Boro eye Cudicini: Steve McClaren is investigating the possibility of persuading Chelsea to part with Carlo Cudicini, their highly-rated reserve goalkeeper.
Aware that Mark Schwarzer is refusing to sign a new contract, Middlesbrough's manager is actively hunting replacements and Cudicini is his top target.
But though Jose Mourinho is likely to sell Cudicini in the summer he is unlikely to risk selling his highly experienced back-up for Petr Cech while Chelsea are trying to win four competitions.
Much will depend on whether a leading club attempts to sign Schwarzer this month; otherwise the Australian will depart on a Bosman in the summer.
Celtic target Yorke: Celtic have been linked with Birmingham striker Dwight Yorke, despite the former Blackburn player snubbing Celtic to go to St Andrew's just over four months ago.
According to a report in Britain's Mirror newspaper yesterday Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is keen to sign Yorke who is believed to have had talks about leaving Birmingham for nothing after an unsuccessful sojourn at the club.
Yorke has also been linked with transfers to Southampton and Bolton.
Turks in for Anelka: Fenerbahçe are the latest club to be linked with Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka, though the English club has denied any contact with the Turkish side. Fenerbahçe are expected to make their interest official with a bid today.
Meanwhile, Sylvain Distin, the subject of a £5 million from Newcastle United, has revealed he would like to stay at City but admitted he may have no choice.
"I am happy to be here and I want to stay but who knows what will happen in the future," Distin said. "I have not spoken to Newcastle but if City accepted a bid then I would have to."
Quashie moves: Southampton's new boss Harry Redknapp has signed his former Portsmouth midfielder Nigel Quashie for £2.1 million.
Quashie, who cost Portsmouth only £600,000 in 2000, signed a three-and-a-half year deal yesterday that is likely to stir south-coast rivalry further after Redknapp quit Fratton Park and joined the St Mary's club last month.
Diao on loan: Birmingham are set to sign Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao on loan for the rest of the season. Steve Bruce is close to agreeing a six-month deal for the Senegal international as a short-term replacement for Blackburn-bound Robbie Savage.
Bruce is also keeping tabs on Portsmouth midfielder Amdy Faye who had been set to move to Villa before O'Leary pulled the plug on the deal.
Gallagher lenient: Dermot Gallagher yesterday ensured that Middlesbrough and Everton will escape punishment from the English FA for the melée during Sunday's draw at The Riverside when he made no mention of it in his referee's report.
Both clubs faced potentially heavy fines for "failing to control" their players but Gallagher said last night: "My feeling was that most of the players were being protective."
Pound powerless: Dick Pound, chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, has admitted his organisation is powerless to act after the English Football Association refused to identify four players who failed drugs tests because they were out of competition.
It was revealed yesterday two players have been suspended for six months after twice testing positive for drugs - one for cocaine and the other for marijuana. A third player has been given a suspended six-month ban after twice testing positive for marijuana, and a fourth has been warned for using ecstasy. All four are believed to be with Football League clubs and none is a major name.
"The problem for us is that under the WADA code they are prohibited only in competition. We are powerless to do anything but observe in this case," said Pound.
Villa on defensive: Aston Villa will mount a robust defence today when their manager, David O'Leary, becomes only the second person called to answer a charge of making an illegal approach for another club's player.
The case will be heard before a Football Association disciplinary panel in London and follows an accusation from the Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe that O'Leary acted improperly when Saints striker James Beattie was wanted by Villa last August. If found guilty, Villa could be fined or lose points, although the former is the likely outcome.
In brief . . .
Graeme Souness has confirmed his interest in Portsmouth striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu . . . Manchester United will play the Hong Kong national side on July 23rd as part of their Far East tour . . . West Brom target Matias Almeyda has confirmed his retirement from football citing family problems in his native Argentina as the reason.
