KENNY DALGLISH will seek to continue the restructuring of his Newcastle United squad this week by signing the Blackburn Rovers's reserve team goalkeeper, Shay Given. Dalglish has lodged a bid of £1.5 million for the Republic of Ireland international with the offer of a further £500,000 linked to first team appearances at St James' Park.
With Given out of contract shortly, Blackburn must now decide whether to accept Newcastle's offer or set the question of the player's value before an independent tribunal. Given has been the subject of enquiries from several clubs in recent months, including Sunderland and Everton.
Lee Clark, the 24 year old Newcastle United midfielder not guaranteed a place under Kenny Dalglish, has said that he expects to leave the club this summer. Clark, a local boy and crowd favourite, said: "The days of searching my soul are over. I've been indecisive in the past about moving or not because of my love for the club, but I'm past that stage now.
Southampton will have to find £4 million if they are to convince Liverpool that they should part company with the former England centre back, Neil Ruddock. Southampton's manager Graeme Souness has £7 million available to spend on new players and would like to be reunited with Ruddock, a player whom he signed from Tottenham in 1993 during his time in charge at Anfield.
Everton hope to be in a position to name their new manager early next week. The Merseyside club's chairman Peter Johnson returned home from holiday yesterday and will spend the next few days revising a short list which has been subjected to much alteration since Joe Royle resigned his post in late March.
