Fulham test Spurs' resolve over Rebrov

Fulham are offering to take Sergei Rebrov off Tottenham's hands – on a free transfer. The Premiership strugglers have told Spurs that they are interested in the out-of-favour Ukrainian Rebrov, but do not want to pay for him.

The Tottenham manager, Glenn Hoddle, has offered Rebrov to a number of clubs, but without success.

Peter Reid's ambition to become the new manager of Ireland is being hit by a feud between Niall Quinn and Roy Keane. Reid met Irish officials last week, but the former Sunderland manager's hopes may have been dashed by the fact that he was planning to bring in Quinn as his assistant in the backroom set-up.

Quinn is perceived as an enemy of Keane because of the row over the former captain's axeing from Mick McCarthy's World Cup finals squad.

Blackburn Rovers' forgotten Republic of Ireland international Alan Mahon is wanted on loan by Coventry City.

Lucas Neill is free to play in the second leg of Blackburn's Worthington Cup semi-final tie with Manchester United after the referee Uriah Rennie asked for the booking he gave to Neill in the first leg for diving to be rescinded.

United want to sign the Portuguese prodigy Ricardo Quaresma. The player is valued at £16m by his club, Sporting Lisbon.

Birmingham City's home Premiership fixture with United has been put back a week until Tuesday, 4 February because of United's FA Cup commitments.

The Everton manager, David Moyes, will resist attempts to call up Wayne Rooney to an England youth tournament.

The Football Association wanted the teenage striker for England's World Under-20 Championship squad to travel to the United Arab Emirates at the end of March. However, Moyes is unhappy with the request, which would deprive him of his prized asset for around a month at a crucial time of the season.