Football: Everton offered cut-price Ravanelli

Middlesbrough yesterday offered Fabrizio Ravanelli to Everton for the reduced price of pounds 5m plus Graham Stuart. However, the Merseyside club did not agree to those terms and may wait until the price comes down even further.

With the Italian striker currently back home trying to find a Series A club interested in him and apparently not part of Boro's plans, Everton's position is a strong one, though after their poor start to the season their manager Howard Kendall has been chasing a striker.

Kendall has also been linked with Manchester City's Uwe Rosler, but his chairman, Peter Johson, has been lobbying for the bigger name of Ravanelli.

Everton's two previous attempts to sign Ravanelli stalled because of the Italian's demands over personal terms, but that could be less of a hurdle with the player now anxious to get back to action.

Everton could raise funds by selling Nick Barmby, another recruit from Middlesbrough, who was left out of their squad for last night's Coca-Cola Cup tie at Scunthorpe after a heated row with Kendall at the weekend.

Barmby was upset to be left out at Derby on Saturday and further enraged when he was not the first substitute to be called on. Barmby, Everton's record signing less than a year ago, may now be allowed to go for a reduced fee.

Peter Beardsley could miss Bolton's Premiership match against Manchester United on Saturday after he was knocked unconscious in a training ground collision with his team-mate Jamie Pollock. Beardsley was ruled out of last night's Coca-Cola Cup second-round match at Leyton Orient.

The Arsenal striker Ian Wright should discover today the date of his Football Association disciplinary hearing, following the controversial scenes at the end of the game at Leicester City three weeks ago.