GUNNERS BLANKED OVER DE BOER
Ajax have rejected a �10m bid from Arsenal for midfielder Ronald de Boer. The Dutchman was the top summer target of manager Arsene Wenger, who he was keen to link him with countrymen Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars. But Ajax are determined to hold De Boer, and his brother Frank, to their contracts, which don't expire until 2004. "A transfer is out of the question and will stay that way," said Ajax financial director Maarten Oldenhof, whatever offers we get.
But Arsenal are set to complete the �3.75m signing of versatile Peruvian Nolberto Solano in the next 48 hours. Solano can play in midfield or at right back, and the transfer is expected to be wrapped up tomorrow when the president of his club, Boca Juniors, arrives in France for the Scotland v Brazil game.

IT'S STILL HOWARD'S WAY FORWARD FOR EVERTON
Everton were going to sack Howard Kendall. Martin O'Neill was going to quit Leicester and move to Goodison Park. Leicester would be furious and demand huge compensation. All of this was supposed to happen yesterday according to Monday morning's newspapers. As it was, none of it happened. And as far as Kendall is concerned, none of it will.
He insisted: It's business as usual until someone says something different. This has been going on since the end of the season and it's disappointing. I have been reading speculation over whether or not I will be here tomorrow, at the start of the season or whenever. As far as I'm concerned it's just speculation and naturally I want the situation to be clarified one way or another.
So that leaves O'Neill pondering his Leicester future and he has offered to fly back from the World Cup to thrash things out. He has been at the centre of all sorts of speculation in the last ten days, with rumours rife that he would be heading for either Celtic or Everton. He had a three-hour meeting last week with Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of Leicester PLC, and asked for assurances about the club's long-term planning, but the situation still isn't resolved.
O'Neill has now flown to France, where he will be commentating for the BBC, but said: "I don't want this to drag on, but I do want a final decision and, if needs be, I will come back from France as soon as a meeting is arranged. So with Kendall saying he's staying, and Sir Rodney ready to give O'Neill the assurances he wants that should be end of the matter... Shouldn't it?

THOMPSON RECKONS STAN CAN DELIVER
Aston Villa new boy Alan Thompson is ready to take on arguably the toughest task in football bringing the best out of Stan Collymore. The former Bolton midfielder believes he can succeed where Roy �Third In The Table' Evans and Brian Little failed, claiming: I think that I can help him and that he can help me. I am looking forward to playing in the same team as him. Wonder if he'll still be saying that in six months' time?
VILLA boss John Gregory is hoping that the Thompson deal will help in his attempts to persuade five key players to sign new contracts. Mark Bosnich, Gary Charles, Riccardo Scimeca, Mark Draper and Julian Joachim have all been warned they could be transfer listed if they do not put pen to paper this summer, but the manager said: ''I hope those players will take note that Alan chose us ahead of some very healthy competition.''

BRIAN'S A BLUE BOY NOW
Brian Laudrup has completed his move to Chelsea. Managing director Colin Hutchinson flew to Copenhagen at the weekend after Rangers dropped their claim to a fee for the Dane on Sunday. The Cup Winners' Cup champions were keen to get Laudrup's signature as soon as possible and he co-operated by inking a three-year deal. Hutchinson explained: ''We decided that he should sign his contract because his deal at Rangers expired on 31 May and he could have been going to the World Cup not attached to any club. He has signed because we thought all the speculation should be removed.''

FERGUSON: �MY BLOMQVIST BLOOPER'
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson believes Swedish winger Jesper Blomqvist could have won the Premiership and the European Cup for the Old Trafford club last season. Ferguson is trying to sign the 24-year-old from Parma (though nothing is likely to be done until after the World Cup) and says that United wouldn't have ended last season empty-handed if he had done more to try to tempt Blomqvist from AC Milan a year ago. I wish I had tried harder to sign him, so that we had top cover for Giggs, he admitted. I hadn't expected to be so depleted.

NORWICH BACK IN FOR BRUCIE
Birmingham captain Steve Bruce is set for further talks with his old club Norwich City this week about their managerial vacancy. Blues gave the former Manchester United defender permission to speak to their First Division rivals last month, but negotiations have been on hold because he's been on holiday. Bruce is likely to make a decision later this week, although Sheffield United are also ready to step in to try to tempt him into the manager's chair at Bramall Lane. St Andrews chairman David Gold hoping he will turn down both offers and see out the remaining year of his contract.

BAGGIES CARRY-ON HAS NICOL WORRIED
Former Liverpool star Steve Nicol has found himself out in the cold this summer. The ex-Scottish international is one of many players sitting around waiting for the phone to ring after being released by Sheffield Wednesday, and being told he's not wanted at West Bromwich Albion. Nicol spent the last six weeks of last season on loan at the Hawthorns and expected the deal to be made permanent. That's not going to happen though, and he said: It doesn't look as though I will be going back to Albion. That is a surprise as I thought that I did well.''

HAMMERS MOVE FOR MARGAS
West Ham have resurrected their interest in Chile defender Xavier Margas. The Hammers, whose bid to sign him before the March transfer deadline was held up by red tape, are hoping that they can arrange a deal after France 98. Manager Harry Redknapp and chief executive Peter Storrie will be taking in ten games in nine days at the start of the finals, but Storrie has told supporters not to expect any new faces for several weeks. He said: ''Nothing will happen before the beginning of July. This is when the Bosman rule comes into effect.