New Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted yesterday that he would not allow key striker Robert Lewandowski to leave the German champions for Real Madrid.
 Italian Ancelotti, who led Real to their 10th European crown in 2014, took over at the Allianz Arena from Pep Guardiola, who left for Manchester City, at the end of the past season.
 Media reports in the last month have speculated that Lewandowski, who has been the Bundesliga’s top scorer in two of the last three seasons, was close to moving to the Spanish capital, but Ancelotti is confident of keeping the Pole in Bavaria.
 “Real Madrid have many fantastic players, including (Karim) Benzema, (Gareth) Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, Real don’t even need Lewandowski,” Ancelotti told German sports daily Sportbild. “And even if they did, Bayern would not sell Lewandowski. Why should we let go one of the best strikers in the world voluntarily?”
 Bayern face Real Madrid in a friendly in the United States on August 4.
 The 57-year-old Ancelotti, who has won three Champions League titles as a coach, also revealed some of his training-ground methods. He gives his players marks out of 10 after each training session, but keeps them secret.
 “I set certain expectations of my players,” he added. “After every game I note things down. This is my personal rating, in which no feedback is given out, including for the players. They get scores on a scale of 10, very good, to 1, very bad. Like how the journalists in Italy, in La Gazetta dello Sport mark the players.”
 Bayern brought in Ancelotti, whose continental pedigree is second to none, in the hope of sealing a sixth European Cup triumph, after three successive semi-final defeats under Guardiola.
 Ancelotti is not known as a particularly hard taskmaster, and although he does not want players turning up late for training, he’ll leave it down to captain Philipp Lahm to dish out the punishment. “If a player is late, the captain must tell him that he must pay a fine in cash to the team,” he said. “It’s me who sets the rules, but the players who control them between them. That’s what I usually do and that’s what I also want to bring to Bayern.”
 Ancelotti’s first competitive match in charge will be against rivals Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup on August 14. Bayern begin their tilt at a record fifth successive German league title when they open the Bundesliga season with a home game against Werder Bremen on August 26.

Negredo joins Middlesbrough
Premier League new boys Middlesbrough agreed to sign Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo on a season-long loan yesterday. Negredo has already linked up with Aitor Karanka’s side at their pre-season training camp in Marbella while the paperwork to rubber-stamp the move is being completed. The 30-year-old is back in the Premier League two years after helping Manchester City win the English title. The Spain international scored 23 goals in 48 appearances in what proved his only season at City after a £16.4mn move from Sevilla in 2013. Negredo returned to Spain with Valencia in the summer of 2014, initially on loan, before a £19mn permanent deal was agreed last year. As Middlesbrough prepare for their first season in the Premier League for seven years, Karanka has been busy beefing up his squad and Negredo joins Antonio Barragan, Victor Valdes, Viktor Fischer, Bernardo Espinosa, Marten de Roon and Jordan McGhee among the new arrivals.

Dawson sidelined for 3 months
Hull City have suffered a fresh injury blow after former England defender Michael Dawson was ruled out for three months with a knee injury. Dawson sustained a significant ligament injury in the Premier League club’s pre-season win at Mansfield on Tuesday and will spend the next six weeks in a leg brace. “Michael is set for a three-month spell on the sidelines after scans revealed the Tigers’ skipper suffered a significant medial collateral ligament injury in the pre-season win at Mansfield Town last night,” a statement on Hull’s website read. It is another setback as Hull prepare for their return to the top flight after last season’s promotion via the Championship play-offs. Tigers boss Steve Bruce is already without goalkeeper Allan McGregor, defender Alex Bruce and full-back Moses Odubajo for the first half of the season. McGregor had an operation on his back on Tuesday, Bruce had surgery last week to remove a bony prominence in his foot while Odubajo has ruptured knee ligaments. Meanwhile, midfielder Tom Huddlestone’s ongoing Achilles problem means he will be sidelined for another two weeks, as will Jake Livermore, who has an ankle injury.

Portugal reward Euro-winning coach with new contract
Portugal coach Fernando Santos will remain in charge of the Euro 2016 winners until after the next European Championship, the national football federation said yesterday. Santos, 61, led Portugal to their first European title with an extra-time triumph over hosts France in Paris earlier this month. The victory has earned him a contract extension from his employers. “The Portuguese Football Federation and the national team coach Fernando Santos reached an agreement to renew the contract that they have had since September 2014,” the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said in a statement. “The new agreement between the FPF and Fernando Santos will run until after Euro 2020, coinciding with the end of the current mandate of the directors of the Portuguese Football Federation.” Portugal begin their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign on September 6 against Switzerland in Basel.

Iheanacho given green light for Man City’s China trip
Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho has been given the green light to take part in Manchester City’s pre-season tour of China. Despite reports Iheanacho would not be able to travel to Asia due to visa issues, the highly-rated 19-year-old was named in City’s squad yesterday. Iheanacho will now have a chance to impress new City manager Pep Guardiola in the club’s two glamour friendlies against Manchester United in Beijing on Monday and Borussia Dortmund in Shenzen the following Thursday. England internationals Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling are also in a 34-man group, as were new signings Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nolito, star striker Sergio Aguero and key midfielder David Silva. Pablo Zabaleta makes his return from injury and captain Vincent Kompany will also be present. Ilkay Gundogan, another pre-season recruit, was not included due to injury, while Kevin de Bruyne, Eliaquim Mangala and Bacary Sagna remain on leave following their involvement at Euro 2016.

Burnley captain Heaton extends contract till 2020
Burnley captain Tom Heaton has signed a new four-year contract that will keep him at Turf Moor until 2020, the newly promoted Premier League club said yesterday. The 30-year-old, who was in England’s squad at the European championship last month, will compete with Paul Robinson and new signing Nick Pope for a place in the first team. Heaton joined Burnley from Bristol City in 2013. The goalkeeper played 46 league games last season as Burnley secured promotion to England’s top flight by winning the Championship.

Liverpool seal Klavan deal
Liverpool have finalised the signing of Estonia defender Ragnar Klavan from Augsburg, the Premier League club confirmed yesterday. Klavan agreed a “long-term contract” after passing a medical at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground and will cost the Reds a reported £4.2 mn ($5.5 mn, 5 mn euros). The 30-year-old has won over 100 caps for Estonia and is well known to Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp, a former Borussia Dortmund coach, after spending four seasons playing in the Bundesliga. Klavan will provide cover at centre-back as Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez are both currently injured.