Football news in brief

Premier League The chief executive of the League Managers Association has warned that the owners of several Premier League clubs are talking about trying to scrap promotion and relegation to safeguard their investments. "There are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League," said Richard Bevan. "If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen." He said he understood talks had taken place among "American owners and some of the Asian owners". Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Sunderland and Aston Villa are in American hands. Villa are understood to have held no such talks and league insiders said there was little appetite for ending promotion and relegation. Owen Gibson and Stuart James Everton David Moyes has re-signed the forward James McFadden on a free transfer and admitted he fears the club's financial constraints will leave them vulnerable to a big-money move for Ross Barkley. "Every club will want Ross Barkley because Ross Barkley is going to be an outstanding player. I am worried, yes," Everton's manager said of the 17‑year‑old midfielder. Andy Hunter Arsenal Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Kieran Gibbs (stomach muscle) will have fitness tests on Tuesday to decide if they can travel to Marseille for Wednesday's Champions League game. Ramsey has the better chance of going. Dominic Fifield Chelsea The club have effectively rejected a counter-offer made by opponents of their attempt to buy back the freehold for the land on which Stamford Bridge is built by reiterating they will not alter the proposal on the table before the EGM of Chelsea Pitch Owners next week. Dominic Fifield