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Thursday 21 May 1998

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NO FROM CAMEROON'S FOE
NO FROM VILLA OVER YORKE
NO FROM STRIKER BATISTUTA

MANCHESTER UNITED'S close-season transfer strategy appeared to be in disarray last night after a trio of targets all seemed set to either stay with their clubs or move elsewhere.

French champions Lens look certain to reject an improved offer for midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe, Aston Villa say they will fight to keep forward Dwight Yorke and Argentinean striker Gabriel Batistuta is edging closer to a move to Parma.

United chairman Martin Edwards admitted yesterday that Lens had not responded to a £5m approach for Foe, who the French club rate at £8m. ''I haven't heard from them officially, but it's looking increasingly unlikely,'' he conceded. We won't be improving our offer. I doubt now that we will be able to proceed with Foe's transfer.''

Meanwhile in the Midlands, Villa boss John Gregory was determined to kill off any thoughts of an approach for leading scorer Yorke, who is thought to favour a move to Old Trafford. ''As far as I am concerned, Dwight is not leaving,'' he insisted. ''He has got two years left on his contract and he is not going anywhere at all. United may

try and buy him, but I am not interested.''

And in Argentina, long-term target Batistuta - who wants a move from Fiorentina - was spotted boarding a private jet owned by dairy company Parmalat, who sponsor Parma. Sources close to the player said he was strongly considering a transfer to the Serie A side.

It all adds up to disappointment for United, after they smashed the transfer record for a defender by paying £10.5m for PSV Eindhoven's Jaap Stam. Manager Alex Ferguson had claimed that more big-name signings would follow quickly, but that now appears unlikely.

United are, however, ready to bring in Yugoslavia's World Cup goalkeeper Ivica Kralj as a long-term replacement for Peter Schmeichel and will fight off any approach from Atletico Madrid for striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Insisted Edwards: We see Ole's future at Old Trafford.

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