Obasi handed Sunderland trial

Sunderland A.F.C. have handed a trial to former Schalke 04 forward Chinedu Obasi, according to manager Sam Allardyce.

The Nigeria international, who was released by Schalke in the summer, is carrying an injury, but Allardyce will still continue to assess him over the next week or so.

“There’s a triallist in at the moment. He used to play for Schalke but he’s been injured,” Allardyce said. “He’s a Nigerian international and we are just seeing because he’s got a reasonably good CV, in terms of where he’s played before.

“He has been fraught with a bad injury, which is why he’s not been fixed up with a club yet, but we’d like to see him for this week and perhaps next week.

“But I need someone who has an impact now, not in three weeks time, so it will be a difficult task I think. But he’s here and if he can show us anything we haven’t got then there maybe something we can do.”

Sunderland are priced at 10/11 to finish bottom in English Premier League this season.

Cole joins Celtic

Scottish champions Celtic F.C. have completed the signing of former West Ham United striker Carlton Cole on an 18-month deal following a month-long trial period.

Cole, 32, joins Ronny Deila’s side on a free transfer, having been released by the Hammers at the end of last season.

“This is my first time, really, going north of the Watford Gap,” Cole told Sky Sports News HQ. “I’ve been trying to get a feel of the city and I know I am at a big club.

“I am a different player to Leigh [Griffiths]. He’s a nice nippy little player and I am more of a big powerhouse, so hopefully we can play together up front at some stage and make a nuisance of ourselves.

“They were waiting to see what level of fitness I was at. I got a little knock and had to get a scan, but now I am back training with the team so hopefully I can get back in as soon as possible.”

Celtic are priced at 1/25 to win the Scottish Premier League title this season.

Dembele close to signing new deal

Fulham F.C. forward Moussa Dembele is close to putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal at Craven Cottage.

Dembele, who joined Fulham from Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, is out of a contract at the end of the season, but Press Association Sport is reporting the player is close to agreeing a four-year contract extension with the Cottagers.