Roy Keane has set himself a double European target after ending his 10-month exile from football. The Manchester United midfielder came through the first half of Monday night's friendly against Valerengea in Oslo, saying he is now ready for the competitive kick-off in a fortnight.
Keane aims to be fit for United's Champions' League qualifier on August 12th, and a month later has targeted the Republic of Ireland's game against Croatia for his international comeback.
"They are both big games, and I want to be involved. I want to be ready for the first of our European games, and hopefully everything will go well. There is the Charity Shield before the European game, so I have plenty of time to get myself fit. I wasn't nervous last night, but it was important to get 45 minutes under my belt. It has been 10 months now, and it was a hurdle to get over.
"I am also looking forward to the Ireland game in Dublin. That's an important match, but I need to get back playing for United first."
Brazil began rebuilding for the World Cup in 2002 yesterday by dismissing the national coach Mario Zagallo and his entire staff.
The Brazilian Football Federation president Ricardo Texeira said the time was ripe for change. He refused to speculate on who might replace Zagallo but added that the new coach would be announced by the end of next month.
Brazilian newspapers cited Carlos Alberto Parreira, the former Brazil coach who won the 1994 World Cup and who was fired by Saudi Arabia after this year's finals, as a strong candidate. Luis Felipe Scolari, currently at Palmeiras, and Vanderlei Luxenburgo, who coaches Corinthians, were also tipped.
The Dutch FA's arbitration committee hearing into the dispute between Ajax and the twins Frank and Ronald de Boer began last night. The De Boers are contracted to Ajax until 2004, but both want to move abroad.
Barcelona are strongly interested in both twins, and Arsenal had also sought Ronald. But Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger has ended his pursuit, saying the player should stay at Ajax. "If a tribunal breaks the contract what's the point of a contract?" said Wenger. "If you live in a world where a contract doesn't mean anything, you will destroy the world of football."
Rangers' attempt to lure Colin Hendry back to Scotland seems likely to founder on Blackburn's asking price, double the figure the Ibrox club have offered.
Blackburn reluctantly agreed yesterday to allow the Scotland central defender to go to Ibrox for £5.15 million, a figure that took the breath from the Rangers coach Dick Advocaat and his chairman David Murray. Advocaat insisted he would not pay it.
Blackburn confirmed they had received a £2.5 million offer from Rangers on Monday and said it was "totally unacceptable" and that they were not happy at the Scottish club's unsettling of a player who agreed an extension to his contract only a week ago.
"Colin has informed us that Rangers have offered him a four-year contract and the club captaincy," said Blackburn in a statement. "We do not want him to leave, but if Rangers meet our valuation, we will abide by the decision to allow him to go there.
"If they do not, we would expect Colin to honour his contract." Hendry is tied to Blackburn until 2002.
Advocaat said: "We have bid what we think is reasonable and I don't think that will be increased. He is 32, and we would not want to play at more than £5 million."
Bryan Robson plans to talk to Internazionale's Francesco Moriero in Middlesbrough tomorrow when Italy's World Cup winger is due to discuss a £7 million move.
If Moriero agrees personal terms it will take the newly-promoted club's spending to nearly £20 million in five months. "I'm hoping to speak to the player and his agent in the next couple of days," said Robson. "But there's no deadline."
Kenny Dalglish insists he will not sell any of his established Newcastle players despite continuing negotiations for Germany's Dieter Hamann and Peru's Nolberto Solano who, if they sign, will take the manager's summer intake to nine.
Dalglish said: "I won't be selling. We were happy with what we had last year but got caught short. This time we have greater numbers and, I believe, greater quality. I have a good squad."
Dougie Freedman is set to make a £900,000 move across from Wolves to Nottingham Forest with the Premiership club resigned to losing Kevin Campbell.
Freedman discussed personal terms with Dave Bassett, his former manager at Crystal Palace, after the fee was agreed for the 24-year-old striker who was Wolves' top scorer last season.
Campbell, meanwhile, was last night being shown around Trabzonspor's ground and the Black Sea port before completing a £3 million move to the Turkish club coached by Gordon Milne.
Leeds manager George Graham has pulled out of the running to sign Gareth Ainsworth after Port Vale's refusal to back down from their apparent £2 million evaluation.
Ainsworth was known to be keen on a move to Elland Road but Graham was believed to be offering no more than just over £1 million for the 25-year-old midfielder.
A disappointed Graham said: "The Ainsworth deal will not be happening now. It doesn't look like we will be bringing in anybody else before the start of the season, but the search goes on."
Jay Jay Okocha, the brilliant Nigeria World Cup midfielder, has signed for Paris St-Germain for £10.6 million from Fenerbahce.
Meanwhile, BBC 1 has secured the exclusive rights to provide live coverage of the home legs of three English clubs - Aston Villa, Leeds and Blackburn - in the UEFA Cup.
