Sunderland bid for Quinn and Curle denied

MANCHESTER City chairman Francis Lee has denied reports suggesting newly promoted Sunderland have made a bid for Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn and captain Keith Curle.

Lee has hinted that there could be a clear out of top players from Maine Road during the summer, following the club's relegation from the Premiership. But he stressed that the club had received no approach from Sunderland manager Peter Reid.

"No one has made an inquiry for Quinn or Curle. If they did, we would inform the player concerned," said Lee.

The future of a number of Manchester City players will be decided when manager Alan Ball returns from Canada, where he is on holiday and also on the lookout for talent.

"We have had two or three weeks to let things sink in since relegation. I will be talking to the manager when he gets back," said Lee. "We'll have to look at what we're doing next season and see where the changes are going to be made."

Curle became Manchester City's most expensive defender when he signed from Wimbledon for £2.5 million, while Quinn was rescued from Arsenal reserves by manager Howard Kendall for a bargain £900,000.

Meanwhile, Derby County today completed the first part of a Premiership survival "jigsaw" when they signed Croatian midfielder Aljosa Asanovic for £950,000 from Hajduk Split.

The 30 year old international team mate of Derby star Igdr Stimac has joined Derby on a three year contract, despite late interest from Italian club Verona.

But his desire to play in England, plus the presence of Stimac, helped manager Jim Smith land a player he believes will help establish newly promoted Derby in the Premiership.

"It's very, very exciting. He is a quality player and I am he is joining the squad at Derby County. We have got a game plan to bring in three or four players and we have completed the first part of the jigsaw," Smith said.

"Igor was instrumental in persuading him to join us. I don't think he would have come here otherwise, or if we hadn't been in the Premiership.

"Igor has said for a long time that this was the guy we needed. He can play anywhere in midfield and he averages 10 goals a season in top European football."

Smith, who also hopes to sign the Danish defender Jacob Laursen from Silkeborg for £509,000, has no intention of parting company with Stimac, despite reports linking the classy sweeper to a £5m move to Manchester United.

. The findings of the external report into the FAI's management of tickets during the World Cup finals in America two years ago are to be presented to a meeting of the FAI Council tonight.

Bastow and Charlton, the Dublin firm of chartered accountants who were commissioned to conduct the inquiry, have already submitted an interim report to the association.

That document was not made available to the media and the expectation is that a similar ban will be applied to the full report.