Harford hopes to sign Bebeto

Ray Harford hopes to pull off a coup by luring the Brazilian World Cup striker, Bebeto, to Blackburn Rovers.

The Rovers manager said last night that he is in talks with Bebeto's club, Flamengo, to sign the 32-year-old as a replacement for Alan Shearer. His Brazilian club, who want around pounds 5m for Bebeto, would let him go on loan for the rest of the season if they could tempt his old partner Romario back from the Spanish club, Valencia, to take his place.

Aston Villa have received inquiries from Italy and Spain about Savo Milosevic, who was dropped - for the first time in his 16 months with the Premiership club - from the side which beat Leeds on Saturday.

Doug Ellis, the Villa chairman, confirmed that Perugia, of Italy's Serie A, were one of two clubs who have asked to be kept informed about Milosevic's availability. An unspecified Spanish club have also been in touch over the Serb, who has scored 14 goals in 56 appearances since a pounds 3.5m transfer from Partizan Belgrade.

Pierre van Hooijdonk, who has emerged as a possible Villa target should they decide to off-load Milosevic, has still not committed his future to Celtic. The Dutch international scored twice in the 2-2 draw at Hearts on Sunday, after which the Glasgow side's manager, Tommy Burns, said he anticipated "no problem" over a new contract for Van Hooijdonk.

The Port Vale chairman, Bill Bell, yesterday lifted his threat to close the First Division club unless a buyer was found within seven days. However, Bell still plans to sell his 80 per cent shareholding and will maintain the block on incoming transfers which prevented the manager, John Rudge, from taking Sheffield Wednesday's Michael Williams on loan last Friday. Huddersfield stepped in to borrow Williams, who now faces Vale on Saturday.

Jurgen Klinsmann has dismissed speculation about his immediate future when he said during Radio 5 Live's European Football Show that he was staying at Bayern Munich and had no plans to return to England.

Tottenham, who Germany's captain played for in the 1994-95 season, have had an offer of pounds 2.5m for the Monaco defender Emmanuel Petit turned down.

Manchester City's new manager, Steve Coppell, is interested in signing Watford's pounds 1m-rated goalkeeper Kevin Miller. Coppell tried to tempt Miller to Crystal Palace while he was at Selhurst Park.