Tottenham have pulled out of talks to sign Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy because they could not guarantee him first-team football, according to the north London club.
Murphy had been linked with a move to White Hart Lane after falling out of favour under new Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
A Tottenham statement read: "We have now withdrawn from these negotiations following a meeting with the player. We acknowledge that a guaranteed first-team place was a deciding factor in his decision."
Not so blue Mourinho
Chelsea's boss Jose Mourinho got a boost yesterday with news that two of his previously doubtful strikers will be able to start the season.
Mateja Kezman, a £5 million summer arrival from PSV Eindhoven, is available after his appeal to the English Football Association to overturn a three-match ban, applied after a confrontation with Olivier Dacourt during a pre-season friendly, was successful.
But he will be competing with Adrian Mutu for a place in Mourinho's starting line-up after the Romanian striker pledged himself to Stamford Bridge after a loan move to Juventus collapsed.
Mutu said: "This is my declaration. I am staying at Chelsea, I am happy here and will prove myself on the pitch. I have not changed my mind and never said I wanted to go to Juventus."
Celtic's double delight
Martin O'Neill yesterday received good news on two fronts with Celtic trialist Charles-Edouard Coridon being cleared to face Tottenham in a home friendly and Stilian Petrov being cleared of serious injury.
Lens midfielder Coridon has impressed at Parkhead this week but the Celtic manager wanted to see him in action. The 31-year-old Martinique international, who turned down a move to Everton, has been given clearance to face Spurs.
Meanwhile, midfielder Petrov could be back soon. The Bulgarian international skipper was taken off on a stretcher during Sunday's 2-0 victory over Motherwell at Parkhead after falling awkwardly on his ankle and a serious injury was feared.
But the 25-year-old has been told the injury is not as bad as first suspected and he could even recover to face Kilmarnock in the SPL next weekend.
In brief . . .
Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie has committed himself to a new four-year contract with the London club . . . Lazio hope to tie up a deal for Charlton striker Paolo di Canio in the next 24 hours . . . Leeds have paid £200,000 for Scotland international Stephen Crainey, who arrives at Elland Road on a three-year deal from Southampton.
Tonight'sFixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Third qualifying round, first leg: Benfica v Anderlecht (8.0); Dynamo Kiev v Trabzonspor (6.0); Juventus v Djurgardens IF (8.0); Liebherr GAK v Liverpool v CSKA; Moscow v Rangers (5.0); PAOK Salonika v Maccabi Tel-Aviv (7.0).
UEFA CUP: Second qualifying round, first leg: FC Superfund v Zenit St Petersburg (5.0); Buducnost Banatski v Maribor (5.0); Omonia Nicosia v CSKA Sofia (5.0).
ENGLISH LEAGUE: Championship: Brighton v Plymouth; Cardiff v Coventry; Gillingham v Leeds; Millwall v Wigan; Rotherham v Burnley; Sheff Utd v Stoke; Sunderland v Crewe (8.0); West Ham v Reading (8.0). One: Barnsley v Bristol; City Blackpool v Sheff Wed; Bournemouth v Walsall; Bradford v Peterborough (at The Bradford & Bingley Stadium); Brentford v Doncaster; Colchester v Stockport; Huddersfield v Chesterfield; Oldham v Wrexham; Port Vale v Milton Keynes Dons; Torquay v Hull; Tranmere v Hartlepool. Two: Bristol Rovers v Bury; Cambridge Utd v Leyton Orient; Cheltenham v Scunthorpe; Chester v Wycombe; Grimsby v Boston Utd; Kidderminster v Notts County; Lincoln City v Southend; Macclesfield v Shrewsbury; Northampton v Rushden & D'monds; Rochdale v Swansea; Yeovil v Darlington.
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP: First Round: Airdrie Utd v East Fife (7.30); Berwick v Elgin; Brechin v Cowdenbeath; Dumbarton v Ross County (7.30); Falkirk v Montrose; Hamilton v Ayr; Morton v Gretna (7.30); Peterhead v East Stirling (7.30); Queen of South v Albion (7.30); St Johnstone v Alloa; St Mirren v Forfar (7.30); Stenhousemuir v Arbroath (7.30); Stranraer v Raith (7.30).
FRIENDLY: Celtic v Tottenham; Chorley v Morecambe.
LAST NIGHT'S RESULT: ENGLISH LEAGUE: Championship: Watford 3 (Webber 12, 59, Dyer 45), QPR 0.
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