SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Celtic manager Martin O'Neill confirmed yesterday that he was interested in signing the former Brazilian World Cup star Rivaldo after Bolton admitted that the attempt to sign him was "dead in the water".
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has grown increasingly frustrated waiting for a decision from the 32-year-old player over a contract offer, leaving O'Neill to express an interest.
"Like anything else we'd prefer to keep these things quiet - we have been linked with so many players. But the truth is when somebody like Rivaldo becomes available you have got to be interested."
O'Neill added: "I wouldn't want to be giving any bookmakers odds and it might be a move of great difficulty - but he is a class player that we would be looking to buy."
Celtic, meanwhile, face Rangers at Celtic Park (Network 2, BBC 1, kick-off 12.30) today attempting to complete a whitewash over their city rivals. Celtic were the last side to enjoy a clean sweep, winning all four fixtures in 1971-72.
Rangers manager Alex McLeish confirmed yesterday he is to hold talks with Monaco star Dado Prso about a summer move to Ibrox. Prso was part of the Monaco side that booked their place in the Champions League final after dumping Chelsea out of the competition.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: The FAI yesterday officially confirmed that the Republic of Ireland will take part in the Unity Cup in London at the end of May and beginning of June.
Ireland will play Nigeria on Saturday, May 29th (kick-off 3.0) and Jamaica on Wednesday, June 2nd (kick off 7:45) at Charlton's ground, The Valley.
The competition is sandwiched between friendlies against Romania on May 27th at Lansdowne Road and Holland in Amsterdam on June 5th.
The four matches will give manager Brian Kerr the opportunity to work with the squad ahead of the start of the World Cup qualifiers in September and will also give British-based Irish fans a chance to see their team up close.
Nigeria have won the only clash between the two sides, in 2002 at Lansdowne Road, while the game with Jamaica will be Ireland's first time to meet them.
LEEDS: Mark Viduka looks certain to have played his last match for Leeds. The striker has sustained a recurrence of hamstring and back injuries and has been ordered to rest for the next four weeks, ruling him out of Leeds's last two games, at home to Charlton today and at Chelsea next Saturday.
Viduka is certain to leave Elland Road this summer as the club look to cash in on one of their prize assets following relegation.
MONACO: Defender Hugo Ibarra has admitted that he used his hand to score the crucial first goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. "Fernando (Morientes) headed the ball and I saw it go towards goal. I was on the right post watching it going in but the ball bounced back onto the post and then onto my hand, and it was a goal. I did not do it on purpose but I slightly pushed the ball with my hand and if I had not done it, there would not have been a goal."
EVERTON: Manager David Moyes will spend the summer considering the offer of a new contract because of doubts over his long-term transfer budget. He still has two years of his current contract to run and has had preliminary discussions with club owner Bill Kenwright over a two-year extension to that deal. But the fact that Moyes is in discussions over how much money he has to spend on new players may well delay his new deal at least until after Euro 2004.
Moyes has already presented the board with a wish-list of potential new signings but has been told there is practically no money in the kitty for additions to his squad.
LEICESTER: Les Ferdinand may kick his last ball in anger for Leicester against Portsmouth this afternoon as a knee injury threatens to terminate his 17-year professional career.
The 37-year-old former England striker has already undergone one unsuccessful operation on the joint this season and admitted his surgeon will have the final say.
