PREMIERSHIP MANCHESTER UNITED The deposed champions have given French club Lens until tomorrow to make their mind up over a final offer for midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe. Alex Ferguson tabled a £3m bid for the Cameroon international last week after having an earlier offer rejected, and has now made them a take-it-or-leave-it bid of around £5m. Lens, said to have doubled their valuation of the player in the past seven days, have been warned that although Fergie wants the 23-year-old, he won't be held to ransom. ''We have spoken to Foe and he is very keen on a move to Old Trafford,'' said chairman Martin Edwards. ''We have discussed personal terms with him and they won't present a problem. As far as we and the player are concerned, everything is now in place, but there is still the valuation issue to be resolved. I have to say at this moment that the two clubs are a long way apart.'' Edwards also dismissed reports of a possible swap deal that would take striker Teddy Sheringham to West Ham in exchange for Israeli midfielder Eyal Berkovic. UNITED are ready to ask the FA to bring their Charity Shield clash with Double winners Arsenal on August 9 forward by a day or at least to earlier than the 5pm kickoff scheduled by Sky TV. The traditional season curtain-raiser is scheduled for just three days before Ferguson's side play the first leg of their Champions League preliminary round tie. SOUTHAMPTON Chairman Rupert Lowe has delivered a stern hands-off warning to Celtic following renewed speculation linking manager Dave Jones with the new Scottish champions. The Glasgow giants are seeking a successor to Wim Jansen, who quit the club last week only a year after taking charge. ''I can understand that, after the success Dave has had this season, there will be people looking at him,'' said Lowe. ''But it's Celtic's problem if they haven't got a manager, not ours. If Celtic want to speak to Dave they will have to go through me first and there is no chance of them getting him - it's as simple as that.'' Jones was named manager of the season by his fellow bosses after guiding Saints to 12th place in the Premiership. LEEDS UNITED Die-hard Leeds fans will soon be able to buy an away season ticket. For £380, supporters will get their tickets for away matches sent to them a week before a game, cutting out the frustration of having to queue for more important fixtures. However, the scheme is limited to only 500 places initially. Prices for season tickets at Elland Road, meanwhile, will rise by up to 22% with the biggest increase in the home fans' most popular areas. Tickets in West Stand B and the North Stand (the former Kop), have shot up from £255 to £310. The most expensive will now be in the West Stand at a cost of £420, up from £385 - a rise of 9%. Chairman Peter Ridsdale said: ''We have had a financial review of season ticket prices to ensure they are fair and reasonable in any part of the ground. This takes into account the price charges of other Premiership clubs.'' DEFENDER Martin Hiden has been named in Austria's squad for the World Cup. The 25-year-old, signed from Rapid Vienna for £1.5m in February, has been picked in several Austrian training squads but was only handed his international bow by coach Herbert Prohaska last month. ARSENAL At last, something doesn't go Arsenal's way. After all the glory of the last fortnight, one Gunner is feeling the down-side of the game. Impressive young goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who did not let in a goal during David Seaman's enforced absence earlier this season to keep the club's Double challenge on the rails, has only made the stand-by list for Austria's World Cup squad. Austrian squad: Konsel, Wohlfahrt, Knaller, Pfeffer, Feiersinger, Kogler, Schottel, Hiden, Kuhbauer, Mahlich, Prilasnig, Reinmayr, Schopp, Herzog, Pfeifenberger, Stoger, Heraf, Wetl, Cerny, Polster, Haas, Vastic. Stand-by: Manninger, Hutter, Amerhauser, Ramusch, Sabitzer, Neukirchner, Zingler.

NATIONWIDE NEWSROUND   DIVISION ONE WOLVES Striker Steve Claridge could be heading back to Portsmouth for a third time, only two months after moving to Moilneux from Leicester for £350,000. "Practically every player on the books is available," said manager Mark McGhee. "Claridge is one, but I have had no firm contact from Portsmouth." CHARLTON ATHLETIC Defender Mark Bowen is a surprise inclusion in the Wales squads announced yesterday for the friendlies against Malta and Tunisia next month. The 34-year-old's international career seemed over a year ago when he left West Ham to play in Japan, but boss Bobby Gould is giving him a chance to add to his 41 caps: He's had a tremendous season. He's back on merit.'' SHEFFIELD UNITED Steve Thompson and Sheffield United have both denied rumours that the Blades caretaker boss was about to be sacked. Thompson, in fact, is hoping he will get the job full-time at a board meeting later this week: "I think I've done enough to get the job and I think what I have done since I took over has been recognised. I would hope that would merit worthy consideration for the position.'' The club issued this statement: ''Contrary to some comments, there is no truth in reports Steve Thompson has been relieved of his acting-manager duties.'' MIDDLESBROUGH Out-of-contract midfielder Craig Hignett could join Aberdeen this week on the recommendation of Paul Gascoigne. The 28-year-old said: "If everything goes to plan I expect to be an Aberdeen player by the end of the week. Gazza has told me everything about them. PORTSMOUTH Midfielder Alan McLoughlin admits he would have quit Pompey to save his Republic or Ireland place if they'd been relegated: ''I would not have been picked playing in Division Two so, with my international career to think about, I would have had to look elsewhere.'' READING Defender Gareth Davies has been told he can leave, just five months after arriving from Crystal Palace in a £100,000 deal. The 24-year-old said: ''I'm sure the club will have success, I just wish I could be part of it.'' SWINDON TOWN Fraser Digby, Mark Seagraves, Ian Culverhouse, Gary Elkins, Phil King, Peter Holcroft, Steve Finney and Michael Pattimore have been given free transfers. DIVISION TWO BRISTOL ROVERS Defenders Graeme Power, Jason Perry and Lee Martin are leaving the club while goalkeeper Shane Higgs and midfielder Jon French have been handed free transfers, despite being under contract. DIVISION THREE TORQUAY UNITED Player-coach Steve McCall reports a clean bill of health for Friday's Wembley-bound squad. Midfielder McCall took a knock on the knee during the home leg of the semi-final win over Scarborough but is fit for the final. CARDIFF CITY Striker Carl Dale, who scored 71 goals in 209 League appearances for Cardiff, is among 11 players who have been given free transfers. But the 32-year-old will continue to be paid by the Bluebirds until he is fully recovered from a recent shoulder operation. CAMBRIDGE UNITED Former Wales international midfielder Jason Rees has had his contract terminated by mutual consent. The 27-year-old arrived on a free transfer from Portsmouth last summer but lost his place after being a regular early in the season.

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