Martin Edwards, the Manchester United chairman, yesterday said that assistant manager Brian Kidd will be staying at Old Trafford.

Alex Ferguson's right-hand man had been linked with Everton following Howard Kendall's departure. But United chairman Martin Edwards said Kidd will not be leaving and is happy to stay.

Kidd recently signed a new contract and is currently in France helping Ferguson on his World Cup scouting mission.

Liverpool manager Roy Evans is hoping to revamp his defence with the signings of out-of-contract Aston Villa defender Steve Staunton and French defender Eric Sikora of French champions Lens.

Staunton would join under the Bosman ruling and Sikora would cost Liverpool just £120,000 under the terms of a clause in his contract.

Staunton is seen as a potential left back and if he does return to Liverpool, where he played from 1986 to '91, another Irish player, Jason McAteer, could find himself frozen out of Roy Evans's squad.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, Blackburn Rovers have completed the £3 million signing of French defender Sebastien Perez of Bastia and Tottenham Hotspur have garnered the services of Italian defender Paolo Tramezzani of Piacenza for £1.35 million.

In Scotland, Celtic have been turned down by yet another coach, this time former Swedish national coach Tommy Svensson. His rejection of the Parkhead side follows that of Noway coach Egil Olsen on Sunday.

Despite a reported offer of £250,000 a year, Svensson has opted for an advisory post with his country's Football Association.