SOCCER/News: Manchester United will have to increase their offer for Paolo di Canio by around £1 million sterling if they are to land the West Ham playmaker. The London side have already snubbed a £2.5 million offer for the 33-year-old Italian and are believed to be holding out for a fee that will cover Di Canio's reported £400,000 pay-off.

Old Trafford manager Alex Ferguson knows he must secure di Canio's signature by the end of this month if he plans to utilise the gifted striker in United's spring Champions League campaign.

Di Canio yesterday insisted he has never demanded a move from Upton Park, saying: "All I know is that there was an official request and West Ham didn't deny it, only turning down the price."

He added: "It is clear that the club has put a price on me and I am for sale, even if Southampton, Watford or Macclesfield pay £3.5 million.

"Glenn (Roeder, West Ham's manager) spoke to me two weeks ago and said he wants to keep me. But if Macclesfield come in for that money (£3.5million) they will sell me to Macclesfield - and this is clear. But I have never said I am desperate to leave or to play in the Champions League. If the club want to sell you, it means you are not in their plans."

Back at Old Trafford, Roy Keane's representative claims the summer may arrive before the midfielder signs a new contract. It had been reported over the weekend that Keane would agree a new deal with United within the next two weeks.

His representative Michael Kennedy has confirmed that preliminary talks have begun but claims it could be six months before they are concluded. Kennedy also stressed there is no rush because Keane's current deal, worth around £52,000 per week net, does not expire until the end of next season.

"He's got 18 months to go yet, so it's still early days," said Kennedy. "There have been some preliminary discussions, but there's a long way to go yet. It could be six months before it is completed."

Keane's team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy is 4 to 7 with bookmakers William Hill to score against Blackburn on Saturday, which would set a record of scoring in eight consecutive Premiership games. Hills also offer the Dutchman at 5 to 4 not to find the net in the match.

Van Nistelrooy started his run of goals last December against Derby County, who yesterday sacked manager Colin Todd just over three months after appointing him as boss at Pride Park.

The club were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa at the weekend, leaving them second from bottom of the Premiership and entrenched in a relegation battle.

At the start of January, Derby were dumped out of the FA Cup in the third round by Third Division Bristol Rovers, who won 3-1 at Pride Park.

Chief executive Keith Loring said on the club's website: "The decision made by the chairman and board of directors was unanimous and Colin has been aware the chairman was not happy with the way things have been going."

Reserve team manager Billy McEwan will take charge of first team affairs for Saturday's crucial home game against fellow strugglers Ipswich.

Todd was made assistant manager in October 2000 and took over when Jim Smith left a year later.

Earlier yesterday, Derby's Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli brushed aside speculation that he was on the verge of taking over from Todd, but said he would consider an offer if it came his way.

The BBC have hailed their Sunday night FA Cup football slot an overwhelming success after pulling in a peak of 8.4 million viewers for Aston Villa's match with Manchester United.

The third-round tie at Villa Park on January 6th, which United won 3-2 after trailing 2-0, averaged 7.1 million viewers. The afternoon match between Macclesfield and West Ham pulled in 4.4 million viewers.

Rangers director of football Dick Advocaat has rejected an invitation to coach the Holland national side for a second time.

The Dutch authorities (KNVB) had approached Advocaat to replace Luis van Gaal as their national coach again after he guided the country to the 1994 World Cup finals.

But Advocaat insisted his word was his bond with Ibrox chairman David Murray after having moved upstairs to help new manager Alex McLeish.

"It was a difficult and emotional decision but, in the end, I have given a commitment to David Murray and to Rangers and that was very important for me," said Advocaat.

Motherwell have confirmed the contract for striker David Kelly (36), has been terminated by mutual consent.

The former Republic of Ireland international was involved in an alleged bust-up with manager Eric Black and his assistant Terry Butcher after the recent Scottish Cup defeat at Dunfermline. Prior to a disciplinary hearing yesterday, both parties agreed on a contract termination.