Sporting Digest: Football

SAUDI ARABIA, who have qualified for the World Cup finals in the United States, are to replace their Dutch coach, Leo Beenhakker, with one from Latin America. 'Beenhakker is a good coach. the only thing was that he wanted to change the style of our players,' said a Saudi official in New York yesterday.

ROY EVANS, Liverpool's manager, has opened negotiations to sign the United States' international goalkeeper, Brad Freidal. Meanwhile David James, bought for pounds 1m in July 1992, will deputise for the injured Bruce Grobbelaar.

RUUD GULLIT turned in another excellent performance and scored the only goal for Sampdoria in yesterday's return semi-final clash against Parma. The Dutch international's 21st-minute goal gave Sampdoria a 3-1 aggregate win.

TRANSFERS: Bernie Slaven, striker, Port Vale to Darlington, free. Paul Moody, striker, Southampton to Oxford United, pounds 100,000.