German goalkeeping legend Andreas Kopke is expected to join Rangers over the weekend. The 36-year-old veteran of three World Cup finals will move to Ibrox until the end of the season on a free transfer from Marseille.

Celtic's shares rose again yesterday with the City expecting an imminent announcement regarding the potential bid for the club by a consortium including Kenny Dalglish and Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr. Shares closed up 15p at 322 1/2p - a 5% increase on trading during the day.

Manchester United will dig up and re-turf most of the Old Trafford pitch on Sunday after the game against Blackburn. Ground staff will have 14 days to complete the work before the next home game against Leeds. The pitch, was re-laid during the summer but cut up badly in Sunday's goalless draw against Newcastle.

Oxford winger Joey Beauchamp has asked for time to think over a £800,000 switch to Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest. Forest boss Dave Bassett has agreed a fee with Oxford for the 27-year-old star, who travelled to Nottingham for talks earlier yesterday.

Leeds United winger Lee Sharpe has been transfer-listed and told that he does not figure in new manager David O'Leary's plans. Sharpe spent all last season out with knee trouble and has started only three games this season.

He was Leeds' record buy when Howard Wilkinson paid Manchester United £4.5 million for him in the summer of 1996. He began his career with Torquay where he made his debut at 16 before being signed by Manchester United for £185,000.