Football: Ferdinand chased

ARSENAL will be ready to challenge Blackburn Rovers for the signature of Les Ferdinand if Queen's Park Rangers decide to cash in on their England striker this summer.

The Blackburn manager, Kenny Dalglish, has reportedly already tabled a pounds 4.75m bid for Ferdinand, but the Acton-born striker's preference to stay in London, and Arsenal's ability to offer players of the calibre of Alan Smith and Paul Davis in part-exchange, may swing the deal the Gunners' way.

George Graham, the Arsenal manager, is also an admirer of the Norwich City striker, Chris Sutton, but Liverpool - who are ready to outbid all rivals on the matter of personal financial terms - look firm favourites to sign him.

Alun Evans, the chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, has been given a 'first and final warning' by the FAW. Evans is alleged to have given his approval to a loan of pounds 53,000 made to an athletics body, which was repaid with interest a few weeks later, without the consent of the full FAW committee.