ANDY COLE'S bid to resurrect his Manchester United career has been dealt a bitter blow with the news that he has contracted pneumonia.

The £7 million man's Old Trafford future looked bleak when United boss Alex Ferguson made a move for Alan Shearer in the aftermath of Euro 96 - a race he lost when Cole's former club Newcastle paid Blackburn a world record £15 million for the England star earlier this week.

But Cole's hopes of starting the season as United's number one striker have been wrecked after it was revealed yesterday that the original diagnosis that he was suffering with a bout of bronchitis was wrong.

Now the 24 year old faces a five week spell on the Old Trafford sidelines - leaving the door open for youngster Paul Scholes to cement a regular place in the front line alongside the irrepressible Eric Cantona.

Cole has struggled to find the goal touch that prompted Ferguson to pay Newcastle a British transfer record fee for his services in January 1995 - Keith Gillespie moving in the opposite direction as a £1 million makeweight.

He regularly found himself battling with Scholes for a starting place in United's double winning side and was substituted in the FA Cup final triumph over Liverpool after a below par Wembley show.

Everton were ready to offer Cole a way out of Old Trafford if United had been successful in their own bid to take Shearer across Lancashire.

Now he will begin the season on the champions' sidelines after all following this latest illness blow.

There was more bad news for United yesterday when Ajax set a £15 million fee on striker Patrick Kluivert. Ajax coach Louis Van Gaal said: "I have heard that Manchester United are interested in Kluivert. But I don't want to sell him because he is our only main striker."

But, Kluivert 20 last month, has only one year left on his current deal and would be available on a free transfer next summer under the Bosman ruling.

Meanwhile, back at Everton, Neville Southall's brilliant career could be nearing an end following the news that the veteran Welsh international keeper has been granted permission to hold talks with first division Wolves.

Southall, 38, recently agreed a new contract with the Merseyside club, but insisted that the agreement allowed him scope to quit Goodison Park if his position as first choice came under threat.

Now he has accepted an invitation to talk with Wolves boss Mark McGhee following Everton's capture of former England Under 21 international keeper Paul Gerrard from Oldham.

Southall will delay negotiations with McGhee until he has returned with the Everton squad from two pre season friendliest next week, but it is likely that he could be on his way out after a 700 appearance stay that has brought league championship and FA Cup successes as well as a European Cup Winners' Cup triumph.

"Being the professional he is, Neville wants to get the match at Aberdeen and Tuesday's game at Wrexham out of the way before speaking to Wolves," said Everton boss Joe Royle, who agreed that the Welshman could have complete freedom from his new two year contract at 28 days' notice if a goalkeeping rival was signed and another club expressed an interest.

"He feels he must speak to them for his own peace of mind, if only to see what they have to say. I think it will be very good for Paul Gerrard to work with Neville for a while yet, but that is up to Nev."

With Gerrard, 23, struggling with a thigh strain, Southall will retain the keeper's jersey this week.

But Gerrard is determined that it will not keep him down for long and that he will soon start to challenge Southall for the custodian's position after joining from Oldham in a deal which will net the first division club an initial £1 million with the promise of another £500,000 based on appearances.

"Obviously I am looking to get into the first team, but Neville won't want to step down," said Gerrard, whose career was launched by Royle when he was in charge at Boundary Park.

"I have got to train as hard as him and, when a chance comes, it is up to me to take it. If I turn out to be half as good as Neville I will be pleased."