FOOTBALL SHORTS

CHELSEA’S Marcos Alonso is ready to sign a new deal to stay at the club this week. The Spanish defender, 27, said: ‘I am very happy at Chelsea and they must also be happy with me. Although I still have two years left on the contract, they have offered an extension. I will renew before the end of this month.’

HOLLAND boss Ronald Koeman has told £75million Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk he is ‘too laid back’. Koeman said yesterday: ‘I told Virgil within 30 seconds of the end of the game against France [the 2-1 defeat in the Nations League last month] what I thought.’ ÷ POLICE have raided some of Belgium’s top clubs — including champions Club Bruges, Anderlecht and Standard Liege — as part of a probe into corruption, money laundering and match fixing in Europe.

CARDIFF have lost their appeal against Joe Ralls’ red card in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Tottenham at Wembley. The midfielder was sent off for a foul on Lucas Moura.

CRYSTAL PALACE striker Christian Benteke, 27, has had minor knee surgery. The Belgian has been out since early September after being hurt in the 2-0 defeat by Southampton.