Mark Kennedy has been granted his transfer request by Liverpool. Kennedy (21), became the most expensive teenager in British transfer history when he left Millwall for Anfield for £2 million in 1995. But he has failed to make an impression on Roy Evans' first team and Liverpool are ready to let him leave so long as they get their money back.

"His transfer request has been before the board. We don't want to keep a dissatisfied player," said Anfield chief executive Peter Robinson.

"If we receive the right offer, he will be allowed to leave, but no one has come up with the right offer yet."

Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Wimbledon and Middlesbrough have all been linked with Kennedy.

Meanwhile, Rangers aim to have a new manager in place in the New Year to work alongside Walter Smith, who has confirmed he is stepping down at the end of the season.

The new man could find himself in the pages of Scottish football history inside four months as Rangers chase a record 10th successive league title.

Ibrox chairman David Murray said: "We have a short list, but I am not in a position to discuss any names as they are still in jobs.

"They will all be judged on their merits and the new manager will be integrated alongside Walter Smith."

Murray has offered Smith a new un-named position at the club when he vacates the manager's chair in May, but the Ibrox boss has yet to accept it.

Smith told the club's annual meeting at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall he felt "a growing sense of anti-climax" about the Rangers job.