Keane may be bait: Newcastle could be tempted by the bait of Robbie Keane if Tottenham propose a part-exchange deal for Jermaine Jenas.
Newcastle have so far ruled out selling their 22-year-old England squad midfielder, who yesterday saw his controversial red card at Arsenal reduced to a yellow.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out an approach, but Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd is expecting an approach from Tottenham, with suggestions that £5 million plus Keane could be tabled.
Smith snubs England
Alan Smith's future with England is in the balance. Brian Barwick, the FA chief executive, has made clear his dissatisfaction with the Manchester United forward.
Smith refused a late call-up for tomorrow's friendly in Denmark. Not picked by his club for Saturday's match at Everton, he expressed a preference for a reserve game against Bolton last night.
"My view," said the chief executive, "is that Alan Smith was given an opportunity to play for England and chose to play elsewhere. It's not probably the cleverest thing he's done."
Essien papers hitch
The marathon saga surrounding Chelsea's supposedly successful £24 million bid for Lyon's Michael Essien took another twist last night when it was revealed the Premiership champions had still not received the relevant paperwork to complete the move.
Lyon had earlier claimed on their official website a deal had been agreed and reports suggested Essien was on his way to London for a medical. But Chelsea waited in vain yesterday afternoon for the documents that would enable them to seal the deal.
They had not arrived by the close of business and as a result the Ghanaian international midfielder will not be arriving at Stamford Bridge for a medical today.
Gerrard wants Owen
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard would like Michael Owen to return to Anfield.
The European champions are believed to be trying to organise a loan deal for the Real Madrid striker who left the club last summer in an £11 million move.
Gerrard said: "It goes without saying I would love Michael Owen back here and I think everyone at the club would love him back.
"Obviously, it's up to Real Madrid. He's their player and they will decide if he can go, but when I see Michael in the England squad this week I won't even have to ask him where he'd like to be in a few weeks."
Sanchez confident
Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez believes his side can chalk up their first win in 10 games tomorrow - despite suffering some back pain.
Captain Aaron Hughes, Colin Murdock and Stephen Craigan are the only recognised defenders in the 16-man squad to face Malta in a friendly.
Sanchez is short on numbers in that department with George McCartney, Mark Clyde, Chris Baird, Tony Capaldi and Gareth McAuley all unavailable because of injury.
Northern Ireland have not won a game since recording a 3-0 tour victory win against Trinidad & Tobago last June.
However, Sanchez is convinced the tide is about to turn beginning in Malta and then against Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier.
"It's been a while since we won and we need to get a winning mentality back into the squad," he said. "There is no better time to do that than this week.
"Malta and Azerbaijan are teams that we are expected to beat and we should be winning these kind of games."
In brief . . .
Sam Allardyce has told Manchester City that Stelios Giannakopoulos is worth more than the £1million they officially bid yesterday . . . Striker Marlon Harewood has signed a new five-year contract with West Ham.
