Chaos at Luton

SoccerShorts: Joe Kinnear is in talks about a shock return to Luton just a fortnight after being sacked by the club following their takeover by a mystery consortium.

Kinnear and first-team coach Mick Harford received letters of dismissal from the club on May 23rd, three days after the retirement of chairman Mike Watson-Challis.

But Luton are now blaming Northampton's commercial director Peter Miller, who signed the letters while acting as a consultant for the consortium, for the pair's sacking.

Harford has already rejected an offer to return, while Luton have now confirmed that Kinnear could also be reinstated, although they remain committed to allowing supporters to choose who takes over in a telephone poll.

Nothing stopping Stam

Lazio have announced they will not stop Dutch defender Jaap Stam from leaving the debt-ridden club this summer. The club's financial problems have meant players have not been paid since November, and Stam is one of those who has not accepted the club's proposal to pay the outstanding wages in club shares rather than cash.

The Dutch international has made 27 league appearances for Roberto Mancini's team this term and Juventus, AC Milan and Inter have all been linked with his services.

Tempting Zola

Cagliari are interested in signing Chelsea's evergreen striker Gianfranco Zola, according to yesterday's Gazzetta dello Sport.

The southern Italian second division club are ready to offer the Sardinian the chance to return home by offering him a one-year contract should he decide to leave Chelsea this summer, the paper said.

Newly-promoted Siena and Sampdoria, who will play in Serie A next season, are also believed to be keen to capture the services of the 36-year-old forward. Zola is still unsure whether he will stay with the English Premiership club he joined from Parma for the start of the 1996-97 season.

Another City swoop

German midfielder Michael Tarnat has joined Manchester City from Bayern Munich.

The 33-year-old, whose contract with Bayern ended at the end of last season, has signed a one-year deal with the English Premiership side. Tarnat, who won 19 caps with Germany, had been at Bayern since '97.

Second time lucky?

Alex McLeish has described Rangers' chances of signing Sporting Lisbon striker Mario Jardel as "a long shot".

The Brazilian almost signed for Rangers in 1996 when problems over a work permit were all that prevented him becoming part of Walter Smith's squad.

In Brief. . .

Southampton goalkeeper Antti Niemi will miss pre-season training after undergoing a knee operation. Real Madrid midfielder Guti will miss Spain's Euro qualifiers against Greece on Saturday and Northern Ireland on Wednesday due to a sprained ankle. Lazio coach Roberto Mancini is to sign a five-year contract that will keep him at the club until '08. And outgoing chairman Martin Edwards is to become only the third president in Manchester United's 125-year history.