Manchester United midfielder Karel Poborsky is set to join Benfica after failing to secure a place in the English champions' first team a United director said on Saturday.

Maurice Watkins said the Czech international, signed for £3.5 million pounds from Slavia Prague, was in Portugal discussing financial terms. No details of the transfer fee were available. Under British employment regulations, Poborsky, as a player from a non-EU country, would have to play in 75 per cent of United's matches this season to gain an extended work permit for next season. But, so far, he has featured in only about half, the vast majority as substitute. Rangers chairman David Murray last night rejected suggestions that Marcello Lippi is his numberone choice to replace Walter Smith as manager.

Rangers' Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso gave an interview to Turin-based Tuttosport in which he is quoted as saying that the Juventus coach is the main contender.

Amoruso, yet to make a first-team appearance, reportedly claimed that a lucrative four-year contract was already in place, but Murray dismissed the report. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace boss Steve Coppell has insisted that Itzhik Zohar is staying at Selhurst Park, despite claims that he is returning to Israel from Maccabi Haifa president Yaacov Shahar.