Newslines

Manager Uli Hoeness of reigning German champions Bayern Munich told football weekly magazine Kicker yesterday his club were ready to sacrifice the German Cup final as he finds the date inappropriate.

"If necessary I would be ready to play the final with a reserve team. The Champions League must be our priority," said the Bayern boss.

The final is scheduled for May 6th in Berlin against Werder Bremen, three days after the Champions League semi-final, first-leg against Real Madrid in Spain.

Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli yesterday threatened a player clear-out and admitted he himself could be sacked following their 3-2 defeat by Manchester United.

That defeat dealt a savage blow to their chances of making the Champions League for the second consecutive season.

An angry Vialli told Sky TV: "In this last month I have begun to realise who wants to stay with Chelsea, give their best and die on the pitch for this club . . . and who does not."

French players Didier Deschamps and Frank Leboeuf, Romanian Dan Petrescu and £10 million record signing Chris Sutton are those most threatened by Vialli's announcement.

In Italy, there are rumours that top striker Filippo Inzaghi could leave Juventus and that Fiorentina goalkeeper Francesco Toldo is heading for Manchester United.

Inzaghi, currently earning six billion lira ($3 million) a year, has reportedly asked for the same wages as Alessandro Del Piero - 10 billion lira ($5 million) a year.

Asked if he could guarantee to stay with Juventus next season, Inzaghi told reporters: "No. As usual, at the end of the season, I will meet with the club management and we will talk everything through."

There is speculation too at Fiorentina, where Toldo, captain Gabriel Batistuta and Portuguese playmaker Manuel Rui Costa have all been linked with other teams.

Describing Manchester United as "a prestigious club", Toldo was confronted with speculation about a player/cash swap with someone from Old Trafford. "You know everything," he said. "But don't ask me the name of any players."