'Boro ready to move for Irwin

Middlesbrough are willing to double Denis Irwin's wages in a bid to lure him from Old Trafford.

Irwin's contract runs out at the end of the season and although United have offered him another one-year deal, Middlesbrough are prepared to offer him £30,000 a week to move to the Riverside Stadium.

Alan Kelly has had a transfer request accepted by Blackburn Rovers. The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper has been out of the frame at Ewood Park since the recent arrival of Brad Friedel.

Kelly joined Rovers as a Brian Kidd signing in the summer of 1999 and started the season as first choice, but lost his place to John Filan and now finds himself third choice. Steve Lomas is weighing up his future after West Ham accepted bids from Manchester City and Everton for the Northern Ireland captain.

Lomas still maintains he is happy at Upton Park, but now has some thinking to do after West Ham boss Harry Redknapp accepted offers of £3.7 million for the midfielder.

Although Redknapp has agreed a price for Lomas, he claims he is happy for the 26-year-old to stay. "We've been bid £3.7 million for him, but I think he's happy to stay here and I'm happy if he stays," he said.

Meanwhile, West Ham have dropped their interest in signing Gareth Southgate after Aston Villa valued the England defender at £10 million. Redknapp, however, is poised to sign Lorenzo Amoruso from Rangers. Both clubs have agreed a fee in the region of £3 million and all that remains is for the player to agree personal terms.

Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone have sacked two players - former Northern Ireland international George O'Boyle and Kevin Thomas - after they were reported by a club official for using cocaine in a Perth bar.

Aston Villa's £9.5 million bid for Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel has collapsed after they were told by the English FA that the transfer arrangements

for the River Plate striker "do not comply with FIFA regulations".

Angel's agent Gustavo Muscardi, who owns half of the player's contract, was looking for £800,000 in commission.