow, a bio where you describe yourself as a "LAD" and tweets from before the match about how you were "needed for time wasting." Why would a ball boy be so keen on wasting time? Because your name is Charlie Morgan and your father, hotelier Martin Morgan, is Swansea's top shareholder. If I get a ban for kicking your love toy away, then your family should get a ban for whatever they call making your son a ball boy so he can help your team reach a cup final. Oh, and the next time I stay in one of your father's hotels, I'm going to claim the bellboy kicked me and roll around in the lobby until they give me a free room upgrade. And then I'm going to take all of the bodywashes. All of them.

Finally, I would just like to make one last point on how thankful you should be. You see, this could have been a lot worse for you. Imagine, for a moment, that it wasn't me you played this little game against. Imagine it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If it was Zlatan you did this to...wow...he would have kicked you. He would have kicked you so hard that your body would have turned into a gas, caught fire and then covered the grass in a urine-like dew. Think about that. 

Manchester United legend Schmeichel comes to De Gea's defense

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has come to the defense of under-fire David De Gea, after the young goalkeeper was criticized following his side's 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

The 22-year-old was widely blamed for failing to deal with a cross into the United penalty area that allowed Clint Dempsey to fire in a last-minute equalizer from close range, but Schmeichel feels it is wrong to point the finger at the No. 1.

In fact, the former Old Trafford favorite believes Tottenham would have won the game convincingly were it not for De Gea’s contribution.

"It is very easy to claim De Gea is to blame," he told Sky Sports.

"I disagree. I think if De Gea had not played the way he did we would have lost 4-1.

"We played in a way that required the goalkeeper to make saves. He did that. He did his job. Nobody is highlighting that.

"My point is that if you are not that deep, we are not conceding those chances. That is the thing I would work on. In general, the way to win championships is not by defending as deeply as we did for the final hour on Sunday."

Schmeichel not only highlighed the Spaniard's contributions throughout the game, but also insisted that he was not to blame on Dempsey's late equalizer.

"For the goal, David does all the right things. He got a fist to it under pressure but, unfortunately, the ball ends up with a Spurs player.

"We should be further up the pitch. If that starts with the goalkeeper, he needs to work on that, but we need them to be brave enough to take them out."

PFA chairman brands Hazard 'unprofessional' after ball boy incident

PFA chairman Gordon Taylor has branded Chelsea's Eden Hazard as "unprofessional" and "unacceptable" following his alleged kicking of a Swansea City ball boy.

The Football Association is reviewing footage of the incident, which saw the Blues star sent off after struggling to retrieve the ball from the 17-year-old before appearing to make contact with the youngster when attempting to free the ball. 

Hazard will not face criminal action for his part in the incident, after the ball boy Charlie Morgan and his father, Swansea director Martin Morgan, decided not to press charges against Chelsea's 32 million pound summer signing – but Taylor was swift to condemn the Frenchman’s actions.

"You can't put a youngster at risk, no matter if he's trying to keep the ball," he told Sky Sports News.

"The referee acted accordingly. There's a procedure in place: he was sent off and could now suffer a three-match ban. That's the message that's got to go out.

"It's unacceptable, it can't happen. It's unprofessional, you can't take the law into your own hands."

The chairman of the Football League Greg Clarke has also criticized the Chelsea attacker, but feels that Charlie Morgan and Swansea as a club have to answer to criticism as well.

"I think both sides have to look at themselves hard," Clarke said.

"There's never an excuse for inflicting violence on anybody else; we don't want to see footballers allegedly kicking a ball boy but we do want to see the ball returned in a timely fashion.

"We'll have to look at both sides of it and the FA, I'm sure, will do that in a calm and professional way. If the ball had been returned this situation would probably have never arisen but it's never the right thing for players to take these matters into their own hands."

Hazard and Morgan apologized to each other in Chelsea's dressing room after the game, with the player also issuing a public apology on the club's official website.

'Magic does happen' - Bradford heroes celebrate Capital One Cup triumph

Bradford City midfielder Gary Jones believes the club's progression to the Capital One Cup final proves "magic does happen" in the sport. 

James Hanson's goal proved enough to take the Bantams to Wembley Stadium, despite a 2-1 second-leg loss at the hands of efforts from Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann. The League Two side had won the first leg 3-1 at home, which was a strong enough foundation to keep the dream run alive and reach the final against either Chelsea or Swansea City.

Phil Parkinson's side is the first club from the fourth tier to reach a cup final since Rochdale in 1962, and the players were ecstatic with their phenomenal achievement.

