Football

Ipswich are expected to complete the signing of Ian Crook, Norwich's 33-year-old former England B international midfielder, on a free transfer.

Chris Sutton, the Blackburn striker, is on course to join pre-season training at Ewood Park midway through next month after recovering from a heel injury.

Chris Wright, head of the Chrysalis media empire, is poised to buy Queen's Park Rangers, of the First Division. The QPR board said they had received an improved offer and a deal is expected to be finalised in the next few weeks. Wright also intends to buy a 50 per cent stake of the rugby union side, Wasps.

Kasey Keller, the Millwall goalkeeper, has been chosen as one of three wild-card players not subject to Fifa's under-23 age restriction for the United States Olympic team.

Mick Wadsworth, the 44-year-old former Carlisle manager, is expected to be appointed the new manager at Scarborough today. He is currently No 2 to Gary Megson at Norwich.

Bixente Lizarazu, the Bordeaux left back, has turned down Arsenal to sign a four-year contract with Athletic Bilbao instead. He joins countryman Luis Fernandez, formerly of Paris St-Germain, who yesterday became the club's new coach.

Christoph Daum, sacked as manager of the Turkish club Besiktas, is poised to return to Germany's Bundesliga as the coach of Bayer Leverkusen.

Fifa has lifted its suspension of the Greek federation after receiving guarantees from the Greek goverment that new operating statutes would be approved. The world governing body had suspended the Greece from all international competition and from conducting cross-border transfers.

SWEDISH LEAGUE: Djurgarden 2 Orebro 1; Degerfors 1 Oddevold 0; Trelleborg 1 Helsingborg 1; Umea 2 Halmstad 1; Oster 1 Norrkoping 0; Malmo 0 Orgryte 2.