Souness to bid for Morrison

Blackburn Rovers are ready to make a £3m-plus offer for Crystal Palace's Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison. The Rovers manager, Graeme Souness, plans to make a bid in the next few days.

Souness is also taking an interest in Hapoel Tel Aviv's Slovenian forward Milan Osterc, who would cost £750,000.

Nicolas Anelka has turned down the chance to join Sunderland – and is waiting for a better move away from his troubles at Paris St-Germain. The unsettled French striker yesterday sent a message to the club's manager, Peter Reid, that he is not interested in a loan move.

Steve Bruce is unexpectedly bringing in the veteran John Benson as his No 2 at Birmingham City. Bruce has gone back to Wigan for Benson, who will be his right-hand man when he takes over at St Andrews today. Benson, a former manager of Manchester City and Barnsley, helped Bruce when he was at Wigan. He is general manager at the Second Division club after stepping down as manager for health reasons.

Benson will join a back-room team which will include Mark Bowen, who was with the the former Crystal Palace manager at Selhurst Park.