Soccer Shorts

Ricketts deal on holdTottenaham pulled out of the bidding for the England forward Michael Ricketts yesterday, although the deal could be revived if Bolton lower their price. Bolton's determination to get at least £6 million for the player has apparently put Tottenham off.

"We have decided to look elsewhere and are not interested in Ricketts at that price," said a spokesman.

Spurs have at least organised the move of Les Ferdinand to West Ham for a nominal fee. The former England forward goes into the squad for this evening's match against Charlton.

Ferdinand is expected to retire at the end of the season after a career that has seen him play at Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle and Spurs, but he is undecided about his future.

Arsenal target Brazilian

World Cup winning goalkeeper Marcos is expected in London today to open talks with Arsenal over a move from Brazil. Marcos's club Palmeiras have confirmed he is on his way England to discuss personal terms with the club after the two clubs agreed a transfer fee.

Palmeiras press officer Marco Trevisan said yesterday Marcos was now free to negotiate a contract with Arsenal, with the main sticking point being when he joins the Premiership champions.

Xavier has his price

Liverpool will not allow Portuguese defender Abel Xavier to leave Anfield on a loan deal. Turkish side Galatasaray have enquired about the player, but Liverpool are only prepared to let him go on a permanent deal for around £1 million. Manager Gerard Houllier said: "A few agents have been in touch with me but I won't let him go out on loan. No way."

Upson ponders options

Birmingham are still waiting to hear whether they have clinched the signing of Arsenal central defender Matthew Upson in a £3 million deal. Upson returned to Birmingham yesterday for a second round of talks with manager Steve Bruce.

But sources close to the club say the player "is still considering his options" before deciding whether to put pen to paper.

Upson had been the subject of 11th hour interest from cash-strapped Leeds United amidst speculation that Jonathan Woodgate was about to become a target for Newcastle United.

Hooijdonk staying put

Pierre van Hooijdonk is "unlikely" to leave Feyenoord for Manchester City during the January transfer window. City boss Kevin Keegan is thought to have placed the former Nottingham Forest and Celtic striker at the top of his shopping list following the collapse of the £7 million deal for Leeds' Robbie Fowler last week.

However, the player's adviser Rob Jensen claims talks are due to begin between Feyenoord and his client at the end of the month with the aim of extending his stay with the Rotterdam outfit. However, City do look set to snap up Bordeaux defender David Sommeil for £3.5 million by the end of the week.

Hasselbaink to stay

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink looks set to remain a Chelsea player for the rest of this season after the club insisted there are no plans to visit Barcelona to hold talks on his future. Hasselbaink had again been linked with possible interest from Barcelona, with the Spanish club reported to have met Chelsea chief executive Trevor Birch last week at the Nou Camp with a view to reaching a £7 million deal.

However, while Chelsea have not actually denied holding talks with Barcelona over Hasselbaink, Birch has made it clear he never travelled to Spain - and has no intention of doing so. He said: "I neither went to Barcelona nor have I any plans to go."

The 14-day notice period given to Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich following his positive drugs test expired yesterday, meanwhile, meaning he is no longer employed by the club.

O'Neill tight-lipped

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was back in Glasgow yesterday but was still remaining tight-lipped over his future at the Parkhead club.

O'Neill finally met up with his players at their Barrowfield training ground after failing to show during their week-long winter training camp in Florida.

While his players were being put through their paces by assistant John Robertson and coach Steve Walford in Orlando, O'Neill was holding contract talks with Dermot Desmond at the major shareholder's holiday home in Barbados.

Earlier, O'Neill seemed keen to show it was business as usual, watching as his players trained ahead of last night's Lisbon Lions benefit match against Feyenoord.

Rebrov future uncertain

Serhiy Rebrov could leave Tottenham Hotspur for nothing in the summer if he does not secure a move to another club, according to world soccer governing body FIFA regulations. The unsettled Ukrainian international striker put talks with London rivals Fulham on hold last week due to concerns over manager Jean Tigana's future at the club.

Fulham, meanwhile, could face a transfer embargo after missing the payment deadline for Steve Marlet's £11.5 million transfer from Olympique Lyon, FIFA said yesterday.

IN BRIEF . . . Tim Sherwood's move from Spurs to Portsmouth is still some way from completion, according to his agent Eric Hall. "Tim has spoken to one or two teams," Hall explained. "He's keeping his options open for a while."

Blackburn are about to sign the Slovakian international Vratislav Gresko, the left back they pursued after failing to land Celta Vigo's Juanfran, on loan from Parma for the rest of the season. Juan Eduardo Esnaider arrived at Molineux yesterday with a view to signing for Wolves. The 29-year-old Argentinian striker, who has played for Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus as well as helping Zaragoza win the Cup Winners' Cup in 1995, is available on a free transfer after a spell at River Plate. Aston Villa abandoned the on-loan signing of Johannes Gudjonsson last night after Real Betis doubled their price for the Icelandic international. Villa had agreed to pay £150,000 to take the 22-year-old midfielder on loan until the end of the season, but the deal collapsed when Betis asked for another £150,000.