Football: Redknapp ready to serve club and country

JAMIE REDKNAPP will sign a new five-year contract with Liverpool next week - and tell Glenn Hoddle that he is fit for England World Cup duty.

The Liverpool manager, Roy Evans, will also sit down next week for contract talks with Steve McManaman in an attempt to end the saga over whether the winger will stay when his current deal runs out at the end of next season.

Redknapp is a week away from full fitness after struggling with a knee injury since the draw at Coventry last month, and will be absent again at Derby on Sunday in Liverpool's final game of the season. He said: "My contract is all sorted out and I expect to sign it on Monday. As far as playing again is concerned, I'm not quite ready yet and would probably be OK if we had a game next Saturday. But as far as England is concerned, I will be fully fit for the World Cup."

As for McManaman, he can leave on a free transfer next summer under the Bosman ruling. Liverpool want to know his thinking - whether he stays or goes - as soon as possible.

Liverpool are one of several clubs to be linked with Tottenham's England defender Sol Campbell - but Spurs are determined to hang on to him and their other young players. In a press statement yesterday the White Hart Lane club said: "Despite the release of several players under the Bosman ruling - Jurgen Klinsmann, Gary Mabbutt, David Howells, Dean Austin and Danny Hill - David Pleat [the club's director of football] has insisted that, whatever attention younger talent like Sol Campbell, Steffen Iversen and Espen Baardsen may attract, they are not for sale.

"Only players who are not part of the future planning of the club will be considered for transfer trading. These could include Jose Dominguez and Justin Edinburgh. Frode Grodas is also likely to be allowed to leave and is currently the subject of a transfer inquiry."

Manchester City are optimistic that they may soon complete Georgi Kinkladze's transfer to Ajax - even though a fee for the Georgian has still not been agreed.

Bradford City have confirmed Paul Jewell as their manager, with a two- year contract. He has spent 10 years at Valley Parade as player, coach and then caretaker manager since Chris Kamara's departure during the season. His assistant will be Chris Hutchings, whose position has also been changed from temporary to permanent.

Fifa has declared its executive committee is ready to discuss banning Wimbledon's possible move to Ireland. Football's world governing body announced in Zurich yesterday that it is set to consider the matter along with several other points at its 8 June congress in Paris - two days before the World Cup finals begin.

It is keen to forbid any club from moving to another country while still playing in their former country's league and cup competitions, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Wimbledon have tentative plans to build a 40,000 seater stadium just outside Dublin.