Football: Kendall holds out little hope for Ferdinand

As Newcastle continued to be the centre of transfer rumour and activity yesterday, Howard Kendall expressed his desire to take Les Ferdinand form St James' Park to Goodison Park. However, he said he did not think his Everton club were favourites to sign the England striker.

Newcastle did not confirm that Ferdinand was even for sale, but, assuming that Ferdinand is about to move on, Kendall said: "I think he is longing to go back to London, so I do not think we could class ourselves as favourites to get him."

One striker who is apparently on his way out of the North-east is Peter Beardsley. Bolton's manager, Colin Todd, said he was confident he would be able to persuade the 36-year-old former England forward to leave his native Newcastle for a pounds 500,000 transfer.

Beardsley had previously turned down a move to Bolton - as well as to Stoke and Hull City - but he now seems prepared to link up with other former Newcastle players Robbie Elliott, Alan Thompson and Scott Sellars.

The Internazionale defender, Alessandro Pistone, flew in to Tyneside from Milan for talks with Newcastle, who are believed to have agreed a fee of pounds 4.5m with Inter. That would leave the player to pass his medical and agree personal terms.

There was some good news for Everton yesterday. Sheffield United have dropped their legal challenge against them and Kendall over the compensation they claimed they were owed for losing their former manager. United were demanding pounds 1m from Everton after Kendall, who had two years to run on his contract, left Bramall Lane earlier this month to take charge at Goodison for a third time. Everton offered pounds 250,000. Sheffield United yesterday announced that an amicable settlement had been reached.

Craig Burley has signed a five-year contract with Celtic, completing his pounds 2.5m move from Chelsea.

Arsenal have been cleared of making an illegal approach to Derby's Dean Sturridge, and the London club yesterday insisted they have no interest in signing the 23-year-old striker, who m Derby value at pounds 7m.

Derby's manager, Jim Smith, believes a club has approached Sturridge, and rumours had suggested that club was Arsenal.

The European champions, Borussia Dortmund, say they have received no offer from Liverpool for their international striker, Karlheinz Riedle, despite reports suggesting Liverpool had offered pounds 1.5m for him.