SOCCER:  Tottenham Hotspur may have to double their offer for Andy Reid if they are to persuade Nottingham Forest to sell their most prized asset.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has reiterated his commitment to Manchester United and indicated his new contract should be finalised this month, elevating him from the middle bracket of earners at Old Trafford to the top niche alongside the likes of Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs.

The most likely outcome is that one of Reid's many admirers will be able to reach a compromise.

Everton, Blackburn, Charlton and Birmingham City have joined Spurs in registering their interest in Reid and more Premiership clubs are likely to follow, but none may be willing to pay so much.

For Birmingham City and Charlton, for instance, it would require a record transfer fee and that can be discounted immediately.

For the time being, however, Doughty is sticking to his valuation of a player who still has three years remaining on his contract. According to well-informed consensus, Reid has been the first division's outstanding player this season, a view Trevor Brooking concurred with this week.

Forest are in a far healthier financial state than a couple of years ago, when every one of Paul Hart's first-team squad was made available for transfer.

Selling Reid, the club's most talented winger since John Robertson, is not imperative.

Everton's faint hopes of off-loading Alex Nyarko during the transfer window have been frustrated with confirmation that the 30-year-old Ghanaian midfielder has been ruled out for a fortnight with a chipped bone in his foot.

Meanwhile, Leicester's manager Micky Adams has told Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa that only an irresistible offer will persuade him to sell Muzzy Izzet during the transfer window.

The midfielder's contract expires in June but both clubs are hoping to tempt Leicester to cash in on the 29-year-old now rather than risk losing him for nothing then.

"We have had inquiries from Villa and Blackburn," Adams confirmed, "but there have not been any bids."

Blackburn are in particular need of a midfielder as Barry Ferguson will not play again this season after breaking a kneecap.

"Muzzy Izzet is one name we have identified and he is a target," the manager Graeme Souness admitted.

"He is a skilful player who we have watched for quite a while. Barry's injury has obviously intensified that search."

Rovers value Izzet at £500,000 but Adams would want more than double that. Leicester are vulnerable to bids, although 25 per cent of any fee goes to his previous club Chelsea, because of their situation after coming out of administration and doubts about their future Premiership status.

As such, they have not been able to offer him a deal. Adams views the midfielder's presence as essential if relegation is to be avoided, however.

"I would have to replace him and where would I start?" he said."I'm not under pressure to sell and the final decision will be mine. Muzzy will only go if he looks me in the eye and says he wants to go. Even then, the money would also have to be right."

The Italian striker Corrado Grabbi has left Blackburn for Ancona, also on a free. He cost £6.75 million in 2001.

Bolton are expected to sign Jamaica's goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts today and then pitch him straight into the team for tomorrow's FA Cup third-round tie at Tranmere Rovers.

It is thought Ricketts will join on loan from Village United with a view to a £200,000 move in the summer.

Bolton have also pinpointed the Atletico Madrid striker Javi Moreno, once of Alaves and scorer of two goals against Liverpool in the 2001 UEFA Cup final, as their main transfer target and the Spanish international has indicated a willingness to move to England.

"We know who we're after but it's about whether we can afford them," Sam Allardyce, the manager, said. "If Javi Moreno is a deal I think we can do, or if another player comes available, I'll go to the chairman. I have to present a player to him and then I find out whether I can afford him.

"The financial restrictions are a problem because I don't have a budget. That makes life difficult.

"If I had, I could have concluded all our business in the first week or two. If the money isn't there I will wheel and deal, although for every player who goes out I need to bring in two because we're so short."

Henrik Pedersen, an infrequent starter for Bolton but contracted until the summer of 2005, has hinted he may return to Denmark if any new striker's arrival pushes him down the pecking order.

"Things don't look to be going my way," he commented.

"Having said that, there's still a long way before I can say I'm going home."

Paul Gascoigne is considering an offer from Oldham. The former England midfielder (36), is weighing up a pay-as-you-play deal to be supplemented by a cut of gate receipts.

"He has a few offers," claimed Wes Saunders, his agent. "Oldham are one, but there are a few including a Division One side."

The Bundesliga will be looking for another television broadcaster for the second time in two years in the summer after Infront declined to pick up its two-year option. The Swiss company, headed by Gunther Netzer, acquired the rights last year after the bankruptcy of KirchMedia.