* Gudjohnsen
The MEN:
Eidur Gudjohnsen has been cleared to join Manchester United from Chelsea after the two clubs settled their dispute over teenage Nigerian star John Obi Mikel.
The former Bolton star has indicated that he wants to remain in the Premiership after being linked with Barcelona.
But the arrival of Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko and Mikel at Stamford Bridge has pushed him down the pecking order.
* But Sky report that Fergie may have opposition in trying to sign Gudjohnsen:
Barcelona are said to be well aware of the interest from Manchester United but they are hoping that the Camp Nou club have an Ace up their sleeves.
Jorge Mendes is Deco, Rafa Marquez and Thiago Motta's agent, but, more importantly, he is also Jose Mourinho's representative and has a good relationship with Chelsea's Peter Kenyon.
Barca are hoping Mendes' relationship with the Blues executive will be the key to them securing the services of Gudjohnsen. Frank Rijkaard has told the board that he thinks the former Bolton Wanderers star is the perfect substitute for Larsson, who has returned to his native Sweden this season.
Barca were initially keen on signing Forlan from Villarreal, but talks between the two clubs and the player's agent, Daniel Bolotnicoff, have proved to be difficult with neither side willing to budge.
Villarreal want €15 million (£10.34 million) for the former Manchester United forward, but Barca are hoping to reduce that sum by offering players in exchange, with Javier Saviola and Maxi Lopez included in any deal.
* Former United reserve Paul Tierney has signed for Blackpool on a free transfer from Livingston.
* The Guardian:
Marseille's Franck Ribéry will make a decision on his future in the next 72 hours and Manchester United hope they will be his destination rather than Arsenal, who have made a belated approach.
The France winger's searing pace has made him one of the most coveted properties in world football in the past six months and he is valued at £25m by Marseille, who say they have no intention of selling him and last week rejected a £9m bid from United.
Arsenal have now entered the bidding in the hope that Ribéry's experiences alongside Thierry Henry during France's World Cup preparations will be to their benefit. Tottenham and Liverpool are also monitoring the situation but it is Lyon who believe they have the greatest chance of becoming his seventh club since January 2002. "Ribéry told me a few days ago, as did his agent, that he intended to leave Marseille and come to Lyon since his favourite manager [Jean Fernandez] had gone to Auxerre," said Lyon's chairman Jean-Michel Aulas. "The ball is in Marseille's court. There is a 50% chance that he [will become] a Lyon player."
* Sky claim that German club Duisburg are signing Markus Neumayr following his release by United:
Duisburg are signing Manchester United reserve team captain Markus Neumayr
The German youngster was released by the Old Trafford club and will return to his homeland after previously representing Eintracht Frankfurt.
Coach Rudi Bommer is delighted to land the promising midfielder, who has long been compared to a young David Beckham.
"I pursued the transfer," explained MSV scout Dieter Mertens.
"Neumayr has very good standards, he can play on the right or centre of midfield.
"If he carries the same values forward from his games in Manchester, then we should have much joy with Markus here."