AC MILAN EYE RIVALDO: AC Milan hope to sign Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo who is a free agent since his contract with Barcelona was cancelled on Sunday.

"I can confirm that talks are taking place ... I won't say anything more," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA yesterday.

Even though Rivaldo would be available on a free transfer he is likely to request a sizeable signing on fee and his salary demands would be considerable, especially at a time when Italian clubs are attempting to tighten their belts.

Galliani, who is also president of the Italian Football League, has recently made several calls for Serie A clubs to take action to reduce their costs.

But he will clearly be tempted by the opportunity to team up Rivaldo with Milan's prolific strike pairing of Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko and Italy international Filippo Inzaghi.

However, earlier yesterday Rivaldo hinted he might be interested in a move to Real Madrid and rejected reports that he had signed an agreement with Barcelona promising not to join their arch-rivals.

Rivaldo has made it clear that the return of coach Louis van Gaal to Barcelona was the reason behind his agreement to part company with the Catalan club. "Van Gaal is the main cause of my departure," the Brazilian World Cup winner was quoted as saying in the Spanish press yesterday. "I don't like van Gaal and I am sure that he doesn't like me either."

French get backing

THE players who won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 for France will form the backbone of the national squad for the Euro 2004 qualifiers, new coach Jacques Santini (50) said yesterday. "Why should I change everything? Have you heard of a top player or a top team who never failed?," Santini was quoted as saying in France Football magazine.

"Most of the players who will play the qualifying games will be the players who competed in the last international tournaments."

Gudjohnsen warning

CHELSEA"S £15 million-rated frontman Eidur Gudjohnsen yesterday warned the club he could quit if he does not get a pay rise. The 23-year-old Iceland international arrived on a five-year contract from Bolton in 2000 - but after setting the Premiership alight last season he is determined to cash in with a renegotiated big-money deal.

Gudjohnsen's representative Peter Harrison said he wants an urgent second round of talks with managing director Trevor Birch to substantially increase his client's pay packet for the remaining three years of his contract.

Nesta staying at Lazio

ANY team wanting to buy Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta would have to equal or better Rio Ferdinand's transfer fee, club president Sergio Cragnotti said yesterday. Italian international Nesta has been the subject of interest from Lazio's Serie A rivals Juventus and Inter Milan this summer.

"United paid $46.9 million for Ferdinand, and I think Nesta would cost more than that, certainly nothing less," said Cragnotti, who said Nesta's suitors had been scared off by Lazio's transfer terms.

"Nesta is staying at Lazio this season and will be (coach Roberto) Mancini's captain," Cragnotti said.

Leeds offer to Bowyer

LEEDS UNITED are hoping to persuade Lee Bowyer into signing a new five-year deal after his move to English Premiership rival's Liverpool collapsed.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale said yesterday a five-year deal offered to, and rejected by, Bowyer at the end of last season remains on the table despite the player's stated desire to leave Elland Road.

Ridsdale said manager Terry Venables will meet Bowyer to discuss his future when he arrives in Australia for the second leg of the club's pre-season tour. Bowyer was en route to Melbourne yesterday where he will join up with Venables and his team-mates ahead of Saturday's friendly against Chilean side Colo Colo.

Ridsdale hopes Bowyer could yet be persuaded to commit his future to Leeds and he said: "The offer of a new contract is still on the table for Lee. He will be discussing his future with Terry Venables when he arrives in Australia to join the rest of the squad.

"We want him to stay and whether he stays or not is now down to him," he told the Yorkshire Post.

Wright takes pay cut

RICHARD WRIGHT'S agent claims the England goalkeeper is an example to all footballers because he is prepared to take a pay cut to join Everton from Arsenal. Wright spent yesterday at Everton's Bellefield training ground, having his medical and discussing personal terms.

He left without finalising terms, but his agent Jonathan Barnett is confident the £3.5million deal, which could be worth up to £4.75million, should be tied up in "the next day or two".

Elliott move attacked

LEICESTER CITY'S decision to make skipper Matt Elliott available on a free transfer has been criticised by the club's supporters. Elliott has been told he can leave the club as part of a cost-cutting exercise which means that Dennis Wise and Tim Flowers can also depart for nothing.

But City Independent Supporters' Association chairman Lance Tomlyn feels the decision to release Elliott could backfire as Leicester attempt to regain their Premiership status at the first attempt.

Former Leicester striker Gary Lineker provoked a defiant response from manager Peter Taylor yesterday when he blamed him for Leicester's relegation and attendant financial problems. "Unfortunately a lot of mistakes were made," said Lineker, after opening Leicester's £35million Walkers Stadium. "Peter Taylor, who is a good coach and a good bloke, spent a lot of money." It could have been spent "more wisely". Taylor replied: "I'm disappointed he did not say it to me face to face when we were doing work together during the World Cup.

Serie A deadline

AS ROMA and Lazio have six days to meet various financial requirements or else be barred from the forthcoming Italian league season, the Serie A finance authority Covisoc said in a statement yesterday. Serie B teams Fiorentina, Genoa, Messina, Napoli, Palermo and Verona were also given until July 29th to get their finances in order or face exclusion.

The unprecedented warnings come at a time when Italian soccer faces a serious cash crisis, with hefty players' fees and wages leaving many teams facing huge debts.

Gascoigne set for US

PAUL GASCOIGNE is set for a move to Major League Soccer in America after lining up a trip to Washington. The former Newcastle, Tottenham and Lazio star will fly out to the American capital today where he will link up with fellow Geordie Ray Hudson, coach of DC United, to see the team in action and discuss the move.