Football: Platt still a Gunner

David Platt is likely to start for Arsenal against Coventry at Highbury in tonight's Premiership manager - despite being involved in talks over a move to Middlesbrough.

The England midfielder will replace the Frenchman Patrick Vieira, who is doubtful with an ankle injury picked up against Leeds on Saturday. The Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson is trying to persuade Platt to move to the Riverside, having agreed a pounds 1.5m fee with Arsenal, and is due to resume talks with him this week.

The Gunners will be without Tony Adams (suspended) and Lee Dixon (ankle injury) while Martin Keown is due to see a surgeon today to find out when his dislocated shoulder will be ready for him to resume playing.

The Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has signed a new seven- year contract, keeping him at Old Trafford until he is 31. Solskjaer, signed from Molde for pounds 1.5m last summer, scored 18 goals for United in his first season in the Premiership.

The Wolves defender Neil Emblen is on the verge of joining Premiership newcomers Crystal Palace in a pounds 2m deal. Wolves' manager, Mark McGhee, believes he has adequate central defensive cover with Steve Sedgley and Keith Curle forming a fine partnership in Saturday's 2-0 win at Norwich and the former England Under-21 player Dean Richards still waiting in the wings.

The Manchester City manager Frank Clark has pledged that his squad building will go on. He is hoping to shortly complete a deal with Millwall for the Australian wing-back, Jason van Blerk. "He'll be brought in to give us more options down the left side, and to give us more strength in depth," said Clark.