"I'm lost for words. Just look at [the fans], that says everything," Jones told Sky Sports. "A fourth division club to get to Wembley is an absolutely magical thing. That's what happens in cups, magic does happen."

Goal-scorer Hanson, a former supermarket shelf stacker who had a pain-killing injection in his toe before the game, is now relishing a first trip to Wembley. 

"The lads dug in first half I thought it was going to be backs against the wall pretty much all night. It looked a bit nervy but I thought we were quite comfortable second half," Hanson said. "I've never been [to Wembley]. It's been an amazing three years for me, so I've just got to keep working hard and hopefully we'll get a trophy there."

Goalkeeper Matt Duke has played a key role in the Bantams cup run, with crucial saves in penalty shootouts against Premier League opposition Wigan and Arsenal.

When asked if he believes in fairy tales, the former Hull City man responded: "I do now. I'm just speechless. 

"The lads were fantastic again tonight. Look at the fans; it's going to be a great day at Wembley for us. Tonight was our final so we're just going to go [to Wembley] and have a great day.

"It's a dream. As a kid you dream of playing at Wembley and we're going to do it. We'll take a League Two club to Wembley with a massive following and it's just going to be an amazing day. I'm so looking forward to it. Whether we play Swansea or Chelsea, it's going to be a different game. If we do what we've done, we've got a chance."

Owen delighted to get off the mark for Stoke

Stoke City striker Michael Owen expressed his delight to have got off the mark for the club after opening his account during the 3-1defeat away at Swansea City on Saturday.

The 33-year-old headed home a consolation strike, the goal marking his 150th in the English top flight and his first for the Potters after a frustrating start to his career at the Britannia Stadium, which has seen him make just five appearances so far this season. 

Having become only the seventh player in Premier League history to reach the milestone, the former Liverpool star is now determined to make a big impact for Tony Pulis's side in the second half of the season.

"It's obviously nice to do it - I did fear that I would never get there," Owen told the club's official website. "You do worry and think that it just isn't meant to be but thankfully I got there and it is another good achievement for me. It was a nice way to score my first goal for the club, in certain ways.

"It is now just a question of me doing well, training well and then taking the chance in the team when it comes along. Hopefully, the second half of the season can be a lot better for me."

The former England international admits that he has found it difficult to break into the Potters side this term due to the form of his teammates, with Pulis often favoring playing just one striker up front.

He added: "I have slipped a little down the pecking order in many respects with Kenwyne [Jones]'s recent form, and the way Peter [Crouch] started the season.

"You do worry a little bit that you won't make the impact that you want to. As I said though, I am there now and hopefully I can build upon that."

Dempsey prepared to fight for new attacking role at Tottenham

Clint Dempsey has warned that he will not give up his place in theTottenham side easily when the Emmanuel Adebayor returns fromAfrican Cup of Nations duty with Togo.

The 29-year-old Dempsey was paired in the attack with Jermain Defoe by manager Andre Villas-Boas against Manchester United on Sunday and rewarded his boss when he scored a 93rd-minute equalizer to force a 1-1 draw with the league-leading Red Devils.

Adebayor is certain to miss Spurs' next two games at least, and Dempsey, who has scored seven goals so far this season, sees it as the perfect opportunity to prove his worth.

"Ade is a great player and he is going to be missed, but there is competition," Dempsey told reporters. "You try and fight for a spot and when you get an opportunity to play you want to stand up and take advantage of that opportunity.

"I can play that position [striker]. It's a position I feel comfortable in, a position I have played a lot this season and I feel like I am starting to feel more comfortable there.

"Now it's about just trying to create more chances in the attacking third, whether it's getting goals or getting assists, and I feel like I have been on a good run of form."

Dempsey overcame a slow start to the season has come on as of late, scoring five goals in his last seven matches. 

"For me, it was a slow start to the season, so it's good to be chipping in with goals now and repaying the club for their belief in me," Dempsey said. "Hopefully there will be more goals to come because that's why they brought me here."

Southampton 0-0 Everton: Pochettino picks up point in debut as Saints boss

Mauricio Pochettino’s reign as Southampton manager began with a 0-0 draw in an encouraging display at home to Everton.

The Toffees were thankful to keep the first half goalless, as the hosts dominated play and created a number of chances, particularly through Rickie Lambert. The second period was more even, with the away side perhaps having the best of the play, but neither could take advantage, and Everton's American goalkeeper Tim Howard made four saves to record his second straight clean sheet.

Speculation surrounded the home fans’ reaction to new manager Pochettino after his recent appointment but there was a good reception for the Argentine, who showed his appreciation in return. The home side started brightly and could have taken the lead in the fourth minute as a cross from the right was deflected by Phil Jagielka and nearly found his own net.

