Sport

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes Diego Costa needs to adjust his style on the pitch.

The Chelsea striker will be banned for the Premier League champions' visit to Stamford Bridge, following his stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can.

"He is a great player, a very important player," Pellegrini explained.

"He has his character, it is not an easy character, but I hope for him that (with) this punishment - and I am not trying to take advantage for the game tomorrow - it will be a good thing for him to change in the future because he doesn't need to do it in that way because he is a very good player, a top player."

Hull boss Steve Bruce says the club are close to agreeing a loan deal for a Premier League player - reported to be Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon.

Bruce has made no secret of the fact he wants to recruit some fresh faces to counter the threat of relegation with particular emphasis on bolstering a forward line hampered by injury and inconsistency.

Bruce didn't name Lennon but admits Saturday's game at the KC Stadium may come too early for any potential new signing.

"It's always nice top bring one or two in if you possibly can to give everyone a lift in the squad and that's what we've been working on really hard in the last couple of days," said Bruce. "Let's hope we can get them over the line."

"I wouldn't have thought it would be done by Saturday if I'm honest. We are working in particular on a loan deal but I wouldn't think it's going to get done before 12 o'clock. I would like to say it would be but I really can't see it."

Lennon has struggled for game time under new Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Michael Carrick will be out for at least a month out with an injury, Louis van Gaal has confirmed.

The Manchester United midfielder will be absent this weekend, when they face Leicester.

"I think it shall take more than four weeks. It's not a minor injury," Van Gaal explained.

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher looks set to leave Manchester United for West Ham after Louis van Gaal confirmed the midfielder had been granted a free transfer.

Fletcher has spent his entire career at Old Trafford, but has recently struggled to gain a first-team place.

"Darren Fletcher is now in West Ham, I believe," Van Gaal told a press conference on Friday afternoon.

"So we have to wait and see."

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium will host an international friendly between Brazil and Chile at 3pm on Sunday 29th March.

Gunners star man Alexis Sanchez will be on show for the Chileans in a repeat of last summer's World Cup quarter-final, which Brazil clinched following a penalty shoot-out.

Tickets go on general sale from 3pm on February 6th and have been priced at £30 for adults and £15 concessions. Arsenal members can purchase their tickets from February 3rd.

• Diego Costa banned for three matches by FA

QPR boss Harry Redknapp says he will be looking for loan signings to bolster his squad in January.

Redknapp ruled out signing a number of players reportedly linked with the club, including Yann M'Vila, Rudy Gestede, Aaron Lennon, Dani Osvaldo, Bakary Sako and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Rangers made overtures for Wolves winger Sako but made no progress while Redknapp said any deal for Adebayor would be out of reach financially.

"He's at Tottenham and I don't see it happening," Redknapp said.

"Adebayor is an excellent player. You don't play at Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Tottenham if you're not a good player.

"But I don't see him leaving Tottenham, it's an expensive deal and we're looking at a couple of loans."

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been banned for three matches with immediate effect after being found guilty of violent conduct, the Football Association has announced.

The striker had appealed the decision after claiming his 'stamp' on Liverpool midfielder Emre Can was accidental.

He will now miss Chelsea's next three matches starting with Saturday's top-of-the-table Premier League clash against Man City at Stamford Bridge.

A statement from the FA confirmed:

• Premier League completed transfers