A round-up of other soccer stories in brief

United duo set to go

Alex Ferguson has dropped the broadest hint yet that Alan Smith and Giuseppe Rossi are on their way out of Old Trafford. With the Carlos Tevez wrangle expected to be resolved by the end of August, Smith and Rossi's futures have been the subject of debate over the last few weeks.

Middlesbrough are rumoured to have made an offer for Smith, while Parma are keen to keep Rossi, who scored nine goals on a 16-game loan spell to help keep the club in Serie A.

The Manchester United manager accepts that if Tevez does eventually sign, neither Smith nor Rossi may feel entirely comfortable at the number of first-team opportunities they are likely to get next term.

"We have had offers for Giuseppe, which puts us in a bit of a situation, while the quandary with Alan surrounds his long-term future and getting regular games," Ferguson said. "I have to look at Manchester United in terms of how do we improve to get better. And when someone like Tevez comes along, it makes it difficult for people like Alan and Giuseppe in particular."

The situation is further muddied by Ferguson's admission he lodged a bid for another striker this summer.

Ferguson opted not to name the player but Bolton's Nicolas Anelka was rumoured to be a strong target, while the agent of Fabio Quagliarella, who scored 13 goals for Italian outfit Sampdoria last term but has since had his contract bought out in its entirety by co-owners Udinese, claimed six weeks ago United had bid €15 million for the 23-year-old.

"We did try to get another player," confirmed Ferguson. "It is obvious they are not going to sell at this particular time but we have our tabs on the situation."

Keane still in market

Sunderland manager Roy Keane is ready to bring more new face to the Stadium of Light over the next few weeks.

He was, however, giving nothing away about his interest in Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon amid reports that the Sunderland have upped their bid to €13.5 million. Asked if he had anything to say about the speculation Keane replied: "Nothing at all."

The talk in Scotland is that the Sunderland have made a move for Celtic's Bobo Balde, although the silence which has surrounded negotiations so far this summer was being maintained at the Premiership club.

"We know we need a few more players and we are in talks with maybe three or four players at this moment in time," Keane said. "When we do get one or two in, there is every chance one or two might move on. My job is to try to get the right balance and the right squad in for what will be a very long season."

Meanwhile, former Manchester United goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw has joined the Sunderland coaching staff.

Leeds players out of pocket

Leeds United players are still waiting to receive monthly salary payments which they should have had at the end of June, writes Louise Taylor . As concern grows in Dennis Wise's squad, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) yesterday held crisis talks with the beleaguered League One club.

Although the Leeds players agreed a wage deferral in the spring, they did not anticipate waiting so long for their cheques and many are now acutely worried about meeting financial commitments. Had they not agreed the deferral they would now be free to break their contracts and leave on free transfers, and if their June wages do not arrive by a set date they will still be able to do precisely that. That date has not been disclosed but is understood to be not far off.

Leeds's scheduled friendly at Dynamo Dresden tomorrow has been cancelled after local police refused to attend the game. It did not displease the PFA. "Unpaid players should not be playing," the association's deputy chief executive Mick McGuire said.

... l Guardian Service

In brief ...

•Argentina centre back Gabriel Milito (26) completed his move to Barcelona from Real Zaragoza yesterday for €20.5 million.

•Sheffield United have signed the experienced Lee Hendrie (30) on a free transfer and handed the former Aston Villa midfielder a three-year deal.

•New West Ham United signing Julien Faubert has been ruled out for at least six months with a ruptured Achilles tendon, sustained in a pre-season friendly.