Jason Puncheon then had a good chance just a couple of minutes later, but he dragged his shot just wide of Howard’s goal. The Saints finished off a solid passing sequence as Gaston Ramirez almost caught Howard out with a deflected early shot from long-range that the American parried for a corner.

It took until the 20th minute for either side to create another chance, and it came for the home side thanks to Lambert, whose long-range free kick struck the outside of the post. Lambert created another chance for himself six minutes later, as he took advantage of some slack defending and forced a good save from Howard after jinking into space.

Everton began the second half in a positive frame of mind, with Marouane Fellaini seeing a close-range shot and then a header saved well by Artur Boruc. The Toffees forged a superb opportunity in the 61st minute, as a superb ball from Leighton Baines found substitute Victor Anichebe, whose square pass hit Nikica Jelavic’s heel in the penalty area.

Anichebe then had a great chance of his own, as after taking a good touch in the penalty area he saw his shot palmed brilliantly away by the impressive Boruc, who made five saves in keeping Everton off the board.

Despite not creating as much as it did in the first half, the home side very nearly scored a crucial goal in the 83rd minute, as a Lambert header went just over at the back post.

Everton pulled within three points of fourth-place Tottenham with the draw, which was the club's second straight 0-0 affair. Southampton pulled a point ahead of Newcastle and into 15th place to get the Pochettino era underway.

Newcastle awaiting Coloccini decision

Fabricio Coloccini's father has revealed that the Newcastle captain is close to making a decision over his future at St. James' Park.

The Magpies' skipper has been chasing a move back to former club San Lorenzo this January, with Alan Pardew revealing the defender is suffering with personal problems.

"Today there was an inconclusive meeting, tomorrow it will be defined," Osvaldo Coloccini told Argentine radio show Rock and Closs. "Fabricio is very anxious, he wants a definition, for better or for worse. I think it's time to return to San Lorenzo. We both desire the transfer. 

"In Newcastle they ask him to wait until May. The issue is whether San Lorenzo will wait until that date."

Pardew admitted this week that Coloccini has asked to leave the club, but he remains hopeful of keeping him on Tyneside for now.

"A personal issue is at the root of the problem here," Pardew wrote in his program notes for Saturday's clash with Reading. "We are looking at every option to try and keep a player who has done so much for the club with us for the future. Colo is a great guy and a great defender and I hope we can find a solution to this."

Clint Dempsey sends Spurs to draw against United

LONDON (AP) -- Clint Dempsey scored during stoppage time Sunday, giving Tottenham a 1-1 draw against Premier League-leading Manchester United.

The American, who sent Tottenham to its first win at United in 23 years in September, offset Robin van Persie's first-half header to give the fourth-place hosts something to show for their dominance at snowy White Hart Lane.

''Before (this season) I'd never scored against them, so it's good to help the team get results,'' said Dempsey, who joined from Fulham in August. ''We've got a win and a draw now (against United).''

United's lead has been trimmed to five points this weekend after second-place Manchester City beat Fulham 2-0 on Saturday.

While United managed just five shots, Tottenham scored with its 25th shot in the third minute of stoppage time. Dempsey was set up by Aaron Lennon, who had pounced on the ball after goalkeeper David de Gea inadvertently punched a shot by Benoit Assou-Ekotto to him.

Despite salvaging a point, Tottenham fell four points behind third-place Chelsea after its London rival beat Arsenal 2-1 earlier in the day.

Juan Mata's excellent finish and a penalty kick from Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a two-goal lead after only 16 minutes. The other score came in the 58th minute goal by Theo Walcott.

Arsenal, which lost to Manchester City last Sunday, remains sixth, but is now seven points behind Tottenham in the fourth Champions League spot.

''We have lost two big games in the last week,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. ''That's damaging for us. We can't afford to lose more points. It's a concern.''

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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Atletico Madrid defeated Levante 2-0 despite losing striker Radamel Falcao to injury, maintaining its perfect home record in the Spanish league while breathing some life into the title chase.

Atletico took advantage of Barcelona's first league defeat of the season the day before by staying perfect through 11 league games at Vicente Calderon stadium. Atletico is eight points behind the league leaders.

Adrian Lopez scored in the 32nd minute. Jorge ''Koke'' Resurrecion then put the result beyond doubt in the 61st, four minutes after Falcao walked off clutching his upper left leg.

Elsewhere, Osasuna beat visiting Deportivo La Coruna 2-1 to move out of last place while sending its rival there. Oscar Gonzalez scored one goal and set up another to steer Valladolid to a 2-0 home win over Real Zaragoza.

