Hopkin next on Sunderland shopping list: Football

Peter Reid, trying to keep Sunderland in the Premiership, made a pounds 2.5m bid for Crystal Palace's goalscoring midfielder David Hopkin yesterday after buying Chris Waddle from Bradford City for a mere pounds 75,000.

Waddle, who as a boy supported Sunderland, will be intent on helping the club avoid a return to the First Division he has just left. Bradford, also facing relegation, have signed Mike Newell on loan from Birmingham City for the rest of the season.

Reid approached his Crystal Palace counterpart, Steve Coppell, yesterday with an offer for Hopkin following his club's 6-2 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday. Palace have already rejected an offer from Leeds for the player they signed from Chelsea for pounds 700,000 two years ago, but Reid may be willing to pay a premium price for Hopkin because of his club's problems.

Liverpool's Jamie Redknapp, who has has reportedly been the subject of interest from Newcastle, Arsenal and Roma, is to be offered a long-term contract. Liverpool have made it clear that Redknapp is not for sale and hope that he will agree a new deal shortly.

Manchester City are close to completing the signing of the former Aston Villa striker, Dalian Atkinson, who has been with Fenerbahce in Turkey. The player is awaiting international clearance for the move.

The Scottish Football Association will hold a full inquiry into the confrontations between players during and after the match between Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead on Sunday. The SFA's chief executive, Jim Farry, is waiting for the official report by the match referee, Hugh Dallas, before deciding what action to take.

Dallas, who sent off two players and booked another eight, will reveal the full extent of the flare-up which erupted at the final whistle after Rangers' 1-0 victory, which all but seals their ninth successive title.

The FA Cup giantkillers Hednesford Town have been severely censured and warned about their future conduct after being found guilty of misconduct at an FA hearing in Birmingham. Hednesford, who reached the fourth round of the FA Cup this season, were also fined pounds 10,000, but the penalty has been suspended for two years.

The charge arose out of irregularities in an application made to the Sports Grounds Initiative for a grant towards building a new stand at the GM Vauxhall Conference club's Cross Keys Park stadium.

The Football Association is to take no action over the crowd disturbances that marred the Bristol derby for the second time this season. Police arrested 11 people after fighting broke out when a handful of Bristol City fans infiltrated the home end at the Memorial Ground on Sunday.

Tottenham's pounds 2.6m Norwegian striker, Steffen Iversen, may learn today whether a knee ligament injury will finish his season. Iversen, carried off just before the end of Saturday's 1-0 victory over Leeds, will have a scan on his knee.