Football: Rovers renew their pursuit of Klinsmann

Blackburn Rovers are attempting to prise Jurgen Klinsmann away from Bayern Munich, where he is at loggerheads with the club's new coach, Giovanni Trapattoni.

Klinsmann has been substituted in the last two games and could even be dropped after a disappointing start to the campaign in Germany. The former Tottenham striker is unhappy under Trapattoni, the coach he often disagreed with during their time together at Internazionale.

Klinsmann is thought to be so unhappy that he may press for a move if Bayern go out of the Uefa Cup. They are 3-0 down to Valencia going into the second leg next Tuesday.

Klinsmann's troubles have coincided with Blackburn's and Ray Harford is ready to return for the player he tried to tempt in the summer as first- choice replacement for Alan Shearer. An official approach by Blackburn was rebuffed by Bayern at the time.

Blackburn were offering Klinsmann pounds 30,000 a week for a two-year deal and the transfer fee would be minimal as he has an escape clause in his contract.

The chairman, Robert Coar, told Rovers fans recently that Klinsmann has been their No 1 choice. Now contact between the parties has been renewed.

The only problem Blackburn will face is rival interest from English clubs like Everton, Chelsea and even Arsenal, plus possible contracts on offer in America and Japan.

Graeme Le Saux's attempt to make a quick comeback for Blackburn did not go to plan in his first game for nine months on Monday night. He was obviously still feeling the right ankle he broke and dislocated last December and winced in pain when he pulled down a driven cross after half an hour of the reserve-team game.

Sheffield Wednesday's manager, David Pleat, wants to sign Birmingham City's Jon Hunt in a pounds 1m exchange deal that would send Graham Hyde the other way to link up again with Pleat's predecessor at Hillsborough, Trevor Francis.

Oldham Athletic are signing the centre-back Shaun Garnett from Swansea City for pounds 150,000. Garnett met Oldham's manager, Graeme Sharp, to finalise terms last night after the clubs agreed a fee.

Dave Bassett's imminent move to take charge at Manchester City looks likely to prompt Steve Coppell to take up the reins at Crystal Palace again, three years after first leaving the club. Coppell, who returned to the club as director of football last summer, is now prepared to end his 36-month exile from day-to-day involvement in the game.

Frank Sibley has left Queen's Park Rangers following the appointment of Stewart Houston as manager. Sibley agreed to act as caretaker when Ray Wilkins resigned a fortnight ago.

The Football Association is awaiting a report from the match referee, Mike Reed, before deciding whether the Arsenal full-back Nigel Winterburn should face charges over allegedly making gestures to Sheffield Wednesday fans during Arsenal's 4-1 victory at Highbury on Monday night.