Walker key to Keegan's Premiership blueprint

Kevin Keegan, the Manchester City manager, is planning a £3.5m bid for the Leicester City and England goalkeeper, Ian Walker, in an attempt to bolster his First Division leaders ahead of an expected return to the Premiership.

Despite some stirring performances, Walker has been unable to prevent Leicester's slide towards the foot of the Premiership since moving from Tottenham. If Manchester City are promoted and Leicester relegated, a summer move for Walker will be on the cards.

Leicester are already making arrangements to reduce their wage bill in anticipation of relegation, and Walker will be one of those to go.

Another, Muzzy Izzet, moved closer to departure from Filbert Street last night after Leicester announced they had reached "broad agreement" with Middlesbrough over a transfer fee of around £6m and given the Teessiders permission to speak to the midfielder.

Keegan is also in the market for a centre-half, a ball-winning midfielder and a proven Premiership goalscorer. He looked at both Bolton's Michael Ricketts and West Ham's Frédéric Kanouté last weekend.

Richard Edghill looks like being the next victim of Keegan's reign. He has turned down a new contract offer and seems sure to leave Maine Road.

Thierry Henry has hinted he might sign a new contract with Arsenal. "I feel really good with the Gunners," he said. "I love the club and it's a joy to play there. We will see if some day I'm less happy with it."

"The fact that [manager] Arsène Wenger extended his contract was a good reason for me to stay. If Arsène had decided to leave it might have been different."

Henry's fellow France international Youri Djorkaeff is set to complete his move to Bolton from Kaiserslautern later this week. The German club confirmed yesterday that the player was no longer in their employ.

The Real Mallorca striker Leonardo Biagini, is mulling over the possibility of a three-month loan move to Portsmouth.

Pompey have been fined £10,000 and told to expect an FA investigation after picking up more than six bookings for the second time in less than a month. They had eight players booked and their captain, Shaun Derry, sent off in their recent 4-3 defeat at Sheffield United, having also been shown seven yellow cards and two reds at Bradford at the start of January.

Stoke City are trying to sign Manchester United's fifth-choice goalkeeper, Nicky Culkin, who is currently on loan at Livingston. However, United's £450,000 asking price may deter the Potteries club.

The Second Division leaders, Reading, are making a £500,000 bid to sign Notts County's prolific striker Danny Allsopp.

The Newcastle United midfielder Jamie McClen has been cautioned for being drunk and disorderly in the city's Quayside area. The 22-year-old was stopped by police early on Tuesday morning along with his brother, Steven, who was formally charged.