Leeds striker Mark Viduka looks set to figure at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war this summer between Real Madrid and AC Milan.
Milan are understood to be preparing a £20 million bid for the 25-year-old Australia international, who cost Leeds £6 million from Celtic last season, but may yet be beaten to the punch by Real and a £22 million offer.
The Spaniards are known to be looking for a new target man, given the loss of form and confidence to Fernando Morientes due to a series of injuries, with Viduka seen as a natural replacement.
Real director of football Jorge Valdano is believed to already have held preliminary discussions with Leeds officials, according to Spanish sports daily Marca.
Scotland international Colin Hendry has been banned for six international matches for elbowing San Marino's Nicola Albani in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park last month. The defender was also fined 10,000 Swiss francs.
The verdict will almost certainly mean the end of 35year-old Hendry's international career after 51 caps.
The Scottish FA is considering whether to appeal the ban. One factor in that decision is the lack of clarity over whether the Bolton defender's punishment includes friendlies.
Paul Scholes is set to be the latest Manchester United player to commit his long-term future to the club. It is understood United have agreed the broad outline of a deal with the midfielder. The agreement is expected to be for five years and will double Scholes' current salary at Old Trafford to around £50,000 a week.
Scholes is expected to sign officially on July 1st and United will now step up contract talks with David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Wes Brown and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Patrick Vieira says he wants to stay at Arsenal until the end of his current deal in 2004, despite his criticism of the club's transfer policy.
"If anyone thinks that because I say things it means I want to leave, then they are wrong," the midfielder said.
Vieira's boss Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, is to receive a salary of £2 million a year to keep him with the club, according to the Mirror newspaper. Leicester have suffered another injury setback after central defender Gerry Taggart was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. The Northern Ireland international will undergo an operation rather than wait until the season ends. In the South American World Cup qualifying group, Argentina scored twice in the final three minutes to grab a 3-3 draw with Bolivia, while Brazil's dismal campaign continued with a 1-1 draw against Ecudaor.
It took a 65th-minute opener from evergreen Vasco da Gama player Romario to ease the pressure on Brazil in Sao Paulo. But 11 minutes from time the defence was caught napping and Juan Pajuelo soared to head home the equaliser from a freekick.
The draw leaves Brazil in fourth-place behind Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador and by no means certain of a place at next year's finals.
