Gerard Houllier wants to bring one more player to Liverpool before the start of the season as a replacement for Paul Ince. Houllier admitted yesterday that his attempted £4.6 million swoop for Marc-Vivien Foe was all but dead.
Foe's move from West Ham to Anfield fell through after Liverpool refused to meet the Cameroon international midfielder's personal terms. Houllier admitted: "At the moment we can't reach an agreement, and it's most unlikely it will go through." Houllier, together with his number two Phil Thompson, paraded new close-season signings Stephane Henchoz, Sander Westerveld, Vladimir Smicer, Titi Camara, Sami Hyypia and Erik Meijer.
Liverpool have not brought in a single player from the British Isles over the summer but their French boss defended his transfer policy. Everton defender Marco Materazzi is expected to complete his return to Italy with Perugia within the next 24 hours.
Officials from the Italian club are close to finalising a deal which would take the 25-year-old central defender back to the club he left last summer for £2.5 million.
Meanwhile West Ham have had a £2.5 million bid for Paulo Wanchope turned down.
West Ham manager Harry Redknapp is a long-time admirer of the striker, who has been placed on the transfer list for failing to sign a new contract at Derby.
But the offer was rejected by Derby manager Jim Smith as being "inadequate."
Unknown French under-21 international Olivier Tebily will become John Barnes' third signing as Celtic coach today. The 23-year-old defender passed his Parkhead medical yesterday afternoon and will sign a £1.25 million deal which will take him from Sheffield United to Glasgow.
On the other side of the divide, Rangers chairman David Murray confirmed last night that Scotland skipper Colin Hendry can leave Rangers - if the price is right.
Middlesbrough's assistant manager, Viv Anderson, believes Paul Gascoigne will make an international comeback with England next season.
The former England defender said: "Gazza can be an asset to any country. . . Kevin Keegan has left the door open. It is up to Gazza to respond. He has to put in that little extra and let his football do the talking.
"Gazza has had his problems but he has shaped well on his return to training."
Asian football chiefs have refused to rule out a boycott of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea despite a compromise deal announced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to boost the presence of the world's largest continent.
Asia has been granted a play-off slot against a European team and if that tie is won by the Asian side, their contingent will be boosted to five. Originally only four Asian countries would have competed.
