FOOTBALL SHORTS

EVERTON will face Slovakia’s Ruzomberok or Brann of Norway in the third qualifying round of the Europa League. The first leg will be at Everton on July 27 with the second leg on August 3. Brann lead the second qualifying round tie against Ruzomberok 1-0 with the second leg in Norway on Thursday. Meanwhile, Everton are closing in on 16-year-old Newcastle defender Lewis Gibson.

MANCHESTER CITY hope to have Benjamin Mendy aboard their plane to the USA. The £40m-rated Monaco left back is a long-term target and City are optimistic a move can be agreed before the tour.

FORMER Sutton United goalkeeper Wayne Shaw has been charged by the FA with breaching betting rules after munching a pie live on television. A bookmaker had offered odds of 8-1 Shaw would eat a pie on camera and the 45-year-old was shown biting into one on the sidelines during Sutton’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat by Arsenal in February. He is also alleged to have brought the game into disrepute.

LIVERPOOL are closing in on an £8m deal for Hull’s Andy Robertson. The 23-year-old left back would be their third deal of the summer. Lucas Leiva is in talks with Lazio over a £5m move that would end his 10-year stay at Liverpool.

THE funeral of Brian James, the Daily Mail’s former chief football writer, will take place on Monday, July 24 (2pm) at the City of London Crematorium, Manor Park, London E12 5DQ.