FOOTBALL DIGEST

BARTON BETTING BAN TRIMMED

NEWCASTLE UNITED are keen on West Ham’s Spanish goalkeeper Adrian (above), whose chances will be limited by the arrival of Joe Hart. Newcastle may offer Karl Darlow as part of the deal. JOEY BARTON’S ban for breaching FA betting rules has been cut by five months to 13 months on appeal. A £30,000 fine for admitting that he placed 1,260 footballrelated bets between 2006 to 2016 remains. SUSPENDED Spanish federation president Angel Maria Villar has resigned as vice-president of UEFA and FIFA. He was arrested this month in a corruption investigation and he has denied the allegations. AC MILAN have held talks over a move for Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who has been training alone in Brazil. Costa wants to sign for Atletico Madrid but their transfer ban means he may have to join another club until January.