Football: Speed is of the essence for eager Dalglish

Kenny Dalglish is making a new attempt to take the Everton captain, Gary Speed, to Newcastle United. Dalglish is now willing to pay pounds 4.5m for Speed, a pounds 500,000 increase on his previous offer, but he wants the deal done swiftly.

Speed is hoping to be fit for the weekend when he is scheduled to return to the Everton side against Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup. However, Dalglish would rather Speed was not Cup-tied as Newcastle's best chance of success in a disappointing season could be in that competition.

Liverpool are pursuing the Leicester centre-back Matt Elliott. The Scottish international cost Leicester pounds 1.7m when he joined them from Oxford United last year

Aljosa Asanovic has left Derby County and signed a two and a half year contract with the Italian side Napoli.