In the late match, Real Madrid visited Valencia.

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MILAN (AP) - Napoli missed the chance to close the gap on Serie A leader Juventus, drawing 1-1 at Fiorentina.

Fiorentina took the lead following a blunder by Morgan De Sanctis. The Napoli goalkeeper rushed out of his area to intercept a long pass from Facundo Roncaglia by midfield but misjudged the ball, which bounced over him and into the goal.

Napoli tied it three minutes from halftime as Edinson Cavani headed in Marek Hamsik's free kick for his 100th Serie A goal. Alberto Aquilani could have won it for Fiorentina in stoppage time but blasted a good chance over the bar.

Napoli, which had a two-point penalty for match-fixing rescinded Thursday, is tied on points with second-placed Lazio, five points behind defending champion Juventus.

Fiorentina remains fifth but it is only two points above AC Milan, which beat Bologna 2-1 thanks to two goals from Giampaolo Pazzini.

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AMSTERDAM (AP) - Ajax pulled even on points with second-placed PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league after beating rival Feyenoord 3-0 despite playing much of the second half with 10 men.

Viktor Fischer, Ajax's 18-year-old Danish striker, scored twice in the first half and Siem de Jong completed the scoring in the 62nd minute.

Ajax's main title rivals dropped points. PSV slumped to a 3-1 home defeat against PEC Zwolle on Friday. League leader FC Twente was held to a goalless draw by RKC Waalwijk on Saturday. Vitesse Arnhem lost to AZ Alkmaar. Ajax is third because of PSV's better goal difference while Feyenoord is fourth.

U.S. striker Jozy Altidore scored a hat-trick Saturday night to bring his season's total to 14 as AZ Alkmaar beat Vitesse Arnhem 4-1.

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ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Rafik Djebbour scored in first-half injury time and Djamel Abdoun added a goal in the 68th minute to give defending champion Olympiakos a 2-0 home victory over Giannena in the Greek league.

The win gave Olympiakos a 13-point lead over second-place PAOK with 12 rounds to play. PAOK lost 1-0 at third-place Asteras Saturday.

Also Sunday, Xanthi and Kerkyra played to a 0-0 draw and AEK drew 1-1 at Aris after tying the score in the eighth minute of injury time. Two players from each team were sent off in the last 10 minutes of regulation.

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GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) - Motherwell's slim hopes of catching Celtic in the Scottish Premier League were boosted by a 3-2 win over St. Johnstone on Michael Higdon's hat trick.

Motherwell is tied on points with second-place Inverness and nine points behind Celtic, which maintained its march to a successful title defense by beating Hearts 4-1 on Saturday.

Source: Frank Lampard to LA Galaxy a 'done deal'

Less than two months after David Beckham's departure, the LA Galaxy have found their star replacement. 

Frank Lampard has agreed to join the LA Galaxy, a source close to the Chelsea midfielder told Goal.com. 

"It's all but done," the source said. 

A team spokesman would not confirm or deny the rumor, only telling Goal.com that head coach Bruce Arena publicly acknowledged interest in Lampard on Thursday. 

Lampard will likely join Los Angeles on a free transfer after Chelsea's season finishes in June. 

Though Kaka was originally Los Angeles' top target, as reported by SI.com in December, the club switched directions once that became unfeasible. With Lampard considering offers from multiple suitors, including teams from the Premier League, Los Angeles decided to aggressively recruit its next star. Lampard might not be the celebrity that Beckham or Kaka is, but he marries significant popularity with plenty of industry. 

Despite aging 34-year-old legs, Lampard has been one of Chelsea's leading scorers this season with seven goals in 14 appearances. In fact, Lampard is arguably the greatest scoring central midfielder in Premier League history, notching 194 goals in 584 appearances in England. 

During Chelsea's tour in North America last summer, Lampard expressed an interest in playing in MLS but admitted that he would wait to see if Chelsea would extend his contract first. 

"I am not sure [about a future in MLS]," Lampard said. "I have another year on my contract at Chelsea and we have a big season ahead of us with the Super Cup and the Club World Cup in December. It's up to Chelsea to speak with me about my future and, at that time, I'll speak with them. 

"I wouldn't rule anything out at the moment."

Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena acknowledged after the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday that there would be an update on the team's third Designated Player next week. 

"I wouldn't be surprised if over the next week or so we're going to have some kind of decision we're going to make with a Designated Player," Arena told reporters in Indianapolis. "We wouldn't rule that out. It's always a possibility."

Frank Isola contributed additional reporting to this article.