Arsenal chase Dutch star

Arsenal have been linked with the £10 million-rated Dutch international defender Bert Konterman of Feyenoord as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the Champions League transfer deadline later this month.

Injuries to Tony Adams and Emmanuel Petit have exposed the lack of international quality cover in defence and midfield, where the 28-year-old Konterman can also play.

According to Dutch reports Arsenal representatives watched Konterman in action for Feyenoord as they beat Den Bosch 4-0 in their opening league game on Friday, with Konterman setting up the second goal.

Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Real Madrid have also been linked with the player though Villa's manager, John Gregory, has denied his club are interested.

Konterman played a crucial part in their Dutch league title, which they won by 15 points. According to Konterman's agent there have not been official approaches from any club as yet, but Feyenoord are already understood to be looking for a replacement.

Gregory has also played down claims that Benito Carbone is due to sign for Aston Villa. The Sheffield Wednesday striker had insisted that a deal was imminent but Villa boss Gregory claims there is nothing in the pipeline. "There is nothing doing in that area," Gregory said.

Wednesday manager Danny Wilson is set for showdown talks with rebel Carbone to discover why the Italian believes that a move to Villa is almost certain. Wednesday transfer-listed Carbone during the summer when the player rejected a new contract offer.

"I know that Villa have made an offer for me and I expect everything to go through," Carbone said. "The only thing that has to be settled is the fee, but hopefully everyone will be sensible and the transfer can go ahead."

Gregory was at Wednesday's clash with Bradford City last Saturday, sparking suggestions that he was keen to sign the former Inter Milan forward. The Villa chief is still keen to sign a new striker after failing in his bid to lure Robbie Keane.

Manchester United defender Ronny Johnsen could be out of action for the rest of the year if he has surgery on both his knees.

The Norwegian utility man has been sidelined all summer with a condition known as "jumper's knee", which mainly affects basketball players.

He spent the last three months at home on a rehabilitation programme under the guidance of Norwegian FA team doctor Lars Ingebretsen, but is now back in Manchester and says he is still in pain.

Johnsen flew back to Norway at the weekend for another examination and now United's club doctor Mike Stone is discussing the situation with the Norwegian camp. "We're waiting for Ronny to come back and see where we go from there," said Alex Ferguson. "It is a dilemma."

Cardiff could become home to more than just the FA Cup final while Wembley is being rebuilt. The Football League has held preliminary talks with the Welsh Rugby Union about using its Millennium Stadium as a venue for the Worthington Cup final, the divisional play-off finals and the Auto Windscreens Shield final from next season.

The Watford midfielder Stuart Slater has signed for the Australian team Carlton. The former West Ham United, Celtic and Ipswich Town player was given a free transfer by the newly promoted Premiership club. The Carlton manager Stuart Munro said that the former England Under-21 international had signed a two-year deal.

England remain firmly outside the top 10 in the latest FIFA world rankings as they stay 14th in the list released yesterday.

After starting the year in ninth place, England's uncertain progress in aiming to qualify for Euro 2000 has cost them points.

Craig Brown's Scotland suffered a further dip of one position to 32nd exchanging places with Zambia.

The Scots do, however, remain above the Republic of Ireland who have fallen two spots to 38th. Northern Ireland fall one place to 71st.