Leicester manager Martin O'Neill has admitted his interest in the vacant manager's job at Celtic - but insisted yesterday he has not been approached by the Glasgow club. Celtic are expected to step up their approach to try to lure O'Neill.
O'Neill said: "Anyone would have to be interested in a club like them. Celtic are absolutely massive, one of the biggest clubs in Europe and would interest most managers. However, I haven't been offered, or accepted, a job by them."
O'Neill, who steered Leicester to the League Cup last season, has two years left of his current deal and earlier in the campaign pledged to see out that contract. But the contract does have a clause which allows the former Northern Ireland midfielder to talk to any interested clubs in the close season.
Leicester chairman John Elsom insists he has still received no contact from Celtic regarding an attempt to secure O'Neill's services. O'Neill was at City's training ground yesterday but only to tie up loose ends before the summer break - including finalising pre-season fixtures - when he will be working as a television pundit at Euro 2000.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid confirmed yesterday they have been in negotiations with Chelsea about the return of Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to the Premiership. "Nothing has been decided yet, but the talks are still going on," said a club spokeswoman.
Chelsea are reported to be ready to pay over £14 million for Hasselbaink, who walked out on Leeds just nine months ago to move to Spain. But any deal will not be finalised until after Saturday's Spanish Cup final, which will be the Dutchman's final game in Spain.
Blackburn winger Keith Gillespie yesterday admitted he felt hard done by after being placed on the transfer list by Rovers manager Graeme Souness. The 25-year-old Northern Ireland international, who cost £2.25 million from Newcastle in December 1998, has been put up for sale at Ewood Park along with Per Frandsen, Nathan Blake and Darren Peacock.
Coventry skipper Gary McAllister is to hold talks later this week with Liverpool. McAllister's current Coventry deal has come to an end and the 35-year-old midfielder can leave on a free transfer under the Bosman Ruling. The club have offered him a new contract but Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier wants McAllister to help their push for a Champions League spot next season.
Veteran defender Nigel Winterburn looks set to leave Arsenal despite the offer of a new contract. The 36-year-old full-back found himself relegated to the substitutes bench on several occasions last season with Brazilian Silvinho now the first-choice at Highbury.
Although manager Arsene Wenger is keen to keep him at the club for another year, Winterburn has suggested that he has played his last game for the club. "It's been a heart-wrenching decision and one made purely from a footballing point of view. I was offered a fantastic contract at Arsenal this year to stay and I could have played 15 or 20 games maximum for that money and had a fantastic time. But I don't just want to take the money - I want to do something for it."
Fiorentina yesterday confirmed the club's legendary striker Gabriel Batistuta is on the brink of joining Serie A rivals Roma. The Argentinean, the Florence club's postwar record goalscorer, recently admitted he wanted a new challenge.
