Phil Babb's future at Liverpool is again in question following speculation that he may soon follow Jason McAteer, his Republic of Ireland team-mate, out of the club.

Although Liverpool have not notified clubs that he is available for transfer, it is understood that they will facilitate the player if he decides to move before the transfer deadline expires on March 25th.

If they do, they can expect to receive far less than the £3.5 million - a British record for a defender at the time - they paid Coventry for him on the back of some outstanding performances in the World Cup finals in the United States in 1994.

Babb has suffered more than most in Liverpool's decline from the exalted standards of previous years and after putting together something a recovery in mid-season, has since slipped back into the reserve team.

Now, with the receipt of a belated work permit for the Cameroon World Cup player Sigobert Song to add to the options provided by Steve Staunton, Jamie Carragher and Dominic Matteo at centre back, Gerard Houllier believes that the Ireland player is expendable.

At international level, too, Babb's career is at a cross roads. From a position where he emerged as one of Jack Charlton's bigger successes in America, he has receded to the point where he failed to dislodge Gary Breen for last week's game against Paraguay at Lansdowne Road.

That was a significant decision in the context of Mick McCarthy's European Championship plans and stressed the need for regular first team football for Babb if he is to regain his place before the end of the qualifying programme.

With Liverpool apparently unable to offer him that status in the short term, the player who began his senior career as a full back with Bradford, may not be unwilling to seize the opportunity of moving elsewhere.

As the transfer deadline approaches Danny Murphy is currently in discussion with his old club Crewe and the indications are that Steve Harkness could also be on his way out of the club shortly.

David O'Leary, acclaimed for his achievements since replacing George Graham as Leeds' manager, has reaffirmed his intention of staying at the club for as long as he is needed.

Commenting on his current arrangement at Elland Road, O'Leary said that he was not pushing for a get out clause in his contract. "I have told the club that I am willing to sign any length of contract they offer me," he said.

Arsenal's French star Nicolas Anelka has once again made disparaging remarks about the club, this time in a rap music magazine.

Anelka has claimed the Gunners are split into cliques, while also criticising the English game's attitude to foreigners.

The striker said: "There are clans at Arsenal. I speak a bit of English now but we never speak much with the English. We have nothing to do with each other. We play together, but afterwards we go our own way. There are 33-year-old, 37-year-old guys here and we have nothing to say to each other."

The former Paris St Germain striker, who scored both goals in France's 2-0 win over England at Wembley last week, told the magazine RER: "Furthermore they don't like the French here. Especially the press. They slate the French.

Anelka conceded that players like Eric Cantona and David Ginola had adapted well in England, but added: "I look at Patrick Vieira. He gets red cards when he has done nothing. When an Englishman does something the referee doesn't even whistle. They are tougher on the French in general.

"The English, they don't count on you. When you are a nobody you are a little s---. You must play, prove to the older players that you are good. When you are the best, then they accept you."