News Round-Up: Stefan Effenberg , the Bayern Munich midfielder, has agreed to join Manchester City, becoming the best-paid player in their history and the latest high-profile signing by Kevin Keegan before their return to the Premiership next season.
Effenberg (33), will see out the final two months of his contract at Bayern but then leave on a free transfer. He has accepted the terms of a pre-contract that will tie him to Maine Road from July 1st on a two-year deal worth £5 million. His move to Maine Road is expected to be confirmed in the next few days.
The saga of Sven and Ulrika reached a conclusion of sorts yesterday when Ms Jonsson announced her relationship with the England manager was at an end. In her first on-the-record comments on reports that she and Eriksson were having an affair, the BBC presenter said she was "no longer part of this relationship".
Jonsson, whose autobiography was launched yesterday, said in a statement she had never asked him to choose between her and Nancy Dell'Ollio, with whom he shares a London house.
Gary McAllister will begin a three-year contract as Coventry City's player-manager next month and his first task will be to reduce the club's debts by up to £9 million and trim the £12 million wages bill. He will be helped by Eric Black, who resigned as manager of Motherwell yesterday as the club entered interim administration.
Motherwell's director of football Pat Nevin also resigned yesterday, and the former England defender Terry Butcher was appointed as Black's replacement.
Gianluca Vialli survived a three-hour board meeting at Watford yesterday with his job intact but his future still insecure. Having guided his team to a 14th-place finish in the first division Vialli, together with his Ray Wilkins, was summoned to discuss his side's failures. But, contrary to reports, his position did not come under discussion.
Michael Ricketts has thrown his Bolton future into fresh doubt by hinting at a £10 million summer move. The striker, who has been strongly linked with Tottenham, claims he is good enough to hold his own at any Premiership club but has been relegated to the bench for the past six matches.
Preston last night opened talks with the former Scotland coach Craig Brown about their managerial vacancy.
Leicester have fined Robbie Savage £50,000 for using the toilet in the referee Graham Poll's dressing-room before last Saturday's game with Aston Villa. Players cannot enter the referee's room without consent.
Guardian Service
