IN an audacious move undoubtedly sustained more by devilment and mischief hope and expectation, Blackburn Rovers yesterday attempted to buy Eric Cantona from Manchester United.
Out of the blue, and to the utter astonishment of everyone connected with United, an official bid of £4 million for the Premiership's reformed enfant terrible rolled out of one of Old Trafford's fax machines early yesterday afternoon.
A futile act which, whether Blackburn will concede as much or not, was doomed to failure the moment it was conceived, was unquestionably the latest chapter in a simmering dispute between the two clubs over the fate of another player of great ability, Alan Shearer.
Shearer has been at the centre of intense speculation since his uplifting performances in an England shirt during the European Championship finals.
As soon as England bowed out of the tournament, United confirmed they had made two - or possibly three - unsuccessful attempts to lure him away from Ewood Park.
Disgusted by United's frankness, and no doubt perturbed by poor season ticket sales, Blackburn insisted, on a daily basis, that Shearer would not be sold this summer.
A matter of a few minutes after yesterday's bid had been turned down flat, members of the Blackburn hierarchy were queuing up to insist it was a serious offer and not simply a petty tit for tat move.
"The offer has been rejected out of hand. Eric will not be going to Blackburn Rovers or anywhere else," said United's assistant secretary Ken Ramsden.
When asked whether his club believed the bid was nothing more than a simple response to their own for Shearer, Rams den replied: "It is an unusual episode to say the least, but it is not for us to question other clubs' motives".
When Shearer returns to North Lancashire early next week from the Bahamas, he is expected to meet with Blackburn benefactor Jack Walker, and with his club chairman Robert Coar. to discuss recent events.
Walker, apparently. has a verbal agreement with Shearer which will permit him to leave Blackburn the moment he feels unsettled. One way or another, he may yet be playing alongside Cantona next month.
After 12 months of soul searching and negotiation, Michael Thomas yesterday informed Liverpool that he wished to remain at Anfield. Less than a week after his proposed move to Italian club Reggiana collapsed, the former England international midfielder agreed to sign a new and improved four year contract.
Although Thomas has been told he is in no way guaranteed regular first team football next season, he believes his future may lie not in midfield but in defence.
Everton defender Malt Jackson has been made available for transfer at a cut price £600,000. Jackson, a member of the Merseyside club's 1995 FA Cup winning side, almost joined Sheffield Wednesday in a £1.2 million deal 12 months ago.
Meanwhile, the prospect of a first ever strike by some of England's professional footballers is still a very real possibility after talks aimed at settling a dispute between the Football League and the Professional Footballers' Association were shelved yesterday.
It had been expected that League secretary David Dent and Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the PFA, would discuss the question of the distribution of television money, but a proposed informal meeting was cancelled.
The two men are now expected to meet at the League's headquarters at Lytham St Annes some time next week. The PFA has said it will seek a mandate for possible industrial action from the 1,500 or so of its members currently playing outside of the Premier League unless the League substantially increases its contribution of £560,000 a season to the union.
