ROBERT PIRES would love to extend his stay with Arsenal, but Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger maintains there is no provision to automatically offer the 31-year-old a new 12-month deal when his current contract expires.

ROY KEANE is enjoying the dressing room banter at Celtic but insists he will never become too close with any of his new team-mates.

MALCOLM GLAZER will spend next week trying to work out the best way to persuade Irish duo John Magnier and JP McManus to part with their 28.9% stake in Manchester United.

A MULTI-million pound international counterfeiting operation has been smashed in a joint operation between police in the North and gardaí.

WHEN you have faced up to your mortality as recently as Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, it is advisable to keep sport in perspective.

ALEX FERGUSON declared Ruud van Nistelrooy was back to his very best as he hailed Manchester United’s young line-up as a vision of the future after rediscovering their attacking zest at Fulham.

MANCHESTER UNITED will attempt to resolve the mystery surrounding David Beckham’s future once and for all this summer

RTÉ YESTERDAY unveiled their schedule for live Premiership coverage on Saturday afternoons.

THERE are no prizes for guessing the gift that Ireland’s captain, Kenny Cunningham, about to make his 50th international appearance, wants from this afternoon’s game against Russia.

Chelsea 3 Portsmouth 0

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi believes Manchester United will provide a stiff test for AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.

HARRY REDKNAPP yesterday claimed he had jumped and not been “pushed” out of Portsmouth following a stormy relationship with owner Milan Mandaric.

MANCHESTER United striker Wayne Rooney has been banned for two matches following his sending off against Villarreal for a sarcastic clap at referee Kim Milton Nielsen.

PLAYERS’ chief Gordon Taylor firmly believes Wayne Rooney has the world at his feet - but has warned against placing too much expectation on the young England striker.

CHELSEA’S chief executive Peter Kenyon has scotched rumours of a rift between him and coach Jose Mourinho.

MANCHESTER United and England footballer Wayne Rooney yesterday accepted £100,000 (€145,000) damages from the publishers of The Sun and the News of the World after the two newspapers falsely alleged he slapped his fiancee, Coleen McLoughlin.

SHARES in Manchester United gained just over 5% yesterday after the world’s biggest football club confirmed it has received a takeover approach.

MIKAEL SILVESTRE believes his central defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand can provide the platform for more Manchester United title success this season.

JOHN O’SHEA can look forward to a new Manchester Utd contract when he returns from his well-earned holidays next month.

MANCHESTER UNITED have received an FA Cup final boost after captain Roy Keane came through a training session at the club’s Carrington training ground yesterday.