Football: Sheringham meets Hoddle to discuss nightclub reports

THE ENGLAND coach, Glenn Hoddle, had talks with Teddy Sheringham last night following revelations that the striker was seen partying in a nightclub at 6.45am just a week before the start of the World Cup.

Hoddle plans to see the Manchester United man again today before deciding what action, if any, to take. The Football Association's director of public affairs, David Davies said: "Glenn Hoddle has spoken to Teddy Sheringham now that England's World Cup squad is together again. He is establishing all the facts of the situation that was reported in some of today's newspapers."

The Southampton manager, Dave Jones, has made a pounds 5m bid for the Crystal Palace striker Matt Jansen. Jones put in his improved offer yesterday for the prospect who made an explosive start to his Premier League career when he joined Palace. The Saints, armed with the pounds 7.25m from the sale of Kevin Davies to Blackburn, had an initial pounds 3.5m bid rejected last week.

Mark Goldberg has completed his takeover of Crystal Palace and takes over as club chairman with immediate effect. Terry Venables will take over as head coach. The agreement was finally concluded in the early hours of yesterday morning and sees the Bromley-based Goldberg purchase the club for pounds 22m with a further option on the Selhurst Park stadium freehold over a five-year period.

Alan Thompson signed for Aston Villa in a pounds 4.8m deal last night despite a desperate late bid from Blackburn Rovers. Thompson was on his way to Villa Park yesterday when Rovers cabled their rival offer and he shook hands on a contract without talking to Bolton's big-spending neighbours.

The Blackburn move was a piece of bizarre timing as they knew the bidding had started on Thompson a couple of weeks ago but made no firm approach until it was too late.

Kenny Dalglish hopes to tie up Wayne Quinn as his latest Newcastle United signing in a pounds 2m deal over the weekend. The Sheffield United prospect, capped by both England Under-21s and at B level, is close to agreeing terms on Tyneside after a flying visit yesterday.

Quinn wants to move to the Premier League after the disappointments of two promotion failures at Bramall Lane. Dalglish was impressed last season with the versatile Quinn, who can play left back or left wing, and beat several clubs to his signature. Sheffield United have agreed to sell ahead of announcing a new manager. The funds will be given to the next man in charge.