ARSENAL READY FOR DE BOER WAR
Arsenal have not given up hope of signing Dutch forward Ronald De Boer. They're tempting de Boer's club, Ajax, with a bid of around £6. The new champions have also expressed an interest in Ronald's twin brother, defender Frank who seems more likely to join the growing Dutch clan at Barcelona and Alan Thompson, who will leave Bolton if they are relegated. Aston Villa are also on the hunt for Thompson.

KLINSMANN'S FINNISHED AT SPURS
On the other side of North London, Spurs are also keeping the phone-line to Ajax busy. Their target is the Amsterdam club's Finnish striker Jari Litmanen, a replacement, presumably, for the departing Jurgen Klinsmann. Meanwhile manager Christian Gross, having assured the team of Premiership football next season, now has to sort out contracts for, among others, Clive Wilson, Gary Mabbutt, David Howells and Nicola Berti. All four will be on their way if the right offers aren't forthcoming.

FOREIGN FLOPS OUT IN CHANGING PALACE GUARD
A post relegation clear-out at Crystal Palace seems inevitable. First on his way could be centre half David Tuttle. Coventry are hovering with a bid of about half a million quid. Their only problem… who to offer the cash to? Of Palace's imports, Michele Padovano, Patrizio Billio and, of course, the ludicrous Tomas Brolin will be on their way, and Frenchman Valerian Ismael, after a £3million transfer and a mere 15 games, is making very unhappy noises about life in South London and Division One. Strenuous efforts will, though, be made to keep Attilio Lombardo at Selhurst Park. Chelsea have other ideas about that.
And Gianluca Vialli could extend Chelsea's Italian connection even further. Lazio's Pierluigi Casiraghi is making noises about joining his countrymen at Stamford Bridge, though observers in Italy feel this may just be a ploy to boost his next contract with the Rome club.

UNITED SNUB ROBERTO CARLOS FOR WAYNE QUINN...
Manchester United are laughing at reports coming out of Real Madrid that they've offered a world record deal, worth a total of £50million, to Brazilian superstar, left back Roberto Carlos. But since United do need to look for a left-footed replacement for the excellent but ageing Denis Irwin, a much more likely target is Sheffield United's England B youngster Wayne Quinn.
The murmurs continue about Teddy Sheringham too. While West Ham remain favourites to land the forward, should he become surplus to requirement at Old Trafford, Middlesbrough could move in and reunite Sheri with his England team-mates Paul Gascoigne and Paul Merson. United might be keener on the West Ham deal if it included Eyal Berkovic going in the opposite direction - as we said in 365 a couple of weeks back.

ROBSON WANTS OLD PALL'S ACT AT BORO
Middlesbrough will also move for Bryan Robson's old team mate Gary Pallister now Boro can once again offer the ex-England centre half, his first team place under threat from the arrival of Jaap Stam, Premiership football. Pally is a Boro old boy and supporter but that won't stop Sunderland, if they come up through the play-offs, going after him too.

BILIC: I'LL KEEP SLAVEN AWAY IF WE GO DOWN
Everton will have to have a clear-out whether or not they go down next weekend, but at least one of their biggest stars has pledged his future even if the Merseysiders do drop. Slaven Bilic, sure to be a target for many clubs after the World Cup, has said he will not seek a move no matter what happens.
Celtic stopper Alan Stubbs, whose family has failed to settle in Scotland, will move south again during the close season. Everton (if they stay up), Sheffield Wednesday and Derby will all join an auction that Celtic hope will top the £4 million mark. The latter club might be prepared to offer Scottish World Cup player Christian Dailly as part of the price.

RUSH JOB IN USA
Newcastle veteran Ian Rush, out of contract in two weeks, could be on his way to America. The New England Revolution want to give him £250,000 for a season's work in the MLS. Rushie, perhaps mindful that Frank Stapleton was an unmitigated disaster in New England, would prefer a player-coach role nearer to home.

COTTAGE INDUSTRY FOR LEE AND BARDSLEY?
Big-spending Fulham may give a home to former England full back David Bardsley if QPR fail to renew his contract. Rumour has it that should the West Londoners be promoted, their first move would be for Newcastle's Robert Lee, an old favourite of Keegan's. If Lee does decide it's time to return to his native London, however, don't expect West Ham and his old club Charlton to stand idly by. And the Hammers would like two more of Kenny Dalglish's squad as well: keeper Shaka Hislop (provided they can't come to terms with current French star Bernard Lama) and pony-tailed defender Darren Peacock.
Bardsley will not be the only one out the door at QPR in the close season. Expect to see captain Simon Barker, keepers Tony Roberts, Richard Hurst and Paul Hart, ex-Arsenal centre half Matthew Rose and strikers Lee Charles and Steve Slade all on their way.