Football: Macari's pounds 1m quest

(First Edition)

Lou Macari, the Celtic manager, wants to enter the transfer market before tomorrow's Scottish League deadline - if the Parkhead chief executive, Fergus McCann, agrees to loosen the purse strings.

Macari wants to spend around pounds 1m on Portsmouth's Republic of Ireland midfielder, Alan McLoughlin, and the Swansea City winger, Jason Bowen of Swansea.

However, Macari knows that Celtic are not yet out of the financial mire, despite McCann's recent boardroom coup. 'I wouldn't say I'm hopeful of having someone before the transfer deadline, but I'll be making an attempt,' he said. He has signed McLoughlin before - for Swindon on a free transfer from Manchester United in 1986.

Paul Gascoigne's club, Lazio, yesterday confirmed that their coach, Dino Zoff, the former Italian goalkeeper, will be moved upstairs to become president next season. Zdenek Zeman, the Czech-born coach of Lazio's Serie A rivals, Foggia, is expected to replace Zoff.

After their dreams of the domestic treble were ended by Aston Villa in Sunday's Coca- Cola Cup final at Wembley, Manchester United resume their pursuit of the Premiership title against Liverpool at Old Trafford tonight.

Peter Schmeichel, suspended at Wembley, is likely replace Les Sealey in goal. Lee Sharpe, who scored twice at Arsenal last week, could also be included in the starting line-up. Mark Wright is out of the Liverpool side, after undergoing a scan on medial ligament damage suffered on Saturday.