Early orders for Eriksson expected -SVEN-GORAN Eriksson is expected to be sacked by Manchester City early next week.
The former England manager had originally been told by Pairoj Piempongsant, a representative of the owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, that no decision would be made until June 15th but club sources have said the situation is unlikely to be allowed to drag on that long.
The report says Eriksson will receive a pay-off of about €1.27 million, freeing him to pursue alternative employment - including coaching Mexico.
It is understood Mexico plan to announce the identity of their new head coach on Tuesday.
Riise can't wait
JOHN Arne Riise wants to know if he has a future at Liverpool before he returns for pre-season training. The left back endured a frustrating past season after failing to hold on to a regular place in Rafa Benitez' starting line-up.
"My agent is set to find out what is happening, the 27-year-old Norwegian said. I have to get things sorted out before pre-season starts. Those who have played internationals are due to meet up on July 7th."
Tottenham say they've got their man
TOTTENHAM Hotspur yesterday said they had signed 16-year-old midfielder John Bostock, one of the emerging talents in the English game, from Championship club Crystal Palace.
He became Palace's youngest player last October when he played against Watford aged 15 years 287 days and was being monitored by Arsenal, and Manchester United.
Palace manager Neil Warnock said the eventual transfer fee could rise to €6.5 million depending on future developments.
The selling club's chairman Simon Jordan, however, denied the transfer was complete and that Palace will not relinquish the players's registration until they have been adequately compensated for the attacking midfielder.
McClaren may be going Dutch
DUTCH side FC Twente claim they are close to appointing former England manager Steve McClaren as their new coach despite opposition from their own supporters.
Twente chairman Joop Munsterman has met McClaren to show him around the club's Grolsch Veste stadium and is waiting for a response from the Englishman.
He said: "We want a coach who is accustomed to working with top players."
Munsterman admits most fans of the Enschede club are sceptical about a coach who failed to guide England through qualification for Euro 2008. He added: "Ninety per cent think: why McClaren?
"But believe me, if he becomes our coach we will have a coach who is accustomed to working with top players and he can recognise them."
McClaren has refused to confirm he is in the running for the post.
Boateng set to take high road:
MIDDLESBROUGH midfielder George Boateng expects both sides of the Old Firm to approach him this summer. The 32-year-old midfielder wanted to speak to both Rangers and Celtic in January but was denied by the Premier League club's manager Gareth Southgate.
The Dutchman, who played under Celtic manager Gordon Strachan at Coventry, was stripped of the captaincy in January and now expects to leave the Riverside.
He said: "Before the (January) transfer window opened five clubs were seriously interested in me. Two of the clubs were from Scotland. I wanted to talk to these clubs but Southgate didn't allow it. I am very unhappy about this.
"The situation is difficult but my time at Middlesbrough is at an end. I am told both Glasgow clubs will come back for me this summer."
Fifa sign up to revised Wada rules
FIFA formally signed the new World Anti-Doping code (Wada) yesterday during their annual congress in Sydney.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter jointly signed the agreement with Wada boss John Fahey after the congress voted in support of the resolution.
Soccer's world governing body had previously been reluctant to sign the agreement because they were opposed to some of Wada's rules, including uniform two-year bans for athletes caught using performance-enhancing drugs.
However, Fifa agreed to sign the accord after Wada proposed a revised set of rules.
