Sporting Lisbon Wolf Winkled

There's always one. Normally more. But Sporting Lisbon have made deadline day's first big administrative clanger. The bad news is it could affect Ricky van Wolfswinkel too.

European football expert Andy Brassell says: "It looks like Sporting might not be able to re-sign Marius Niculae (see 1034) after all. Niculae has already played for two clubs this season, having turned out for Dinamo Bucharest in the Romanian Super Cup before joining Vaslui. The maximum number of clubs FIFA allows a player to be registered with in one July to June period is two. Typical of Sporting's season, I'm afraid - and it could compromise a move for Ricky van Wolfswinkel."

Posted By: MIKEWALKER, Jan 31, 13:20:31