Cole bid fuels Ferguson's ire

Alex Ferguson's occasionally precarious relationship with the Manchester United board is in danger of taking another turn for the worse over the club's apparent willingness to sell Andy Cole to Blackburn Rovers.

It emerged last night that Ferguson was unhappy that United's hierarchy have informed Blackburn, as well as other Premiership clubs, that Cole is available at around £10 million sterling.

Ferguson has made it clear to Peter Kenyon, United's chief executive, that he sees no justifiable reason to weaken his squad at a critical juncture of an erratic season. Furthermore, he has stated that if the club need to recoup some of the £50 million he spent on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and Roy Carroll last summer he would rather Dwight Yorke be sold.

At a time when Ferguson is trying to persuade Cole that he still has a part to play, he has been dismayed that Kenyon, along with Cole's agent Paul Stretford, seems determined to orchestrate the 30-year-old's departure.

Graeme Souness, Blackburn's manager, said yesterday that he hoped Cole, who signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford this year but has become increasingly agitated about his lack of first-team games, would be confirmed as their record signing next week.

However, it remains unclear whether the England international will elect to join a club hovering just above the relegation zone.

Chelsea and Tottenham are on a sizeable list of potential bidders, although financial constraints may curtail Aston Villa's interest. Steve McClaren's chances of signing Cole for Middlesbrough look to have been eliminated by the reluctance of his chairman Steve Gibson to release any significant transfer funds.

"We have had initial approaches from several clubs in England and preliminary discussions with Blackburn Rovers," said Kenyon, adding that "these kind of things can either go off the boil or they can accelerate dramatically."

Souness, who disclosed that Blackburn had approached United about Cole at the start of the season only to be informed that he was not available, said: "The relevant parties are talking and I would love to make it happen. It would be a monster deal for us. Andy is second only to Alan Shearer when you look at the history of goalscorers in the Premiership."

Celtic striker Chris Sutton has ligament damage and will be out for four to six weeks, which may include missing the League Cup semi-final against Rangers in early February. He landed awkwardly during an aerial challenge with the Livingston defender Marvin Andrews on St Stephen's Day.

Leeds United have reiterated their desire to keep Michael Duberry at Elland Road by revealing that the defender had signed a new five-year contract before Christmas.

Newcastle's Craig Bellamy had the red card he was shown at Arsenal on December 18th overturned by the Football Association yesterday and so avoided a three-match suspension.

The striker was sent off by Graham Poll for violent conduct during a clash with Ashley Cole but argued that his connection with the England left-back's face was accidental.

The FA commission, which watched a video replay of the incident and also heard evidence, concluded that Bellamy did not deserve to be dismissed, although the red card remains on his record.

Arsenal can still expect grief from the Newcastle match, which they lost 3-1, as the FA has asked the club for their observations on Thierry Henry's outburst at officials after the final whistle. He could be charged with misconduct.

Southampton have completed a £1.2m deal with Rennes for Fabrice Fernandes.

Danny Granville, who joined Crystal Palace yesterday from Manchester City in a deal worth £500,000, has a groin strain and misses today's match at Bradford.