Liverpool, braced to be denied by Manchester United in their pursuit of Blackburn's Damien Duff, are considering turning their attentions to Fulham's disgruntled midfielder Steed Malbranque as they attempt to lure much-needed creativity to Anfield for next season.
The 23-year-old Frenchman, signed by Jean Tigana for £4 million from Olympique Lyonnais two years ago, is expected to follow his compatriot out of Loftus Road in the summer, even though Malbranque has three years to run on his contract.
Though more likely to flourish in a central role rather than as the winger Liverpool have painfully lacked all season, Malbranque has scored 13 goals from midfield this season to establish himself as Fulham's leading goalscorer. He would act as the attacking pivot to allow Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier to switch to his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, the set-up which proved so successful for the France national team in 1998 and 2000.
Though Fulham will be loath to lose him, their parlous financial situation will force their hand with Malbranque - likely to be joined by the £3 million full-back Steve Finnan at Anfield - having already expressed his willingness to leave.
"I'll most certainly have the possibility to leave at the end of the season," he said last week. "I'm flattered that a club like Liverpool might be interested. At the appropriate time, I'll study the offers open to me."
Graham Rix, the former Portsmouth manager and Chelsea coach, has applied to succeed Tigana at Fulham. The 45-year-old has been scouting for Watford. A shortlist for the Fulham job is expected to be drawn up this week.
UEFA will decide this week whether to punish Georgia's Football Association over the incident in which a penknife was thrown at Kevin Kilbane in last month's Euro 2004 qualifier with Ireland.
The former South Africa captain Lucas Radebe is to retire from international football at the end of the season. Radebe (34), said: "I have played for 10 years for South Africa. I think I have done not enough, but as much as I can."
The English FA said yesterday they were investigating Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock's remarks about referee Graham Poll following his side's FA Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal on Sunday.
Warnock criticised Poll after he controversially allowed play to continue even though United's Wayne Allison was down injured in the run-up to Arsenal's winning goal.
Another manager in the news is Everton's David Moyes, who after a bust-up with referee Steve Bennett was sent from the dug-out during his side's win away to West Brom at the weekend. The referee claimed Moyes was guilty of "using foul and abusive language and improper behaviour" after West Brom were awarded a controversial penalty.
The FA are waiting for the referee's report on what is increasingly becoming a feud between Moyes and the official, before deciding on further action.
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